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Holidays

Self-Guided Walking In Austria

Austria
1 review
Available Departures: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct

8 days from

US$1,135

without flights
Walk & Trek
Self-Guided
LEISURELY LEISURELY

Discover the crystal clear lakes of Austria’s Salzkammergut on foot

Trip Code: SGSL
Holiday Grades
          

Our Holiday Grades Explained

To show the relative difficulty of our holidays, each trip is graded on a scale of 1 to 12, with 12 being the most challenging. Although we have tried to make our grading system as clear as possible, it cannot take into account your personal interests, abilities or experience. If you have any questions about the nature of a particular trip or its suitability for you, please read the 'Is this holiday for you?' section or contact us.

 1 - 3 LEISURELY
1 - 3 LEISURELY

Suitable for most people in good health, holidays at this grade include only limited amounts of activity.

View leisurely holidays
4 - 6 MODERATE
4 - 6 MODERATE

Suitable for reasonably fit individuals, such as weekend walkers and cyclists. There can be the occasional more difficult day.

View moderate holidays
7 - 9 CHALLENGING
7 - 9 CHALLENGING

Physically challenging holidays, where you need to be prepared before you go.

View challenging holidays
10 - 12 TOUGH
10 - 12 TOUGH

Our toughest holidays, involving many long days, often in isolated areas. A high level of fitness and previous wilderness and mountain experience is essential.

View Tough holidays

Self-Guided Walking In Austria

Highlights
  • Visit the Imperial Villa and Hotel Austria where Emperor Franz Joseph proposed to Elizabeth of Bavaria
  • Swim in the crystal clear waters of Wolfgangsee
  • Stay in colourful alpine villages and enjoy the warm Austrian hospitality
  • Discover the World Heritage town of Hallstatt and panoramic views from the Skywalk

At a Glance
  • Self-Guided
  • 6 days walking and sightseeing
  • Daily departures available
  • Join In Abersee or St. Wolfgang

Accommodation & Meals
  • 7 Breakfasts
  • 7 nights Hotel
Overview

As the summer residence for Emperor Franz Joseph and Elizabeth of Bavaria for over 60 years and with salt mining in the area dating back to the Celtic period, the Salzkammergut not only offers beautiful scenery but a deep and rich culture just waiting for you to explore on this one week self-guided walking holiday.


Located less than an hour from Salzburg, the Salzkammergut is the playground for Salzburg’s residents including the famous musician Mozart. Known as Austria’s Lake District, the region offers wonderful easy walking surrounded by high peaks and beautiful crystal clear lakes. Walk through scenes from the Sound of Music with beautiful green pastures scattered with fragrant wild flowers in the spring and stay in quaint alpine towns ready to provide you a warm alpine welcome. On this holiday you will explore Lake Wolfgangsee and Lake Hallstattersee, stay in the Imperial summer residence of Bad Ischl and discover the fascinating salt mining heritage of the UNESCO town, Hallstatt. We have hand selected fantastic family run alpine 3* hotels for your holiday all known for their warm hospitality and superb locations. And with two nights in each hotel you will have plenty of time to enjoy the pretty towns of Abersee, Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern, plus the flexibility of being on a self-guided walking holiday means you have plenty of opportunity to sample local delicacies such as Goulash in one of the fantastic restaurants.

Is this holiday for you?

This holiday has been specially designed for a relaxed pace around the spectacular Salzkammergut mountains and lakes. This trip is ideal if you love being in the mountains but don’t feel the need to hike the highest peak in sight. This self-guided walking holiday is all about gentle low level walks interspersed with visits to cultural sites, sampling fantastic food and enjoying the beautiful cle …

This holiday has been specially designed for a relaxed pace around the spectacular Salzkammergut mountains and lakes. This trip is ideal if you love being in the mountains but don’t feel the need to hike the highest peak in sight. This self-guided walking holiday is all about gentle low level walks interspersed with visits to cultural sites, sampling fantastic food and enjoying the beautiful clear blue lakes, whether it is on the cruise ferry, hiring a boat or swimming after a day of walking. You will stay in highly rated 3* hotels all chosen especially for their fantastic location and warm alpine welcome. Routes are well marked for easy navigation and on well-established paths covering average distances of 13km with some ascents but no more than 450m.

Why KE?

We have designed this self-guided holiday with a relaxed pace in mind so you can absorb the alpine way of life, enjoy the Austrian coffee and cake culture and swim in the crystal clear lakes. The perfect introduction to alpine walking!

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Itinerary

Arrive at your hotel in the town of Abersee set on the shores of wonderful Wolfgangsee. Depending on the time of your arrival you may wish to explore this pretty alpine town, take a stroll along the lake shore or take your first dip in the crystal clear waters of Wolfgangsee. In the evening a representative will greet you at the hotel and provide you with some further information about this fantastic area and your week here. In peak season you may be based at another of our partner hotels just a short cruise ride across the lake in the pretty town of St Wolfgang. This is the starting point of your first days walk and is also set on the beautiful shores of Wolfgangsee.

Accommodation

Hotel

Your day begins with a ferry cruise across the lake to picturesque St Wolfgang. You will have time to explore and enjoy a morning coffee before beginning your walk. The route will take you on a trail out of the town to ascend through quaint farms and woodlands to Falkenstein church nestled into the rock face. This fascinating little church dates back to 976 when it was home to the Bishop of Wolfgang who was living as a hermit here. It is said to have a healing spring and the route has become somewhat of a pilgrimage to the church and offers spectacular views over the lake below. After a quick holiday photo your route continues descending to the lakeshore path to lead you to the elegant Mozart village of St Gilgen on the northern shores of the lake. You will have time to explore the pretty streets and enjoy a coffee before taking the ferry cruise back to Abersee.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Ascent

250 M

Descent

250 M

Time

3-4 hours

Distance

10 KM

After breakfast you have a further opportunity to discover St Wolfgang and enjoy a relaxing ferry cruise across the lake. Your walk leaves the village and through meadows to the beautiful lake Schwarzensee and the welcoming Zur Lore mountain hut ready to reward you with your morning coffee and apfelstrudel. The blue waters of the lake and pretty mountain huts dotted along the shores make this a popular spot with locals enjoying a family picnic. There is time to relax and enjoy a refreshing dip in the lake before continuing your walk around Burglstein to the promenade of Strobl. From here you take a short bus journey to the spa town of Bad Ischl, famed for the old Imperial Villa where Emperor Franz Joseph spent his summers. Here you will stay at a lovely 4* hotel for the following two nights with plenty of time to explore.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Ascent

300 M

Descent

300 M

Time

4-5 hours

Distance

12 KM

Today is a free day allowing you the opportunity to explore the sights of beautiful Bad Ischl. You will soon see why it has the royal approval! We recommend a visit to Kaiservilla, Franz Joseph's summer residence for over 60 years with its perfectly manicured gardens. It is here he proposed to Elizabeth of Bavaria and he began World War I with his declaration of war to Serbia in 1914. You may also wish to visit the museum depicting the growth of the town and its importance in salt production and as a spa town. Alternatively you may wish to sample the fantastic healing effects of the salt which is produced here, paying a visit to the Thermal spa and the Emperor's sauna.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Salt has always been an important source of income in the Salzkammergut, it is this 'white gold' which has shaped the culture and heritage of the region. Today's walk will take you along a section of the old brine trail connecting Hallstatt's UNESCO salt mine and the salt works in Bad Ischl. Your route takes you through woodland and along the promenade into Kaltenbachau, an area of Imperial amusements and where equine teams still gather each June to compete in dressage and racing events. There is an option to extend your route today with an ascent on a forest trail and along a ridge above the town for fantastic views. Your route finishes in Bad Goisern, the gateway to UNESCO heritage Hallstatt and your hotel for the next two evenings.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Ascent

50 M

Descent

50 M

Time

4-5 hours

Distance

11 KM

Today your route will take you onto another section of the brine trail ascending the salt mountain of Hallstatt home to the world's oldest salt mine dating back to the Celtic era. Your ascent is rewarded with the most spectacular panoramic view from the Skywalk down the lake and the Dashstein Massif. There is plenty of time for those all important holiday snaps before taking the impressive funicular down to the UNESCO town of Hallstatt. Here you will have opportunity to visit the town and mines before taking the cruise ferry across the lake to your hotel in Bad Goisern.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Ascent

400 M

Descent

100 M

Time

4-5 hours

Distance

12 KM

Your final day begins with a short train journey to Bad Ischl; from here you pick up the romantic Sissi-Path named after Franz Joseph's beloved wife Elizabeth (Sissi) of Bavaria. This well established path will take you past charming churches and pastures to the tiny Lake Nussensee and along the River Ischl to Lake Wolfgangsee. You continue through the Blinklingmoos Nature Reserve and along the lakeshore to Abersee to enjoy a celebratory drink to a fantastic week of walking in Salzkammergut.

Accommodation

Hotel

Meals

B

Ascent

300 M

Descent

200 M

Time

5-6 hours

Distance

18 KM

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and perhaps one last stroll along the lake shore before your onward journey.

Meals

B
Download Trip Notes
The Route
Airport Airport
Point Point
Trek

Essential Information

We've compiled some of our Frequently Asked Questions to help you learn more about this amazing trip.

  • All accommodation as described
  • Meals as described in the Meal Plan
  • Self-guided information pack containing your map and route notes
  • Luggage transfer
  • Welcome meeting
  • Cruise on Wolfgangsee
  • Ferry on Hallstattersee
  • Valley cable car Salzbergbahn Hallstatt
  • Train from Hallstatt to Bad Goisern and from Bad Goisern to Bad Ischl
  • Salzkammergut Erlebnis Card (offering reductions on many local attractions)

  • Travel insurance

  • Travel to/from Lake Wolfgangsee

  • Visas (if applicable)

  • Tourist Taxes may apply and are usually under 5 Euros per person per night

  • Bus ride Strobl to Bad Ischl (approx. 5 Euros)

  • Some meals as described in the Meal Plan

  • Personal equipment

  • Any additional activities/excursions indicated as optional

Each self-guided holiday comes with comprehensive route notes and a map or pocket guidebook of the area you are exploring. The route notes contain information about the places you will visit and the local transport you might need, along with the detailed route notes for your daily walks or cycle rides. We even include some tips for the best places to stop for lunch.

You can expect to receive your Self-Guided Pack containing your route notes, a map or guidebook, and all your relevant documents, no later than 3 weeks before your holiday start-date. We will send your documents using a signed-for courier so that you can track your package and know that it is safely on its way to you. For bookings of more than 4 people we will send an additional Self-Guided Pack. If you do not need this additional pack please inform our Sales Team. Your pack will be sent to the lead booker, so please remind them to pack it before setting off.

Should your self-guided trip be part of a longer adventure requiring you to leave home more than three weeks before your holiday start-date, please inform our Sales Team so that we can make alternative delivery arrangements.

Our Self-Guided Holidays are perfect for your next family holiday and are suitable for children of all ages.

Our partner hotels and accommodations are able to provide cots for young children, and some offer family rooms. We can also arrange hire of children’s bikes and tag along bikes for most of our self-guided cycling trips and with trips such as Lake Constance and the Danube offering routes on designated cycle paths you can rest assured in keeping your family safe.

As a parent we trust that you know your own child’s capabilities, so please read the itinerary details to ensure the distances covered each day are suitable for your family. If this is a first time walking holiday for your family, a centre based trip is a fantastic option as it allows you to easily opt out of a days walking if a day of building sand castles, swimming in the pool or visiting museums is calling instead.

Please discuss this further with our sales team who will be happy to assist in picking the best trip for your family.

The trip starts and ends at your hotel in Abersee or Wolfgang depending on your accommodation. All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a land only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you. The nearest airport for this trip is Salzburg Airport with many departures from regional UK airports.

Transport connections from Salzburg to Abersee are extremely good. If you are flying into Salzburg Airport you can take the public bus to Salzburg main bus terminus from where you are can take the bus directly to Abersee or with one change in Strobl for St Wolfgang. The journey take an hour and half and the buses run hourly so you can sit back and relax as you soak in the colourful alpine scenery.

Another option is to fly into Munich which allows for better regional flight options from the UK. If you are flying into Munich the train journey to Salzburg central station adds approx two and half hours to your journey to Abersee or St Wolfgang. Salzburg bus terminus is located next to the station.

This trip is on a bed and breakfast basis to allow you the most flexibility during your holiday.

Water from the taps is perfectly drinkable on this holiday - please use this to fill your personal bottles for your daily activities. We do not encourage the purchase of single use plastic bottles.

Food in Austria is a hearty affair with many stews, schnitzel and delicious desserts on offer to fuel all those walks in the beautiful peaks. When you think of Austrian cuisine it is hard not to think of goulash, strudel and yummy chocolate Sachertorte for which the country is famed but there is a world of history behind these national favourites along with many more.

Austrian cuisine is symbolic of the former crownlands of the monarchy with its multi-cultural history with Hungarians, Bohemians, Slovaks, Poles, Croatians and immigrants from the Dalmatia, Subcarpathia, Bukovina and Carnola all bringing their favourite recipes with them as they came to Vienna. The best of the best have become fully integrated into the Austrian menu. Take the Apfelstrudel for example which originally came from Turkey after being adopted by Hungary. Who would have thought this national dish was actually Turkish?

The best bit of this self-guided holiday is that we have created it on a bed and breakfast basis to allow you the opportunity to discover the many delicious dishes Austrian’s have adopted and created. We are sure you won’t be disappointed.

Alpine hospitality is second to none and you are sure for a warm welcome in our carefully selected family run 3* alpine hotels on this trip. All of the hotels on this trip have been chosen for their fantastic locations and character. Some also have spa and pool facilities, making them perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring. The hotels all offer a great breakfast buffet to fuel you for the day ahead and rooms are on a double or twin basis, some with Austrian style twin beds as is traditional in this area (two beds within one bed frame and separate bedding).

It is possible to arrange additional nights accommodation if you would like to enjoy this magnificent region a little longer. Please speak to one of our sales team for further details.

During high season you may be booked into an alternative accommodation of a similar standard in the area.

Your main luggage will be transferred between each of your hotels while you are out on your trek. We ask that you please ensure your luggage is under 20KG and that your luggage is ready for collection each morning. You will also need a daypack to carry your daily essentials with you.

Europe

Your passport must meet 2 requirements. It must be:

  • less than 10 years old on the day you enter (check the ‘date of issue’)

  • valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave (check the ‘expiry date’)

For the latest details on visiting countries within the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA), please check the UK Government website

The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required, and you should have at least 2 blank pages for each country that you visit.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Please ensure that you check for the latest advice before travel. For the most up to date information on entry requirements, please visit the UK Government website.

Vaccinations

You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations.

GHIC / Medical cover

UK residents should carry a free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland. This is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is vital when travelling overseas.

Severe Allergies

Please inform our KE Sales and support team of any severe allergies you may have before travel. We will always do our best to help but we are unable to guarantee an allergy free environment on our KE trips. We advise that you always carry your own treatment for the allergy with you such as 'adrenaline auto-injectors' if required.  We also recommend that you discuss this with your accommodation on arrival so that they can better assist you.

The advantage of a self-guided walking holiday is that you decide the pace however getting some additional exercise before coming on an active holiday makes a lot of sense. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable your walks will be. You should be comfortable with walking 3 to 4 hours for consecutive days. We suggest that you try to fit in a number of daily walks in hilly countryside before your trip and its always a good idea to spend some time walking in the footwear you are going to use on this holiday.

The Salzkammergut area is in the wet-warm-moderate climate zone making for warm summers ideal for exploring the mountains and lakes. The ideal time for a hiking tour is spring, summer and autumn. Although spring and autumn can be a bit more rainy, the spring brings fantastic alpine flowers and the autumn brings beautiful autumnal colours and warm lakes after a summer of warming sun. The summer is the most popular time to visit this area when there is the least rain and the lakes are abundant with people enjoying watersports and cooling off after a day of exploring.

As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's ‘Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCDO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips.

KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe.  Should the FCDO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation.  We receive regular updates direct from the FCDO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground.  If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office.

KE do not encourage the use of single use plastic items. We are ensuring that our agents all over the world are working together to reduce the problem and educate those around them. We are leading by example in our KE office by reducing our plastic use.

  • The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth
  • The Sound of Music by Maria Augusta Trapp

It is an essential condition of joining a holiday with KE Adventure Travel that you have a valid travel insurance policy to cover the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation.  When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.

For appropriate insurance cover we recommend Campbell Irvine Direct.  Please go to our Travel Insurance page for further information and to get a quote.

  • Hiking boots with good grip soles

  • Functional base layer

  • T-shirts

  • Hat

  • Windproof jacket

  • Fleece / extra layer

  • Long/short hiking trousers

  • Hiking socks

  • Waterproof jacket

  • Waterproof trousers

  • Rucksack (approx. 20 l)

  • Small first aid kit inside your rucksack

  • Sunscreen

  • Water bottle or hydration pack

  • Camera (batteries/memory card)

  • Mobile Phone (ensure your data package covers your destination)

  • Power bank

  • Waterproof phone cover

  • Sun glasses

  • Personal wash kit

  • Reusable cloth bag for shopping to avoid the use of plastic bags

  • Tupperware for picnics

  • Walking poles

  • Headtorch & spare batteries

  • Your self-guided route notes

Cotswold Outdoor Red PantonMany of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 12.5% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers.
>> Find out more

Reviews

4 out of 5 from 1 review

Good weather and good walks ★★★★

We enjoyed our walking holiday, however the local agent did not give us up to date route notes. Because the path was closed at a number of locations we had to make our own diversions, which resulted in us walking approximately 2 miles along a main road, not what we had expected. We have complained to the local agent who acknowledge their errors.

By Peter from Hexham | 10 June 2019

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. We're glad you enjoyed your holiday. We have discussed the path closures with our local agent and now have an alternative route for this day which avoids the road.


Traveller Reviews
4 out of 5 from 1 review

Good weather and good walks
★ ★ ★ ★

We enjoyed our walking holiday, however the local agent did not give us up to date route notes. Because the path was closed at a number of locations we had to make our own diversions, which resulted in us walking approximately 2 miles along a main road, not what we had expected. We have complained to the local agent who acknowledge their errors.

By Peter from Hexham | 10 June 2019

KE Adventure reply

Thank you for your review. We're glad you enjoyed your holiday. We have discussed the path closures with our local agent and now have an alternative route for this day which avoids the road.


DATES & PRICES

2024

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

2025

Dates

Adults from

Deposit

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Land Only Information

Please note our 'from price' listed is based on 4 persons on twin or double occupancy, however we can quote for any number of travellers, including solo travellers, contact our sales team for a quote.

All of our self-guided holidays are sold on a Land Only basis allowing you the flexibility to choose the travel method which best suits you. You may even wish to make this holiday part of a bigger adventure or pair it with one of our other holidays. We can arrange additional nights accommodation before or after your self-guided trip, ask our sales team to find out more about this.

Our sales team will be happy to provide you a quote for scheduled flights or alternatively you may wish to book your own flights with a low cost carrier from your nearest regional airport.

Please DO NOT book your flights before you have received your booking confirmation and your deposit has been taken.

We offer some transfers to your hotel from the nearest airports, please refer to the 'joining arrangements and transfers' for further details for this trip.

ZEN_HOLIDAY_DATES_PRICES_LAND_ONLY_USD_NOTICE

BOOK WITH KE CONFIDENCE - No surcharge guarantee

The price of our holidays can change depending on a variety of factors but unlike some other tour operators, KE have undertaken to guarantee the Land Only price of your holiday will not change after you have booked. The price when you book is the price you will pay, whether you are booking for this year or the next. Book early to avoid any tour price increases, get the best flight prices and take advantage of our 'No Surcharge Guarantee'.

KE Adventure is a fully bonded tour operator. We hold an ATOL license (No: 2808) and are bonded with ABTA (Membership No: W4341)


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