Self-Guided Walking in Austria’s Lake District

Self-Guided Walking in Austria's Lake District

Activity Level

Easy & Moderate

Activity

Walking & Trekking

Overview

Enjoy well-marked routes with stunning lake views every day

The Austrian Lakes area offers a glorious mix of spectacular views, forest trails, picture-perfect villages and swimming opportunities galore! The walks are relaxed, following mainly well-marked routes, with stunning lake views every day. Every stop brings new discoveries such as St Wolfgang’s antique cog railway, the summit of Schafberg and Mozart’s museum in St. Gilgen.

Key Information

Trip Code: W07SZ
Ways to Travel: Self-Guided Holidays
Countries: Austria
Pace: Approximately 2-5 hours walking per day
Terrain: Low altitude; some short steep sections

What's Included

All breakfasts and dinner on first night
All accommodation (see accommodation section)
Route notes and maps

Highlights

Snow-capped peaks, lush green meadows and forest trails
Luxury 4 star hotel.
Crystal-clear lakes, babbling streams, tranquil shores, secluded bays
Picturesque waterfront villages, postcard-pretty castles and cobbled streets crammed with attractive frescoed houses
Varied rest day choices: water sports, mountain rail rides, lake cruisers and Mozart's fairytale city of Salzburg

Itinerary

First Destination: Bad Ischl
Next Destination: Bad Ischl

Meals included:Dinner

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:11 km / 6.8 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:19 km / 11.8 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Distance:14 km / 8.7 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Bad Ischl
Next Destination: Bad Ischl

Arrive at your 4 star hotel in Bad Ischl. A typical itinerary is shown below, although you’re free to pick and choose your walking each day as there are numerous options available Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs for 7 nights.

Meals included:Dinner

Two circular walk options direct from your hotel; one to Kolowratshohe, a lesser-known peak above Bad Ischl, with spectacular views and the added bonus of a mountain restaurant at Hoisenrad. Or, a picturesque walk to the summit of Jainzenberg, rising directly behind the Kaiserpark and the Kaiservilla. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

Optional walk to Jainzenberg: 4hr, distance 11km/7mi.
Premium Hotel

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Hop on a local bus to Wolfgangsee, with the option of walking up to the Vormauerstein and the breath taking views of the Schafberg and the Lake Attersee. Picnic on the shores of Monichsee. Alternatively, a leisurely route up to the stunning Schwarzensee for lunch at one of the restaurants and lake views. This option gives you more time to visit the charming village of St Wolfgang. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

Optional walk to Schwarzensee: 2.5hrs, distance 9km/5.5mi

Distance:11 km / 6.8 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Today visit the spectacular alpine village of Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest village in Austria. Take the panoramic funicular railway up the mountain and visit the historical salt mine. Use the ferry to cross the lake and follow a beautiful walk to Bad Goisern before returning to Bad Ischl by train. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

Optional shorter walk: 3hrs, distance 8km/5mi.

Distance:15 km / 9.3 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

A bus ride brings you to the delightful village of St Gilgen. A thriving lace-making centre in the 1700s, today St Gilgen is a delightful village with a busy waterfront, lined with restaurants. Mozart’s mother was born here and you can visit her house, which now includes a small museum. Or go by bus to explore the fairytale city of Salzburg, or the train and tram to the pottery town of Gmunden to visit the ceramic factories or the impressive Schloss Ort. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

Meals included:Breakfast

Walk (2km) or take the cable car from Bad Ischl and visit the three summits of Katrin, Hainzen and Elferkogel. Sure footedness is required, but from the peaks you are rewarded with an incredible 360° panorama as far as the snow-capped Dachsteins. Sit and take in the superb vistas from the two restaurants at the top cable car station. Staying at Hotel Goldener Ochs.

Optional shorter walk: 5.5hrs, distance 15km/9.5mi

Distance:19 km / 11.8 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Today take the bus to Strobl, then you have a choice to head off on a low level lakeside walk, with views across Wolfgangsee to St Wolfgang and the Schafberg. Stroll through the Blinklingmoos nature reserve and on to a lakeside beach at Wassbad before heading to Gschwendt. The longer, more challenging route also takes you to Gschwendt but comes with some stiff climbs and descents and even more spectacular views of the lake and the Schafberg, Rinnkogel and Sparber mountains.

Distance:14 km / 8.7 miles
Meals included:Breakfast

Your trip ends in Bad Ischl.
Premium Hotel

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Hotel

The Hotel Goldenes Schiff boasts a prime location in Bad Ischl’s pedestrianised town centre and sits on the banks of the Traun River. Inside, it’s modern and comfortable, with first-class facilities including a spa, with sauna and steam room.

Essential Information

The relaxed walking for this trip follows mainly well-marked routes with opportunities to extend each day. The walks are generally classed as easy but there are some forested sections where the terrain is inclined and loose underfoot.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There may be others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. You are provided with route directions for each day, which begin with an overview of the walk and advice on lunch, followed by detailed instructions. The route directions contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the hotel is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

You may find our Fitness Training Guide a useful reference: http://www.exodus.co.uk/assets/pdf/Exodus_WT_Fitness_Training_Guide.pdf

Your trip normally starts at our hotel in Bad Ischl in the evening of Day 1 of the itinerary. Arrival/departure transfers from/to Salzburg airport (approx. 60 mins) are included for flight inclusive bookings clients at standard times (usually approximately 13:35 on arrival, and 11:30 on departure) subject to prior arrangement.*

If you are arriving/departing at different times then we can also arrange private transfers by car from Salzburg (at additional cost – please enquire at the time of booking for prices).

Please note all transfers prices are based on 2 people travelling therefore for single travellers supplements may apply.

Flights:
We can also book flights for you if you wish. The standard flights we usually use are with Lufthansa from London Heathrow to Salzburg via Frankfurt 08:30/13:35, (transfer to hotel, 60 mins, provided). Return: Salzburg to London Heathrow via Frankfurt 14:25/17:40.*

Full details of how to reach the start point (including local emergency numbers) will be sent to you as part of your Final Joining Instructions approximately two weeks before departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

*Please note that standard flight and transfer times are subject to change throughout the season so please enquire for up-to-date details.

Austria

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Austria. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/austria
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/austria
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/austria/entry-requirements
USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Austria.html

All breakfasts and 1 evening meal are included.

Austria is renowned for wholesome, robust food. The cuisine is a reflection of the culinary exchange that went on during the time of empires – French, Spanish, Dutch, German and Croatian cuisine have all contributed to the flavours, to name just a few. You will be set up for the day with a breakfast of cold meats and cheeses, traditional bread, jam and coffee. Austrians tend to eat heartily at lunch time and less in the evenings, but you will be well catered for at dinner. Local specialities include the ever present ‘Wiener Schnitzel’ (breaded veal cutlet) and various stews of beef and pork. Dumplings, potatoes or noodles are all regular accompaniments along with vegetables. Of course, the fresh fish found in the lakes like rainbow trout, brown trout and whitefish will be a feature of many menus, often grilled with butter and herbs, or stuffed with local mushrooms.

Desserts are often fruit based – such as ‘apfelstrudel’ or cream pastries. ‘Rehrucken’ is a traditional chocolate and almond cream cake. ‘Linzertorte’ is a flaky cake lined with currant or raspberry jam, encased and covered by a lattice of cake dough. Mozart’s home town’s speciality is ‘Salzburger Nockerln’, which is a very light dessert souffle dusted with vanilla sugar and sometimes served with strawberries on the side.

Plum brandy is a popular post dinner drink, or you could try one of the various types of schnapps. Austrian wine tends to be white and fairly sweet in the manner of German Mosel wines. Beer is a better known product of the country and you will find a wide variety of local brews. The best known are Gosser and Augustiner Brau and come in light or dark forms.

Salzburg and the surrounding area is at the Northern edge of the Austrian Alps and as such has a typical Central European climate with hot summers and cold winters. However, Salzburg actually experiences relatively moderate weather making it a good year round destination. Being in the mountains, it can rain at any time in this area so be prepared for this at any point!

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We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

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€ 1285

8 Days Excluding Flights & Local Taxes From

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