© Foto Oberösterreich Tourismus GmbH/Robert Maybach: Schneeschuwandern im Mühlviertel in der Nähe von Bad Zell.
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From salt to brine – on the trail of the local miners

Bad Ischl, Oberösterreich, Österreich

April 21st - October 25th, 2025

Explore the World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut
from Ebensee to Hallstatt - or vice versa
 

  • with daily luggage transfer                                              
  • overnight in ***hotels/inns                    
  • start on arrival possible every day

"Of all the precious stones that the earth gives us, salt is the most precious."
Justus von Liebig (1803 - 1873)
 

The vital salt was discovered around 7000 years ago in the limestone mountains at Lake Hallstatt. It also helped this unique holiday region to get its name - the Salzkammergut. The partially forrested brine line path was created because the limited wood resources in Hallstatt at the end of the 16th century were no longer sufficient to boil all the brine in the pan house. Therefore, saltworks were built in 1596, first in Ischl and a few years later in Ebensee, into which the excess brine was fed. The 42 kilometers long hiking trail leads along the oldest pipeline in the world. Once upon a time, the brine (salt saturated water) ran through hollowed, interlocking tree trunks and the natural gradient was used to a large extent. The brine line, which is still fully functional today, now consists of plastic pipes. For a long time this was the only way into the Inner Salzkammergut. Today it is one of the most beautiful and historically most interesting hiking trails in Austria.
  
Highlights
 
  • hiking along the oldest "industrial pipeline" of the world
  • immerse yourself in the several thousand-year-old history of the region
  • boat ride on Lake Hallstatt
  • adventure long-distance hiking trail – follow your own rhythm
  • overnight in the “World Heritage Site” Hallstatt
  • 4 nights
services
  • 4 x Overnight stays with breakfast buffet in ***hotels/inns
  • 3-course dinner for bookings with half board
  • 1 x welcome video with explanations and information that you need for the tour
  • 1 x Welcome drink
  • 1 x Snack with 1 typical local speciality
  • 1 x Boat trip on Lake Hallstättersee
  • 1 x Train ticket from Hallstatt to Ebensee
  • 1 x Hiking map of the Salzkammergut area + detailed routing (1x per room)
  • 1 x Voucher for € 5,-- for a souvenir from our information centre in Bad Ischl
  • 3 x Luggage transfer - max. 2 pcs./person and max. 25 kg/piece of luggage
  • Daily service hotline from 8.00 - 18.00 (also on weekends)
  • A tree for your booking – we plant a tree for your booking
Catering
  • Breakfast
itinerary

The course of your hiking tour:

Day 1:  Individual arrival at the southern end of the Traunsee - to Ebensee
The Traun, on its way between Totes Gebirge and Höllengebirge, flows into the Traunsee in the attractively situated town. Ebensee is closely linked to salt production; here ends the more than 400-year-old brine pipeline and the saltworks of the salt mining company is still active here today. The multi-layered and lived customs in the little town forms the basis for the cultural life. In this context a visit to the Ebensee local history museum is recommended (admission to be paid in cash on site), and the historical themed trail also starts here. You will receive your detailed travel documents at the hotel. (1 night)
 
Day 2:  Following the Traun to Bad Ischl
From Ebensee you follow the historic brine pipeline route to the imperial city of Bad Ischl and at the same time overcome the longest stage of the journey. In the beginning, the cliffs of the Höllengebirge dominate the landscape, as the Traun River does, which is crossed several times today. Before you reach Langwies, the path leads through a piece of forest and invites you to rest and cool off with several streams. It continues on level roads and forest roads. A few kilometers before you reach the spa town, the mighty local mountain of Bad Ischl, the Katrin, comes into view. Since the middle of the 19th century, when Emperor Franz Joseph began to spend his holidays in his summer residence in Ischl, it became a holiday home of European standing. You can redeem the voucher for a souvenir in the Salzkammergut Touristik shop! (1 night)
Hiking: approx. 6-7 hours (19 km, ascent 542 m in height / descent 503 m in height)

Day 3:  From Bad Ischl via the pilgrimage site of Lauffen to Bad Goisern
The pretty spa town is not on a lake, but at the turquoise-green waters of the Traun, on whose esplanade today's stage begins. Past the valley station of the Katrin cable car and the bronze statue of the hunter Emperor Franz Josef, you hike along the popular hiking trail to the small town of Lauffen. The name derives from the rapids that the boatmen delivering the salt once had to overcome and asked the Madonna to protect them from misfortune. Incidentally, this is also where the comedy “Weißes Rössl” was created. Once you have left Lauffen behind you, the valley widens and the Kalmberg and then the mighty Dachstein Mountains arise one after the other. Following the hamlet of Weißenbach, the mountain panorama is particularly impressive due to the "Eternal Wall" on the left, the mighty ridge of the Hoher Sarstein and the more than 2000-meter high Krippenstein in the distance. You will now reach the former woodworkers' settlement of Bad Goisern. It extends over several kilometers to the northern end of Lake Hallstatt. The place was founded because the local rich wood deposits were needed for heating the brine boiling pans in Hallstatt. (1 night)
Hiking: approx. 3 hours (9 km, ascent 235 m in height / descent 224 m in height)

Day 4:  Along the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt to the town of Hallstatt
From Bad Goisern follow the brine line path to Steeg. The following section on the eastern shore of Lake Hallstatt is panoramic, the view of the Dachstein Mountains is fantastic and the route is spectacular. The flank of the Sarstein falls almost vertically into the lake and the partly on hanging bridges running path gives the impression of walking over the water. You continue hiking to Obertraun and to Hallstatt for the night. If you want to take a shortcut, you can take one of the snow-white ships of the local shipping company from Hallstatt train station to Hallstatt market and save about eight kilometers on foot (ferry to be paid on site). (1 night in Hallstatt)
Hiking: approx. 5 hours (19 km, ascent 127 m in height / descent 102 m in height)

Day 5:  Hallstatt - fairytale village at the mountain lake
With its shingle-roofed, picturesque, half-timbered houses and pastel facades, church towers and market square, Hallstatt nestles perfectly in the setting between the mountains and the lake. For all those who want to spend even more time in the Salzkammergut area, additional nights can be booked. One of many extension options is Hallstatt itself; you may visit the oldest salt mine in the world and enter a fascinating underground world.
Otherwise, look forward to a morning boat ride from Hallstatt market to Hallstatt station. The journey back to Ebensee on the Salzkammergut Railway is truly a special treat for railway enthusiasts, as the landscape experienced during the journey is overwhelming. (Please bring your own luggage)

General Information
The tours do not have any technical difficulties; the path has been newly adapted and made interesting for adults and children. The family hiking trail of the Salzkammergut! Your hiking equipment should include: closed sneakers or hiking boots, backpack (included in the arrangement!), sun and rain protection, functional clothing.

possible date of arrival

daily

from price
  • € 534,00 per person
  • bookable from 1 person
Travel period (21.04.2025 - 25.10.2025)
From to
21.04.2025, to 25.10.2025

non-binding inquiry

Rates per person and arrangement in €:

22.04. – 01.07.24
01.09. – 18.10.24
   
***hotels/inns in double room with breakfast                       519,--
Supplement for half board                                                   135,--
Supplement for single room                                                142,--
   
Additional night double room with breakfast                         70,--
Additional night double room in Hallstatt with breakfast       80,--
Additional night supplement for half board                           23,--
Additional night supplement for single room                         20,--
Additional night in Bad Ischl                                                 on request

01.07. – 01.09.24
   
***hotels/inns in double room with breakfast                        539,--
Supplement for half board                                                    135,--
Supplement for single room                                                 142,--
   
Additional night double room with breakfast                         70,--
Additional night double room in Hallstatt with breakfast       80,--
Additional night supplement for half board                           23,--
Additional night supplement for single room                        20,--
Additional night in Bad Ischl                                                 on request
   
Day of arrival  daily
 
Local tax is extra to pay on spot in each accommodation (from € 1,-- to € 4,-- per person/per night)
 
Reduction for children sleeping in their parents’ room (2 fully paying guests, maximum 2 children):
0 –   2,9 years:    100 %
3 – 14,9 years:      30 %
 
Accommodation:
Twin-bedded rooms in Austrian resorts are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. These are also known as 'Austrian Twins' and are regarded as two beds. Separate twin beds are rare and cannot be guaranteed as available.
Location of the accommodation are mainly close to the trails.
 
Information for arrivals by car:
The parking place does not always situate next to the accommodation but on a public parking place. (Possibly costs have to be paid on spot)
 
Dogs:
Dogs are allowed in the accommodations on request, often for a small fee. Extra costs have to be paid on spot. Austrian law requires that dogs must wear a leash or a muzzle!
 
 
Due to environmental reasons we recommend to arrive and depart by public transportation (train/bus).

  • Suitable for friends
  • Suitable for couples

We recommend a cancellation insurance.

The terms and conditions of Salzkammergut Touristik GmbH in the currently valid version apply.

conditions of travel

Contact


From salt to brine – on the trail of the local miners
Salzkammergut Touristik GmbH
Götzstraße 12
4820 Bad Ischl

Phone +43 6132 24000-0
E-Mail wandern@salzkammergut.co.at
Web www.salzkammergut.co.at
http://www.salzkammergut.co.at

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