The Salt Trail 2008 | |
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Starting from the small town of Bad Goisern, this holiday takes you through the most
historic part of the Salzkammergut. The contrast between the breathtaking scenery
of the Dachstein Alps and the lakes and rivers on the one hand; and the fascination
of the two and a half thousand year old Celtic culture that grew up in and around
Hallstatt, based on salt or White Gold, creates a unique experience. This walking tour mixes some quite strenuous days with gentle, relaxing ones. |
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 Bad Goisern |
 The Gosausee Lake |
Day 1. Arrive in the pretty town of Bad Goisern. Day 2. Walk up to the Berghof Predigstuhl, from where there is a marvellous view over Lake Hallstatt. Continue through a gorge and alongside a cliff-face: as you walk there is a string of breathtaking views of the Dachstein Alps. Walk down to the village of Lupitsch, then through farm country to Lake Altaussee and the village of the same name (about 12 miles, 1800 feet of ascent). Day 3. A much more gentle day through the country of the Ausseerland. Follow a nature trail with a salt theme. En route you will find old tunnel entrances, Roman trade routes and ruins of old fortresses (about 5 miles, 660 feet of ascent). Day 4. Follow the banks of the River Altausseer Traun to Bad Aussee. Then through the wild and romantic Koppental valley you walk to Obertraun and continue to the UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt, reached by a short boat trip across the lake (about 13 miles, 130 feet of ascent). Day 5. Walk along the lakeshore to the base station of the Krippenstein Cable Car. Take the cable car up to Schönbergalm and follow the Alpine Floral Path through meadows to the stalactite cavern and the ice cave. Return to the valley cable car walk back to Hallstatt (about 10 miles, 330 feet of ascent). Day 6. First a steep climb to the salt mine. ( If you prefer, you can take the funicular.) From here you follow the Salt Trail (Soleweg) first, high above the lake, then along the west side of the valley of the River Traun, to Bad Ischl (about 14 miles, 130 feet of ascent). Day 7. First a beautiful path leads through the former imperial hunting grounds up the alpine pastures at Hoisenradalm. Cintinue to the Salzberg and then to the Predigstuhl. Finally descend to Bad Goisern via the Ewige Wand, a path carved into the hillside (about 12 miles, 2630 feet of ascent). |
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 Lake Hallstatt |
 Bad Ischl |