The Steindlwirt Landhotel in Dorfgastein, Austria is now supporting the Johannesburg Hiking Club by advertising on it’s website.  

We spent a week at Steindlwirt during June and Family Rieser went out of their way to make our stay one to remember.  We had a spacious room with a small balcony which overlooked the mountains (still covered with a fresh 25cm of snow, in June).  The cuisine holds something special with a continental buffet breakfast and a traditional evening dinner.

The Gastein valley is situated less than one hours drive from Saltzburg.  There is a train service from Saltzburg to the valley and a bus service operating along the valley.   Dorfgastein is a charming village by the Gasteiner Ache River, with the nearest town of Bad Hofgastein only 10km away offering a real country atmosphere.

For the keenest of hikers, there are endless hiking trails, which should appeal to the majority of JHC members.   Detailed maps are available showing the different ratings. 

Besides the wonderful hiking opportunities, other activities in the area include:

• thermal bath with sauna
• bike riding (Steindlwirt has bikes on loan)
• cable cars to various mountain tops for magnificent vistas
• visit the highest mountain in Austria, Grossglockner
• popular ski resort during the winter months.
• paragleiding

The Gaststein valley can be enjoyed the whole year around and Family Rieser will ensure that your stay at Steindlwirt is relaxing and enjoyable.  With the Rand exchange rate, Europe is expensive, but Steindlwirt offer various packages which are cost effective and affordable.

Lothar and Marion Hüfner