Daily tours through the Ice cave
Short information in advance
The Dachstein Cave Worlds with the "Ice Cave" and the "Mammoth Cave" can be reached via the 1st section of the "Dachstein Krippenstein cable car" in Obertraun. You take the train to the so-called "Schönbergalm". The walk to the cave entrances is about 20 minutes on foot. The path is easy to walk. The tour begins directly at the cave entrance. Please dress warmly. It is cold in the caves. And now more interesting information about the ice cave in Obertraun on Lake Hallstatt.
A wonderful world of ice
The Castle of the Holy Grail, Parsifal Dome and King Arthur’s Dome: all of these fairytale names conceal fascinating scenes of ice and stone which you can enjoy at close range during a visit to the ice cave. Accompanied by experienced cave guides, you can explore the magical underground world of Dachstein. The spectacular ice sculptures, gigantic ice curtains and impressive giant icicles never fail to captivate with their special magic! A mystical cave of ice and rock which enchants even the youngest guests of magical cave.
Guided tour through Dachstein Ice cave
The Dachstein Ice cave lies high above the Trauntal valley and is just a few minutes’ walk away from the Schönbergalm. The ice is formed by water which seeps from the Dachstein plateau down into the cave through small cracks and joins in the cliff. When outside temperatures lie above freezing but the caves still contain very cold air, the penetrating water freezes and forms magnificent ice shapes which define the magic of the giant Ice cave.
Even when the water which seeps into the cave is warm in Summer, leading to a slight melting of this ice, the overall balance is one of growth; the Winter-Spring growth exceeds the Summer-Autumn ice loss and thereby guarantees the survival of this magnificent natural showcase. Visitors can submerse themselves inside this world of natural wonder during 50 minute tours, experiencing the magic of this ice landscape at close hand. Experienced guides lead guests through ice-free passageways and a stalactite hall down to ‘St. Arthur’s Dome’. Here in this hall, dominated by powerful blocks of rock, the bones of cave bears have been found which bear signs of human processing.
Stairs through the narrow keyhole make it easier to access the higher level of the cave with its fantastic ice formations which form the highlight of a visit to the cave. From the ‘ice palace’, the route leads on to the ‘Parsifal Dome’ and to the ‘Big Ice Mountain’ – a ball of ice over 9 m tall. From here, it’s on to the powerful bell of the ‘Castle of the Holy Grail’ which shimmers in colours from white to dark blue, depending on the lighting.
A connecting passageway runs along the 25 m thick ice floor of the adjacent ‘Tristan Dome’ while the descent down to the ‘Big Ice Chapel’ based on the cave ice creates a lasting impression of underground beauty. Then walking past the ice abyss (overcoming this was the greatest obstacle to researching this cave), visitors reach the exit with beautiful views of the Krippenstein and Hallstättersee lake.
Our service
Dear "cave explorers", in "Information at a Glance" below we have listed the current running times of the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car. In addition to the general operating times, you will also find the "first ride" up to the Schönbergalm to the cave worlds and the "last descent". So now it is even easier and more convenient to plan your trip to the Giant Ice.
Further information
When visiting the caves (only permissible with a trained guide), we recommend that you wear robust shoes and warm clothing. Temperatures in the Ice cave rarely exceed freezing point and in the other caves there is only an average temperature of 4 °C.
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Dachstein Giant Ice Cave Obertraun
Tours in 8 languages
Tours through the ice and mammoth cave will become even more exciting and interesting with the Audio-Guide-App! Download the free "Audio Guide for your Smartphone" using the QR code via WiFi. The points for the languages English, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Czech, Italian and Hungarian can be found in the base and middle stations (access to the Cave Worlds) of the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car - and if you do not have headphones for your smartphone with you, you obtain a disposable headphone for €1 at the base station. We hope you enjoy your journey of discovery through the impressive Cave Worlds of the Dachstein.
Adventure world for cavers and mountaineering fanatics
Whether you take a short trip with the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car to sunbathe on the vast Gjadalm, or visit the "Lodge am Krippenstein" for the unique panoramic view of the impressive Dachstein mountains - unforgettable mountain moments that can simply not be missed during a holiday in the Salzkammergut! Mountaineers of all ages will find a perfectly marked network of trails and unforgettable nature experiences at over 2,000 m: hiking on the Nature Trail via the Wiesberghaus to Hallstatt, a tour of discovery through the impressive karst landscape on the Heilbronner circular trail or a hike with overnight stay to the Simonyhütte. Many unforgettable sights, such as the spectacular "5fingers" viewing platform, the ship-shaped World Heritage spiral, fascinating cave worlds, or the iconic prehistoric shark, complete the wide range of excursions in the Dachstein hiking world. The mountains are calling - when will you call back?
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