Lake Walking in the Salzkammergut Austria: Self-Guided Walking

East of Salzburg, you find a breathtaking region dotted with many lakes called the Salzkammergut. The landscape includes fjord-like steep rocks and cliffs bordering lush, green mountains and pristine green-blue mountain lakes. This stunning panorama of natural beauty has drawn visitors for centuries and was the favored summer resort of the Habsburg monarchy. The Hallstättersee region has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for its great natural and cultural heritage. The idyllic village of Hallstatt is “the jewel of this region” but Bad Ischl, Bad Goisern, St. Wolfgang, and St. Gilgen are some of our other favorite villages you will visit. Your tour will last 8 days and 7 nights. You'll spend two nights each in Bad Ischl and Bad Goisern, and three nights in Abersee or St. Wolfgang.

Included in the Tour Price • 7 nights of lodging in charming 3 and 4-star hotels with private facilities • 7 breakfasts • Luggage transfer • All transportation during the tour except from Strobl to Bad Ischl (€3) • Route directions (one per room), maps and brochures • Welcome meeting • GPS Device • All taxes for the hotel and restaurant portions of the tour

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Individual arrival in your hotel in Abersee near St. Wolfgang You'll make your way to your first hotel, with time to explore the town.

Day 2: St. Wolfgang-St. Gilgen - 6.5 miles (10.5 km, 4 hours) + 354 meters - 354 meters Your day will begin with a short boat ride from Abersee to St. Wolfgang. You’ll walk along the lake and then gently up the pilgrim’s path to “Falkenstein Mountain,” really a cliff with a very nice view over the lake and the small villages. The idyllic "Fürberg Walk” will bring you to the village St. Gilgen, where Mozart’s mother was born. Though it's smaller than neighboring St. Wolfgang, just across the lake, Gilgen presents a unique baroque and rococo character with plenty to do. Colorful streets, lined with cafes, pubs, fascinating shops, and old frescoed houses lead to the enchanting Mozart fountain. You'll return by boat to your hotel in Abersee.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Day 3: Schwarzensee and Strobl - 7.3 miles (11.8 km, 5.5 hours) + 395 meters, - 395 meters You'll start with another boat ride to St. Wolfgang. First you’ll walk up to shimmering Lake Schwarzensee, where you can rest in a nice mountain hut with a terrific view over the surroundings and enjoy some tasty local specialties. You will walk down on a small footpath into the valley next to a gorge and around the Bürglstein, a rock outcrop jutting into the lake. In the afternoon you'll end in Strobl and transfer to the “Emperor’s Town,” Bad Ischl.

Day 4: Rest Day in Bad Ischl Emperor Franz Joseph’s favorite town was Bad Ischl, the cultural and geographic centre of the Salzkammergut, where he and his wife Elisabeth (the captivating “Sissi” of the famous film) usually spent their summers. You can visit the Emperor's Villa, Café Zauner, and the Hotel Austria.

Day 5: Bad Ischl to Bad Goisern - 7 miles (11 km, 4 hours) + 260 meters, -180 meters Salt always has been an important raw material of the Salzkammergut. Today you'll follow the “historic salt water path,” the world’s oldest pipeline, which was established in 1607. In order to make the brine flow, the pipeline (as well as the path) slopes down slightly, and therefore it's a relatively easy walk to Bad Goisern. This lovely village was once known as the “Monarchy’s prettiest town” and retains all its charms today.

Day 6: Walk to Hallstatt - 9 miles (14.5 km, 4.5 hours) + 90 meters, - 90 meters First, you will follow the river trail to Lake Hallstatt where you will walk along the lake into the "Fjord". After a while you will see the first houses from Hallstatt and the wonderful mountains with the Salt Mountain. Enjoy the ride with the ferry to Hallstatt center, walking around the little alleys or take the funicular up to the salt mine. Look around to see Mount Dachstein, the highest peak in upper Austria. The day ends with a pleasant boat and train ride back to your hotel in Bad Goisern.

Day 7: Bad Ischl to Lake Wolfgangsee - 12 miles (19.5 km, 6 hours) + 210 meters, - 140 meters You'll transfer by train to Bad Ischl, where you'll follow the “Elisabeth-Walking Path,” one of Sissi’s favourite hiking and riding tracks. You can admire the idyllic Lake Nussensee and then continue along the River Ischl to Strobl. From late medieval times to the 17th century, Strobl was a center for pilgrims. From the town you’ll have gorgeous views on St. Wolfgang, Schafberg, and the lake itself. Along the lake and through the Blinking moor you'll walk to the peninsula of Abersee, admiring the beautiful views.

Day 8: Tour Ends Your tour ends today, with departure after breakfast.

Starting Point You can fly into Salzburg, Vienna (three hours by train to Salzburg), or Munich (two hours by train to Salzburg). For last minute train schedules visit the website of the Austrian Railways beforehand on line at www.oebb.at or at www.eurail.com. Make sure you use the German city names (Wien for Vienna, Munchen for Munich etc.). Your hotel in Abersee is a one hour bus ride away from Salzburg. You will find the public bus (bus number 150) opposite of the train station. We can also organize a private transfer from Salzburg to the first hotel - ask about prices.

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected] Level of Difficulty This tour is rated "moderate." It has agreeable walking distances of 3 to 6 hours per day. The terrain is moderately rolling with some short steep hills, up and down. Walking is mostly on small footpaths and some country roads. Well fitting, supportive “broken in”, hiking boots are very strongly recommended for this tour, not because it involves dangerous mountain hiking but because they give a better grip on the occasionally loose, rocky surface.

WiFi WiFi is available on a limited basis in hotels. Don't expect to have a perfect internet connection for your entire stay. Usually during the busiest hours when many people are online the speed gets slower, and some people may have trouble connecting.

Not included in the tour • Air fare • Alcoholic and bar beverages • Tourist Tax (€1.50 - €2 per person will need to be paid upon arrival at each hotel) • Lunches and dinners • Transportation other than scheduled VGT transfers

Van Gogh Tours Inc. • (781)-646-0096 • [email protected]