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Lakes, Mountains & Timeless Beauty
St.Wolfgang-St.Gilgen-Schwarzensee-Strobl-Bad Ischl-Bad Goisern-Hallstatt
SALZKAMMERGUT, this self-guided walking tour leads you through one of the most spectacular regions in Austria – the Salzkammergut, a picture-perfect landscape of glittering lakes, forested mountains, and charming alpine villages. It’s the ideal destination for a walking holiday in Austria, combining pure nature, culture, and Austrian hospitality.
Stretching from Salzburg to the Dachstein Mountains, the Salzkammergut is home to 76 lakes, each with its own personality. Some, like the Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, and Traunsee, are well-known for their elegant resort towns such as St. Gilgen, Strobl, and Bad Ischl – once the beloved summer retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi. Others are hidden gems, tranquil and untouched, where crystal-clear waters mirror the peaks of the Alps.
The name Salzkammergut means “Estate of the Salt Chamber”, recalling the time when salt – the “white gold” – was the foundation of the Habsburg Empire’s wealth. The ancient salt mines of Hallstatt and Bad Ischl shaped the region’s history, and walking here is like stepping back into a living story of Austria’s cultural heritage.
Your walking route follows lakeside paths and gentle mountain trails through this timeless landscape. You’ll walk from St. Gilgen and Strobl along the shores of the Wolfgangsee, explore the elegant spa town of Bad Ischl, follow the Brine Pipeline Trail (Soleleitungsweg) to Bad Goisern, and reach the fairytale village of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As you walk, you’ll encounter crystal-clear streams, alpine meadows, and peaceful forests, along with cozy inns serving regional delicacies. Every step reveals another breathtaking view – steep cliffs reflected in still waters, wildflowers along the trail, or traditional wooden houses nestled against the mountains.
The Austrian folk song says, “There is no more beautiful country in our time.”
Nowhere does this ring truer than in the Austrian Salzkammergut, a place where nature, history, and beauty come together in perfect harmony.
This Salzkammergut walking holiday offers not only scenic splendour but also quiet moments of discovery – small treasures and viewpoints that can only be reached on foot. A journey that touches both the eyes and the heart.
The daily program of the 5-day tour
At the hotel reception you will find your tour documents or if booked you will have a briefing at the end of the afternoon.
This morning you take the boat to the lovely St. Wolfgang. The high walk to the Falkenstein wall offers great views on the crystal clear lake. The idyllic Fürberg walk along the lake will lead you to the Mozart village St. Gilgen. You will return by boat Abersee/Wolfgangsee, where you will have another overnight stay
Overnight stay with breakfast in Abersee /Wolfgangsee
Distance: 10,5 km / 6,5 mi
Walking time: 4 hrs
Ascent / descent: + 354m – 354m (back to lake level)
Also this morning you will take the boat to St. Wolfgang. The Sattel (saddle) walk will bring you to the lake ‘Schwarzensee’, where Madame Lore of the Lake hut is offering her local specialities to walkers. Then it goes down hill into the valley passing though a gorge and walking round the Bürglstein you come to the promenade in the village of Strobl. By bus it goes to the Emperors town Bad Ischl.
Overnightstay with breakfast in Bad Ischl
Distance: 11,8 / 7,3 mi or 15,5 km /9,6 mi (around a little lake),
Walkingtime: 4 or 5,5 hrs
Ascent/Descent + 395m – 395m (back to lake level)
The first stretch follows the river untill you reach Lake Hallstatt. You walk along a trail following the lake into the Fjord. Then you get a stunning view of Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. A ferry brings you to Hallstatt center, where you can enjoy the mountain architecture and the small alleys. You take the funicular up to the salt mine and you will see Mount Dachstein, the highest peak of Upper Austria. By boat and train you return to Bad Goisern
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Goisern
Distance: 14,5 km / 9 mi
Walkingtime: 4,5 hrs
Ascent/descent: +90m -90m + cable car
After breakfast ends your tour through the Austrian lake district.
The daily program of the 6-day tour
At the hotel reception you will find your tour documents or if booked you will have a briefing at the end of the afternoon.
This morning you take the boat to the lovely St. Wolfgang. The high walk to the Falkenstein wall offers great views on the crystal clear lake. The idyllic Fürberg walk along the lake will lead you to the Mozart village St. Gilgen. You will return by boat Abersee/Wolfgangsee, where you will have another overnight stay
Overnight stay with breakfast in Abersee /Wolfgangsee
Distance: 10,5 km / 6,5 mi
Walking time: 4 hrs
Ascent / descent: + 354m – 354m (back to lake level)
Also this morning you will take the boat to St. Wolfgang. The Sattel (saddle) walk will bring you to the lake ‘Schwarzensee’, where Madame Lore of the Lake hut is offering her local specialities to walkers. Then it goes down hill into the valley passing though a gorge and walking round the Bürglstein you come to the promenade in the village of Strobl. By bus it goes to the Emperors town Bad Ischl.
Overnightstay with breakfast in Bad Ischl
Distance: 11,8 / 7,3 mi or 15,5 km /9,6 mi (around a little lake),
Walkingtime: 4 or 5,5 hrs
Ascent/Descent + 395m – 395m (back to lake level)
Salt always has been an important raw material of the Salzkammergut region and an economic forse. You will walk along the trail following the historic brine pipeline to the village of Bad Goisern. This lovely trails runs from the salt mountain of Hallstatt to Bad Ischl where in former times salt was produced. This pipeline belongs to the oldest one in the world but you can see it only on certain spots. There will be signs along the trail telling you more about the salt production in the Salzkammergut. You continue along the promenade of the river Ischl along the brine-pipeline to the world cultural heritage Bad Goisern, where your tour will finish in Bad Goisern, know as the gate to the UNESCO World Heritage of Hallstatt Dachstein but also know for handicrafts that are more artist than craftsmen.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Goisern /Hallstatt
Distance: 10,5 km / 6, 5 mi
Walking time: 4 hrs
Ascent / descent: +260m -180m
The first stretch follows the river untill you reach Lake Hallstatt. You walk along a trail following the lake into the Fjord. Then you get a stunning view of Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. A ferry brings you to Hallstatt center, where you can enjoy the mountain architecture and the small alleys. You take the funicular up to the salt mine and you will see Mount Dachstein, the highest peak of Upper Austria. By boat and train you return to Bad Goisern
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Goisern
Distance: 14,5 km / 9 mi
Walkingtime: 4,5 hrs
Ascent/descent: +90m -90m + cable car
After breakfast ends your tour through the Austrian lake district.
The daily program of the 8-day tour
At the hotel reception you will find your tour documents or if booked you will have a briefing at the end of the afternoon.
This morning you take the boat to the lovely St. Wolfgang. The high walk to the Falkenstein wall offers great views on the crystal clear lake. The idyllic Fürberg walk along the lake will lead you to the Mozart village St. Gilgen. You will return by boat Abersee/Wolfgangsee, where you will have another overnight stay
Overnight stay with breakfast in Abersee /Wolfgangsee
Distance: 10,5 km / 6,5 mi
Walking time: 4 hrs
Ascent / descent: + 354m – 354m (back to lake level)
Also this morning you will take the boat to St. Wolfgang. The Sattel (saddle) walk will bring you to the lake ‘Schwarzensee’, where Madame Lore of the Lake hut is offering her local specialities to walkers. Then it goes down hill into the valley passing though a gorge and walking round the Bürglstein you come to the promenade in the village of Strobl. By bus it goes to the Emperors town Bad Ischl.
Overnightstay with breakfast in Bad Ischl
Distance: 11,8 / 7,3 mi or 15,5 km /9,6 mi (around a little lake),
Walkingtime: 4 or 5,5 hrs
Ascent/Descent + 395m – 395m (back to lake level)
Today you can enjoy your stay in Bad Ischl, where you could visit the Emperors villa, Café Zauner or the hotel Austria, where once upon a time the engagement of Emperor Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Bavaria (Sissi of the famous film …) took place.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Ischl
Salt always has been an important raw material of the Salzkammergut region and an economic forse. You will walk along the trail following the historic brine pipeline to the village of Bad Goisern. This lovely trails runs from the salt mountain of Hallstatt to Bad Ischl where in former times salt was produced. This pipeline belongs to the oldest one in the world but you can see it only on certain spots. There will be signs along the trail telling you more about the salt production in the Salzkammergut. You continue along the promenade of the river Ischl along the brine-pipeline to the world cultural heritage Bad Goisern, where your tour will finish in Bad Goisern, know as the gate to the UNESCO World Heritage of Hallstatt Dachstein but also know for handicrafts that are more artist than craftsmen.
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Goisern /Hallstatt
Distance: 10,5 km / 6, 5 mi
Walking time: 4 hrs
Ascent / descent: +260m -180m
The first stretch follows the river untill you reach Lake Hallstatt. You walk along a trail following the lake into the Fjord. Then you get a stunning view of Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. A ferry brings you to Hallstatt center, where you can enjoy the mountain architecture and the small alleys. You take the funicular up to the salt mine and you will see Mount Dachstein, the highest peak of Upper Austria. By boat and train you return to Bad Goisern
Overnight stay with breakfast in Bad Goisern
Distance: 14,5 km / 9 mi
Walkingtime: 4,5 hrs
Ascent/descent: +90m -90m + cable car
This morning you go by train to Bad Ischl and walking along the Elisabeth-walking path you will reach the idyllic little lake of Nussensee. You continue along the river Ischl to come to Strobl. Crossing the lake district through the Blinkling moor you will reach Abersee and will have astonishing views of St. Wolfgang, Schafberg and the lake.
Overnightstay with breakfast in Abersee /Wolfgangsee
Distance: 19,5 km / 12,1 mi (the tour can be shortened by coach or boat but so far all clients made the whole day),
Walking time: 6 hrs
Ascent/descent: +210m -140m
After breakfast ends your tour through the Austrian lake district.
Impressions of Salzkammergut
St.Wolfgang-St.Gilgen-Schwarzensee-Strobl-Bad Ischl-Bad Goisern-Hallstatt
LEVEL 2
This is leisure walking with distances of 3 to 6 hours per day with not too many steep climbs and moderate differences in level. Children from 8 years with walking experience.
Daily distances between 10,5 km / 6,5 mi and 19,5 km /12,1 mi
Total km: 66,8 km / 41,5 mi
DEPARTURES:
Self-guided tour daily arrival from 24/04/2026 to 30/10/2026
PARTICIPANTS:
Self-guided tour 2 or more people (solo traveller on request)
START / FINISH:
Abersee -Wolfgangsee / Abersee-Wolfgangsee or Hallstatt (6 day tour)
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