Day 01: Arrival Payerbach
Today you arrive in the resort town of Payerbach, easily reachable from Vienna.

Day 02: Train Payerbach – Semmering; walk along Semmering Heritage Trail
Take the Semmering train (the first standard-gauge mountain train in the world, operational since 1854, now a UNESCO world heritage site) from Payerbach to Semmering. Then walk along the train-heritage trail which follows the route of Ghega-train, with striking viaducts crossing deep valleys and gorges and an idyllic, peaceful countryside. You can shorten this tour by taking the train for the last part. Walking for the day: approx. 6 hours, 19 km (full walk) or 4 hours (11 km) for the shorter option

Day 03: Rax Plateau
Reach the Rax plateau (2,000 m) by cable car. There you can do different round walks from cabin to cabin. Several options are available for every taste. Enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Walking for the day: 4-6 hours, 10 to 15 km depending on the chosen option

Day 04: Bodenwiesen to Puchberg
The demanding ascent to Waldburg-Anger cabin is followed by a comfortable walk across the huge high alpine pasture Bodenwiese, where the local farmers graze their cattle. Then walk down into the valley on easy forest roads past little ponds. During the entire walk you will enjoy views of the mighty Schneeberg and behind you will stay the Rax mountain. Walking for the day: approx. 7 hours, 24 km (full walk); you can book an optional transfer on site to shorten the walk.

Day 05: To the top of Schneeberg
The Schneeberg rack-and-pinion train, now over 100 years old, climbs to a height of 1,800 m from where it is a two-hour walk to the summit. Enjoy the views from the summit and return back to the train station; do not miss the local pastry called “Buchtel” at the middle-station – a delicious speciality! Walking for the day: approx. 4 hours, 12 km

Day 06: The Foot of Hohe Wand
Take the train and then walk up to Hohe Wand, a rock-wall popular among climbers. Don’t worry, we chose a comfortable and safe route (no scrambling or technical skills needed). From the top you can see almost to Vienna. Return to Puchberg following the ridge, past farms and small hamlets. Walking for the day: approx. 4,5 to 5 hours, 13 km

Day 07: Departure
By train via Wiener Neustadt to Payerbach (or to Vienna).

Day 01: Start Achenkirch.
Start Achenkirch. In the evening the representative will hold a welcome meeting to discuss the week ahead and give advice on the local area.

Day 02: Achenkirch to Moosenalm circuit (1530m); descend to hotel.
Walking from the hotel, we pass through the village then start on a gently climbing forest road before a steeper path up through beautiful woods to reach the Moosenalm, a high pasture with wonderful views. We then contour round to the Christlum ski area looking down to Achenkirch & the lake before descending down and back to our hotel.

13km, 600m ascent and descent. Max altitude 1530m

Day 03: Bus and cable car to start the ascent to Barenkopf (1991m)
Bus and cable car to start the ascent to Barenkopf (1991m); descent to the Weißenbachsattel (1695m) before we walk back to Zwolferkopf and take the cable car back.

We take a short bus journey to Pertisau and then the Karwendel cable car to start our walk to Zwolferkops before ascending the Barenkopf (1991m). We descend on a different path via the Barenbaldalm where we stop for coffee & cake before descending by cable car to Pertisau and taking the ferry back to Achenkirch.

9km, 600m ascent and descent. Max altitude 1991m

Day 04: Summit of the Rofanspitze (2258m)
Today we take a short bus journey to Maurach and then the Rofanlift cable car for a memorable ascent of the Rofanspitze (2258m), where we have a picnic lunch with panoramic views. We retrace our steps to the Rofanlift, before catching the steam train and ferry back to Achenkirch.

8Km: 430m ascent and descent: max altitude 2258m

Day 05: A free day to relax.

Day 06: A free day to relax.

Day 07: Walk over the Pasillsattel pass (1680m).
We take the bus to Pertisau and walk up the Gerntal valley before taking a steep footpath up to the Pasillsattel, with amazing views behind us. We cross behind the impressive peaks of Seebergspitze and Seekarspitze, stopping for refreshments at a rustic alm before our descent back to Achenkirch.

15km, 820m ascent and descent, max altitude 1680m.

Day 08: Head to the Rofan mountain range
Head to the Rofan mountain range, walk the Enzianweg path to Steineres Tor; descend to lake; ferry back.

Today we take the bus to Maurach and then the cable car to the heart of the magnificent Rofan mountain range. Here we take the delightful Enzianweg path, stopping at the Dalfazalm for coffee & cake, before climbing steadily to a col at Steineres Tor (1978m).

A long descent through a wild valley, via the Köglalm and down through the woods finishing right outside the hotel.

15Km; 300m ascent; 1150m descent; max altitude 1978m

Day 09: End Achenkirch.
End Achenkirch.

Day 01: Arrive Bad Goisern
Fly to Vienna/Salzburg/Linz/Graz and take the airport shuttle buses, then trains to Bad Goisern. There are trains more or less hourly throughout the day. Settle into your hotel and maybe stretch your legs strolling along the riverside path.

Day 02: Bad Goisern Walk
There are different options today. If you are up for a bit of a challenge, take the train to the Spa town of Bad Ischl (15 minutes) and take the 19 km / 11 mile walk back to Bad Goisern involving a climb up to the craggy peak of Predigstuhl 1278m (some steps & cables to summit but you can bypass the summit). There are great vistas towards the Dachstein group, which still looks quite far off at this point and over the Halstattersee. A steep descent takes you along the Ewige Wand rock band before doubling back through some old salt workings bringing you out into the forest above Bad Goisern.

An alternative is a shorter walk steeply up a forested rock ridge called the ‘The Jochwand,’ 9 km / 5.5 miles approx. There are great views over the region before the path drops downhill to Bad Goisern. For a more relaxing day, walk along both sides of the river bank and explore the coffee shops of Bad Goisern.

Day 03: Bad Goisern-Gosau 16 km/9.9 miles (1100m ascent–900 m descent)
The path climbs past the Goiserer Hutte 1598m. Hardened walkers may wish to spend an extra half hour or so climbing up to the peak of Kalmberg 1833m. It is then downhill to Gosau heading steeply through attractive Alps and then through forests and walk into the spread out village of Gosau.

Day 04: Walks from Gosau
You have the choice of either a full day or half day walk.

Take the local postbus to Gosaursee and gain the ridge high above with a funicular car up to the ‘Gablonzer Hutte,’ 1522m (probably closed September / October) and then from there follow a pretty path back down again to Gosau called the ‘Herrenweg’ (The Man’s Walk). On this 7 km / 4 mile walk there are normally great views of the Gosaukamm Mountains.

You can also take the postbus up to the Gosausee and then walk the trail to the Hintere Gosausee, which is the smaller higher second lake, ascent and descent is about 300m. This trip takes about 4 hours and on a good day you will get some very dramatic reflections of the mountains in the waters.

Day 05: Gosau-Hallstatt 16 km/9.9 miles(900m ascent-1000m descent)
Gosau-Hallstatt 16 km/9.9 miles(900m ascent-1000m descent)From Gosau you can walk to Hallstatt (literally ‘Salt City’)

maybe with the assistance of local transport to shorten routes. Walking, the route follows the valley before climbing up through forest and alpine pastures liberally watered by mountain streams reaching the flanks of Mount Plassen. Here is a short steep section to descend, before a more gentle undulating general descent via the mines of Salzburg where you will find a salt mine where guided visits are possible depending on when you arrive. Finally drop down to Hallstatt. If it is wet or if a storm beckons a little funicular will get you down.

Day 06: Walks from Hallstatt
Time is well spent utilizing cable cars and the Obertrauner Hohenweg to visit an ‘Ice cave,’ the ‘Mammoth cave’ and Mount Krippenstein, with more walking opportunities and views to the Dachsteins and their glaciers. Alternatively from the town a steep gradient leads you up to the salt mine, which originally gave the town its wealth. (If you have not visited this yesterday on the way down from the walk). You could avoid the climb by using the little funicular railway instead. High above there are great views of the Hallstattersee and the high peaks. You can walk back on the ‘Soleweg’ path. Spend some time in Hallstatt, looking around for instance, the old graveyard where bones and skulls have been piled up in the bone house, many painted with floral motifs. You could also take the ferry across the Hallstattersee for a mini cruise. Photographers will certainly appreciate the different vistas of the town from the water!

Day 07: Hallstatt to Bad Goisern 12 km / 7.5 miles
The walk leads off northerly from above Hallstatt along the ‘Solweg’ the path by which they have pumped brine (liquid salt) towards Bad Ischl for a few hundred years. Originally the brine was piped via a wooden piping and is claimed to be the oldest commercial pipeline. Hopefully if the weather is clear and still you will get some beautiful reflections in the waters. You can take a detour down to the lake at a place called Gosaumuhle where you may like to take a swim on a warm day. You then carry on into Bad Goisern and back to your first hotel. Alternatively you can catch the ferry across to the railway station in the morning and walk round the eastern side of the lake to Bad Goisern. For the most challenging walk of the week you can opt to cross the lake and walk via the summit of Sarstein back to Bad Goisern.

Day 08: Bad Goisern to Vienna/Salzburg/Linz/Graz
After breakfast make your way to the train station for your onward journey.