We stayed in this hotel, which looks a bit pricey but it included a wonderful breakfast and dinner. It has spa facilities which we did not use because we were so busy hiking, but pool and spa area looked lovely. The hotel is just a 5 minute walk from the beautiful church in Ramsau. https://www.rehlegg.de/index.asp
Our first hike was a bit of an adventure. I had a hike planned that started from the Hintersee area. We took the bus and got off at the Hintersee stop. All the other passengers (all German speakers) went rushing for another bus in the parking area. No one was heading the direction of our planned hike. I said to my husband "Let's go where all the Germans are going". He was a bit dubious but I convinced him that the Germans probably knew more about good hiking than we did. I asked a young man before we got on the bus where it was going. He did not speak much English, but pointed up in the mountains and said "To Austria!" So off we went to Austria. (A couple of helpful hints: This bus also stopped at the National Park building, but there was a huge crowd there and not everyone got on. So get on at Hintersee. Also, even though most buses in the area are free with your hotel guest card, this one required a paid ticket - maybe about 5 euros.) The bus took us up to a pass right across the border into Austria. Google map "Alpengasthaus Hirshbichl" and you can find where we went. When you get off the bus there is a guesthouse, restrooms and signboards with maps. ( Also, if you are smarter than we were, you will check the bus schedule back down to Hintersee, before you set out on a long hike. ) We picked the hike to Kallbrunnalm, got lost a few times, but when we saw a beer truck heading up the mountain, we figured we were on the right track. We had the hike almost to ourselves and were rewarded with beautiful open meadows, incredible views, cows, cowbells and a restaurant with great food, beer and wine. We would have stayed up there longer, but realized we had no idea when the last bus went down to Hintersee.
Our second hike was to Halsalm, also starting in the Hintersee area. Going clockwise, we had gravel road going up, another beautiful meadow with views, a small house where the owners sold light lunches and beverages, and a rockier trail going down. Very worthwhile hike. A big cultural lesson - I had been taking pictures of lots of cows on our hikes. The house where we purchased refreshments had an attached barn-like room that you walked through to go up to the interior window to order food. There was a cow in the room and I took a picture. The woman taking orders was not happy. I did not know that this was their home. I thought it was a small restaurant and did not understand I was taking a picture inside her house. I deleted it and she was fine, especially when she realized I was from the U.S. and not familiar with that type of set-up.
I wish I remembered the route # of the bus that went over the Austrian border. You can probably ask at your hotel. I will try and find pictures of Kallbrunnalm.
I will try to find pictures to post. Happy hiking.
