Hiking in the World Heritage region Salzkammergut

You will receive your detailed travel documents at the hotel in Abersee or St. Gilgen. The name of the lake originates from Bishop Wolfgang of Regensburg, who stayed here in the 10th century. The church in St. Wolfgang became a place of pilgrimage and tourism was already booming in the Middle Ages. In the 19th century, the so-called summer resort spread from the imperial city of Bad Ischl to Lake Wolfgang. A perfect place to start the holiday week ahead! (2 nights in Abersee / St. Gilgen)

From Abersee take the ferry across the lake to St. Wolfgang. Today's hike leads past the small village of Ried along the historic pilgrimage route over the Falkenstein with many places of worship and the Falkenstein Chapel and a cave. According to the legend, Bishop Wolfgang hid here from the devil. A total of 24 signposted experience points document the special importance of this cultural trail, which is unique in Europe, from prehistoric times through Christian missionary work to the beginning of modern tourism. Along the lake and to the Fürberg Inn, follow the shore path to the Mozart town of St. Gilgen. Below the street, the pretty town nestles on the shore and you can stroll past the pretty town hall and other villas as well as the birthplace of Mozart's mother, where also the sister of the world-famous musician lived. The ship takes you from St. Gilgen back to Gschwendt (Abersee). Alternatively, you can also walk from St. Gilgen to Abersee.

Hiking: approx. 2-3 hours (10 km, ascent 352 m in height, descent 352 m in height)

Once more, the ferry takes you to St. Wolfgang. From there you start your ascent to the quiet heights of the Schwarzensee. At about 700 meters above sea level, the small mountain lake offers some beautiful bathing spots. A stop at the “Zur Lore” inn is recommended; here you can enjoy freshly caught trout! Further on, into the direction of Strobl, you circle the Bürglstein on a panoramic path, which runs - particularly picturesque - directly along the water. Before you reach Strobl at the eastern end of the lake, you have entered the state of Salzburg. Now follow the promenade to the center of Strobl. The local bus takes you comfortably to the once imperial summer resort of Bad Ischl. (2 nights in a 4* hotel)

Hiking: approx. 5-6 hours (14 km, ascent 573 m in height, descent 573 m in height)

Ischl became a holiday destination of European standing during the mid-19th century when Emperor Franz Joseph began to spend his holidays in his summer residence. In 1906, the small town in the heart of the Salzkammergut, was given the status of a spa-town. Here you can find leisure and relaxation, for example, at the Kurpark or you can visit the famous Café Zauner and the city museum in the former Hotel Austria. A visit to the Imperial Villa, embedded in a spacious park, is included in the tour price and is highly recommended if you want to travel back in time to the 19th century, when the imperial family spent their summer months here.

Today's stage begins on the promenade of the turquoise-green rippling Traun. Past the valley station of the Katrin cable car and the statue of the hunter Emperor Franz Josef, the hike leads along a narrow, wooded road to the small town of Lauffen. The name derives from the rapids that the salt boatmen once had to overcome and asked the Madonna to protect them from misfortune. Incidentally, this is also where the comedy “Weißes Rössl” was created. Once you have left Lauffen, the valley floor widens and the Kalmberge and the mighty Dachstein Mountain rise one after the other. After Weißenbach, the mountain panorama is particularly impressive due to the “Ewigen Wand” (Eternal Wall) on the left, the mighty ridge of the Hoher Sarstein and the more than 2,000 meter high Krippenstein in the distance. Now you reach the former woodworkers' settlement, today a World Heritage region, Bad Goisern. It extends over several kilometers to the northern end of Lake Hallstatt. The place was founded because the local rich wood deposits were needed for heating the broth pans in Hallstatt. (2 nights)

Hiking: approx. 3 hours (9 km, ascent 201 m in height, descent 188 m in height)

On the way to Lake Hallstatt you follow the Traun, the refreshing lifeline of the Salzkammergut, which has its source at the Tote Gebirge in Styria. The following section on the eastern shore of the lake, reminiscent of a Norwegian fjord, with no buildings blocking the sight, the view of the Dachstein Mountains and glacier is fantastic and the route is spectacular. The flank of the Sarstein falls almost vertically into the lake and the partly on bridges running path floating above the lake gives the impression of walking over the water. Yout hike continues via Obertraun to Hallstatt. If you want to take a short cut, you can take the ferry from Hallstatt train station to Hallstatt market and save about eight kilometers on foot (ferry to be paid on site). The almost perfect ensemble of narrow streets, historic houses, lake panorama and the cultural heritage from the Hallstatt period make this place world famous. During your visit through the world’s oldest salt mine, you will enter a fascinating underground world. From Hallstatt market, take the ferry to the train station and continue on the Salzkammergut Railway back to Bad Goisern.

Hiking: approx. 5 hours (19 km, ascent 127 m in height, descent 102 m in height)

The bus takes you from the Inner Salzkammergut in Bad Goisern back to Bad Ischl. From here you hike along the Elisabeth forest path, that was laid out in 1899 and which Empress Sisi often visited, to Pfandl, where brine was boiled as early as the 12th century. Follow the short river Ischl, which originates at Lake Wolfgang and flows into the Traun in Bad Ischl, to Aigen-Voglhub and further on to Strobl on Lake Wolfgang. Following the local lake side swimming area, you reach the Blinkling Moos nature reserve. Created 10,000 years ago, it is still a well-preserved small, raised bog that was left behind by the last ice age. Rare plants can be discovered here. It's not far to the small town of Abersee, which lies directly across from the alluvial fan of the Zinkenbach and St. Wolfgang. (1 night in a ***hotel in Abersee/St. Gilgen)

Hiking: approx. 5 hours (18 km, ascent 128 m in height, descent 68 m in height)

At the Wolfgangsee you can easily spend more vacation days. The three main towns of St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang and Strobl are also connected by ship. A replica of the legendary paddle steamer "Kaiser Franz Josef I." still making the rounds today. The mountain pastures around Lake Wolfgang are among the most beautiful in the Salzkammergut and invite you to view the entire length of the lake from above.

If you don't have time to spend more vacation days here, it's time to say goodbye and start your journey home.