Itinerary
- Day 1
Abersee/St. Gilgen
You'll arrive at your hotel in Abersee or St. Gilgen on Lake Wolfgang and pick up your travel documents. Lake Wolfgang itself has quite a history going back to the 10th century, and by the 19th century it became a popular spot for summer visitors. It's a nice setting to start your week from.
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wolfgang St. Wolfgang Church - Day 2
Lake Wolfgang Pilgrimage Trail
Take the ferry across Lake Wolfgang to St. Wolfgang and then hike the old pilgrims' path over Falkenstein, which has 24 marked adventure points and passes the Falkensteinkircherl church along the way. After that, you'll walk past Ried and Gasthof Fürberg along the lake toward Mozart's birthplace in St. Gilgen. From there, ferry back to Abersee, or if you're up for it, you can walk the entire return route instead.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry from Abersee to St. Wolfgang
- Guided hike on historic pilgrims' path over Falkenstein
- Visit to Falkensteinkircherl church
- Exploration of St. Gilgen and Mozart's mother's birthplace
- Ferry from St. Gilgen back to Abersee
Optional Activities
- Walking from St. Gilgen to Abersee as alternative to ferry
Landmarks/POIs Falkenstein Falkensteinkircherl St. Gilgen Mozart's Mother's Birthplace - Day 3
Lake Wolfgang to Bad Ischl
Ferry to St. Wolfgang again and hike up to Schwarzensee, a mountain lake sitting over 700 meters up where you can take a swim if you want. Next, follow the panoramic route around Bürlstein along the water heading toward Strobl, which means you're crossing into Salzburg province. Walk the lakeside promenade through to Strobl and then catch a bus to Bad Ischl, the old imperial summer resort where you'll spend two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry from Abersee to St. Wolfgang
- Hike to Lake Schwarzensee
- Panoramic path around Bürlstein
- Bus from Strobl to Bad Ischl
Optional Activities
- Stop at Zur Lore inn for freshly caught trout
Landmarks/POIs Lake Schwarzensee Bürlstein Strobl Bad Ischl - Day 4
Bad Ischl
Spend the day in Bad Ischl checking out this former imperial resort. Emperor Franz Joseph set up his summer home here in the mid-19th century and the town built its reputation around that. You can see the spa gardens, visit Café Zauner, look through the town museum, and tour the imperial villa, all of which give a real feel for 19th-century imperial life.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Admission to the Kaiservilla (imperial villa) in Bad Ischl
- Exploration of spa gardens
- Visit to Café Zauner
- Visit to town museum in former Hotel Austria
Landmarks/POIs Kaiservilla (Imperial Villa) Café Zauner Bad Ischl Town Museum Bad Ischl Spa Gardens - Day 5
Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern
Start from Bad Ischl along the Traun river promenade passing the Katrin cable car station and the Kaiserjagd bronze statue. Hike through woodland to Lauffen, a spot where salt shippers once handled rapids in the water, then continue past Weißenbach with strong views of the Dachstein mountain. You'll end up in Bad Goisern, a UNESCO World Heritage settlement known for timber workers that stretches several kilometers toward Lake Hallstatt.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike from Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern along the Traun valley
Landmarks/POIs Traun River Katrin Cable Car Lauffen Dachstein Mountains Hoher Sarstein Krippenstein Bad Goisern Lake Hallstatt - Day 6
Lake Hallstatt to Bad Goisern
Head from Bad Goisern toward Lake Hallstatt, and you'll notice the eastern shore looks a bit like a Norwegian fjord with views of the Dachstein glacier. Walk the dramatic Sarstein flank which has a footbridge right at water level, then move through Obertraun to reach Hallstatt, a UNESCO World Heritage village. Down there you'll find the oldest salt mine in the world to explore. After that, take the ferry back and return to Bad Goisern by train.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike along Lake Hallstatt eastern shore
- Water-level footbridge walk at Sarstein
- Visit to Hallstatt village
- Combined ticket admission to Hallstatt Salt Mine
- Ferry from Hallstatt Markt to Hallstatt train station
- Train ride (Salzkammergutbahn) from Hallstatt to Bad Goisern
Optional Activities
- Ferry from Hallstatt train station to Hallstatt Markt to shorten walk by approximately 8 kilometers (payable on site)
Landmarks/POIs Lake Hallstatt Obertraun Hallstatt Hallstatt Salt Mine Sarstein Dachstein Mountains - Day 7
Bad Goisern to Abersee/St. Gilgen
Bus from Bad Goisern back to Bad Ischl, then hike the Elisabeth Forest Trail which was laid out in 1899 and used by Empress Sisi. You'll reach Pfandl where salt was boiled from as far back as the 12th century. Follow the short Ischl river through Aigen-Voglhub and Strobl, passing Blinkling Moos, a nature reserve with a 10,000-year-old raised bog left from the last ice age with rare plant life. End your evening in the small village of Abersee.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Bus from Bad Goisern to Bad Ischl
- Hike on Elisabeth Forest Trail
- Exploration of Blinkling Moos nature reserve
Landmarks/POIs Elisabeth Forest Trail Pfandl Aigen-Voglhub Strobl Blinkling Moos Nature Reserve Abersee - Day 8
Departure
Your final day at Lake Wolfgangsee. The three main towns of St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, and Strobl stay connected by boat service, and there's a replica of the historic paddle steamer 'Kaiser Franz Josef I' if you want to take a ride. You can spend time enjoying the mountain pastures and lake views, or head out for home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Boat trip on Lake Wolfgangsee
- Paddle steamer "Kaiser Franz Josef I" excursion
- Mountain pasture exploration around Lake Wolfgangsee
Landmarks/POIs Lake Wolfgangsee St. Gilgen St. Wolfgang Strobl
