Austria itinerary help

[HappyHolidays75]

Hi
Could anyone pass on recommendations for Austria please?
We're thinking of going in July/August.
1 adult 2 teens
Like outdoor activities - hiking, watersports, swimming, biking, rafting etc.
No bothered about shopping, bars etc.

I'm thinking 2 nights in Salzburg then 7 in Zell am See after reading suggestions on here. It looks like there is so much to do with the summer card, that we can fill 6 days with minimal additional cost.

We like the idea of hiking between destinations - are there any areas where we could go from one town to another via cable car and / or hiking to spend another 3 ISH days? Probably only a 2 day hike (I don't want to push my luck!).
Or another region or city to visit before heading home?

Any ideas or completely different directions much appreciated!

You could get the Scmittenhöhe cable car up and then walk to Saalbach and stay there for a few days. Lovely little village with lots of hiking trails, a water park and an adventure trail with lots of things to do.
Or go to Kaprun and go up the Kitzsteinhorn where there's an ice gallery and you can do some summer sledging. You would probably do that as a day trip from Zell though.

You could easily spend more than 2 days in Salzburg before going somewhere else.

Zell am See is a great place to base yourselves and is easily reached by train or Postbus 260. As you've discovered, the Summer Card gives free access to loads of activities as well as the cable cars and local buses and the small train. There is enough to do in and around Zell to keep you occupied for 10 days or more. If you want to visit Kitzsteinhorn, be aware that the Summer Card is only valid on the lifts at the bergbahn talstation - i.e. the base station at Kitzsteinhorn - and not on the spectacular 3K K-onnection at Kaprun.

There are lido beaches all around the lake from where you can swim in the lake (or in the pools that some lidos have). One is in the centre of Zell. Another out near the hospital (30 mins clockwise walk from the town) and another in Thumersbach, which is a further 20 minutes away. Rent bikes and these are all within a very easy ride. You don't actually need to go into the lido areas to swim in the lake - you can just jump in from anywhere. There's a big grass area next to the railway line where people sunbathe and swim - walk past the Grand Hotel and the lido and continue for about 10 minutes on the path between the lake and the railway.

From Zell am See you can take the Postbus 680 to Saalbach-Hinterglemm. If you stay on until the very last stop at Lengau you'll be at the end of the Glemm valley, where there is a 30 minute walk by the river to Europe's biggest high-ropes park (like GoApe) and zipwires. Walk past the big hotel and through the car park, then keep the river on your left-hand side and walk through the meadows and woods to the Talschluss Park and the Lindlingalm restaurant. Walk through the farm and past the water park and there is then also a great one-hour circular walk, with drinks stops at the Saalalm or Ossmannalm mountain restaurants.

White-water rafting is at Lofer - 30 minutes from Zell am See using the #260 Postbus. The bus goes right past the Base Camp meeting place - but they might collect guests from the centre of Lofer, so ask when you phone to book.

Kitzbuhel is 40 minutes by train from Zell and is worth a day trip - a "Einfach Raus" return ticket for all 3 costs about €35 in total.

You could get the Scmittenhöhe cable car up and then walk to Saalbach and stay there for a few days.

That's a strenuous 6-8 hour walk if you're only carrying a day pack. Carrying clothes etc. for a stay of a few days would make it even harder. It's a great walk on a sunny day, with stunning views over to Kitzsteinhorn and the snow-capped mountains. Get up early, enjoy the walk and when you reach the top of Schattberg in Saalbach ride down on the cable car (don't walk down) and then get the Postbus back to Zell am See.

I found it enjoyable rather than strenuous, but I guess it depends on your fitness level. I wouldn't recommend it if carrying all your luggage though, not sure if there's any way to get your luggage taken on. If not, getting a bus to somewhere like Saalbach and staying for a few days would be worth it as there's lots of nice mountain walks from the village.

Walking over to Kaprun is doable. You could bus over to Saalbach or train to Kitzbuehel for more hiking although you may find enough nearby. An excursion up the Kitzsteinhorn glacier and watersports on the lake perhaps.

There's more hiking at Saalbach-Hinterglemm than in Zell am See, and both Saalbach and Hinterglemm are quieter in the summer than Zell am See, but for watersports, lake swimming and rafting, then Zell is the better location.

The #680 Postbus between Zell am See and Saalbach is free with the Zell Summer Card (or with the similar Saalbach Joker Card) and the journey is only 30-40 minutes, so there is no need to change hotels.