contact@bookatrekking.com +31 (0)85 01613 54

Tips for your first hut-to-hut hike in Austria

Rintsje Bosch

11 Sep 2025

Tips for your first hut-to-hut hike in Austria

Trekking experts per destination

Free cancellation up to eight weeks in advance

Quick personal advice

Multi-day hiking in the mountains doesn’t have to be complicated or extreme. In Austria, hut-to-hut hiking is part of everyday mountain culture, with well-marked trails, reliable huts, and routes that are suitable even if you’ve never spent several days on the trail before.

This post is for anyone who’s thinking about their first hut-to-hut hike and wants to know how to get started without overthinking it. What kind of route makes sense? When is the best time to go? And what should you actually bring with you? Austria is an ideal place to begin, and with a bit of preparation, your first experience can be both manageable and memorable. For a broader overview of beginner-friendly routes across the region, see our guide to hut-to-hut hiking in the Alps for beginners.

1. Start with a Route That Fits Your Level

For your first hut-to-hut hike, choosing the right route matters more than anything else. A trek that looks manageable on a map can still feel long if the elevation gain is high or the days are packed too tightly. As a beginner, it’s worth focusing less on how many kilometers you cover and more on how long you’ll be walking uphill and downhill. Routes with moderate daily stages give you time to find your rhythm, enjoy the surroundings, and arrive at the hut with enough energy left for the evening.

Look for routes with well-marked trails and a technical difficulty of T1 or T2 on the SAC hiking scale. These paths are clear and non-technical, without exposed sections or scrambling, which makes them ideal for your first multi-day hike. If you want ideas, check out our overview of beautiful hut-to-hut hikes in Austria for beginners — routes that show you classic Alpine scenery without pushing too hard. It also helps if there are several huts along the way, so you have some flexibility if a day turns out to be longer than expected. A first hut-to-hut hike should feel like a positive introduction to mountain hiking, not a test of how far you can push yourself.

1. Start with a Route That Fits Your Level

2. When to Go: Weather and Hiking Season in Austria

The main hiking season for hut-to-hut hikes in Austria runs from late June to early October. This is when most mountain trails are accessible and the huts are open and staffed. Earlier in the season, snow can still linger on higher paths, while later in autumn many huts close and daylight becomes limited. For a first hut-to-hut hike, staying within the main season keeps things straightforward and avoids unnecessary complications.

Even during the summer months, mountain weather can change quickly. A clear morning doesn’t guarantee a calm afternoon, and thunderstorms are common later in the day. Temperature differences between valleys and higher terrain can also be significant. In the video below, we explain how to read mountain forecasts and what to do when conditions change. Watching it before your trip will help you make better decisions on the trail and hike with more confidence.

3. Planning Your Days and Booking the Huts

One of the most common beginner mistakes in hut-to-hut hiking is planning days that are too long. In the mountains, walking time is influenced by elevation gain, terrain, and the number of breaks you need, not just distance on a map. Allowing some margin in your daily planning makes a big difference, especially on your first multi-day hike. Arriving at the hut with time and energy left is part of what makes the experience enjoyable.

We take a lot of this guesswork out in our trekking app, which you’ll see explained in the video below. The app lets you navigate offline and adjusts walking times to your fitness level, so your days feel realistic rather than rushed. We also arrange your hut reservations in advance, which is essential in popular regions and during summer. With the logistics taken care of, you can focus on the hike itself and the rhythm of moving from hut to hut.

4. What to Pack (and What to Leave at Home)

On a hut-to-hut hike, everything you bring is carried on your back for several days, so packing light really matters. Many first-time hikers bring too much, just to be safe, and end up feeling it on every climb. Mountain huts provide most of what you need for the night, which means you can leave a lot of unnecessary items at home. A lighter backpack makes walking more comfortable and helps you stay fresh from day to day.

For your first hut-to-hut hike, it helps to focus on a small set of essentials. These are the items most beginners actually use every day on the trail and in the huts.

Essential item	Why you need it
Sturdy hiking boots	Provide grip and support on uneven, rocky, or wet trails.
Weatherproof jacket & warm layer	Protect you from sudden weather changes and cooler temperatures.
Hut sleeping bag or liner	Required in mountain huts for hygiene and comfort.
Backpack (30–40 liters) with rain cover	Large enough for essentials without encouraging overpacking.
Water bottle & snacks	Keep your energy up between huts and during longer stages.
Basic toiletries & hut clothes	For comfort in the evening without adding unnecessary weight.

In the video below, we show how we approach packing for a hut-to-hut hike and how to avoid carrying things you won’t use. For a complete overview, see our hut-to-hut hiking packing list, which goes into more detail while keeping things practical.

5. Simple Hiking Tips for Your First Hut-to-Hut Experience

Hiking several days in a row is different from a single day hike, especially in the mountains. The key is to find a steady pace that you can maintain without rushing. Starting early in the day, taking regular short breaks, and eating and drinking before you feel tired all help you keep your energy level stable. On your first hut-to-hut hike, consistency matters more than speed.

Small habits on the trail can make a big difference over multiple days. Using trekking poles on longer climbs and descents can reduce strain on your knees, and adjusting your backpack properly helps prevent sore shoulders and hips. In the video below, we share the hiking tips we use ourselves on hut-to-hut hikes, from pacing and breaks to handling long ascents and descents. These are simple things, but they make the experience much more enjoyable.

A First Step into Hut-to-Hut Hiking

Your first hut-to-hut hike doesn’t have to be perfect to be memorable. Part of the experience is learning how your body responds to hiking day after day, getting used to the rhythm of the trail, and settling into life in the huts. Austria is a forgiving place to start, with clear paths and welcoming huts that make multi-day hiking approachable. If you’re still exploring your options, our guides to hut-to-hut hiking in the Alps for beginners and the most beautiful hut-to-hut hikes in Austria for beginners are good places to continue.

If you have questions about routes, preparation, or whether a hut-to-hut hike is right for you, feel free to leave a comment below. And if you’d rather talk things through, you can always reach out to us directly via our contact page. We’re happy to help you take that first step into hut-to-hut hiking.

Comments

About Us

At Bookatrekking.com, you will find the trek that will make your life unforgettable. Whether you want to explore the Inca Trail or climb Kilimanjaro. Bookatrekking.com has a wide and varied range of first-class treks. No false promises are made here. Transparent prices and bookings are fixed instantly. Find, compare, book and trek!

Read more about us

About Us

Also Interesting