Hello! My husband and I are excited to try the hut to hut backpacking experience for the first time! We have 3 nights available at the end of July 2026, and will be coming from Annecy, FR without a car. We have hiked the Grindewald area so are looking to try something new and maybe closer/easy to reach by train from Annecy. We have heard the crowds in Chamonix and on TMB can be thick. We would love to see some dramatic mountain landscapes from our hikes and huts. We are in good shape - both 56yrs old. Food/drink/sleeping we can be very basic and happy.

I'd love to get some recommendations for specific huts and hikes that take your breath away!!

Thanks much for the help!!
Chris and Dave

Hi Chris and Dave! I'm a passionate Swiss hiker of your age, but unfortunately more active in the Ticino and Neuchâtel cantons. However, a good place to get inspired and start to plan (then later execute) is the portal and app of Switzerland Mobility. There you can for example look at routes like the Sanetsch-Muveran route: Sanetsch-Muveran-Weg Hiking in Switzerland | SwitzerlandMobility

Are you looking at something like that? Or do you look for more/less technical or more strenuous/easier routes? How much hours/altitude gain/distances per day do you want to hike? Are you ok with mountain trails, you prefer easier ones, you would like to be challenged by alpine routes (marked but not always traced)?

Another great one could be the Europaweg Swiss Tour Monte Rosa Hiking in Switzerland | SwitzerlandMobility
Or a section of 3 western stages of the "Alpine passes trail" as Arolla - Mauvoisin (27-30) or Trient - Champery (Barme and down, 37-39) Alpine Passes Trail Hiking in Switzerland | SwitzerlandMobility

What do you think about that?

Thank you so much for these resources!! I will check them out asap - the Monte Rosa looks perfect for what we would like. 6-10miles/day, decently strenuous elevation gain/loss, and suberb views along the way!!

The one thing I'm struggling with is where to start/end our hiking days - we are renting a camper van (to spectate the Tour de France) and are dropping it off to the owners in Annecy. It looks so simple to train/bus to Chamonix as our base for the 3-day hut to hut but I'm worried that last week of July will be a mob scene in Chamonix (and on the TMB). Do you agree?

To base in Zermatt area looks amazing, but a 5hr train from Annecy will chew up a lot of time on travel - I'm so torn!

Thanks for any thoughts on the Chamonix base and TMB crowd concerns or a good base close to Annecy by public transport.

Christine

You are welcome, Christine. Obviously a trekking in France, closer to Annecy, would be more convenient than one in Switzerland. I suggested some Swiss options because I'm Swiss and not French, and I don't have any trekking exprience between Annecy and Chamonix.

BTW, late July is prime time to trek the Alps, hence everywhere will be crowded: Chamonix-Mont Blanc, Valais, Bernese Oberland, Aosta valley... Unless you are ready to give up to the majors and really step out the beaten trails, you have to accept compromises.

First a few practical questions:
Will you have to go back to Annecy where you may have left your luggage?
Do you intend to go from Annecy to the base of your first hike the evenming before? Or twill this transfer take the first half of your first hiking day?
Do youi want to sleep in dormitories of Alpine Club Huts, in private dormitories (gites d'etape) or in two bed rooms of isolated mountain hotels?

Annecy is not situated in the Alps. So wherever you go, you have to count at least 3 hrs for the transpoort from Annecy (railway station or gare routiere) to the starting point of your hiking trail.
For example:
Annecy dp 7.44 - Planpraz (Chamonix) ar 10.40
Annecy dp 8.43 - Bourg St Maurice ar 11.45 - hiking area ar 12.30
Annecy dp 7.30 - Verbier hiking area ar 12.00
Annecy dp 7.30 - Bourg St-Pierre ar 12.00

There are hiking trails closer to Annecy, but they are not in the high Alps (no glaciers, etcc.)

The access to TMB would be easier, but I would forget it beause it's too crowded. And don't forget: the access to Chamonix is easier, but the way back after 3 days (from Ferret or so) is long too.

Thanks much neckervd for your questions! We will not need to return to Annecy - just back to Geneva airport the night of 7/29 for our 7/30 morning flight home. We were planning to drop the camper van in Annecy and travel to the base of our first hike on 7/26 and stay in a hotel. That leaves us 7/27-7/28 - 2 days and nights for hiking and hut stays - we are happy to do dorm style. Vallee Blanche glacier hike was looking very interesting to my husband, but I'm thinking a technical hike like this will require a guide/tour service.

Any suggestions for hikes and huts to attempt to get off the beaten track and possibly less crowds would be great!!

Thanks in advance,
Christine

Less crowds, off the beaten track means also simpler accomodations and first of all to give up on the most majestic and famous landscapes (Mont-Blanc, Matterhorn, Jungfrau etc.). Really are you ready to trek the beautiful and more peaceful Jura mountain ridge (as on the last 4-5 stages of the Jura crest trail Jura Crest Trail Hiking in Switzerland | SwitzerlandMobility including a night at the Hut Rochefort), the pre-Alps of Vaud and Fribourg (for example on the Freiburger Voralpenweg Hiking in Switzerland | SwitzerlandMobility with the Marindes and the Bounavaux huts at the Vanil noir peak or connecting the Grubenberg hut, the Chalet du Soldat or the Oberegg hut) or similar places in France?

Hi Christine!

If you want to get "off the beaten track", you should head to the Southern Alps (Hautes-Alpes). This is where my roots are and where I spend part of the year - it’s a wilder, more authentic alternative to the Chamonix crowds.

Since you are Tour de France fans, you'll be in the heart of cycling legend: this is the land of Col du Galibier, Izoard, and Granon. From Briançon (a stunning UNESCO mountain town), you can reach the Vallée de la Clarée or the Écrins National Park. You’ll find the dramatic, jagged peaks you’re looking for, but with a much more peaceful feel. The hiking here is world-class and breathtaking, without necessarily requiring a guide like a glacier trek would.

It’s the perfect "insider" way to end your French adventure. I'd be happy to suggest a 2-day loop if you're interested!

The Brianconnais is a nice area, but it's more than 6 hrs away from Geneva airport an there is only one single train which arrives at Geneva in the evening:
Briancon dp 14.51 - Geneva ar 20.00.
I would therefore rather check the Swiss Canton of Valais (Martigny, Sion, Sierre, Visp) from where you can reach Geneva every 30 min unhtil late in the night (1 1/2 to 2 1/4 hrs journey).
There you could hike
the Northern half of the Tour du Grand Combin
the route from Laemmern Hut (Leukerbad) via Violettes Hut - Wildstrubel Hut to Audannes Hut,
the Val d'Annivierst Trail Chandolin - Zinal,
the Saastal Trail Gspon - Kreuzboden/Weissmies Hut - Almageller Hut - Andolla Hut - Antronapiana bus station
etc. etc.