--- title: "Basics and tips for trekking in the Alps" description: "Don't have much experience trekking in the Alps yet? Take a look at this article. Transport, logistics, gear, accommodation, planning, food and practical tricks." canonical_url: "https://gramino.com/blog/tips-for-trekking-in-the-alps" last_updated: "2022-07-18" --- # Basics and tips for trekking in the Alps Authors: Michaela Czempková Date: 2022-07-18 Don't have much experience trekking in the Alps yet? Take a look at this article. Transport, logistics, gear, accommodation, planning, food and practical tricks. Summer is in full swing, and if you're itching to head into the mountains for stunning scenery, peace and quiet, great views, and good food and drink, this article is for you! In this mini guide, I'll walk you through everything you need to set off fearlessly for a few days in the Alps – a range that's more accessible than you might think, and well worth the visit. Crossing mountain ranges is a fantastic way to enjoy an active hiking holiday. Transport, logistics, gear, accommodation, planning, food, and practical tips – you'll find it all in this article. And if you have questions, don't hesitate to ask in the comments below. *The Dachstein massif isn't just a glacier* *The Tux Alps* ### Transport Like any trip, this one starts with getting to your starting point. You can drive to the Alps, or take trains and buses. It's a great option to reach the foothills of the Alps by train, and regular local buses run reliably to the individual villages and valleys from there. If public transport isn't your thing and you don't have a car of your own, you can try your luck in one of the travel groups on Facebook, where you can often find a rideshare. If you go with public transport, try to keep transfers to a minimum and set off on an earlier connection so you arrive at your destination in plenty of time and without a hitch. These websites (also available as mobile apps) are the most helpful for planning your route: - [https://idos.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/](https://idos.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusy/spojeni/) - [https://www.cd.cz/eshop/](https://www.cd.cz/eshop/) - [https://www.bahn.de/](https://www.bahn.de/) - [https://www.oebb.at](https://www.oebb.at/)[/](https://www.bahn.de/) *Sometimes you have to look closely to see where the trail goes* *The Tux Alps* ### Accommodation Austria and Germany both have an extensive network of mountain huts in the Alps, most of which are run by the Alpenverein (Alpine Club). Whether you're heading to a quieter or a more popular area, it's worth checking availability and opening hours in advance and booking your bed ahead of time. Every hut has its own website with contact details for the hut warden who manages it. For one or two people, this is rarely an issue, but larger groups need to think a bit further ahead and book early. Accommodation is sorted into several categories. The cheapest option for hikers is the matrazenlager/lagerzimmer (a communal dorm room), which is usually a large room full of mattresses. Personally, I go for this cheapest option about 99% of the time, and I'd rather just pack earplugs. There's always a snorer somewhere, but they'll never warn you in advance. 😀 If sleeping in a lagerzimmer isn't really your thing, you'll need to pay extra for privacy in a small separate room. [Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2](/p/big-agnes-copper-spur-ul2.md) *Accommodation price list* *Matrazenlager* ### Food Following on from accommodation, let's look at your food options. You can save weight in your pack by satisfying hunger and cravings mainly at the huts. Of course, you'll want to wash it down with a good radler, an apfelspritz (apple soda), or a beer. As for specific dishes, I personally love kaspressknödelsuppe (broth with a large cheese dumpling), kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake), and spinatknödel (spinach dumplings). *Kaiserschmarrn* *Kaspressknödelsuppe* *Spinatknödel* Sometimes you want to save your wallet too, so it's a good idea to pack a snack from home. Personally, I bring a [tiny stove with the smallest gas canister](/c/cooking/stoves-and-accessories) and a titanium mess tin from Toaks, because a [coffee from Drip It](/p/drip-it-tasting-pack-5x-10-g) and a good bar of chocolate or a cookie, plus alpine views… those are the moments you remember, and the reason you keep coming back to the Alps. Another way to save weight and money is [Summit To Eat](/c/cooking/food). [Mac & Cheese](/p/summit-to-eat-macaroni-cheese) or [vegetable chipotle chilli](/p/summit-to-eat-vegetable-chipotle-chilli-with-rice) are dishes that are guaranteed to fill me up and taste great even to my picky vegetarian taste buds. When your snacks from home run out later on, you can always buy a cookie or chocolate bar at the huts, but expect to pay a mountain surcharge. - [Jetboil Jetpower Fuel 100 g](/p/jetboil-jetpower-fuel-100-g.md) - [MSR PocketRocket 2](/p/msr-pocketrocket-2.md) - [Summit To Eat Vegetable Chipotle Chilli with Rice](/p/summit-to-eat-vegetable-chipotle-chilli-with-rice.md) - [Summit To Eat Macaroni Cheese](/p/summit-to-eat-macaroni-cheese.md) - [REAL Turmat Pulled Pork with Rice](/p/real-turmat-pulled-pork-with-rice.md) - [REAL Turmat Kebab Stew](/p/real-turmat-kebab-stew.md) - [Moonvalley Sport Drink](/p/moonvalley-sport-drink.md) - [Drip It Tasting Pack 5× 10 g](/p/drip-it-tasting-pack-5x-10-g.md) - [The Brew Company Costa Rica Coffeebrewer](/p/the-brew-company-costa-rica-coffeebrewer.md) - [The Brew Company Colombia Coffeebrewer](/p/the-brew-company-colombia-coffeebrewer.md) - [Drip It Nicaragua Prodecoop 10 g](/p/drip-it-nicaragua-prodecoop-10-g.md) *Drip It and Toaks* *Drip It at the summit* *Summit To Eat* ### Gear Hikers who sleep in mountain huts can lighten their pack by leaving out the “big three” (sleeping pad, sleeping bag, tent). If you're staying in a lagerzimmer, I'd recommend either bringing a [lightweight sleeping bag](/c/sleep/sleeping-bags) (which isn't hard with ultralight gear) or a sleeping bag liner. Huts provide blankets, so if you don't want to bring even a sleeping bag, you don't need to worry about freezing at night. I love my [Cumulus Lite Line 400](/p/cumulus-lite-line-400) so I bring it along regardless. Another item you could save weight on is a stove, but then what would you make your mountain coffee and morning porridge with? So I bring an ultralight stove and a [Toaks titanium pot](/p/toaks-pot-750-ml), and I carry it for the benefit of everyone I'm hiking with. The rest of your pack is mainly clothing and food, so pack according to the weather – and I always bring a waterproof jacket as a talisman, since an unannounced midday storm can hit at higher elevations at any time. The real minimalists can fit everything into a 30-liter pack, and other hikers will manage fine with 45 liters. It depends on how many days you're planning to spend in the mountains and how hungry you get while hiking (I get very hungry, so I have to bring plenty of cookies :D) - [Cumulus Lite Line 400](/p/cumulus-lite-line-400.md) - [Cumulus Lite Line 300](/p/cumulus-lite-line-300.md) - [Cumulus Panyam 450](/p/cumulus-panyam-450.md) - [NEMO Tensor All-Season](/p/nemo-tensor-all-season.md) - [NEMO Switchback](/p/nemo-switchback.md) - [Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT](/p/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-nxt.md) - [Sea To Summit Premium Aeros Pillow](/p/sea-to-summit-premium-aeros-pillow.md) - [TOAKS Titanium 750 ml Pot](/p/toaks-pot-750-ml.md) - [TOAKS Titanium 1100 ml Pot with Bail Handle](/p/toaks-pot-1100-ml-bail-handle.md) - [Liteway Pyraomm Duo Tarp](/p/liteway-pyraomm-duo-tarp.md) - [Liteway Simplex Max Tarp](/p/liteway-simplex-max-tarp.md) *Hills fly by when you're chatting with the right people* *Cows are an essential part of the Alps* *Ladders and cables on the trail can catch the unprepared by surprise* ### Route planning In the Alps, trail signs give distances in hours rather than kilometers, so try to stop thinking in kilometers for a while. Ideally, plan a 5-8 hour hike based on your physical fitness. You also need to factor in breaks, so the day will stretch out a bit longer in practice. An eight-hour stretch is already a serious distance, while a five-hour one might be a breeze for some. Don't overestimate your strength when planning! A combination of tough mountain terrain, elevation gain, and altitude can take its toll. And if a daily hut-to-hut crossing isn't enough for you, you can add some variety with a quick side trip to a summit or a via ferrata. Just check the map to see what's around and judge it against your own abilities. ### Practicalities Downloading maps of the area to your phone is a must for every modern hiker. There's often no signal in the mountains, so you need to be prepared for anything. [mapy.cz](https://en.mapy.cz/) is reliable. In the Alps, an Alpenverein membership also comes in handy – it mainly works as year-round insurance, and as a bonus, you get half-price accommodation (more information on how the Alpenverein works [here](https://www.alpenverein.at/)). Don't rely on card payments – pack cash in euros instead. ### Route tips - Berliner Höhenweg – [https://mapy.cz/s/manovumuso](https://mapy.cz/s/manovumuso) - Rax Alps – [https://mapy.cz/s/jemapupaja](https://mapy.cz/s/jemapupaja) - Tux Alps – [https://mapy.cz/s/gamotumaca](https://mapy.cz/s/gamotumaca) - Dachstein massif – [https://mapy.cz/s/hujenakene](https://mapy.cz/s/hujenakene) - Totes Gebirge – [https://mapy.cz/s/nekatekahe](https://mapy.cz/s/nekatekahe) We've reached the end, and hopefully you're just at the beginning of planning your trip to the mountains – maybe even the Alps. I hope this information comes in handy, and most of all, that you enjoy your next trek and come home safe and full of great memories! See you out there! - [Darn Tough Women's Light Hiker 1/4 Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-light-hiker-1-4-lightweight-womens.md) - [Darn Tough Women's Bear Town Micro Crew Lightweight](/p/darn-tough-bear-town-micro-crew-lightweight-womens.md) - [DexShell Beanie Solo](/p/dexshell-beanie-solo.md) - [DexShell Ultra Thin Crew](/p/dexshell-ultra-thin-crew.md) - [EVA Foam Pad 3 mm](/p/eva-foam-pad-3-mm.md) - [Tyvek 150x250 cm (for 2 people)](/p/tyvek-groundsheet-250-x-150-cm.md) - [Sea To Summit Passage Cutlery Set 2P](/p/sea-to-summit-passage-cutlery-set-2p.md) - [TOAKS Ultralight Titanium Spoon](/p/toaks-ultralight-titanium-spoon.md) - [TOAKS Titanium 450 ml Cup](/p/toaks-cup-450-ml.md) - [REAL Turmat Beef Stew (new recipe)](/p/real-turmat-beef-stew.md) - [Freeze-Dried Blue Cheese Niva 50 g](/p/freeze-dried-blue-cheese-50-g.md) This post is also available as [HTML](/blog/tips-for-trekking-in-the-alps). ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/sitemap.md) for all pages.