Austrian Lakes Self-Launched: Cycling & Walking the Salzkammergut
8 days · Strobl & the Austrian Lake District
Exodus charges £1,770
No-markup version: ~£620 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Skip the operator markup and explore Austria's stunning Salzkammergut lake district entirely on your own terms. Based in the charming village of Strobl on Lake Wolfgang, this self-launched version swaps a 4-star hotel package for a comfortable guesthouse or budget hotel, hires a bike locally, and follows the same spectacular cycling and walking routes — lake shores, Alpine meadows, fairytale villages, and a day trip to UNESCO-listed Salzburg. Austria's excellent local bus, ferry, and cable car network makes every destination in this itinerary easy to reach independently. All estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Strobl
Strobl, Lake Wolfgang
Make your way to Strobl independently. From Salzburg, take the Postbus line 150 directly to Strobl (around 1.5 hours, ~£5). Check into your guesthouse or budget hotel on the eastern shore of Lake Wolfgang. Spend the evening strolling the lakeside, picking up a local map and getting your bearings. Grab dinner at one of the village gasthauses — try Wiener Schnitzel with a local Salzkammergut beer.
🚌Postbus 150 from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof to Strobl (~£5). If arriving by train, take the train to Bad Ischl then a connecting bus.
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night). Alternatively, search Booking.com for 3-star hotels in Strobl — options like Hotel Häupl sit right on the lake.
- →Arrive by Postbus from Salzburg (~£5 one-way)
- →Lakeside evening stroll in Strobl
- →Dinner at a local gasthaus (~£12-16)
Cycle from Bad Ischl back to Strobl
Bad Ischl & Strobl
Take the morning Postbus to Bad Ischl (~20 mins, ~£3). Rent a bike locally from a hire shop in Bad Ischl (e.g. Intersport Eybl or similar, ~£15/day) — book ahead in peak season. Explore the elegant spa town: visit Franz Josef's Kaiservilla (entry ~£13) and wander the imperial streets. Then follow the River Ischl cycle path back to Strobl — a flat, scenic 16 km ride through riverside meadows. Return your hire bike or keep it for the week if you've arranged a weekly rental.
🚌Postbus from Strobl to Bad Ischl (~£3). Cycle back 16 km.
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →Postbus to Bad Ischl (~£3)
- →Rent a bike in Bad Ischl (~£15/day or ~£70/week)
- →Visit Kaiservilla imperial residence (~£13 entry)
- →Option: visit the imperial Kurpark and salt spa baths (~£15-20)
- →16 km cycle along River Ischl back to Strobl
Cycle to St Gilgen along Lake Wolfgang
Lake Wolfgang & St Gilgen
Set off by bike along Lake Wolfgang's southern shore — a beautifully flat cycle track through a tiny nature reserve, 28 km in total. Arrive in St Gilgen, a postcard-pretty waterfront town with frescoed houses and buzzing lakeside cafes. Visit Mozart's Mother's House museum (~£5 entry). For the adventurous, take the Zwölferhorn cable car up for 360-degree Alpine panoramas (~£18 return). Alternatively, try water skiing on Lake Wolfgang through a local watersports operator. Return to Strobl by late afternoon — either cycle back or take the lake ferry.
🚌Cycle 28 km to St Gilgen. Return via Wolfgangsee ferry or cycle back.
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →28 km cycle along Lake Wolfgang's southern shore
- →Explore St Gilgen waterfront and frescoed old town
- →Mozart's Mother's House museum (~£5)
- →Zwölferhorn cable car for panoramic Alpine views (~£18 return) — book directly at the cable car station
- →Optional: water skiing on Lake Wolfgang via local watersports hire (~£30-40)
- →Return by lake ferry to Strobl (~£6) or cycle back
Cycle or Walk to St Wolfgang
St Wolfgang, Lake Wolfgang
Head north along the river then hug the northern lakeshore to reach the famously picturesque village of St Wolfgang (16 km). Explore its cobbled streets lined with frescoed houses, chocolate shops and craft boutiques. Visit the stunning 15th-century Gothic Pilgrimage Church of St Wolfgang — free entry. After lunch at a lakeside terrace restaurant, board the historic Schafbergbahn cog railway (~£35 return) which chugs to the 1,782m summit of Schafberg for breathtaking panoramic Alpine views. Return to Strobl by ferry across the lake (~£6).
🚌Cycle or walk 16 km to St Wolfgang. Return by Wolfgangsee ferry (~£6).
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →16 km cycle or walk along Lake Wolfgang's northern shore
- →Visit the Gothic Pilgrimage Church of St Wolfgang (free)
- →Browse craft and chocolate shops in St Wolfgang's cobbled centre
- →Schafbergbahn historic cog railway to 1,782m summit (~£35 return) — book at schafbergbahn.at
- →Lake Wolfgang ferry back to Strobl (~£6)
Day Trip to Salzburg
Salzburg
Leave the bike behind and take the Postbus from Strobl to Salzburg (~80 mins, ~£8 each way). Spend the day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage baroque city: walk the Getreidegasse, visit Mozart's Birthplace (~£12), climb up to Hohensalzburg Fortress (~£13 by funicular and entry), and stroll through Mirabell Gardens — immortalised in The Sound of Music. Relax at an elegant Viennese-style coffee house such as Café Tomaselli. Return by Postbus to Strobl in the evening.
🚌Postbus 150 from Strobl to Salzburg and back (~£16 total).
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →Postbus from Strobl to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (~£8 each way)
- →Explore the UNESCO Old Town and Getreidegasse on foot (free)
- →Mozart's Birthplace museum (~£12) — book at mozarteum.at
- →Hohensalzburg Fortress including funicular (~£13) — book at salzburg-burgen.at
- →Mirabell Palace and Gardens (free)
- →Coffee and Mozartkugeln at historic Café Tomaselli (~£8)
- →Optional: Salzburg City Card for unlimited public transport and museum entries (~£28/day)
Cycle to Hidden Lake Nussensee
Strobl & Lake Nussensee
Today's ride (14 km) takes you along quiet country lanes through Alpine farming hamlets and low meadows — keep an eye out for tidy woodpiles stacked for winter. Follow the Salzkammergut cycle trail signs towards Lake Nussensee, a beautiful hidden gem completely off the tourist trail and surrounded by rare orchids and shady forest. Swim in the crystal-clear water, relax on the grassy banks, and have lunch at a local gasthaus. Complete the circular loop back to Strobl at a leisurely pace.
🚌Self-powered cycling — 14 km circular route.
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →14 km circular cycle route via quiet country lanes to Lake Nussensee
- →Swimming and relaxing at Lake Nussensee (free)
- →Look out for rare orchids along the shaded lakeshore
- →Lunch at a local gasthaus (~£12-16)
- →Circular loop back through Alpine meadows to Strobl
Cycle or Walk to Lake Schwarzensee
Strobl & Lake Schwarzensee
Your final active day offers a choice of cycling or walking routes (22 km cycling or a shorter hike) across the valley and up through forest to Lake Schwarzensee, dramatically positioned beneath the Vormauerstein, Hoheneck and Breitenberg peaks. Have lunch in one of the mountain restaurants enjoying views of snow-capped summits. Then enjoy a delightful valley descent back to Strobl. Spend the evening with a farewell dinner at a lakeside restaurant, perhaps with a boat trip on Lake Wolfgang at sunset (~£10 by local ferry).
🚌Self-powered cycling or walking — 22 km.
🛏Gasthof Höplinger or similar guesthouse in Strobl (~£35-45/night)
- →22 km cycle or forest hike to Lake Schwarzensee
- →Swimming or lakeside relaxation at Lake Schwarzensee
- →Lunch at a mountain restaurant with Alpine views (~£14-18)
- →Valley descent back to Strobl
- →Optional: evening lake ferry cruise at sunset (~£6-10)
- →Farewell dinner at a lakeside Strobl restaurant (~£16-22)
Depart Strobl
Strobl
Enjoy a final breakfast at your guesthouse before checking out. Return any hired bike if you rented weekly. Take the Postbus back to Salzburg (~80 mins, ~£8) to connect with onward trains or flights, or head to Bad Ischl by bus for train connections towards Vienna or Innsbruck. Salzburg Airport offers direct flights to many European cities.
🚌Postbus 150 from Strobl to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof (~£8). Train or flight onward.
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Final breakfast at your guesthouse
- →Return hired bike if applicable
- →Postbus from Strobl to Salzburg (~£8) for onward connections
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£620 | £1,770 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,150 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£620
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Austrian Lakes Self-Launched: Cycling & Walking the Salzkammergut cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £620 per person for 8 days in Strobl & the Austrian Lake District. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £1,770 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £620 — a saving of roughly £1,150 (65%) per person.
How long is the Strobl & the Austrian Lake District trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Strobl & the Austrian Lake District.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, hiking, budget trip through Strobl & the Austrian Lake District, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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