Valley meets summit in Bad Ischl

• 4 nights

• Half-board

Day 1 : Individual arrival at Bad Ischl
Ischl became a holiday destination of European standing in the mid-19th century when Emperor Franz
Joseph began spending his holidays at his summer residence there. Bad Ischl—a spa town since 1906—is
located in the heart of the Salzkammergut region and is the ideal starting point for this exceptionally varied
hiking tour. Leisure and relaxation can be found, for example, in the spa gardens, the spacious thermal
baths, or by visiting the famous Café Zauner. You will receive your detailed travel documents at the hotel.
(3 nights)

Day 2: Up and around the Katrin
The first hike of your trip starts gently along the Traun river to Bad Ischl's local mountain, the Katrin. Now a
steep climb begins, partly in serpentines, to the mountain inn, which invites you to take a break. Afterwards,
spectacular panoramic views await you. You continue hiking along the mountain, pass a short section
secured with ropes, and finally reach the Hainzen. Continuing past the Elferkogel and finally to the summit
cross of the Katrin, you hike back to the mountain station of the Katrin cable car, which you use for the
descent. If the weather is good, you will have been able to discover seven lakes during the hike and see as
far as Bavaria.
If you want to make the day more leisurely, you can also use the cable car to save yourself most of the
ascent (payable on site).
~ 10 km; 6 hrs., difference in altitude: ascent 1160 / descent 230 m (250 m ascent if taking the cable car up)

Day 3: From Bad Ischl via the pilgrimage site of Lauffen to Bad Goisern
Your hotel is located directly on the turquoise-green waters of the Traun River, where today's stage along
the Soleweg trail begins on the esplanade. Here, you follow the course of the brine pipeline, the oldest
active pipeline in the world, which transports brine from the Hallstatt salt mine to the salt works in Ebensee.
Passing the valley station of the Katrin cable car and the bronze statue of the emperor hunting, you hike
along the popular hiking trail to the small village of Lauffen. The name derives from the rapids that the salt
shippers once had to overcome and for which they asked the Madonna for protection from misfortune.
Incidentally, this is also where the comedy ‘Weißes Rössl’ was set. After Lauffen, the valley floor widens and
the Kalmberge mountains rise one after the other, followed by the mighty Dachstein mountains. After
Weißenbach, the mountain panorama is particularly impressive with the ‘Ewige Wand’ (Eternal Wall) on the
left, the mighty ridge of the Hoher Sarstein and the Krippenstein, over 2000 metres high, in the distance. You
now reach the former woodworkers' settlement of Bad Goisern. It stretches for several kilometres to the
northern end of Lake Hallstatt. The village was founded because the rich local timber resources were
needed to heat the brewing vats in Hallstatt.
From your destination, Steeg-Gosau station, take the train back to Bad Ischl.
Hike: approx. 5 hours, (16 km, ascent: 190 m / descent: 150 m)

Day 4: Across the pasture to the Ischler hut
Starting directly from the hotel, you first hike over a hill called Sternzens Abendsitz, which already offers a
wonderful view of the city. Shortly afterwards, you leave the settlements and hike along the
Rettenbachklamm gorge and then on a forest road to the Rettenbachalm. After this comparatively flat but
longer section, the partly steep ascent to the hut begins. Passing the Sattelkogel, you reach the Ischler Hütte
and thus your destination for today.
You can also shorten the day's stage and take a taxi to the Rettenbachalm (payable on site).
Hike: approx. 7 hours (14 km, ascent 970 m / descent: 70 m) / from Rettenbachalm approx. 4-5 hours (6 km,
ascent 790 m / descent 50 m)

Day 5: Descent back to the valley
Today, you will follow the same route you took yesterday from the Ischler Hut via the Rettenbach Valley
back to Bad Ischl and thus back to the town.
Hike: approx. 5 hours (14 km, ascent 70 m / descent 970 m) / to Rettenbachalm: approx. 3 hours (6 km,
ascent 50 m / descent 790 m)
Individual departure

daily

• € 666,00 per person
• bookable from 1 person