Hut-to-hut, inn or camping: choose the style of trip
| Style | You carry | Good first step because |
|---|---|---|
| Hut-to-hut | Clothes, liner, toiletries, snacks | Light pack, meals often available, a roof every night |
| Inn or guesthouse walking | A day pack, sometimes with bag transfer | Comfortable, no camping gear |
| Campsite to campsite | Tent, sleeping kit, cooking kit | Facilities and water at each stop |
| Wild camping | Everything, including water treatment | Most freedom, but most to learn; check if it's allowed |
For a first trip, two days and one night on a well-marked route close to transport is plenty. Choose a route with options to shorten it.
How far to walk each day
Use the time calculator for each day, with a slower pace setting for the heavier pack. Plan shorter days than on a day hike: you'll be carrying more, you'll start stiff on the second morning, and you'll want time at camp or the hut. Save the hardest section for a day when you're fresh and the forecast is best.
Booking and staying in mountain huts
Mountain huts and refuges in popular ranges can fill months ahead in summer. Book early, keep your confirmation offline, and tell the hut if your plans change, because huts may raise the alarm when booked guests don't arrive.
Customs vary, so read the hut's own information. Common practices include:
- A sleeping bag liner is often required in dormitories.
- Boots stay in the boot room, and hut shoes are often provided.
- Half board (dinner and breakfast) is common; ask about packed lunches.
- Some huts take cash only, and there may be no ATM for days.
- Earplugs help in shared rooms.
How heavy should a multi-day pack be?
Weigh your loaded pack before you go. For most people, keeping it around a fifth of body weight or less makes the walking far more pleasant. The biggest savings usually come from the shelter, sleeping bag and pack itself, and then from not carrying duplicates.
Food, water and resupply
- Plan meals for each day plus a spare day's emergency food.
- Choose calorie-dense foods: nuts, cheese, oats, dried fruit, wraps, dehydrated meals.
- Know where the water is on each day and how reliable it is in that season. Treat water from streams and lakes by filtering, chemical treatment or boiling.
- Find out where you can buy food or resupply along the way, and when the shops are open.
Share a day-by-day trip plan
Leave a written plan with someone at home: the route for each day, where you'll sleep each night, check-in times and when to raise the alarm. Phone signal may be patchy, so agree what happens if a check-in is late.
Test your gear before the trip
- Pitch the tent and light the stove at home.
- Do a training walk with the full pack.
- Sleep in the sleeping bag at a similar temperature, even if it's in the garden.
- Go through the overnight checklist the night before.
Multi-day and hut trip FAQ
How far ahead should I book mountain huts?
In popular ranges, huts can fill months ahead in summer, so book as early as you can and keep the confirmation offline.
Do I need cash on a hut trip?
Often, yes. Some huts take cash only, and there may be no ATM for days. Check each hut's own information.
What's a good first multi-day hike?
Two days and one night on a well-marked route close to transport, with options to shorten it. A hut-to-hut route keeps the pack light, and Leave No Trace covers camping well if you go with a tent.