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Highlights
Hike ancient salt paths from Germany’s Lake Chiemsee to Austria’s Lake Koniggsee
Enjoy two local cuisines – Austrian and German, as you cross the border from one country to another
Marvel at the beautiful lakes as you hike the Chiemgau Alps
Visit charming, small villages along your route
Learn about the ancient salt trade as you walk past historic salt mines
The long hike from Chiemsee to Königssee offers a varied landscape. Lovely shores are followed by historic salt mines and the steep edged mountain walls of the Chiemgau Alps and the Steinerne Meer. On this hike you’ll find green-blue mountain lakes, scenic nature reserves and lots to learn about the white gold.
Typical Bavarian farms and a quiet nature reserve kick off your hike on the Chiemsee. A valley trail takes you to the famous resort of Winkl, from where you can hike past the Biathlon Arena in Ruhpolding. With a little luck, you can watch the roll ski training there. The brine pipeline trail finally brings you to Schönau and the green Königssee. Your constant companions along the entire route: panoramic views and thundering waterfalls.
The long hike from Chiemsee to Königssee offers a varied landscape. Lovely shores are followed by historic salt mines and the steep edged mountain walls of the Chiemgau Alps and the Steinerne Meer. On this hike you’ll find green-blue mountain lakes, scenic nature reserves and lots to learn about the white gold.
Typical Bavarian farms and a quiet nature reserve kick off your hike on the Chiemsee. A valley trail takes you to the famous resort of Winkl, from where you can hike past the Biathlon Arena in Ruhpolding. With a little luck, you can watch the roll ski training there. The brine pipeline trail finally brings you to Schönau and the green Königssee. Your constant companions along the entire route: panoramic views and thundering waterfalls.
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Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival to Lake Chiemsee
Arrive at the beautiful Lake Chiemsee and spend here the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lake Chiemsee
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Walk along Lake Chiemsee to Marquartstein
The tour starts with a comfortable walk along the incredibly picturesque lakeside of Lake Chiemsee, through tranquil nature reserves near the reed belt. You encounter a charming landscape with little forest paths and typical Bavarian farm houses dotted around on your route to Marquartstein.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Marquartstein
Distance: 5-6 hours, 21km, 490m of ascent, 470m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Walk to Bergen
Today prepare for an idyllic alpine pasture tour. After the ascent to the Schnappenkirchlein, where you have the best views of Lake Chiemsee, there are numerous alps inviting you for a break. The route continues past grazing cattle with views to steep summit flanks, then through lush meadows and shady forests into the well-known holiday resort Bergen.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bergen
Distance: 5-6 hours, 17km, 800m of ascent, 700m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Summit Taborkircherl en route to Ruhpolding
A breezy cable car ride will take you to Hochfelln, where you will visit the Taborkircherl and the impressive summit cross and enjoy a fantastic view of the Central Alps. About pastures and forest roads, it goes down into the mystical fairy tale forest. Soon after you reach Ruhpolding, the popular resort in the middle of the Chiemgau Alps.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Ruhpolding
Distance: 4 to 5 hours, 14km, 150m of ascent, 1.100m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Walk to the health resort of Inzell
Along the river Ache to Lake Taubensee and from there a cable car ascent onto the Rauschberg with magnificent panoramic views. The descent leads via alpine pastures and past steep rockfaces, before you walk on forest and rural trails all the way to the climatic health resort Inzell. The typical Bavarian flair and the views onto the surrounding summits are best enjoyed with a cool ‘Maß’(1 litre) of beer in your hand.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Inzell
Distance: 4 to 5,5 hours, 18km, 110m of ascent, 990m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Walk aboe Lake Thumsee to Bad Reichenhall
Walk along the path of the brine pipelines and through the idyllic Höllenbachalm, where you can taste fresh dairy products from the own grazing cattle. The Salt Path leads you above the cute little mountain Lake Thumsee, along forest paths with a view onto Bad Reichenhall. Past the Old Saltworks you reach this beautiful salt health resort, where the Rupertus-Thermal spa invites your muscles to some relaxation time.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Bad Reichenhall
Distance: 5 to 5,5 hours, 20km, 400m of ascent, 600m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Walk to Lake Königssee
Short train ride and then ascent to a glorious and remote forest area. High-altitude paths with incredible panoramic views lead you along the mountainside with the ‘Steinerne Meer’ mountain range and the two summits Watzmann and Hochkönig in front of you. Then a short section along the brine pipeline path, before you ascend through the forest to the Grünstein mountain. Glistening deep down below you is Lake Königssee, green in colour, with boat houses and little boats, set amidst the national park Berchtesgaden and is the picturesque finish of your hiking holiday.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lake Königssee
Distance: 5 to 6 hours, 17km, 1.100m of ascent, 1.110m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 Departure or extension
Departure your hotel after the breakfast.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
2025 Departures: The departures are available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from May 23rd to September 28th, 2025.
- Single room: from EUR1138*
- Sharing a double room: from EUR929*
Accommodation on Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour
This tour is based in hotels. Hotels on this trip are 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour?
Meals
7 breakfasts are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes luggage transfers, however, you will be walking from town to town yourself.
Also Included
- Luggage transfer
- Welcome briefing (German, English)
- 1 Cable car ascent Hochfelln
- Train ride Bad Reichenhall – Bischofswiesen
- 1 Ruhpolding-Card with countless services included
- 1 Entry old salt works in Bad Reichenhall
- Carefully elaborated route description
- Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English)
- Navigation-App and GPS-data available
- Service hotline
Not included
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Visas if required
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Guide services
Optional Extras
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Single occupancy upgrades
- Return transfer
- How hard is the Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour?
- I’ve never been on a self-guided trip! How does it work?
- Is this tour run in English?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Austria?
- Are meals included on the Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to Lake Chiemsee to start this tour?
- Is the Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour in English?
- Where does the Salzalpensteig Trekking Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Austria?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Austria?
We rate this tour as a 4 / 5. A week rich in variety with hiking tours along the old salt paths with a duration each of up to 6 hours. On some days surefootedness and a head for heights are required. You walk across picturesque mountain scenery with views onto steep, jagged peaks, two marvellous lakes, gushing mountain streams and gorges.
Self-guided travelling is not difficult! For many, it is a preferred type of travel, since you are in charge of your own time and pace. You are provided with all the information you’ll need to follow the route each day and often have access to phone support or other kinds of assistance. However, self-guided travelling requires good navigation skills and those who don’t feel confident in unknown places should consider booking guided tours.
All tour information will be provided in English. German tour package is available as well.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
7 breakfasts are included.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover trekking. Get your travel insurance.
You can get to Lake Chiemsee by train from most of the major Austrian cities.
Yes, the tour guide is English-speaking.
The tour ends at in Lake Königssee. You also have an option to book the return transfers to Lake Chiemsee.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
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