Valley meets summit in Bad Ischl

Ischl became a holiday destination of European standing in the mid-19th century when Emperor Franz Joseph began spending his holidays at his summer residence there. Bad Ischl—a spa town since 1906—is located in the heart of the Salzkammergut region and is the ideal starting point for this exceptionally varied hiking tour. Leisure and relaxation can be found, for example, in the spa gardens, the spacious thermal baths, or by visiting the famous Café Zauner. You will receive your detailed travel documents at the hotel.  
(3 nights)

The first hike of your trip starts gently along the Traun river to Bad Ischl's local mountain, the Katrin. Now a steep climb begins, partly in serpentines, to the mountain inn, which invites you to take a break. Afterwards, spectacular panoramic views await you. You continue hiking along the mountain, pass a short section secured with ropes, and finally reach the Hainzen. Continuing past the Elferkogel and finally to the summit cross of the Katrin, you hike back to the mountain station of the Katrin cable car, which you use for the descent. If the weather is good, you will have been able to discover seven lakes during the hike and see as far as Bavaria.

If you want to make the day more leisurely, you can also use the cable car to save yourself most of the ascent (payable on site).

~ 10 km; 6 hrs., difference in altitude: ascent 1160 / descent 230 m (250 m ascent if taking the cable car up)

Your hotel is located directly on the turquoise-green waters of the Traun River, where today's stage along the Soleweg trail begins on the esplanade. Here, you follow the course of the brine pipeline, the oldest active pipeline in the world, which transports brine from the Hallstatt salt mine to the salt works in Ebensee. Passing the valley station of the Katrin cable car and the bronze statue of the emperor hunting, you hike along the popular hiking trail to the small village of Lauffen. The name derives from the rapids that the salt shippers once had to overcome and for which they asked the Madonna for protection from misfortune. Incidentally, this is also where the comedy ‘Weißes Rössl’ was set. After Lauffen, the valley floor widens and the Kalmberge mountains rise one after the other, followed by the mighty Dachstein mountains. After Weißenbach, the mountain panorama is particularly impressive with the ‘Ewige Wand’ (Eternal Wall) on the left, the mighty ridge of the Hoher Sarstein and the Krippenstein, over 2000 metres high, in the distance. You now reach the former woodworkers' settlement of Bad Goisern. It stretches for several kilometres to the northern end of Lake Hallstatt. The village was founded because the rich local timber resources were needed to heat the brewing vats in Hallstatt.

From your destination, Steeg-Gosau station, take the train back to Bad Ischl.

Hike: approx. 5 hours, (16 km, ascent: 190 m / descent: 150 m)

Starting directly from the hotel, you first hike over a hill called Sternzens Abendsitz, which already offers a wonderful view of the city. Shortly afterwards, you leave the settlements and hike along the Rettenbachklamm gorge and then on a forest road to the Rettenbachalm. After this comparatively flat but longer section, the partly steep ascent to the hut begins. Passing the Sattelkogel, you reach the Ischler Hütte and thus your destination for today.

You can also shorten the day's stage and take a taxi to the Rettenbachalm (payable on site).

Hike: approx. 7 hours (14 km, ascent 970 m / descent: 70 m) / from Rettenbachalm approx. 4-5 hours (6 km, ascent 790 m / descent 50 m)

Today, you will follow the same route you took yesterday from the Ischler Hut via the Rettenbach Valley back to Bad Ischl and thus back to the town.
Hike: approx. 5 hours (14 km, ascent 70 m / descent 970 m) / to Rettenbachalm: approx. 3 hours (6 km, ascent 50 m / descent 790 m)

Individual departure