This hiking tour takes you on a journey from Bavaria to Upper Austria, following the trail of salt, which has been integral to the regions in and around the Salzkammergut. Along this adventure, you can expect to be surrounded by breathtaking mountain ranges, verdant forests, meadows, and pristine lakes.
Your route follows ancient salt paths steeped in legends, leading you from one highlight to the next. It all begins at the stunning Lake Königssee, nestled within the Berchtesgaden National Park, and then continues through the shadow of the formidable Tennengebirge mountain range, ultimately reaching the World Heritage region of Dachstein. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely boat ride to the world-famous St. Bartholomä church before venturing on to the renowned salt towns of Berchtesgaden and Hallein.
During your journey, consider visiting one of the salt mines along this extensive border-crossing walking path. You can choose between Dürrnberg, a site that has a history dating back to the Celts for salt harvesting, or the prehistoric salt mining town of Hallstatt. In between these destinations, you'll hike along winding high-altitude trails and experience awe-inspiring mountain scenery with incredible vistas. Along the way, immerse yourself in the authentic Bavarian-Austrian atmosphere, with numerous charming alpine huts nestled amidst lush, flowery alpine pastures inviting you to take a well-deserved break.
Details about the hiking holiday in the Salzalpensteig 2
You will travel on well-marked hiking trails from the beautiful Königssee in Bavaria, through the Tennengebirge mountains, over the Dachstein region to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hallstatt. After a scenic boat trip to the legendary pilgrimage chapel of St. Bartholomä, the salt mines in Dürrnberg and Hallstatt are next on the agenda.
The highlights of this walking holiday at a glance:
Unique views: See the Tennengebirge, the Dachstein Glacier, the Krippenstein and many other imposing mountain ranges.
Salt pipeline and salt mines: The historic mines on the Dürrnberg or in Hallstatt – choose one or visit both!
Romantic huts: Thesecan be found in Abtenau and Annaberg. Enjoy delicious regional delicacies on the rustic ‘Gsengalm’.
Worth knowing about the hiking tour on the Salzalpensteig 2
Start your eight-day hiking holiday in Schönau am Königssee in the Berchtesgadener Land. From there, you hike to Bad Dürrnberg, Hallein and Golling. Along the Salzach, the paths then lead through the breathtaking Lammeröfen on the Pass Lueg. Finally, you arrive in Scheffau, where you can see the Tennengebirge up close.
Other idyllic places on the tour plan are Annaberg, Abtenau, and Gosau with Lake Gosausee and Bad Goisern. On the penultimate day of the mountain hiking tour, you can stroll through the world-famous town of Hallstatt. The trails are good but require good basic fitness on some climbs.
Route summary
Beautiful and well-maintained hiking paths, a few longer ascents require a good basic fitness level and in parts surefootedness. If you like alp scenery, views far into the distance and some altitude, you will really enjoy this tour. You will be enchanted by the high-altitude paths with views of the fascinating mountain world!
The tour leads along the green shimmering river Königsseer Ache into the salt town of Berchtesgaden. Ascend via the Stollenweg path and through adventurous tunnels up to Bad Dürrnberg, where the historic salt mine awaits. You descend on the old Knappensteig trail into the Celtic salt town of Hallein on the river Salzach. Short train ride to Golling.
You walk along the river Salzach to the confluence of Salzach and Lammer and then along the Lammer riverbank path to Pass Lueg. Walk through the fascinating ‚Lammeröfen’ up to the top of the pass and then descend through the forest to the river Lammer near Scheffau. Along the Mühlenweg path (waterfalls) into the rural meadow below the towering rockfaces of the Tennengebirge.
From Abtenau, a cable-car ascent to the summit station of the Karkogel. Walk across lush alpine meadows and along the path until you reach ‚Gsengalm’, a typical alp with natural farm produce and a quaint chalet atmosphere. An ascent follows via the Gsenghöhe directly below the peaks of the Tennengebirge. Then descend along fields of mountain pines and later across alpine pastures with incredible views onto the Tennengebirge and the Gosau mountain crest, before you reach the idyllic mountain village Annaberg.
Via the stair path to the memorial of the ‚Holy Mother Ann’ and downhill along forest paths, then an ascent via alpine pastures to the Stuhlalm. The route continues below the mighty rockfaces of the Gosau mountain crest along the Austria-path to Törleck with the Gablonzer hut and views onto Lake Gosausee, Donnerkogel and the Dachstein-Glacier. Break and cable car ride to lake Gosausee.
From Gosau the route leads you along forest paths via the Iglmoos alp to the Goiserer Alpine Club Hut, located on a mountain ridge with fascinating views of the Goiserer valley and Lake Hallstätter See. You have the option of a summit ascent to the Hochkalmberg with its rock formation called ‚Steinerner Indianer’ (‚stoney Indian’). Descent through the Kesselgraben and along the river Schüttbach down to Bad Goisern on Lake Hallstätter See.
Walk from Bad Goisern via the scenic outpost pavilion ‚Giselawarte’ and through wonderfully unspoilt farmland to the brine path, which leads along the historic salt pipeline up to the salt mine ‚Hallstätter Salzbergwerk’. Prepare for an incredible panorama at the scenic outpost ‚Rudolfsturm’ with views over Hallstatt and onto the Krippenstein-mountain. After that, a short cable car ride to the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage town of Hallstatt. The return journey to Bad Goisern is by train and boat.
ca. 4,5 hours
13 km
540 m
520 m
Day
8
Departure or extension
Route information
Scenic and well-maintained hiking trails, several longer ascents require a good basic fitness level and in parts surefootedness. If you like alpine pastures, great views and hights, you will feel right at home and enjoy this tour very much. Be enchanted by the high-altitude paths and the views onto a glorious alpine world!
1 Cable car ascent Karkogel (approx. mid-June – mid-September, out of season extra hike which takes approx. 2 hours)
1 Cable car descent Gosaukamm
1 Cable car descent Salzbergbahn Hallstatt
1 Boat ride on Lake Hallstättersee
Train rides, according to the itinerary
Carefully elaborated route description
Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
App for Navigation and GPS-data available
Service hotline
Optional:
Half-board: evening meal (mostly multi-course, sometimes outside the property, payable with voucher)
Return transfer by minibus to Königssee/Berchtesgaden every Saturday and Sunday (min. 2 persons), costs EUR 109 per person, EUR 29 per dog, reservation is necessary, to be paid for in advance.
Infos
Arrival / Parking / Departure:
A train journey to Berchtesgaden and then a short ride by bus or taxi to Schönau/Lake Königssee (duration approx. 15 min., depending on the location of the start hotel).
Munich or Salzburg airports.
Parking: Public underground car park (Berchtesgaden) near the hotel, costs approx. EUR 8 per day or approx. EUR 40 per week, no reservation in advance.
Return journey from Bad Goisern to Lake Königssee/Berchtesgaden by train/bus, duration approx. 4 hours (3x change of trains).
Important information:
Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
Special dates on request
Sample hotel list
This is a sample hotel list. Hotels will be booked depending on availability.