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 Salzkammergut, one of Europe’s most beautiful areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Salzburg, Austria.
From Bad Goisern hike through meadows, beneath limestone mountains, and along the pristine Hallstättersee before you ferry across to 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.
Next, hike up the Echern Valley surrounded by limestone peaks and waterfalls. You will get a chance to visit the salt mines today, before transferring to the next town, Gosau. The hotel for the next couple of nights is the Hotel Koller, 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.
The last hike takes you up the Gamsfeld and makes for a varied outing. For those wanting to bag a summit, you can climb all the way to the top or simply enjoy a more relaxed hike across Austrian alms (pasture lands) with grazing cows and small huts where you can stop for refreshments and a delicious Jause (small meal, snack).
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! Later, catch a ferry across the lake to Hallstatt and spend the night at a charming lakeside hotel.
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, we recommend you take the Salzbergbahn Funicular (cost 24 Euro) 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.
