J&STravel Plans

Travel Plans / All trips

The whole collection

Every idea
we have written down

12 trips, from one-line sparks to one plan we could book. Nothing here is hidden behind a category.

All trips

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A drawing of Fählensee: a long green lake held between two steep Alpstein ridges, with the inn on the shore at the near end. Illustration for J & S Travel Plans

Appenzell, Switzerland

Alpstein

One private room in a mountain inn above a green lake, with a comfortable valley hotel on either side of it. Two hours of walking gets us there, and the same car is waiting when we come down.

  • 3–4 days · Friday to Monday
  • Great first trip
  • Alpine summer
Getting there
≈ 8–9 h by car from Antwerp
Room
≈ CHF 230–250 €246–2671 room / night, two of us
Dinner
Bollenwees publishes no dinner price — it is ordered from the menu on the night.

Estimates, not quotes — Two travellers · one room · dinner for two. Checked 25 Aug 2026; recheck before booking.

See traveller discussions

Ready to book88%

Open the full plan

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Bernese Oberland, Switzerland

Kandersteg / Oeschinensee

A famous turquoise lake under limestone walls, slept beside in a mountain lodge rather than a remote refuge. The shortest route from ordinary weekend to genuine mountains.

  • 3–4 days
  • Great first trip
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Piedmont, Italy

Alpe Devero / Crampiolo

An easy official loop through forest, stone hamlets, lakes and open pasture — the gentlest way to find out whether we prefer the Italian side.

  • 4 days
  • Great first trip
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Aosta Valley, Italy

Fontainemore / Rifugio Barma

Our first genuine rifugio, where the regional cooking is as much the point as the walk in from Pillaz. Save it for after the test trip has gone well.

  • 4 days
  • Good with normal fitness
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Aosta Valley, Italy

Val d’Ayas / Rifugio Ferraro

A lodge-like Walser refuge that can be reached with lift help on a tired day — comfort and altitude without committing to a hard approach.

  • 4–5 days
  • Good with normal fitness
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Swiss National Park, Switzerland

Chamanna Cluozza

A simple catered hut deep inside the National Park, earned by a sustained walk. Honest and quiet — but the rooms are mostly shared.

  • 4 days
  • Good with normal fitness
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Graubünden, Switzerland

Chamanna da Kesch

The classic Swiss Alpine Club hut — the trip that would mean we had stopped easing in and started properly walking between huts.

  • 4–5 days
  • Next step
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Valais, Switzerland

Val de Bagnes

Two huts, glacier views and a suspension bridge — the one on this list that looks like the photograph people expect of the Alps.

  • 4 days minimum
  • Later goal
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Bavaria, Germany

Spitzingsee / Schönfeldhütte

The closest and cheapest way to test whether we like sleeping on a mountain at all: gentle pasture terrain and a short walk up to the hut.

  • 3 days
  • Great first trip
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Bavaria, Germany

Chiemgau / Hochrieshütte

Sleep on a summit without a traverse: an easy-going hut night with a chance of a private room and a very short list of things that can go wrong.

  • 3–4 days
  • Great first trip
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Bavaria, Germany

Berchtesgaden hut-to-hut

Real multi-day hut loops with exposure and sure-footing required. On the list as an ambition, not as a starter.

  • 4–6 days
  • Later goal
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

A drawn placeholder: ridge lines above a lake, standing in for a trip we have not photographed yet.

Dolomites, Italy

Dolomites / Alta Via 1

The iconic rifugio traverse. Someday this is the two-week story we tell; for now it is the reason the other trips are worth practising on.

  • 6–10 days for the full route
  • Later goal
Getting there
Not researched yet
Room
Not researched yet
Dinner
Not researched yet

Not costed yet. When it is, the figures will assume two travellers · one room · dinner for two.

See traveller discussions

Compared25%

No detailed plan yet

Compare them side by side

The same trips as a table, for when the question is “which of these is actually shorter, easier or more comfortable?” It scrolls sideways — the cards above stay the easier read on a phone.

All 12 trips compared on the fields they share
DestinationExperience / route styleBeginner fitSleeping styleComfortShorter & longer optionsBest durationJ & S verdictFull plan
01AlpsteinAppenzell, Switzerland Flexible lake walks and mountain inns, centred on Bollenwees at Fählensee. Great first trip Private room available—confirm Mountain hotel / inn Direct T2 inn approach; cableways and longer Alpstein days later. 3–4 days One of our best first choices View itinerary
02Kandersteg / OeschinenseeBernese Oberland, Switzerland Scenic lake setting; mountain lodge rather than remote refuge. Great first trip Private room available—confirm lodge Mountain hotel / inn Gentle lake introduction or longer higher walks. 3–4 days Best short-weekend comfort choice Not planned yet
03Alpe Devero / CrampioloPiedmont, Italy Easy official loop through forest, stone huts, lakes and pastures. Great first trip Private room with selected stay Comfortable refuge Compact Crampiolo loop or a longer Devero stay. 4 days Best Italian next step Not planned yet
04Fontainemore / Rifugio BarmaAosta Valley, Italy A genuine rifugio approached from Pillaz; regional food is central. Good with normal fitness Private room available Comfortable refuge Published direct approach; extend with an Aosta Valley day. 4 days First “real rifugio” after the test trip Not planned yet
05Val d’Ayas / Rifugio FerraroAosta Valley, Italy Lodge-like Walser refuge with lift-assisted access possibilities. Good with normal fitness Private room may be available Comfortable refuge Gentle local walks or bigger Aosta routes later. 4–5 days A beautiful upgrade trip Not planned yet
06Chamanna CluozzaSwiss National Park, Switzerland A catered, simple National Park hut after a sustained T2+ walk. Good with normal fitness Mostly shared rooms Classic catered hut Direct Zernez approach plus gentler National Park days. 4 days Authentic, but less private-room friendly Not planned yet
07Chamanna da KeschGraubünden, Switzerland A classic Swiss Alpine Club hut and proper multi-day target. Next step Mostly shared rooms Classic catered hut Two- or three-day hut adventure; approach must be chosen carefully. 4–5 days Future proper hut-to-hut target Not planned yet
08Val de BagnesValais, Switzerland Two huts, glacier views and a suspension bridge. Later goal Mostly shared rooms Classic catered hut Alternative avoids the bridge; still a next-stage route. 4 days minimum Beautiful later goal Not planned yet
09Spitzingsee / SchönfeldhütteBavaria, Germany Gentle Bavarian pasture terrain and a short mountain-inn approach. Great first trip Mostly shared—small room to confirm Rustic hut Short approach or add the nearby Rotwand circuit. 3 days Good German test; less comfort-focused Not planned yet
10Chiemgau / HochrieshütteBavaria, Germany Family-friendly summit-hut overnight rather than a traverse. Great first trip Private room may be available Comfortable refuge Simple summit stay or add longer nearby walks. 3–4 days A gentler German alternative Not planned yet
11Berchtesgaden hut-to-hutBavaria, Germany True multi-day hut loops with exposure and sure-footing requirements. Later goal Dormitory-style hut Rustic hut Several loop lengths, none treated as our casual starter. 4–6 days Future, not first trip Not planned yet
12Dolomites / Alta Via 1Dolomites, Italy The iconic rifugio route and eventual grand mountain journey. Later goal Private room may exist—never assume Classic catered hut A future two-night sampler or the full 125 km route. 6–10 days full route Future grand adventure Not planned yet