Walking in the Austrian Lake District

On Offer

7 nights accommodation

Availability Sep 2026

One itinerary available

Half Board

Grades 3 & 4 details

490kg CO2 details

Non-members From

£1,899

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Inc flights

Members From

£1,849

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Inc flights

For group booking of 10 or more please click here
Adored for its staggeringly beautiful alpine scenery, the UNESCO-listed Salzkammergut region is also known as Austria's Lake District. It offers wonderful walks through mountain foothills and along woodland trails, all set against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks and crystalline lakes. Perfect for those wanting to combine walking with visits to some of the region’s cultural and historic highlights, this exceptional holiday includes visiting the spa town of Bad Ischl, riding the cable car up Katrin Alp, and walking alongside Lake Halstatt. You’ll also have a free day to explore the striking city of Salzburg or the rustic market town of St Wolfgang.

Accommodation

A range of handpicked hotels...
Located in the heart of the Austrian market town of Bad Goisern, the three-star Hotel Goisererhof has been welcoming guests since 1870. There’s a warm and inviting reception area and comfortable en-suite guest rooms that provide all the modern luxuries you could ever need for a relaxing stay. You’ll also find a restaurant serving regional and international cuisine as well as a spa area with a sauna, herbal steam bath, and relaxation room. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and restaurant.
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What You’ll Love

  • Discovering the Salzkammergut region, a designated 2024 European Capital of Culture
  • Admiring crisp alpine peaks and glittering lakes
  • Visiting the spa town of Bad Ishl and riding the cable car up Katrin Alp
  • Walking the Traun Trail and alongside beautiful Lake Halstatt
  • Taking the Krippenstein cable car for a trail overlooking the Dachstein plateau
  • Staying at a charming hotel in the market town of Bad Goisern

What's Included

  • A choice of two walks a day with experienced local leaders
  • HF Holidays Tour Manager
  • 7 nights' accommodation in Bad Goisern
  • 7 breakfasts & 7 dinners
  • In-destination transport using local public transport
  • Return flights from London including baggage and transfers

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Itinerary

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

Itinerary

Upon arrival in Salzburg, you'll be transferred to the picturesque town of Bad Goisern, nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps. Take some time to settle into your accommodation before a welcome meeting with your local guide that will focus on the adventure ahead. 

Option 1 - Seven Lakes View and Elferkogel

Distance: 5.5 miles (9 km)

Total Ascent: 2,370 feet (720m)

Total Descent: 2,370 feet (720m)

We’ll take the cable car up to the mountain station, then follow a rewarding route through mountain forest trails and across former ski slopes to the summit of Mount Katrin. From here, the famous Seven Lakes View offers a
real “stop-you-in-your-tracks” moment. We’ll continue on to the peaks of Elferkogel and Hainzen before returning to Bad Ischl by cable car.

Option 2 - Bad Ischl to Katrin Summit

Distance: 2 miles (3 km) 

Total Ascent: 650 feet (200m) 

Total Descent: 600 feet (180m) 

Our first full day starts with a scenic local train ride to Bad Ischl, followed by a short stroll through town to the valley station of the Katrin cable car. This charming, historic lift carries us up to the Katrin nature reserve. We’ll enjoy an easy walk around the Feuerkögerl, Austria’s sunniest high plateau, pausing to take in views over the Traun Valley. Back at the mountain station, we’ll make our way up to the summit of Mount Katrin, celebrated for its wide-ranging panoramas of the surrounding lakes and the Dachstein Alps. Later, we’ll return to the mountain station to ride the cable car back down to Bad Ischl.

Option 1 - Koppentraun River to Lake Hallstatt

Distance: 13.7 miles (22 km)  

Total Ascent: 660 feet (201m)  

Total Descent: 1,076 feet (328m) 

Our longer walk begins with a local train ride from Bad Goisern to Bad Aussee. The route leads along the Koppentraun River to Obertraun, following the east bank trail to Lake Hallstatt. The return journey is by train from Steeg to Bad Goisern. 

Option 2 - Traun River to Hallstatt

Distance: 7 miles (11.5 k)

Total Ascent: 200 feet (60m)

Total Descent: 120 feet (40m)

Setting off directly from our hotel in Bad Goisern, we’ll follow the River Traun as it winds towards Untersee. Our trail takes us through a mix of meadow and woodland, finishing at Hallstatt train station. From here, we’ll take the ferry across to the centre of Hallstatt, then return to Bad Goisern by local bus.

Each week there is a free day when no guided walks are offered. This is an ideal opportunity to relax around the hotel, walk independently, or visit local places of interest. Options include: 

Bad Ischl 

Just 15 minutes by train from our accommodation sits the spa town of Bad Ischl. Rich in salt mining history, it was once the favourite holiday hotspot for the rulers of the Hapsburg Empire. Visit the summer home of Emperor Franz Joseph I with a trip to the Imperial Villa, stroll down the shop-lined Pfargasse, or savour delicious Austrian treats at the Zauner Café and Cake Shop.  

Salzburg  

Salzburg is the historic Austrian city best known as the birthplace of Mozart and the shooting location for The Sound of Music. This spectacular city is dominated by castles, churches, and palaces. Among its most visited sites are the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Mozart museums, the Getreidegasse, and the Hellbrunn Palace. You can get there by train and bus in approximately 1.5hours from Bad Goisern. 

Strobl on Lake Wolfgang  

Less than 40 minutes away, Strobl is the departure point for boat rides across Lake Wolfgang to St Wolfgang where you can have a coffee break at the famous Café Weisses Rössl. Alternatively, take the cogwheel railway up to Mount Schafberg and try one of the many walking routes. 

Option 1 - The Brine Trail

Distance: 13 miles (20.5 km)

Total Ascent: 1,650 feet (500m)

Total Descent: 1,650 feet (500m)

We’ll begin as in Option 1, heading towards Lake Nussen and passing the Wildenstein ruins. From here, we’ll join the Brine Trail, regarded as one of Austria’s finest walks. Expect fragrant forests, open fields, and a wonderful
sense of history as we follow this classic route all the way back to our hotel in Bad Goisern.

Option 2 - Lake Nussen

Distance: 8.5 miles (14km)

Total Ascent: 1,050 feet (330m)

Total Descent: 1,050 feet (330m)

After taking the train to Bad Ischl, we’ll climb through shady woodland to beautiful Lake Nussen, set within a protected nature reserve. Our route then leads on to the atmospheric ruins of Wildenstein Castle, dating back to the 11th–12th century. We’ll descend back to our starting point in the centre of Bad Ischl.

Option 1 - Krippenstein, Hirzkarsee & Gjaid Alm

Distance: 5 miles (8 km) 

Total Ascent: 197 feet (60m)  

Total Descent: 1,066 feet (325m) 

Day four of our trip takes us through the spectacular Dachstein Mountains on a popular circular trail at over 2000 m altitude. Leaving Bad Goisern we’ll take the bus to the valley station in Obertraun (510 m). We’ll ride the Dachstein Krippeinstein cable car to over 1,600 metres in altitude and overlook the incredibly wide Dachstein plateau.  

From Krippenstein (2,100 m), a well-maintained path leads over hilly terrain to the Dachstein Shark, an impressive 8m long sculpture piece. Climb inside and admire the beautiful landscape through its mouth – a unique perspective. We’ll continue to Heilbronner Cross, past the Hirzkarsee to Krippeneck, before a short path takes us to the sunny terrace of the Gjaid Alm. We’ll return to the valley via cable car. 

Option 2 - Krippenstein & UNESCO World Heritage Landscapes

Distance: 6.2 miles (10 km)  

Total Ascent: 801 feet (244m)  

Total Descent: 801 feet (244m) 

This walk will lead us through the magnificent landscape of the Dachstein/Hallstatt-Salzkammergut region which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the ascent with the Krippenstein cable car, we’ll walk along a wide path to the nearby Gjaidalm (1,738 m). We’ll pick up our trail here and head in a south-westerly direction across the karst terrain, on through the Bärengasse to the Wiesberghaus, before returning and descending again via the Krippenstein cable car. 

Option 1 - Ewige Wand Trail

Distance: 6.8 miles (11 km)  

Total Ascent: 2,165 feet (660m) 

Total Descent: 2,165 feet (660m) 

The longer option starts from Bad Goisern and walks via Feuerbachgasse and Höllgraben to Rathluckenhütte. From here, a legendary trail leads us to the Ewige Wand, an impressive path blasted out of the rock, offering spectacular views across the valley to the Dachstein. 

Option 2 - Traunreiter Trail to Jochwand

Distance: 10.6 miles (17 km)  

Total Ascent: 1,204 feet (367m)  

Total Descent: 1,204 feet (367m) 

Leaving the hotel, we’ll follow the River Traun towards Weissenbach along the Traunreiter Trail. The walk continues through a light-filled forest of beech trees to the Jochwand, offering beautiful views over the valley of Bad Goisern to Lake Hallstatt and the surrounding mountains. 

Transfer to the airport for your flight home. 

Daily Walk Options

Grade 3 Grade 4

Medium Walks

Walks follow well-defined paths, though often in hilly or upland areas, or along rugged coastal footpaths. These may be rough or steep in sections and will require reasonable fitness.

Accommodation

Hotel Goisererhof, Bad Goisern

Located in the heart of the Austrian market town of Bad Goisern, the three-star Hotel Goisererhof has been welcoming guests since 1870. There’s a warm and inviting reception area and comfortable en-suite guest rooms that provide all the modern luxuries you could ever need for a relaxing stay. You’ll also find a restaurant serving regional and international cuisine as well as a spa area with a sauna, herbal steam bath, and relaxation room. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and restaurant.

More Information

Vaccinations & health information EU NEW 2026

Before booking, you should check with your doctor to see whether any health precautions are needed for your trip. Health advice and requirements can change, so we recommend doing this in good time before travel.

As a general rule, travellers should ensure they are up to date with routine UK vaccinations and boosters, including, for example, MMR and diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Some countries may require you to have specific vaccinations such as Malaria, Rabies and Yellow Fever. Please check with your GP if you are unsure.

Please note that the use or possession of some common prescription or over-the-counter medicines is restricted or banned in certain countries. If you will be carrying medication, you should check with the relevant embassy or consulate before travelling. As an extra precaution, we recommend keeping medication in its original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription, and, where possible, asking your pharmacist to provide the medication name in the language of the country you are visiting.

For further country-specific health advice, visit www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk or www.traveldoctor.co.uk. If you are travelling from outside the UK, please consult your own doctor and check local entry requirements.

 

Passport & Visa information - SHARED FOR ALL EU NEW 2026

This information is for those travelling with a full ‘British Citizen’ passport; for all other nationalities or passport holders, please check with your local consulate for advice.

Passport Requirements

This information applies to travellers holding a full British Citizen passport. Entry requirements vary by destination and can change at short notice. For most EU and worldwide destinations, passports must be valid for the entire duration of your stay. Some countries also require a minimum period of validity remaining on your passport (often up to 6 months beyond your return date), even if you are not staying that long.
We strongly recommend ensuring your passport has at least six months’ validity remaining at the time of travel to avoid any issues.

If you hold a different type of British passport or a passport issued by another country, you must check the requirements with the relevant embassy, consulate, or official government website.

Visa Requirements

Visa rules depend on your nationality, destination, length of stay, and purpose of travel, and they can change frequently. It is your responsibility to check whether you require a visa before travelling.
British passport holders should check the latest entry, passport validity and visa requirements for their destination on the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

 

 

Packing list - Overseas Guided Walking

It's best to be prepared for all weather conditions. To make it easier, here is a list of items you should consider packing.   

Essentials  

  • Walking boots 
  • Waterproof jacket 
  • Waterproof trousers 
  • Insulated jacket/top 
  • Walking clothing  
  • Walking socks (plus spares)  
  • Sunhat 
  • Gloves/mitts and warm hat
  • Water bottle (minimum 2 litre capacity)  
  • Headtorch 
  • High-factor sunscreen (minimum SPF 30)  
  • Sunglasses with a dark lens 
  • Rucksack (15-30 litres)  
  • Mobile phone 
  • Personal first aid kit (containing your medication, blister plasters, etc.) 
  • Passport 
  • Visa (if applicable) 
  • Copy of your travel insurance policy 
  • UK Global Health Insurance Card (formerly known as EHIC

Recommended

  • Collapsible walking poles 
  • Swimwear and travel towel
  • Snacks
  • Dry bags
  • Rubbish bags
  • Insect repellent

Optional extras

  • Camera 
  • Sit mat
  • Flask for hot drinks 
  • Durable lunch box
  • Gaiters 
  • GPS device (excluding Bhutan, Georgia and India)

With flights EU & WW

Book your holiday ‘with flights’ and you can choose to depart from a range of UK airports* to your destination. For latest flight times and prices please call us on 0203-974-8865 or email reservations@hfholidays.co.uk  

If you choose to book your flights with us, we automatically include return transfers between the destination airport and hotel.  

Without flights EU

Alternatively, tailor your journey to suit you by booking your holiday ‘without flights’ and you’ll have the freedom to book your own flights from your local airport.   

*Subject to availability 

Carbon Footprint - 490kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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Code: SKK07-LCL09

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Dates & availability

Walking in the Austrian Lake District

Members save an additional £50 on this booking and get a range of other exclusive benefits. You can join during booking process. Read more about membership

2026

Save £50 Per Person

23 Sep - 30 Sep 2026

7 nights. Trip notes

Twin & double rooms

Non-members

£1,949 £1,899

£1,799 £1,749

pp

Members

£1,899 £1,849

£1,749 £1,699

pp
Single rooms

£2,128 £2,078

pp

£2,078 £2,028

pp

£1,978 £1,928

pp

£1,928 £1,878

pp
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Trusted British co-operative

We are proud to be Britain’s only walking holiday co-operative. Led by almost 40,000 members, offering hundreds of holidays across the UK and overseas, with all surplus being reinvested back into our Society.

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Flexible choice of guided walks

Experienced volunteer HF Leaders guide every walk at our UK country houses, offering up to three daily options. Making it easy to find a holiday to suit your ability, and with the flexibility to switch grades each walking day.

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Book early with confidence

Become an HF Member to benefit from our Price Pledge. Secure your first choice of holiday early, and if the cost drops after you book, we will automatically refund the difference (exc. travel agent & group bookings).

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Book with confidence

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

If we cancel your holiday, we honour all refund requests 

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Travel with confidence

We know that peace of mind is priceless, so we’ll always go above and beyond to meet – and exceed – expectations

If the flights we have organised are cancelled or changed, we’ll do everything we can to find alternative transport, with minimal disruption to your holiday

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HF Holidays

A British heritage brand with 111 years of experience

Offering a choice of over 260 itineraries in nearly 40 countries

Run as a co-operative with 40,000-plus members

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