5 Best Hut-to-Hut Hikes in Europe
The 10 highest mountains in Europe are located throughout various countries and range between 5,000-10,500 meters tall. It is possible to explore the Alps by taking an interrail or small aircraft; however, a hut-to-hut hike is much more rewarding. A hut-to-hut hike is the perfect way to hike without the need to carry around tents, food supplies, and sleeping bags.
Hiking guides and trails in Europe are well-stocked with appointed huts that provide a variety of experiences for all adventure levels. You'll be able to explore the unique itinerary from challenging terrains, easy trails, as well as family-friendly routes.
Below we highlight the 5 best hut-to-hut hikes in Europe that expose you to the continent's rich natural and colorful history.
1. Tour du Mont Blanc, France, Italy, and Switzerland
This trail is one of the top 10 hikes in the world, with its length and beauty within three countries requiring you to hike for 170km around Mont Blanc massif base. You'll cross Italy, France, and Switzerland borders and experience glacial valleys, lush forests, verdant meadows, and mountain passes. In addition to the beautiful scenery, you traverse different peaks such as Tête Blanche (3,710 m), Aiguille Verte (4,122 m) over multiple days.
On the first day, you begin your hike in Chamonix-Mont Blanc. This bustling mountain town offers a variety of summer and winter sports for visitors to enjoy including skiing and snowboarding!
The next day take a cable car up to Bellevue where you can see Mont Blanc along with Chaine des Aravis, Aiguilles Rouges, and many more! From there, you continue hiking, where you pass a famous suspension bridge before getting to your first mountain hut.
Enjoy the wild experience in the Alpine mountains huts. The delicious meals and cozy sleeping arrangements make every evening worthwhile, but there are many people here so we recommend booking several months ahead of time to ensure you can get a place during your trip.
So, you should expect high traffic on these trails, as well as some fairly challenging sections that might be easy for experienced hikers but difficult if you don't know what to expect.
2. Julian Alps, Slovenia
Off-the-beaten paths through Triglav National Park await you in the scenic mountain peaks and ridges of snow blanketed forests in Slovenia.
One holiday destination that should be on every adventurer’s bucket list is Slovenia, a beautiful country found right in the heart of Europe, that offers adventure experiences during all seasons. In the winter months, you will see stunning landscapes featuring Alpine plateaus covered by white powdery frosting all over the place thanks to the heavy snowfall.
During the late fall and winter months, you can get a cozy night's sleep at one of Slovenia’s mountain huts since they are warm. There is plenty to eat like home-cooked food, tea, and schnapps. The Prehodovici hut, located in the valley of seven lakes, has daily brewed Golden Horn (Zlatarog) for those beer lovers.
To reach the highest peak in Slovenia, Triglav (2,864 m), hikers should attempt to tackle its challenging trails and enjoy an unforgettable view of this symbolic mountain for locals. Once you’ve reached your destination, reward yourself with some sightseeing around town where you can admire Slovenian culture from a local perspective!
3. Grande Randonnée (GR) 20, Corsica
If you are the adventurous sort who has done many treks, it's time to push yourself and hike GR 20 in Corsica. It is Europe's hardest long-distance hut-to-hut trek but also extremely rewarding. You'll be hiking around 180 km of trails with ascends/descents totaling 12,775 m along the way!
On the Granite Backbone Trail, you can experience a variety of landscapes each day. You'll hike through forested slopes, alpine valleys, and across rocky outcrops and airy ridges with modern mountain huts ready to serve up generous portions of food for re-energizing after your challenging days on the trail.
Keep in mind that you will need to do the booking prior to departing as the normal tour seasons are always full. Also, carry earplugs for sound sleep as the huts can get noisy.
Corsican is the home of prominent political leader and French military, Napoleon. As such, for historians, it offers colorful history and rich culture that you can learn about by visiting villages or beaches after your hike. Use a tour guide to ease your trek though trails are well-marked for those who want to rely on them as they make their way through this tough expedition!
4. Jotunheimen, Norway
The beautiful untamed peaks of Jotunheimen National Park feature wildlife and over 250 mountains you can trek. As you take various routes that range from easy to challenging, the experience is unforgettable with its deep blue glaciers, carved open rivers, and mighty waterfalls.
The mountain huts are fully staffed with bars, restaurants, showers, and drying rooms. And though you can pitch a tent outside if the weather is nice enough to do so, it's tempting not to have to carry your bulky items like sleeping bags and food from hut-to-hut hikes in Norway!
If you're looking for a more luxurious experience, spend one night at the Skogadasboen hut. This place hosted Cecil Slingsby, a British mountaineer who is said to be "the father of Norwegian mountain climbing."
5. Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites in Italy are home to the best hut-to-hut hiking trails with rich culture and colorful history. It provides an immersive experience of immaculate alpine scenery, ethereal limestone cliffs, and vast meadows.
Two of the most popular routes in the Dolomites, Ata Via 1 and Alta Via 2 give you a chance to enjoy some stunning views on your way. You might be wondering what's so special about these two paths?
Let us tell you! The oldest via ferratas were built during World War I by soldiers as an alternative route through mountains (especially when roads or bridges are destroyed). Rather than taking different trails from either side, using one path will let you cover less distance but still offer all that we seek for this trip - breathtaking scenes!
Alta Via 2 has a greater mileage output which means that there will be slightly less elevation gain per mile so hikers with limited or no previous mountaineering experience might prefer this option over Alta Via 1 since they can cover 150 km instead of 120 km through Ata's ridged terrain without feeling as much strain from high altitudes.
Key Insights & Takeaways
The iconic ranges of Europe have a lot to teach and show you, but there is no better way than departing on a hike without carrying bulky tents or sleeping bags. It's possible to carry your own tent if you are independent like us, though it will add pounds on the trail.
Let us know if there are other hut-to-hut hikes that you recommend from around the world in the comments below.