One of the questions I get asked most often is: "which route would you recommend for a trek?" — and it often comes from a complete beginner! It's genuinely hard to answer off the top of your head without knowing more about the person's aspirations, capabilities and motivation. So here, gathered together, are the right questions to ask yourself and some food for thought to help you choose your first trek.
But first, let's define what trekking actually is: originally it was simply a word to describe multi-day hiking in mountainous regions. Today the definition has broadened somewhat and covers all multi-day hiking trips.
Choosing your first trek: how long?
The length of a trek depends mainly on your physical and mental capacity to walk independently for several hours a day — and to endure limited comfort in a bivvy or a mountain hut. An ideal first trek for beginners is around 5 days: long enough to enjoy the experience of multi-day hiking without being so long that fatigue sets in. Either way, you need at least a week to travel to and from your route without being too rushed for time.
Where to go?
Most treks take place in a mountain environment — though there are exceptions, of course. If you opt for the mountains, you still need to choose the type: closer to home or further afield, higher or lower, more or less remote. Your choice should be guided as much by your ability as by the time you have available. A trek in the Andes doesn't require the same effort or time as 5 days in the Auvergne mountains! Take it easy on your first treks. We've all dreamed of remote and vast landscapes, but testing your ability to pitch a bivvy and live self-sufficiently in such places is quite the leap. To start with, I'd recommend a tour of the Monts d'Auvergne, the Queyras or the Mercantour. You'll find your feet without any major risks — and you'll definitely enjoy it.
Gauging the difficulty
Trekking is, by its very nature, accessible to anyone who enjoys walking, regardless of their level. But there are significant differences in difficulty between routes. The difficulty of a route comes down to 2 main factors: duration and elevation gain.
A beginner can comfortably manage 4 hours of walking per day with minimal elevation gain. A hiker with a good level of fitness will handle 4 to 6 hours per day with 400 to 700 metres of elevation gain per stage without any trouble. A strong, fit and trained walker will cover more than 6 hours per day with 600 to 1,000 metres of elevation gain every day. An experienced trekker who has clocked up miles on many trails will manage more than 6 hours of walking per day with around 1,000 metres of elevation gain daily, in complete self-sufficiency.
Bear in mind that these are daily figures, repeated over several consecutive days. If you're not especially fit and you've already done a 7-hour walk on a Sunday, don't assume too quickly that you'll be able to do that comfortably every day with a fully loaded pack, for 6 or 7 days in a row.
Build up gradually and progressively! Start with an easy trek, then move up a level. Don't rush through the stages — it's a matter of health and safety.
Solo or with others?
My advice is not to do your first trek alone. For safety reasons, but also for morale: in a group you support each other, stay motivated and progress more easily. Later, if you love the freedom, you can head out solo once you have a bit of experience. But ideally, go with a few friends or family. The trail feels shorter, tiredness is more bearable, and your pack will normally be lighter too — because you share certain items! Avoid overly large groups, and make sure there's a reasonable balance of ability between everyone.
Mountain hut or fully self-sufficient?
It's important to understand that full self-sufficiency means carrying your tent, sleeping bag, cooking kit and food — no small amount of weight on your back! That said, there are real advantages: you can sleep wherever you like (within reason), you can shorten or extend stages as you please, and you're closer to nature with a wonderful sense of peace. The extra weight for a fully self-sufficient trek is around 5 to 7 kg. It's always possible to mix mountain huts and self-sufficiency — having the occasional meal at a hut, for example. You save a little on food weight and, above all, you treat yourself to a proper meal instead of freeze-dried rations. For beginners, it's better to avoid full self-sufficiency on the first outings. The reassuring presence of a mountain hut provides useful safety checkpoints along the route.
Choosing your first trek well is essential: it will determine your enjoyment and your desire to do it again. Be humble at the start and don't reach too far! A familiar environment in terrain you know at least a little is always easier for finding your feet than a far-flung destination where you don't speak the language and haven't quite pictured the climate. And why not find a friend who's a little more experienced to join you on your first trek — it's a great way to learn and build experience, while feeling reassured!
