12 Best Hut-to-Hut Hikes in the World
Imagine hiking through breathtaking landscapes with nothing to carry but your daypack, knowing that a cosy hut is waiting for you at the trail’s end.
There’s nothing quite like the magic of hut-to-hut hiking and how it immerses you in nature.
The best hut-to-hut hikes in the world all offer unforgettable experiences. And at Skyhook, we found the 12 best hut-to-hut hikes.
Whether trekking through Alpine meadows or past immense Himalayan peaks, hiking hut-to-hut lets you experience and enjoy the trails on another level.
It also enables you to hike to more remote and often beautiful areas! Let’s help you find your next adventure.
1. Tour du Mont Blanc
Country: France, Italy, Switzerland
Distance: 170 km
Duration: 9 - 11 days
Best for: Classic Alpine scenery
The Tour du Mont Blanc (TMB) is one of Europe’s most famous hut-to-hut hikes. It encircles the Mont Blanc massif.
The lengthy trail offers hikers incredible views of glaciated peaks, alpine meadows, and charming mountain villages around the iconic mountain.
Starting in Les Houches, near Chamonix, you’ll pass through France, Italy, and Switzerland, experiencing a variety of landscapes and cultures all along the way. The route includes:
Crossing high passes.
Walking through tranquil valleys.
Traversing iconic locations like Courmayeur and the Col de la Seigne.
The route offers various accommodation options, from rustic mountain refuges to more comfortable auberges, making it accessible to a wide range of hikers.
It’s a popular long-distance hike, so the trail is well-marked and suitable for hikers of all experience levels.
While the entire trail is spectacular, many people hike shorter sections if they don’t have the time or stamina to commit to the whole 10 days.
You could even break the trail down into very short sections for some of the best day hikes in the Alps.
Check out our two highly-rated Tour du Mont Blanc adventures for the best way to experience this hut-to-hut hike:
2. Everest Base Camp Trek
Country: Nepal
Distance: 130 km
Duration: 12-16 days
Best for: High-altitude adventure
We can’t talk about the best hut-to-hut hikes in the world without mentioning the Everest Base Camp Trek. This is a legendary hike through the heart of the Himalayas, leading you to the foot of the world’s highest mountain.
The journey begins in Lukla, with a trail that winds through Sherpa villages, dense forests, and raging rivers.
You’ll visit famous locations such as Namche Bazaar and Tengboche Monastery before reaching the base camp at 5,364 meters.
The trek is challenging due to the altitude, but the rewards include unparalleled views of Everest, Lhotse, and Ama Dablam.
Accommodation along the way is in basic teahouses, which provide a unique cultural experience in one of the world’s most remote regions.
From our experience of this trek, we’d recommend going with a guide to make your life much easier and safer. Look at our Everest Base Camp trips for some of this hiking trail’s most reputable group tours.
3. Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
Country: Peru
Distance: 74 km
Duration: 5-7 days
Best for: Combining natural beauty with Incan history
This may not be the most well-known trail if you’re thinking of the best hut-to-hut hikes in the world. However, it’s one of the most extraordinary adventures out there.
The Salkantay Trek is a stunning alternative to the more crowded Inca Trail, offering diverse landscapes from snow-capped mountains to lush rainforests. The trek begins in Soraypampa, where you’ll ascend to the Salkantay Pass (4,650 meters), the hike’s highest point.
The scenery changes as you descend, leading you through cloud forests and remote villages.
The trek ends with a visit to Machu Picchu, the iconic Incan citadel. Accommodation ranges from basic campsites to more comfortable lodges, making it a versatile option for hikers of varying experience levels.
Join our 8-day trek from Salkantay to Machu Picchu for an unforgettable hiking adventure.
4. The Matterhorn Circuit
Country: Switzerland
Distance: 150 km
Duration: 6 - 10 days
Best for: Alpine adventure and dramatic mountain views
The Matterhorn Circuit is an epic trek that circumnavigates the iconic Matterhorn, one of the most recognisable peaks in the world. This is one of the best hut-to-hut hikes in Europe for an authentic Alpine hiking experience.
Starting in Zermatt, this trek takes you through high mountain passes, across glaciers, and through picture-perfect alpine meadows.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of some of the highest peaks in the Alps, including the Weisshorn and Dent Blanche.
The trail includes sections like the Europaweg, a high-altitude path offering some of the best views of the Matterhorn.
Accommodation along the trail is in traditional mountain huts, where you’ll experience warm hospitality and hearty Swiss cuisine.
Our expert guide partners in Switzerland offer a 4-day Matterhorn highlights trek that lets you experience some of the best elements of this trail over a shorter hike.
It’s an excellent option if you’re new to hut-to-hut hiking.
5. Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos
Country: Spain, France
Distance: 94 km
Duration: 3 - 4 days
Best for: Immersion in the Pyrenees
The Alta Ruta de Los Perdidos, or the High Route of the Lost, is a spectacular hike through the Pyrenees, connecting the Monte Perdido and Vignemale massifs.
This challenging trek crosses the French-Spanish border multiple times, offering rugged landscapes and remote trails.
The route from the Bujaruelo refuge includes the dramatic Anisclo Canyon and the stunning Cirque de Gavarnie. Along the way, hikers stay in a mix of Spanish and French mountain huts known for their rustic charm and hearty meals.
While the trails are spectacular, the accommodation on this hike makes it such a deeply immersive experience in the wild Pyrenean landscape.
Get the genuine experience
6. E5 Trek
Country: Germany, Austria, Italy
Distance: 600 km (Oberstdorf to Merano section: 100 km)
Duration: 6-10 days
Best for: Crossing multiple countries through varied terrain
The E5 Trek is a long-distance trail from Lake Constance in Germany to Verona in Italy. If you’re looking for a serious, challenging adventure, it’s one of the best hut-to-hut hikes in the world.
As you’d imagine from such a long trail, most hikers only cover shorter sections at a time.
The most popular hut-to-hut hiking route is from Oberstdorf, Germany, to Merano, Italy. This trek section takes you through the Bavarian Alps, across the Austrian border, and into the Italian South Tyrol region.
This trail offers diverse landscapes, from lush valleys and alpine meadows to high mountain passes.
Accommodation is typically in mountain huts, offering a cosy place to rest and enjoy the regional cuisine of each country.
7. The Tour del Monte Rosa
Country: Switzerland, Italy
Distance: 167 km
Duration: 6 - 14 days
Best for: Experiencing the grandeur of the Alps without the crowds
The Tour del Monte Rosa is a less-travelled alternative to the Tour de Mont Blanc, circling the Monte Rosa massif.
This trek provides stunning views of some of the Alps’ highest peaks, including the Dufourspitze, the second-highest mountain in the range.
Starting in Zermatt, the route crosses into Italy, passing through quaint villages and remote valleys.
The trek includes the challenging Theodul Glacier crossing and the panoramic Höhbalmen trail, offering unforgettable views of the Matterhorn.
Huts along the route are traditional and welcoming, serving delicious local dishes like raclette and polenta.
8. The Slovene Mountain Trail
Country: Slovenia
Distance: 617 km
Duration: 28 - 40 days
Best for: Long-distance hiking through diverse landscapes
The Slovene Mountain Trail is a grand traverse of Slovenia, stretching from the Austrian border in the north to the Adriatic Sea in the south. It’s one of the best hut-to-hut hikes worldwide for jaw-dropping mountain landscapes and scenery.
This trail takes you through the country’s most beautiful regions, including the Julian Alps and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps. Hikers pass through picturesque villages, dense forests, and plenty of high mountain passes along the way.
Of course, completing the entire trail in one go is very rare. So, the entire trail is divided into stages, allowing for shorter hikes or the whole long-distance adventure.
Huts along the route offer hearty Slovenian cuisine and simple accommodations, allowing visitors to truly immerse themselves in Slovenia’s natural beauty and mountain culture.
For those who haven’t hiked in Slovenia before, this trail is worth experiencing.
9. GR5 Trek
Country: France
Distance: 620 km (Lake Geneva to Chamonix section: 100 km)
Duration: 6 - 10 days
Best for: Classic Alpine trekking with varied landscapes
The GR5 Trek is another long-distance hiking trail stretching from the North Sea in the Netherlands to the Mediterranean in France.
The most popular section is from Lake Geneva to Chamonix, offering true alpine experiences.
Hikers will traverse high mountain passes, walk through green meadows filled with wildflowers, and pass through charming alpine villages.
The trail ends in the mountaineering town of Chamonix, at the foot of Mont Blanc. Along the way, accommodation is in comfortable mountain huts, where you can enjoy traditional French meals and the stunning mountain scenery.
10. The Anillo de Picos
Country: Spain
Distance: 57 - 115 km
Duration: 4-9 days
Best for: Off-the-beaten-path exploration in northern Spain
The Anillo de Picos, or Ring of Picos, is a network of trails in the Picos de Europa, a rugged mountain range in northern Spain.
This flexible trek allows hikers to choose from several loop routes, ranging from moderate to challenging. Whichever route you take, you’ll be sure to face one of the best hut-to-hut hikes in the world.
The Vindios Loop is the easiest, while the more demanding loops offer breathtaking views of jagged peaks and deep valleys.
The Picos de Europa trails are less crowded than other famous European mountain ranges, providing a peaceful hiking experience without sacrificing natural beauty.
Huts in the region are simple and rustic, serving local dishes like stews and cheese. This offers a great taste of Asturian culture between days of hiking.
11. Alta Via 2
Country: Italy
Distance: 160 km
Duration: 9 - 12 days
Best for: Challenging hikes with dramatic scenery
Alta Via 2 is one of the great high routes of the Italian Dolomites, known for its challenging terrain and dramatic scenery.
This trek begins in Bressanone and ends in Feltre, taking you through some of the most spectacular sections of the Dolomites.
The route includes steep ascents via ferrata sections and high mountain passes, offering breathtaking views of jagged peaks and alpine lakes.
Huts along the Alta Via 2 are often family-run, offering warm hospitality, delicious Italian cuisine, and comfortable resting places after a day of challenging hiking.
12. The Laugavegur Trail
Country: Iceland
Distance: 55 km
Duration: 4 - 5 days
Best for: Experiencing the diverse landscapes of Iceland
The Laugavegur Trail is Iceland’s most famous trek, taking hikers through a stunning variety of landscapes in just a few days.
If you’ve never gone hiking in Iceland before, then we’d recommend this as one of the best trails to experience the country's sheer natural beauty.
The trail begins in the geothermally active Landmannalaugar and ends in Þórsmörk, passing through multicoloured mountains, black volcanic deserts, and lush valleys.
The trek includes river crossings, hot springs, and breathtaking views of glaciers, so you’ll experience a broader range of Icelandic landscapes.
Huts along the Laugavegur Trail are well-maintained and offer basic dormitory-style accommodation and communal kitchens.
Thanks to Iceland’s geothermal activity, the huts are warm and provide a cosy retreat in the midst of wild Iceland.
Summary
These hut-to-hut hikes offer something different, but they all provide an epic adventure.
If you want to experience a fully immersive hike without carrying an enormous pack or setting up camp every night, then hut-to-hut hiking is the way.
Interested in discovering more of the world’s best-guided hikes? Check out all of the hiking adventures we have available at Skyhook.
