Austria | The Heart of Austria Mini Trek
Feel the magic of the region by taking in the stunning mountain views and iconic towns.
Trip Highlights:
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Hotel Koller a former hunting lodge has been in the same family for generations and offers exquisite service and comfort to guests, making it a true home away from home.
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Enjoy a few days of Austrian hospitality while exploring some of the most famous regions of the country.
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The vast salt reserves serve as evidence implying that the village was inhabited as far back as 5000 BC.
This is an exploration of the Lake District found around Salzburg, one of Europe’s most amazing cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Scenic valleys, countless lakes, and rolling hills typify the Salzkammergut. For most, the trip will begin in Salzburg. As you travel out of this fabled village the magic of the region is immediately apparent. From the first idyllic lake you come upon, the Wolfgangsee, you know you have arrived in a very special place. After a brief layover in Bad Ischl you are on your way to Bad Goisern, a classic Austrian village at the northern tip of the Hallstättersee, and the start of the Ryder-Walker trek. Bad Goisern is a spa town dating back to the 13th century. It has an atmospheric town square with plenty of shops and cafes.
Your first hike takes you through forests and meadows beneath more northerly limestone peaks before descending into perhaps the most famous village of the region, Hallstatt. Hallstatt, while famous, is tiny and sees mostly day visitors who come to enjoy the unique configuration of the village on the shores of the Hallstättersee. Also famous are the salt mines high above town. The vast salt reserves serve as evidence implying that the village was inhabited as far back as 5000 BC.
The trek continues with a ride up the Krippenstein cable car to a favorite hike beneath the famous Hoher Dachstein. Its pristine green waters provide a beautiful contrast to the light limestone. The Dachstein range is the northernmost high limestone range in the Alps, as well as the easternmost glaciated collection of peaks in the Western Alps. Sunset views to the south over the famous ski resort of Schladming, the province of Steiermark, and on to the high peaks of the Dolomites are unforgettable.
Next, we hike up the Echern Valley surrounded by limestone peaks and waterfalls before ending in Gosau. Your hotel for the next couple of nights is the Hotel Koller, and one of our all-time favorites. This former hunting lodge has been in the same family for generations and offers exquisite service and comfort to guests, making it a true home away from home. If weather permits, you can cool off in the pool, and while dining in their beautiful garden, catch the last rays of sunshine on the Gosaukamm, the most predominant mountain range in the area.
Enjoy a few days of Austrian hospitality while exploring some of the most famous regions of the country. Idyllic lakes, stunning mountains, iconic towns, and wonderful cuisine will make for an unforgettable adventure.
Trip Itinerary
Choose from our standard itinerary or customize the trek by adding or subtracting days.
Arrive in Bad Goisern, an historic market and spa town recognized by UNESCO for its culture and rural treasures.
You will spend the day following the scenic Panoramaweg, an idyllic lakeside trail running along the Hallstättersee, leading to the picturesque town of Hallstatt. Be sure to bring your swimsuits—if the weather is warm, you can take a refreshing dip in the lake! For those looking to extend the hike, there’s an option to continue on to Obertraun. Alternatively, there is a choice for a shorter route by catching a ferry across the lake to Hallstatt. Spend the night at a lakeside hotel in Hallstatt.
Distance: up to 8.5 miles. Elevation gain/loss: none.
Today, you set off for a scenic wander up the Echern Valley, surrounded by stunning limestone peaks and cascading waterfalls. After returning to town, ascend via a series of informative switchbacks to visit the historic Hallstatt Salt Mine, the oldest in the world, with a history spanning 7,000 years. The day ends with a transfer to your hotel in Gosau for the evening.
Distance: up to 9 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1850 ft.
Begin today with a transfer by van to the nearby village of Rußbach, located at the foot of the Gamsfeld, which you will hike today. It’s an impressive yet accessible summit. For those seeking a more moderate outing, you have the option to hike along the flanks of the peak. The Gamsfeld is renowned for its well-preserved and diverse fossil beds, considered the best in the Alps. Return to the hotel in Gosau.
Distance: up to 6 miles. Elevation gain/loss: 1600/3500 ft.
Ryder-Walker will provide a taxi transfer to the Bad Goisern Train Station.
