Planning a hut-to-hut hike: a guide for beginners

A hut-to-hut hike is a multi-day mountain walk where you stay in mountain huts instead of camping. Huts offer a dormitory or private room, a hot evening meal and breakfast in the morning: everything you need to set off again the next day.

The big difference from camping is the lighter pack. Your tent, sleeping bag and stove stay at home. That makes hut-to-hut hikes ideal for anyone who wants several days in the mountains without turning the trip into an expedition.

Most huts belong to the German Alpine Club (DAV) or the Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV). Membership of an Alpine Club is worth considering: members get reduced overnight rates and booking benefits.

Hut-to-hut hikes range from relaxed alpine pasture paths to demanding protected climbing routes. As a beginner, stick to well-marked trails (difficulty T1–T2) without exposed sections. The stages are easier to plan and the infrastructure is well developed.

This format is a poor fit if you prefer complete spontaneity: hut beds are in demand and must be booked in advance. Leave it too late and you may find yourself without a bed for the night.

Route choice is the most important planning decision. As a beginner, shorter is safer than longer. A stage that looks manageable on paper can feel very different with a heavy pack on rocky ground.

Plan by walking time as well as distance. As a rule of thumb, 300 metres of ascent adds roughly one hour to your estimate. Beginners should aim for stages of 4–6 hours of walking, including breaks.

Good starting areas for your first hut-to-hut hike include the Allgäu Alps (gentle grassy mountains and a dense network of huts) and the Salzburg Alpine Way (3 days, modest elevation changes and plenty of alpine huts). Both have well-marked trails and are easy to navigate without local knowledge.

Use topographic maps or apps such as komoot and Outdooractive for planning. Printed Alpine Club maps at 1:25,000 remain the most reliable basis for Alpine regions. Always build in a buffer day: bad weather or a longer ascent can shift the timetable.

Hut places are limited, especially on popular routes during peak season. Book at least 4–8 weeks ahead, and even earlier for July and August. Hoping for a last-minute bed is risky on some routes.

The German and Austrian Alpine Clubs run a shared online booking system covering more than 500 huts. It shows availability for your chosen nights at a glance. Huts outside the Alpine Clubs are often booked by phone, ideally in the evening when the hosts have time.

Pack weight has a direct effect on how much energy you have left at the end of the day. A common rule of thumb says your pack should weigh no more than a quarter of your body weight: at 70 kg, that is about 17 kg at most, though less is better. For a hut-to-hut hike, 8–10 kg is usually enough.

Compared with camping, you can leave your sleeping bag, tent and stove at home. The remaining kit still deserves careful thought.

Mountain weather is less predictable than weather in the valley, and many beginners underestimate it. Cold fronts can develop within hours: a sunny morning can turn into a stormy afternoon.

The key rule is simple: start early. Leave at 6 am and you will usually reach the summit before midday, while the risk of heat-driven thunderstorms is still low. From May to August, the risk rises sharply between 1 and 5 pm.

Check the forecast from several sources. The DAV provides a specialist mountain forecast for many regions; yr.no and national weather services are useful too. Always ask the hut hosts as well. Their local knowledge beats any app.

Mountain huts vary widely in comfort and facilities. At basic self-catering huts, you bring your own food. Staffed DAV huts usually serve dinner, breakfast and drinks.

Sleeping is often in a shared dormitory: a large room with wooden bunks where several people sleep side by side. Some huts have smaller rooms for 2–4 people. Do not expect hotel comfort, but after a long day on the trail even a simple mattress feels excellent.

Your hut sleeping bag (liner) is compulsory. Huts provide blankets, but for hygiene reasons you must sleep in your own liner. It is light, affordable and belongs in every pack.

Hut etiquette means leaving hiking boots outside, keeping quiet after 10 pm and telling the hut host if you will arrive later than planned. Showers and washing facilities are often limited at basic huts, so pack a microfibre towel and soap.

As for cost, a night with dinner and breakfast at DAV huts costs members €25–45 per person and non-members €35–60. Drinks are extra. Cash is essential because many huts have no card terminal.