Austria - High altitude walking around Dachstein
- A unique hiking experience in the Dachstein World Heritage Site -
A unique, fascinating and multi-faceted hike along a wide network of trails at altitude, magnificent mountain views, overnight stays in huts in an unspoilt landscape, all this awaits you. On this tour around the majestic Dachstein, which lies directly on the border between the three provinces of Styria, Salzburg and Upper Austria, you will experience remote valleys, alpine plateaus and mountain pastures which, together with the incredibly beautiful landscape around the Dachstein, will take your breath away. On carefully selected hikes you will explore the stunning landscape in and around the Dachstein area and enjoy the diverse landscape.
More about the route
This hiking tour offers challenging trails at high altitude with views of the Alps and the Salzkammergut region. An ideal tour for hiking enthusiasts with a good level of fitness and sure footing. Our tours lead mainly along hiking trails and you can expect a hiking time of up to 7 hours.
Highlights of the route
- The impressive Dachstein massif
- Gosau Gorge - Known as the "Dolomites" of the Salzkammergut region
- Unique hiking routes at high altitude
- Unspoilt mountain landscape
- Idyllic mountain lakes, alps and plateaus
Great things about this tour
Itinerary See all daysClose all days
You arrive at your first hotel in Ramsau.
The day starts with a short bus ride and hike up to the Sulzenschneid peak. Via the Linzer path you cross the alpine area "Rinderfeld" with all kinds of grazing cattle. Then your route goes below the summit along a high trail towards the impressive Bischofsmütze (mitre) and then to the foot of this well-known rock formation to the Hofpürgl hut, where a cosy evening in the hut awaits you.
Note: The luggage transport cannot reach the Hofpürgl hut where you will spend the night. It is therefore necessary to bring your overnight bag and carry it with you on today's hike.
Expect a great morning atmosphere on the mountain, followed by a high-altitude hike with stunning views under the sharp ridges of the Gosau Mountains. Then walk via alpine pastures with grazing cattle all the way to Stuhlalm, which invites you to take a break and sample some of the home-made products. Below the Donnerkogel peak (there is the option of climbing to the top) to the Gablonzer hut with a breathtaking view of the Dachstein glacier and down into the Gosau valley and to Lake Gosau. Break and descent by cable car to Lake Gosau.
Note: In Gosau your luggage is waiting for you and from here it is transported every day.
From Gosau, the tour follows forest paths via the Iglmoosalm to the Goiserer Alpine Club hut, located on the ridge with a fantastic view of the Goiserer Valley and Lake Hallstätter See. You again have the opportunity to climb to the top of the Hochkalmberg mountain with the "Stenindianer" rock formation. The descent goes via the Waldsteig and the toboggan run to Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstätter See.
From Bad Goisern you walk via the scenic Giselawarte outpost pavilion and through wonderful, unspoilt farmland to the Soleweg path, which runs along the historic salt pipeline all the way up to the Hallstätter salt mine - where we strongly recommend a visit. Expect a fantastic viewing platform at the Rudolfs tower with views over Hallstadt and to the Krippenstein mountain. Descend by cable car to Hallstadt, the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage town with countless tourist attractions and its unique beauty. From here take the boat across the lake and take the train to Bad Goisern.
After a short transport, today's route goes through the forest to the top of Hochmühleck. You walk via the summit to the Viehberg Alps, where traditional huts invite you for a break. Now you head towards the valley and walk again through a remote karst and mountain pine area up to the Brünner hut, located on the Stoderzinken. Here you spend a cosy evening in the mountains just below the sharp peak of the Stoderzinken.
Today you cross the high plateau of the Styrian Dachstein Plateau. Through mountain pine and larch forests, past small mountain lakes you hike over lonely and large karst and gravel areas up and down, on your way to the majestic Dachstein. This high altitude trek passes under spectacular mountain peaks and through untouched nature towards the Guttenberghaus climbing station - the perfect end to your hiking trip around Dachstein!
The journey is now over. In the morning you leave the hotel.
Price includes
- 6 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels and inns
- 1 night in mountain hut (Hofpürglhut - day 2)
- Breakfast every day
- Luggage transport between hotels
- 1 "Ramsau Summer Card" which can be used for local cable cars, tourist attractions, buses and more)
- Ticket for the cable car from Gosaukamm
- Ticket for the cable car "Salzbergbahn" down to Hallstatt
- Ticket for the boat across the lake at Hallstatt
- Train ticket from Hallstatt to Bad Goisern
- Transfer on day 6
- Carefully elaborated route descriptions maps and other materials
- 24-hour local and international service hotline for the duration of the tour
- Access to the route in our GPS-app which works offline while you walk
- This is a packaged holiday and is therefore covered by The Travel Guarantee Fund - See which benefits this means for you - click here
- Transportation to/from Austria
- Handling fee (€20)
- Tourist tax (if due)
- Transport by public buses (expect about 9 euros per person)
Practical info
The price is based upon two people sharing. It is also possible travel alone in a single room. If you travel alone a single room is necessary.
On this tour you will be on your own supplied with maps, route descriptions and luggage transfers. That means that your time is your own and you have plenty of time to enjoy the stages in your own pace.
Check the price quickly
You can quickly check the price of your desired trip without having to fill in anything. Here's how:
- Choose your desired start date
- Click on the green button "See price and reserve your holiday" and go to the booking form
- Select number of people, add any optional extras and see the price at the bottom of the page (you don't have to fill in anything on the form).
Get a quote
For example, if you want a flight included or changes to the trip, you can order a quote for this using the "Get a quote" button. Remember to describe in detail what, if anything, you want changed.
The process of your booking
When you book, we will start booking hotels and arranging all the practical details of the trip. This process typically takes 2-5 working days, but some bookings may take longer. If you are arranging your own transport, we recommend that you wait until we have confirmed your booking before arranging this.
Dates
If you can select the date in the tour calendar at the top of this page, this is a possible start date. We continually update the tours with sold-out dates, after which those dates will turn red and cannot be selected.
The flights to/from Salzburg are not included in the price. You can easily find a suitable flight via a flight booking engine such as Momondo or Skyscanner.
Notice: we recommend that you book with us and wait for the confirmation before you book your flights.
It works like this:
- You book your chosen holiday with us
- We confirm your holiday (usually within 2-5 working days)
- You arrange your transportation
Getting there
Here is a link for the perfect tool which will help you get an overview of how to get to the starting point of the tour: Rome2Rio
From Salzburg to Ramsau
From Salzburg there is a bus/train to Ramsau (about 4½ hours). Get an overview of the trip via this link:
If you drive yourself
This trip is perfect for self-drive because it starts and ends in the same place. Parking at the hotel is possible, but cannot be booked from home.
You will stay in a 4-star hotel in Ramsau, 3-star hotels and inns in the other towns, except for Day 2, when you will stay in dormitory in a mountain hut.
Please note that it is not possible to have luggage delivered to the mountain hut on Day 2, so here you will need to bring gear for the overnight stay. It is also necessary to bring a sleeping bag/layer for this night. The sleeping bag can be carried on the luggage transport on all other days when it is not needed.
Extra nights
It is possible to purchase additional nights in Ramsau before and/or after the tour.
Extra nights can be selected on the booking form.
Breakfast is included every day. It is also possible to buy half board (7x dinner) when booking the tour. Lunch is easy to find in the towns along the route.
Luggage transfer is included on this tour. Upon arrival at the first hotel you will be given luggage tags along with the rest of the welcome package. You fill out the luggage tags and put them on your bags where they will remain for the duration of the tour.
Your luggage is picked up from the hotel lobby around 9am every morning and will arrive at your next hotel at 6pm at the latest (often long before that). If there are any special exceptions to the luggage transfer you will be notified upon arrival.
Luggage transfer includes one bag per guest and the bags can weigh 20kg each.
You will recieve the following documentation
Upon booking
You recieve practical information about the tour in a digital format
One month before arrival
You recieve your hotel list and your voucher (hotel list is often supplied upon booking)
Upon arrival
You recieve the welcome package which contains the printed version of the road book, luggage tags, local specific vouchers and if you have rented bikes then they will also be delivered and fitted at the first hotel.
This tour has difficulty grade 3-4. Which means that most days are difficulty 3 and some days are difficulty 4.
Grade 3
Walking in hilly or mountainous terrain, with longer ascents and descents. You will walk 5-7 hours a day. Requires good fitness and good health, but no technical experience. Requires good footwear such as trekking or hiking boots.
Grade 4
Trekking with daily walks of 6-8 hours, often in difficult terrain and higher altitude. There will be longer ascents and descents. Requires endurance and strong knees and ankles. Requires good hiking boots and "outdoor" clothing. There will be major fluctuations in temperatures.
Read more about our Grading System
Here you can get an overview of the entire route and the elevation profile for each day. The data shows the data from the GPX-files related to the tour. Notice that the routes are sometimes updated, which means that there might be small variations.
Colors
Blue routes: The route as normal
Red routes: Variations/options (such as shortened or extended routes)
It can be hard to plan your trip according to the weather, but to give an idea of the local climate, you can see the data below:
We are members of the Travel Guarantee Fund (nr. 2529) and have all available insurances. This covers you regardless of your nationality. Read more about that here.
Call our experts on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
Or write to us at
Get a quote
Didn't find what you were looking for? We will be happy to send you a custom quote.
Fill out your wishes, and we will send you a quote on your next holiday.
×Get our Newsletter
We write about active holidays, contests and good travel tips
Contact us ×
You are more than welcome to contact us if you have questions about anything.
Phone: +44 20 3936 1208
Mail: [email protected]