Itinerary
- Day 1
Hallein
You'll arrive in Hallein and check into Hotel Hafnerwirt, where you'll collect your travel documents. The town sits between Salzburg and the Dachstein massif, giving you options for the afternoon. Consider heading to the salt factory, Austria's only show salt works, to watch traditional panners at work, or walk through the Celtic Museum to see how salt mining began here during the Iron Age.
Optional Activities
- Visit the salt factory (show salt works) to watch a master panner at work
- Visit the Celtic Museum to learn about Iron Age salt mining history
Landmarks Hotel Hafnerwirt 
- Day 2
Bad Dürnberg to Golling
This morning you'll hike through the Salzach glacier basin with naturally interesting terrain throughout. The trail heads uphill to Truckenthannalm, a rustic alpine hut where you can grab snacks if needed. After passing Maximilian spring under impressive rock faces and the Schleierfall rest area, you'll drop through alluvial forests down to Golling. It's roughly 14 km with about 5 hours of walking time, 500m up and 700m down.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Bad Dürnberg to Golling via Truckenthannalm, Maximilian spring, and Schleierfall
Optional Activities
- Snack stop at Truckenthannalm (availability permitting)
Landmarks Truckenthannalm Maximilian spring Schleierfall - Day 3
Unterscheffau to Abtenau
A bus takes you to Unterscheffau to start hiking along the Lammer river upstream through forest and meadow. You'll walk the Mühlenweg trail toward Oberscheffau, passing the water-filled Klausgraben and a 16th-century stone pillar from old border disputes. Later you'll reach Tricklfall and Dachserfall waterfalls before arriving in Abtenau. The hike runs about 14 km over 5.5 hours with 560m ascent and 340m descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Unterscheffau to Abtenau via Lammer river, Mühlenweg trail, Klausgraben, Tricklfall, and Dachserfall
Landmarks Lammer river Mühlenweg trail Klausgraben Tricklfall Dachserfall - Day 4
Abtenau to Annaberg
Take the Karkogel cable car up to Karkogelh\u00fctte, then walk to a small plateau with panoramic views of Tennengebirge and Salzkammergut peaks. You'll cross flower-filled alpine meadows with Traunstein views and pass the managed Gsengalm. The trail continues along the foot of Schober mountain through meadows and mountain pines before descending to Annaberg. Count on 9 km, 5 hours walking, 645m up and 995m down.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Karkogel cable car ascent to Karkogelhütte
- Guided hike from Karkogelhütte to Annaberg via Gsengalm and Quehenbergalm
Landmarks Karkogelhütte Traunstein Gsengalm Schober Quehenbergalm - Day 5
Annaberg to Gablonzerhütte
Starting in Annaberg, you'll hike through blueberry-covered coniferous forest to Kopfberg, where a carved figure of St. Anne marks the highest point. The trail gets steep to Stuhlalm with its rest stop and fantastic views of Bischofsm\u00fctze. From there you'll follow high-level paths over roots and mountain scree to beech forest and finish at Gablonzerh\u00fctte overlooking Lake Gosau. This day is longer at 11 km, 7 hours, 1,270m ascent and 515m descent. Your luggage heads separately to Bad Goisern.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Annaberg to Gablonzerhütte via Kopfberg, Stuhlalm, and high-level mountain path
Landmarks Kopfberg Stuhlalm Bischofsmütze Lake Gosau Hohe Dachstein Gablonzerhütte - Day 6
Gablonzerhütte to Bad Goisern
The Gosaukamm cable car takes you up and overcomes the altitude efficiently to reach Gosau Valley, historically more remote than Hallstatt. You can also hike down on foot over varied terrain with wooden footbridges if you prefer. From the valley station, take a public bus past old farmhouses to Gosau-Ramsau, then enter the Bibelsteig trail reaching Goiserer H\u00fctte at 1,592 meters. Descend via Trockentannalm to Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstatt's north shore. Roughly 16.5 km, 7.5 hours walking, 960m up and 1,840m down.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Gosaukamm cable car descent to Gosau Valley
- Guided hike via Bibelsteig trail, Iglmoosalm, and Trockentannalm to Bad Goisern
Optional Activities
- Foot descent from Gablonzerhütte to cable car valley station (alternative to cable car)
Landmarks Gosaukamm Gosau Valley Bibelsteig trail Iglmoosalm Goiserer Hütte Trockentannalm - Day 7
Bad Goisern to Hallstatt
You'll walk to Lake Hallstatt and cross the Traun river, the Salzkammergut's lifeline, several times throughout the day. The hike follows the unspoilt eastern shore with great Dachstein views. The route includes a spectacular section where Sarstein drops vertically into the lake and you'll walk on a hovering footbridge above water. After reaching Obertraun, you'll continue to Hallstatt for the night. Later in the afternoon, visit the world's oldest salt mine with Bronze Age exhibits and take the historic 64-meter miners' slide. The day covers 19 km over 5 hours with minimal elevation change, just 130m ascent and 100m descent.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided hike from Bad Goisern to Hallstatt via Lake Hallstatt eastern shore
- Admission and guided tour of Hallstatt Salt Mine with historic tunnels and miners' slide experience
Optional Activities
- Ferry from Hallstatt train station to Hallstatt Markt to save approximately 8 kilometers of walking
Landmarks Lake Hallstatt Traun Sarstein Obertraun Hallstatt Hallstatt Salt Mine - Day 8
Hallstatt
Have breakfast in Hallstatt, where shingle-roofed houses and half-timbered buildings with pastel facades line the narrow alleyways between mountains and lake. After eating, you'll begin your trip home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Landmarks Hallstatt
