Cycling and Walking in the Lake District Salzkammergut
What could be more enjoyable than hiking and biking on lakeside paths surrounded by mountains, lakes and unspoiled wilderness? A tour through the Salzkammergut area of Austria lets you enjoy the World Heritage Site of Hallstatt, the Emperor City of Bad Ischl and many crystal clear lakes.
Your walking portion of the tour provides a different perspective than riding your bike. The hikes allow time to explore famous sights such as the Hallstatt salt mine, the Dachstein ice cave or the historic emperor’s villa in Bad Ischl.
Tour Details: On cycling days, you’ll bike between 30 – 55 km. On hiking days, you’ll walk between 4 – 5 hours per day. Don’t worry about getting lost. Simply follow well-marked trails and bike paths through the picture postcard countryside. If you need help, please call the hotline for directions or get our GPS files for your mobile phone.
Day 1: Arrive at Lake Wolfgangsee (St. Gilgen, Abersee, Strobl or St. Wolfgang):
Please let the arrival hotel know if you arrive later than 18.00 o’clock. You will get your hotel list around 4 weeks prior to your arrival.
Day 2: Walking tour: Abersee/St. Wolfgang – Lake Schwarzensee – Strobl – Abersee/St. Wolfgang
By ferry to St. Wolfgang. You’ll take the Sattel (saddle) walk to Lake Schwarzensee, where Madame Lore of the lake hut waits to treat you with a local treat. Then walk down into the valley past a gorge to the lake promenade in Strobl. Afterward, you will follow the level lakeside walking trail back to the peninsula of Abersee. If you are tired, simply take a short boat ride back to your hotel.
- This 15.5 km hike should take about 4-5 hours to walk with plenty of time to take pictures! The elevation is about 345 meters.
Day 3: Cycling tour: Abersee/St. Wolfgang – Lake Mondsee – Lake Attersee – Attergau
Today you will cycle along Lake Wolfgangsee to the Mozart village of St. Gilgen. Afterward cross over to Lake Mondsee, where you can visit the wedding church from the Movie Sound of Music in Mondsee. The cycle path next to Lake Mondsee (Moon Lake) you will cycle to the biggest lake in the area to Lake Attersee. The route ends at your cozy hotel in Attergau.
- This is a 40 – 55 km route for the day. There will be one ascent for about 2.5 km. Don’t want to pedal uphill? No problem! A local 10-minute train ride gets you back to the hotel.
Day 4: Cycling tour: Attergau – Lake Attersee – Lake Traunsee – Bad Ischl
Today’s bike ride will be slightly hilly as you take a picturesque route to Lake Traunsee. Enjoy the lovely lakeside city of Gmunden with castles and 19th-century villas. Afterward follow the cycle trail along the lake to Ebensee where you can take the train to Bad Ischl, or take the boat from Gmunden to Ebensee. Overnight will be in the emperor city of Bad Ischl.
- Today’s ride varies from 45 to 65 km to Bad Ischl. If you take the train from Ebensee, it will be 45 km.
Day 5: Walking Tour: Bad Ischl – Altaussee, then take a bus to Bad Aussee
Today’s pleasant walk takes you along the brine pipeline trail to the salt mountain in Altaussee. You will follow the mountain road deep into the Rettenbach valley and afterward walk through scenic alpine pastures to Altaussee. From Altaussee, simply take the bus to the little city of Bad Aussee where you’ll find your comfortable hotel.
- Today’s walk covers around 15.5 km and takes around 5 ½ hours.
Day 6: Cycling Tour: Bad Aussee – (Altaussee) – Lake Grundlsee – Hallstatt
Today you’ll cycle through the romantic city of Bad Aussee. From there, head to the little village of Altaussee which has the largest deposits of salt in Austria. A gentle ride downhill gets you to Lake Grundlsee with its spectacular mountain panorama. Afterward, you will cycle through the Koppen valley, which includes a nature reserve. The path along Hallstatt Lake takes you to the World Heritage Site of Hallstatt, which many people call a “fairy tale city. Tonight will be spent in Hallstatt (or Bad Goisern if necessary).
- This is a 30 – 42 km ride.
Day 7: Walking Tour: Enjoy this designated World Heritage site as you explore Hallstatt
Depending on your fitness level, you may choose between an easy round trip tour of 3 hours or something more extensive on Mount Krippenstein. Whether you take an easy stroll through the town and an alpine meadow or do some alpine hiking, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views and fresh air. Relax in a Hallstatt hotel that night.
- Your walking distance is up to you! + 250 to 1.500 meters and – 250 to 1.500 meters.
Day 8: Cycling Tour: Hallstatt – Bad Ischl – Lake Wolfgangsee
Start the day by taking the ferry and cross Lake Hallstatt to reach the bike trail along the lake to Bad Goisern. This trail follows the brine pipeline path to Bad Ischl. From there, take the former Roman road to Lake Wolfgangsee. Enjoy the last km along the lake with wonderful views of St. Wolfgang and the mountain. Spend your last evening by relaxing in your hotel at Lake Wolfgangsee.
- Today’s ride covers around 35 – 45km.
Day 9: Departure
Time to say goodbye and make plans to return to the Salzkammergut area!
Dates: Daily arrival from May till October
Services:
- 8 nights in 3 hotels and guest houses
- 8 x breakfast and dinner
- Luggage transfer
- Cycle transfer on walking days
- Mount Krippenstein all-inclusive ticket (3 x cable car, guided tour in the ice cave and mammoth cave)
- Salzkammergut Card (Reductions on over 100 attractions)
- Ferry Hallstatt incl. Cycle
- Ferry Abersee – St. Wolfgang
- Walking and Cycle tour book and leaflets from the region
- Gps files for the daily tours
Extra (appr. Euro 15,-):
Train Ebensee – Bad Ischl, Bus Altauseee – Bad Aussee
Book this tour with Bestseller Travel Austria!
