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 circuit
the sportsman’s tour
4 days / 3 nights
- daily arrival possible
At 2,995 metres, the main summit of the Dachstein Mountains is one of the highest elevations in the Northern Alps. The Dachstein is extremely formative for the emergence of the Salzkammergut. A large part of the Salzkammergut lakes are former glacial lakes of the Dachstein Glacier. With the first ascent of the Hohe Dachstein on 18.7.1834, the tourist success story of mountaineering in this region began. A little later, Friedrich Simony built the world's first via ferrata here. In the middle of the last century, the cable car was built. The tour described here also uses the cable car as an ascent aid. This tour harmoniously combines scenic highlights and differences in altitude. Look forward to a charming hiking trip through diverse landscapes and the encounter with a true "mountain personality"!
The course of your hiking tour:
Day 1: Individual arrival in Gosau and start of the first stage
You receive your travel documents at one of our partners
Starting at the wonderful lake Gosausee you use the cable car to get to Zwieselalm. From here you hike a long the Gosaukamm range. Pass the impressive Donnerkogel and the Bischofsmütze and finally you arrive at the Hofpürglhütte. Overnight stay at Hofpürglhütte.
~ 10 km, 4-5 hrs, altitude difference ascent 850 m / descent 860 m
Day 2: From the Hofpürglhütte to the imposing south face of the Dachstein
From the Hofpürglhütte todays hike leads you along the timber line and through limestone landscape. At this high altitude hiking trail you walk around the valley above Filzmoos and finally reach the Dachstein Südwandhütte. Overnight stay Dachstein Südwandhütte
~11 km, 5-6 hrs, altitude difference ascent 762 m / descent 586 m
Day 3: For the alpine hike to Guttenberg lodge two variants are possible:
Variant 1:
Walk through the valley. From the Südwandhütte the trail leads you to the valley station of the cable car and further on to Ramsau. You head on via the Anton-Baum-trail, cross the timber line again and ascent to Guttenberg lodge. Recommended in cloudy and foggy weather conditions.
~15 km, 4-5 hrs, altitude difference ascent 1048 m / descent 785 m
Variant 2:
Ascent by cable car to the Dachstein glacier (to be paid on spot). High altitude hike on trail 674 to Guttenberg lodge
~9,5 km, 4-5 hrs, altitude difference ascent 264 m / descent 861 m
Overnight stay at Guttenberg lodge.
ATTENTION: If you decide to take the route via the Dachstein Glacier it is very important to make a reservation for your gondola ride here: www.derdachstein.at/en - at minimum 1 week in advance. Otherwise the gondola could be fully booked.
For the reservation guests are responsible for themselves.
Day 4: over the plateau “Am Stein” to Obertraun
High altitude hike from the Guttenberghaus over the plateau “Am Stein”, to Krippenegg, one mainstay of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hallstatt – Dachstein – Salzkammergut with its viewing platforms and ice caves
~16 km, 6 h, altitude difference ascent 241 m / descent 1781 m;
Optional descent with the cable car to Obertraun. (to be paid on spot)
Public bus ride OR transfer from Obertraun to Gosau
Individual departure or additional nights.
Requirements and General Information
The tour mainly covers alpine terrain. You will need appropriate mountain equipment and basic stamina. Necessary mountain equipment: ankle-high boots, functional clothes, rucksack, food and water, rain and sun protection, first-aid kit, mobile phone, possibly hiking sticks,… Even in the midsummer there could be a drop of temperature, so please make sure that you have warm clothing with you including gloves and cap.
Your route is recorded for posterity when you enter your name in every hut logbook in the Dachstein Mountains. The routes are well signposted, although the signs could partly be covered by snow. Hence, it is imperative that you take your maps and the Dachstein hiking book with you. An experienced guide is available to accompany you upon request.
The carrying out of the tour is dependent on weather conditions! Alternative walking routes are always possible.
Arrangement
3x
overnight stay with breakfast at huts – communal bunks (hut sleeping bag* mandatory)
1x
welcome video with explanations and information you need for this tour
1x
ascent by Zwieselalm cable car
1x
Dachstein hiking guide book + extra tour map (1 x per room)
1x
bus ticket OR transfer from Obertraun to Gosau
1x
hiking map and hiking book – Dachstein (1x per room)
+
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 €:
| 01.07. - 29.09.25 | |
|---|---|
| Alpine huts, communal bunks, with bus transfer | 262,00 |
| Supplement half board | 109,00 |
| Supplement for single travellers | 25,00 |
| extra charge transfer Obertraun – Gosau 1-2 Pax | 102,00 |
| additional person | 18,00 |
| 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 ‘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 1800 metres of ascent - Ø 8-18 hours walking time - extremely difficult terrain: Trails with very large obstacles. Only for trained hikers.