Salzkammergut – Austrian Lake District Walking Holiday | Walking Holiday in Austria | Self Guided Walking Holiday

The Salzkammergut region lies to the south east of Salzburg. It is an area of mountains and lakes ideal for exploring on foot. Many of the overnight stops are in lakeside resorts allowing you to sit out on sunny lake terraces for your evening meals and soak up the local culture. If you can spare extra time for your holiday we strongly recommend adding one or two extra nights to enable you to more fully explore some of the locations. Also an extra night in Salzburg at the start or end of the holiday is thoroughly recommended, as there is much to see in this beautiful city.

Grade: Moderate to Demanding. The walk is fairly strenuous as described but there are easier alternatives on most of the days supplemented by an excellent public transport system.

Getting there:
Fly to Salzburg, then travel by public bus to St Gilgen. A regular, short bus service (bus line 2) from the airport to Salzburg Rail Station (Hauptbahnhof) and from there another 30 minute journey to St Gilgen. (Bus line 150)

Bristol - Salzburg - EasyJet
Exeter - Salzburg - Flybe
Leeds Bradford - Salzburg - Jet2
London Gatwick - Salzburg - British Airways or EasyJet
London Luton - Salzburg - EasyJet
London Stansted - Salzburg - Ryanair
Manchester - Salzburg - Jet2
Southampton - Salzburg - Flybe
Weather forecast: Salzkammergut Weather
Salzburg Tourist Info: Salzburg.info

Day 1 Arrive St Gilgen.

Day 2 St Wolfgang to Bad Ischl.
Catch the ferry across Wolfgangsee to the picturesque village of St Wolfgang where there is time to look around before starting the walk. You begin your Austrian walking holiday with an easy first day, through the meadows, along by streams and through woods. An afternoon climb takes you up to the Nussensee in its woodland setting before you descend into the town of Bad Ischl ~ 4h30m

Day 3 Bad Ischl to Altaussee.
After leaving Bad Ischl you pass through the pretty little village of Perneck before climbing up to the high point of the day, the Lambacher Hut at 1432 metres. On the descent you are rewarded with wonderful views and below you, as you approach the end of the walk, is the pretty Altausseer See. ~ 6h30m

Day 4 Altaussee to Obertraun.
Today is the longest day's walking and takes you to the highest point of the week. An easier alternative valley walk is available if required. Otherwise it's an early start to take you up past the delightful Sommersbergsee and then steeply up to the summit of the Hoher Sarstein at 1975 metres. On the steepest section there is an iron handrail to assist you. The climb is steep but not difficult but you should take the valley route if you don't like heights. The summit ridge walk is a true delight with the Dachstein Mountains ahead of you. There follows a long descent through the woods to Obertraun on the shore of Hallstattersee. A short train ride and ferry bring you to your hotel in Hallstatt, one of the most picturesque villages in Austria. ~ 7h30m

Day 5 Hallstatt to Gosau.
The route takes you steeply up from the lakeshore allowing lovely views back down over the flower bedecked chalets of Hallstatt. You will pass the Salzbergwerk, the intriguing salt mine popular among visitors. Then it's up through the woods and over the col underneath rocky peaks to descend to Gosau and your overnight stay. ~ 6h

Day 6 Gosau to Postalm.
Crossing the Gschutt Pass you soon reach the village of Russbach. From here you ascend to the Rinnbergalm and then it's a lovely walk through high alpine meadows to your hotel at Postalm. Spending the night here at an altitude of 1250 metres is a wonderful experience and means that tomorrow is downhill nearly all the way. ~ 6h.

Day 7 Postalm to Strobl.
An easy last day's walking takes you from the alpine meadows of the Postalm down to the delightfully situated village of Strobl on the shore of Wolfgangsee. From here you catch the ferry the length of the lake back to St Gilgen. ~ 4h30m.

Day 8 Departure.

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