I did my first trek in the 1980’s and it was one of the best  – Alta Via 1 in the Dolomites.  I was hooked.  I have trekked every year since.

The best treks take advantage of the extensive network of huts in the Alps of France, Italy, Switzerland and Austria.  These huts are staffed and provide food and drink as well as accommodation.  This means that you can travel relatively light – all you need in addition to clothes and other necessities is a sleeping bag liner.

The food and drink in the huts is good  the accommodation is either in dormitories or smaller rooms more often than not in bunk beds narrow tightly packed mattresses – space is at a premium.  The toilet and washing facilities vary considerably and not all huts have showers (though the number with showers is  increasing year by year).

The ideal is to spend as much time walking and sleeping in the mountains away from roads and lifts, towns and villages.  The Alps are too highly populated to do this for two weeks but up to five days away from the smell of traffic is possible.