This year, Set Forth Adventures has collaborated with nearly a dozen clients looking to plan hut-to-hut hiking trips in the Alps, Dolomites, and other destinations in Europe, New Zealand, and Patagonia. As a fan of hut-to-hut hiking myself, I certainly understand the appeal of these trips — there’s something amazing about waking up to a beautiful alpine sunrise in the comfort of a warm bed (not to mention the joy of not having to cook for yourself!).

Read on for three of our top tips for executing a successful hut-to-hut trip! Of course, there’s a lot more that goes into the planning of these trips… if you’re interested in that part of the puzzle, reach out today and we can get to work planning your own hut-to-hut trip!

Tip #1: Get Your Packing List Dialed In
One of the most wonderful parts of any hut-to-hut hiking trip is the chance to hike for multiple days without a heavy backpacking backpack — no tent, no sleeping bag, no kitchen gear, and a minimal amount of food! Still, it’s possible to entirely miss the magic of cruising through high-alpine terrain with a light backpack if you overpack. Investing time, effort, and research into curating the perfect packing list for your specific trip (destination, time of year, etc.) will pay off in spades as you enjoy an easier, more enjoyable hiking experience.

Generally, it’s possible to bring a lot less than you might expect and still have everything you need to be comfortable. Generating a custom, hand-curated packing list is a key part of the planning process for many of the hut-to-hut hiking trips Set Forth Adventures creates, and we think it couldn’t be more important!

Tip #2: Go With The Flow
Mountain huts have their own, unique culture. There are norms around the evening and morning schedules, there are norms around showering, there are norms around where to store your hiking shoes, and their are definitely norms around paying! As a visitor, the best approach to being a guest in any mountain hut is to go with the flow: be on time for dinner and breakfast, follow the hutkeeper’s guidance on where to store your shoes, and make sure you have cash on hand if they prefer (or only accept!) cash. The itinerary for every Set Forth Adventures hut-to-hut hiking trip includes a section specifically dedicated to some common norms of hut-life — we’re happy to give our guests a leg-up as they immerse themselves in this new, alpine culture!

Tip #3: Eat (and Drink!) Your Heart Out
There’s a lot to love about hut-to-hut hiking, but the best part might be the availability of food and drinks that you don’t have to carry in your backpack! Enjoy a refreshing beverage and a salty snack when you arrive at the hut. Linger over the homecooked dinner, perhaps with a bottle of local wine. Have dessert, of course. Finally, load up on carbs at breakfast to power yourself through the upcoming hike.

Pro tip: save a few bucks relative to in-hut pricing, and ensure you’ll have a snack you love if a given huts menu isn’t to your taste, by packing a small selection of your favorite post-hike snacks in your backpack (we’re partial to potato chips and dark chocolate). Cheers!