The local tax, also known as visitor's tax, is payable locally to the landlord; the amount depends on the resort and is between €1,00 and €4,00 per person per night. Children up to the age of 15 are usually exempt.
Dachstein circular hiking trail
the epicure´s tour
3 nights / 4 days
- with luggage transfer
- with over night stay at a alpine hut
- Arrival daily possible
The Hohe Dachstein with its 2,995 meters, at the same time the highest mountain in the Northern Limestone Alps, was once a barrier between the Enns Valley and the Salzkammergut to the north of it. This, in turn, owes its name to the salt mining that has been carried out here since about 7,000 years. Since the beginning of the 19th century, the deeply cut crystal-clear lakes - formed by glaciers - as well as towering mountains have attracted many guests to this impressive landscape. In 1997, the impressive mountain landscape of the Salzkammergut with the Dachstein was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Surrounded by rugged rock faces, the Ausseerland is an alpine, natural gem. During this enjoyable hiking tour, you cross the eastern foothills of the Dachstein and reach the Styrian part of the Salzkammergut via quiet alpine pastures and cultural-historical treasures and finally its main town Bad Aussee.
Highlights
- Visit to the World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut
- Along old muleteer and smugglers' paths
- Impressive hikes through a former glacial landscape
- Culinary delights on beautifully situated alpine pastures
- Via Austria's highest Alpine road
The course of your hiking tour:
Day 1: Individual arrival in Gröbming in Eastern Styria
The ascent to the 1,845-metre-high and uniquely situated mountain inn Steinerhaus at the Stoderzinken is fantastically beautiful - this is organised for train travellers - and leads over Styria's highest alpine road. The mountain hotel is not only a magnificent vantage point, but also the starting point for many activities on the Grimming, for example to the nearby Friedenskircherl. The view of the mountains from the terrace of the mountain inn and the hotel rooms is unique. Look forward to enjoying the mountain scenery during the so-called "blue hour" from the hotel.
(1 night in the Berggasthof Steinerhaus)
Day 2: Through the Kemet Mountains
From the mountain inn, follow a natural path to the Brünnerhut. The route leads through a beautiful larch forest and past stone pines to an ancient mule track that used to be used by charcoal burners. Dense forest is sometimes interrupted by large clearings, such as the Wiesmahd. Soon the so-called Notgasse is reached. In the time of the Peasants' and Religious Wars, many locals hid in the mysterious gorge. The path winds its way through a narrow gorge about 550 metres long and up to 30 metres high, where there are ancient rock carvings under the protection of UNESCO. Then follow a forest path to the Brandalm. From there the tour proceeds along the so-called Bettlersteig to the Viehbergalm, a small, beautifully landscaped alpine village with several managed huts, where you are well supplied with fresh alpine specialties.
You have to bring your own luggage for the night at the Viehbergalm. The rest of the luggage will be transported from the Steinerhaus to Bad Mitterndorf, where you will spend the night the following day.
(1 night at the Viehbergalm)
Hiking: approx. 3 hours (10 km, ascent 364 m in height, descent 752 m in height)
Day 3: On forest trails and alpine paths
Today's hike is not difficult and runs steadily up and down to the 1731 meter high Hochmühleck, from where you have a beautiful view of the lonely Kemet Mountains. We continue through a picture-book forest in the immediate vicinity of the Steinitzenalm, a cozy alpine hut in the middle of beautiful nature at about 1000 meters above sea level. Via the Langmoosalm, the descent takes place through the Almgraben to Bad Mitterndorf, which has only been able to adorn itself with the predicate Bad for 50 years, although the Celts already knew the healing spring. From the spa there is a magnificent view of the Grimming massif. Treat yourself to a little more rest tonight; Your luggage will be waiting for you at the hotel!
(1 night in Bad Mitterndorf; Luggage transport from Gröbming to Bad Mitterndorf)
Hiking: approx. 4 hours (13 km, ascent 422 m in height, descent 752 m in height)
Day 4: Varied route through the Ausseerland
Today's hike takes place in the Styrian part of the Salzkammergut, in the middle of Austria, so to speak. From the Steinitzenalm it runs on an easy path to the Stieger snack station. Then follow the signs to karst springs, the so-called "Strumern", romantically situated in the middle of a beautiful forest. On days when the snow melts or after long periods of rain, powerful springs show up in a very small area, forming a torrent after just a few metres. Most of the time, however, the spring stream bed with its green mossy stream stones is dry. The path continues flat through forest and over open meadows to the natural lake Ödensee. It is a fantastically beautiful forest moor lake, ideal for swimming, resting and stopping off at the Kohlröserlhut. The trail leads along a forest path along the Traun, past the "Vogelhut", and on to the destination of the hiking tour in Bad Aussee. The spa owes its origin to the flourishing salt industry and the confluence of two mountain rivers.
If you arrive by car, you can then take the train back to Gröbming with a transfer to the Steinerhaus; the luggage will be brought to the Steinerhaus and the departure is individual.
If you have chosen the train as your means of travel, the baggage handover will take place in Bad Aussee; This is followed by individual departure.
Hiking: approx. 5-6 hours (18 km, ascent 475 m in height, descent 628 m in height)
Requirements and General Information
During the tour around the Dachstein you are mostly in high alpine terrain. Appropriate mountain equipment and endurance are therefore a prerequisite. The necessary equipment includes: mountain boots, functional clothing, backpack, water and food, rain and sun protection, warm clothing – even in midsummer temperature drops are possible, hat, warm gloves, first aid package, mobile phone, possibly hiking poles, etc. Your route is immortalized by your entry in every hut book in the Dachstein Mountains. The paths are well signposted, but markings may be obscured by remaining snow. Maps and the Dachstein hiking book must therefore be carried along. Accompanied by an experienced hiking guide on request.
Arrangement
3x
overnight stays with alpine breakfast
(2 x in ***inn/hotel, 1 x in mountain hut – bedclothes, towels and running water available)
(2 x in ***inn/hotel, 1 x in mountain hut – bedclothes, towels and running water available)
1x
welcome video with explanations and information you need for this tour
1x
Dachstein hiking guide book + extra tour map (1 x per room)
1x
train ticket from Bad Aussee to Grobming
1x
transfer from Grobming to Steiner Haus
2x
luggage transfer - max. 2 pcs./person and max. 25 kg/piece of luggage
+
Daily service hotline from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm (also on weekends)
+
A Tree for your booking – for every hiking tour booked with us a tree is planted
Rates per person and arrangement in €:
| 01.06. - 09.09.2024 | |
|---|---|
| ***hotel/inn in double room (communal bunks in hut) | 485,-- |
| Supplement half board (min. 2 course dinner in inns/hotels and partly also in huts otherwise 1 course hikers-meal in huts) | 99,-- |
| Supplement 5 x single room (communal bunks in huts) | 106,-- |
| Additional night double room with breakfast | 70,-- |
| Additional night supplement for half board | 23,-- |
| Additional night supplement for single room | 20,-- |
| Day of arrival | Daily |
| Mountain guide | On request |
Notes on staying at an Alpine lodge:
- *Hut sleeping bag: blankets are available in the huts; necessary but mandatory is only a lightweight cotton/silk sleeping bag liner
- Due to their location, not all huts can offer running water, hot water or showers. In some cases there is also no flushing system in the toilets.
- On most huts, card payment is not possible. Take enough cash with you for food and drinks.
Become a sponsor of Austrian mountain rescue and enjoy the comprehensive rescue protection: www.bergrettung-ooe.at/en/foerderer-werden
The standard terms and conditions of the Salzkammergut Touristik GmbH apply in the current version.
Rates and operating hours / timetables are subject to change
Our recommendations:
Get a travel cancellation insurance.
Informationen
For environmental reasons, we recommend arriving and departing by public transport (train/bus). We are happy to help you organise your train journey within Austria. Talk to us!
"A tree for your booking" – Cooperation project with Austrian Federal Forests
For every bike or hiking tour in the region booked with us, a tree is planted in the Weißenbach valley – near Bad Ischl. With this campaign we want to generate awareness for climate-friendly travel and take responsibility for a world worth living in.
The UNESCO World Heritage List currently lists 1,154 natural and cultural sites from 167 countries worldwide. The excellent cultural and natural monuments have an extraordinary universal value that must be preserved in the long term. Austria is represented with 10 World Heritage Sites.
The ‘Dachstein circular hiking trail’ opens up the scenic beauty and diversity of the Dachstein, the "showpiece of the northern limestone Alps", in 8 daily stages. In manageable daily stages, without rope and climbing equipment, with walking times between four and seven hours, the scenic diversity of the mountain range can be experienced hiking.
Level of difficulty
Daily stages with up to 900 metres of ascent - Ø 4-10 hours walking time - medium to difficult terrain: Trails with major obstacles.