> Hike hut-to-hut through Austria’s wild Gesäuse National Park
> Sleep in Mödlingerhütte, Haindlkarhütte, and Ennstaler Hütte
> We book your huts, you bring the smiles
Picture this: the first rays of sunlight hit the limestone peaks, the morning air is crisp, and all you hear is the distant rush of rivers and the crunch of your boots on the trail. Welcome to Gesäuse Austria's wild heart and a hidden treasure for hikers who want nature untouched and trails uncrowded.
The Beginner Gesäuse Trek is your gentle gateway into one of Austria’s most spectacular landscapes. Over five days , you'll wander through alpine meadows, along sparkling rivers, and under the watchful gaze of soaring rock faces. It's hiking made simple: manageable distances, easy-to-follow paths, and cozy mountain
From the hut you descend fast on meadow trails and forest tracks, dropping almost 900 metres to the farms and church of the Johnsbach valley. The route then eases along lanes and riverside paths on the valley floor, with views back to the ridge and forward to the dark north walls ahead.
From the Haindlkar car park the final climb begins, gaining about 500 metres through rooty forest and rocky steps. Shortly before the hut there is roughly 1 kilometre of T3/T4 trail. Above the trees the walls of Hochtor and Großer Ödstein close in and the Haindlkarhütte appears on its grassy balcony, a snug place to drop your pack and unwind.
From the hut a steep path zigzags through forest and rubble gullies, losing roughly 1,000 vertical metres to the Johnsbach valley floor. The route then follows easy tracks and roads along the stream, linking into the themed trails and viewpoints near the Weidendom visitor center and the Lettmair Au nature trail beside the Enns.
The last part stays close to the river before a short climb leads up to the Gesäuse Natural Park Lodge on a low terrace above the road. The lodge has wide views of the surrounding peaks and is a relaxed place to stretch out your legs, grab a drink and settle in for the evening.
The final day of your adventure begins with a gentle descent through peaceful mountain forests and rolling pastures. As you wind your way downhill, the rugged limestone peaks slowly give way to green hills and the soft sounds of the valley below. It’s the kind of walk that lets you reflect on the journey—on the summits crossed, the stories shared, and the quiet moments in the heart of Gesäuse.
Your trek ends in the charming village of Hieflau, once a historic mining town, now a sleepy gateway to the national park. A perfect closing chapter to five days filled with fresh mountain air, alpine magic, and memories that will stay with you long after the boots come off.
You’ll receive access to our trekking app, which serves as your complete digital travel guide for the Gesäuse Trek . Inside, you’ll find everything you need for your trek: route descriptions, hiking maps, navigation support, payment information, and all the key details specific to your journey.
During the trek, you’ll stay overnight in mountain huts. Accommodation is booked in dormitories (Lager) by default. Some huts offer private rooms (€50 per room, per night) or Mehrbettzimmer / small shared rooms (€12.50 per person, per night), subject to limited availability. If you’d like an upgrade, you can leave a comment while booking or email us immediately after booking. If a private room isn’t available, your booking will be placed in a Mehrbettzimmer or dormitory instead.
Accommodation in the huts includes dinner and breakfast, unless otherwise indicated in the exclusive list. This allows you to travel lighter and not have to worry about an extra meal. Please note, however, that lunch is not included, but can be purchased at the huts.
Accommodation in the hotels includes breakfast whenever possible. We will arrange this for you as much as possible in advance. Please note that lunch and dinner are not included, but can be ordered at the accommodation or in the village.
Our trekking app also includes built-in navigation support. With GPS-based maps and offline access, you can follow the trail confidently and stay on route even without mobile signal.
You have to make your own way to the starting point. The total amount does not include personal transport.
Should you need any form of (public) transport on location, this is not part of the trekking package. This includes the use of taxi, bus, cable cars, gondolas, ferries, etc.
Half-board is included in the price of this trek. Lunch, however, is not. Many huts offer packed lunches, which can usually be requested the night before. Alternatively, you can stop for lunch at mountain huts along the way.
Your international travel insurance is your own responsibility. Discuss your itinerary with the insurance company before your trek.
Personal expenses on such as souvenirs, drinks, and other similar expenses are for your own account.
Where possible we book accommodations on a half-board basis but at Gesäuse Natural Park Lodge only breakfast is included. In the evening, you can dine at the hut without any problems and pay for it on the spot.
The Mödlingerhütte only accepts cash payments on site. Bookatrekking.com takes care of your reservation but you will need to complete the payment on arrival. The reservation includes your stay plus half board and costs approximately €75 per person. Make sure you bring enough cash.
