The Salzkammergut Lake District region is everything that you expect Austria to be. Green rolling hills punctuated by wooden churches, imposing snow-topped mountains on every skyline, and the ever-present tolling of cow bells coming down from the mountain pastures.
Visiting in the April shoulder season (straddling summer and winter) was a strange experience – I was hiking in shorts and t-shirts past frozen mountain lakes that hadn’t got quite warm enough to thaw yet. There's no shortage of hikes in this gorgeous area – buses, cable cars and trains take visitors to beautiful remote spots with stunning views.
The towns and villages are charming as well. The picturesque alpine town of Hallstatt is perched on the edge of Lake Hallstätter. With its wooden houses and pedestrianised streets, a trip to Hallstatt is like taking a step back in time.
If all this is sounding a bit too relaxing, take the funicular up to the salt mines, where after dressing up in your protective overalls, you venture deep into the mountain on a series of slides that were originally used by the miners. Some of the guests on this tour reached 30 km/h on these slide races (I managed a rather pathetic 13 km/h)!
The highlight of my trip was the llama hiking. After meeting with the local farmer, who clearly loves her llamas very much, I was introduced to my new friends for the day. Llamas are stubborn, friendly, and above all else, hungry! Out on our walk, the llamas were always excited to see their favourite fresh grass and flower snacks by the side of the path, and as long as they could have a little stop to eat now and again, they were as good as gold.
The cycle around Lake Hallstätter is a wonderful family day out. Even as a non-confident cyclist (having only learned to ride a bike post-pandemic!) I had a brilliant time on the cycle route from village to village. The views across the lake are breathtaking, and there are plenty of places to stop for snacks and photos. You can even take a little train or boat ride to the next stop if you’re feeling a bit tired.
Another excellent activity was taking two cable cars up Dachstein Krippenstein for impressive views of the lake and mountains and a visit to the incredible ice cave. There are so many ‘Instagrammable’ posing spots! The ice cave boasts beautiful ice formations all year round, due to its own microclimate. The caves used to be home to the now-extinct cave bear, and some interesting models show you just how big this beast used to be!
This beautiful area is ideal for an action-packed family holiday, offering everything from scaling mountains to relaxing in thermal waters. Our tailor-made Active Austria trip is also a brilliant option for more independent families who want to have lots of fun, with activities included, without being tied to a group or a guide.
If you're considering choosing Austria for your next family holiday, our Active Austria itinerary provides the perfect combination of adventure and beautiful mountain scenery. Contact us today to speak to Jenny or the team.
