Travel to Gmunden on the shores of Traunsee to visit Schloss Ort, a storybook castle set on its own islet and linked by a timber bridge. Browse the town’s renowned ceramic workshops and stroll a lakeside promenade framed by steep, craggy peaks.

The interplay of craft traditions and lake scenery offers a cultured counterpoint to your hiking days. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore a scenic climb to the Jainzenberg summit, the green shoulder above Bad Ischl. The route skirts the elegant Kaiserpark and Kaiservilla, once the Habsburgs’ summer retreat, before ascending quiet tracks to a lookout where you can pause for photos and reflection over the spa town and surrounding peaks.

Expect steady gradients, birdsong, and a front-row seat to the imperial landscape that shaped this valley. The summit offers satisfying reward-to-effort, with forest scents and far-reaching Salzkammergut views.

Hike to the airy Vormauerstein ridge above Wolfgangsee for grandstand panoramas of Schafberg and Attersee. Trails lead across alpine meadows to mirror-like Monichsee — an idyllic picnic spot — with the sound of cowbells and soft breezes carrying the scent of pine.

This classic Salzkammergut route pairs gentle ascents with exhilarating ridge views. The geology and lake-studded horizon reveal why the region drew 19th-century artists and mountaineers in search of crisp air and sparkling light.

Walk a tranquil woodland path to Schwarzensee, a deep-blue mountain lake framed by larch and fir. Settle at a shoreside inn for lunch as you take in the water’s glassy reflections, then continue to the waterfront lanes of St. Wolfgang with its frescoed houses and famed Pilgrimage Church.

Along the way, discover the lakeside culture that inspired the White Horse Inn tales and see how trade routes once linked farms, foresters, and boatmen in this postcard-perfect setting.

Discover Hallstatt UNESCO World Heritage Site, where timbered houses cling to steep slopes above the Hallstätter See. Stroll narrow lanes, then board the lake ferry across Hallstätter See to link with a scenic path toward Bad Goisern, following streams and meadow tracks.

Hallstatt’s story is written in salt: a resource traded since prehistoric times. The walk, framed by cliffs and calm water, blends cultural intrigue with soothing alpine scenery.

Traverse the airy ridge of Katrin, Hainzen and Elferkogel on a self-guided circuit with a 360° panorama. From the heights, trace the lacework of lakes and forested crests, and on clear days gaze across to the snow-capped Dachstein range.

Rocky paths and flower-dotted alpine turf provide a classic high-country feel without technical difficulty for sure-footed hikers. Mountain inns near the top add a convivial pause between viewpoints.

Follow shoreline paths from Strobl through the reed beds of the Blinklingmoos nature reserve, with marshland birds and lilies edging the water. Enjoy views across Wolfgangsee to St. Wolfgang and the Schafberg, and, in warm weather, detour to the lakeside beach at Wassbad before continuing to Gschwendt.

This low-level route offers a relaxed rhythm of bays, boardwalks, and meadows. Expect frequent photo stops as light plays across the lake and wooded slopes.

Ride the panoramic funicular up Hallstatt’s Salzberg to join a guided visit of the Hallstatt Salt Mine, where shafts and exhibits unveil prehistoric mining heritage. Thrill to the traditional wooden miners’ slides and learn how salt shaped fortunes and cuisine across the Alps.

This experience deepens the Hallstatt story beyond the postcard view. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Cruise Wolfgangsee aboard a heritage boat, gliding past villas, boathouses, and wooded headlands. The route links the postcard villages of St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang and Strobl, with plenty of time to pause for photos and reflection over emerald water and steep green slopes.

Hear the soft thrum of the engine and watch the mountains change hue as the sun shifts. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Board the antique cog railway from St. Wolfgang to Schafbergspitze, climbing meadows and rock ledges to a summit balcony above the lakes. At the top, wander to multiple viewpoints for misty mountain passes and a sweep of the Salzkammergut’s glittering waters.

In service since 1893, the line preserves Habsburg-era charm and offers unmatched panoramas without a strenuous hike. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Explore Salzburg’s Baroque Old Town, threading along Getreidegasse past wrought-iron guild signs and Mozart’s birthplace. Ride or walk up to Hohensalzburg Fortress for city-and-mountain views, and unwind among the sculptures and parterres of Mirabell Gardens.

Music, architecture, and café culture meet beneath church domes and steep hillsides. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Visit the birthplace of Mozart’s mother in St. Gilgen, now a small museum shedding light on family life and Salzburg’s musical heritage. Stroll the lakeside promenade, framed by timber balconies and mountain backdrops, and sample pastries in a traditional café.

Once a center of fine lace-making, St. Gilgen blends artisan history with holiday charm on the shores of Wolfgangsee. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Step inside Kaiservilla, the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), to explore salons where imperial history unfolded. Wander the rose gardens and chestnut avenues of the surrounding Kaiserpark, a tranquil green frame to the town.

Curated rooms and period photographs illuminate court life, diplomacy, and leisure in the mountains. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Glide to the high pastures on the Katrin cable car, soaring above forested slopes to the summit station for instant access to panoramic viewpoints. Step onto terraces to survey the chain of glittering lakes and the limestone towers of the Salzkammergut.

Perfect for a gentler day or to link with short summit walks, this ride delivers high-alpine drama without the climb. Optional experience at additional cost, bookable on tour.

Follow a self-guided forest trail from Bad Ischl to the lesser-known Kolowratshohe, rising through spruce and beech to a quiet ridge with broad views over the Traun valley. Pause at the welcoming Hoisenrad mountain restaurant for a hearty snack and to admire the panorama over the Salzkammergut.

Walkers enjoy a satisfying mix of woodland shade and open viewpoints, with glimpses toward snow-dusted Dachstein on clear days. This route highlights Bad Ischl’s alpine setting and the gentle rhythms of rural Upper Austria.

All breakfasts and 1 evening meal are included. Austria is renowned for wholesome, robust food. The cuisine is a reflection of the culinary exchange that went on during the time of empires – French, Spanish, Dutch, German and Croatian cuisine have all contributed to the flavours, to name just a few. You will be set up for the day with a breakfast of cold meats and cheeses, traditional bread, jam and coffee. Austrians tend to eat heartily at lunch time and less in the evenings, but you will be well catered for at dinner. Local specialities include the ever present ‘Wiener Schnitzel’ (breaded veal cutlet) and various stews of beef and pork. Dumplings, potatoes or noodles are all regular accompaniments along with vegetables. Of course, the fresh fish found in the lakes like rainbow trout, brown trout and whitefish will be a feature of many menus, often grilled with butter and herbs, or stuffed with local mushrooms. Desserts are often fruit based – such as ‘apfelstrudel’ or cream pastries. ‘Rehrucken’ is a traditional chocolate and almond cream cake. ‘Linzertorte’ is a flaky cake lined with currant or raspberry jam, encased and covered by a lattice of cake dough. Mozart’s home town’s speciality is ‘Salzburger Nockerln’, which is a very light dessert souffle dusted with vanilla sugar and sometimes served with strawberries on the side. Plum brandy is a popular post dinner drink, or you could try one of the various types of schnapps. Austrian wine tends to be white and fairly sweet in the manner of German Mosel wines. Beer is a better known product of the country and you will find a wide variety of local brews. The best known are Gosser and Augustiner Brau and come in light or dark forms.