Salzkammergut Lakes Walk

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8 Days from

USD 3,149

Walking & Trekking

Ways to Travel :

Self-Guided Holidays

Activity :

Walking & Trekking

Activity Levels :

1 out of 7 - Leisurely

Ages :

12+

Trip Code :

W07SK

The Salzkammergut lake district boasts 76 lakes and a beautiful mountain backdrop and is the perfect place to relax and let the calming atmosphere envelop you.

You'll enjoy a mix of spectacular scenic views on this 7 night self-guided tour combining gentle walking with places of interest. You'll follow lakeside paths and woodland trails and have time to explore some of the cultural and historical highlights of the region.

Starting from St Wolfgang, renowned for its beautiful 15th century church, follow the lake to St Gilgen, birthplace of Mozart's mother. You'll then spend 2 nights at the wonderful riverside spa town of Bad Ischl, leaving you time to explore the summer holiday retreat of Emperor Franz Joseph. Although it's almost 100 years since the emperor was last there, his presence is still felt in the region, and you can explore the Kaiservilla, his former holiday home. Next stop is the UNESCO village of Hallstatt, a fairytale village of 16th-century Alpine houses and alleyways where you will also spend 2 nights. Visit the salt mines which are amongst the oldest in the world and which gave this region it's name.

You stay in 4 star luxury, family-run hotels, most with 'feel-good' wellness centres, plus high levels of quality and attention to detail, making them calm and relaxing places to spend time.

Highlights

Picturesque waterfront villages and cobbled streets crammed with attractive frescoed houses
Imperial city of Bad Ischl
UNESCO village of Hallstatt
Hiking amongst fascinating mountains and around lovely lakes

Key Information

Management by your local Headwater-appointed agent
Route directions and maps

Countries visited: Austria

What's Included

7 nights hotel-to-hotel accommodation in a mix of 4 star hotels
Breakfasts daily
Luggage transfers between hotels
Salzkammergut Erlebnis Card
Ferry fare Wolfgangsee, Hallstättersee
Valley cable car fare Salzbergbahn Hallstatt

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Visas and vaccinations
Single accommodation (available on request, compulsory supplement)
Transfers for Land only (available on request at additional cost)

6 Days of Walking & Trekking

Terrain:

The walks are relaxed, following mainly well-marked routes.

Day 2

10 km / 6.2 miles

Day 3

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 4

4 km / 2.5 miles

Day 5

11 km / 6.8 miles

Day 6

12 km / 7.5 miles

Day 7

18 km / 11.2 miles

Itinerary

Arrive at your lakeside hotel in St Wolfgang

Take The Pilgrim's Way to the Falkenstein Chapel, built into the cliff face. An idyllic path continues along the lake to take you into St. Gilgen, birthplace of Mozart's mother. Return to St Wolfgang by boat.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today's walk takes you from St. Wolfgang to lake Schwarzensee. The lake cabin of Lore is worth a break with its delicious homemade snacks. Follow the Wirer gorge into the valley and around Burglstein to the lake promenade of Strobl from where you travel by bus to Bad Ischl.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a leisurely day exploring Bad Ischl. Visit the Imperial Villa, the Hotel Austria, where the engagement of Emperor Franz Josef and Elisabeth of Bavaria once took place, or enjoy a coffee break in the famous Cafe Zauner with delicious cakes and pastries or visit the warm brine swimming pools in the Salzkammergut thermal baths.

Meals Included: Breakfast

From Bad Ischl walk along the riverside promenade into Kaltenbachau, a site of Imperial amusements such as horse races, picnics and rendezvous. Then, follow the oldest brine pipeline of the world to Bad Goisern, the gateway to UNESCO heritage Hallstatt.

Meals Included: Breakfast

From Hallstatt enjoy a scenic view of the lake and the Dachstein massif. Plan a visit of the salt mine, enjoy the views from the top of Rudolf's tower and visit the excavation sites.

Meals Included: Breakfast

After a train journey to Bad Ischl follow the romantic Sissi-Path to the tiny lake Nussensee. Continue along the river Ischl and through the Blinklingmoos nature reserve along the lake back to St Wolfgang.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Depart after breakfast

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

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

Vaccination

Austria

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included

Austria is renowned for its wholesome, robust food. Austrians tend to eat heartily at lunchtime and less in the evenings. Local specialities include Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet) and various stews of beef and pork. Dumplings, potatoes or noodles are all regular accompaniments along with vegetables in a style similar to English cooking. Desserts are often fruit based - such as Apfelstrudel - or cream pastries. Rehrucken is a traditional chocolate and almond cream cake. On average Austrians, drink twice as much coffee as beer. There are many different types to choose from, particularly in the larger towns and cities and are often drunk in specialist coffee houses, known locally as a Kaffeehaus. It is often served in large cups and finished off with a healthy dose of whipped cream.

Austrian wines tend to be sweet white varieties, similar to German Mosel wines. The three best-known areas for producing white wines are Krems, Klosterneuburg and Gumpoldskirchen. The main red wine producing area is Voslau. Of course Austria is better known for its beer and you will find a wide variety of local brews. The best known are Gösser and Augustiner Brau and come in light or dark forms.

Weather

The weather here is comparatively stable, particularly during mid-summer. Temperatures are similar to those experienced in the UK and rainfall although relatively low is possible throughout the year.

Is this trip for you?

Walking Conditions
Classification: Self-Guided
Activity Level: 1 (Leisurely)
Average daily distance: 11km
No. of days walking: 6
Terrain and route: Walks on this holiday are relaxed, following mainly well-marked routes on lakeside paths and woodland trails.
Vehicle Support: This is a self-guided trip for those who prefer to walk independently, but with our assistance to take out the stress of the logistics and planning. We arrange your accommodation, provide you with route directions so that you can walk at your own pace, while your bags are transported from one hotel to the next.

It is important that you are happy following route directions, we make these as accurate as possible and they are regularly checked.

As this is a self-guided holiday there is no group and no leader. There maybe others on the same departure date as you, but you will not be organised together. The routes directions contain a 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number should you need it and in emergencies, the local agent is normally able to dispatch a taxi or pick you up themselves. They may wish to charge for this service.

Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

This trip is available on request. Please proceed with your booking online or contact our Sales Team for assistance.

Salzkammergut Lakes Walk

The Salzkammergut lake district boasts 76 lakes and a beautiful mountain backdrop and is the perfect place to relax and let the calming atmosphere envelop you.

6 Days of Walking & Trekking

Itinerary

Essential Info

Visa

Austria

Vaccination

Austria

Eating and Drinking

Weather

Is this trip for you?

Hotels

Would you like to include flights with your booking?

Looking to set your own pace on your next adventure?

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