Walking Tour In Poland & Slovakia

Our tour starts at Krakow airport from where it's around a 4 hour drive to Tatranska Lomnica, a small mountain resort in the heart of the Tatras National Park.The oldest national park in the country, the High Tatras area contains some of the tallest peaks in Europe between the Alps and the Caucasus and the area is littered with reminders of the last ice age, with over 100 mountain lakes peppering the landscape.

Overnight Simple Guest House

Our walking days have been specifically designed to cater for all levels and abilities and, as such, we have allocated two guides each day, allowing the option to offer both strenuous and more relaxing alternatives. Also, as this is a centre based trip there is always the opportunity to opt out of any walking day and simply relax around the resort. We have included examples of the walks that are available, but the final itinerary will very much be dependent upon the group’s interests and the weather conditions on the day. For those looking for some strenuous activity we may take the route from Strbské Pleso station, heading up above the tree line and following a trail that affords some superb views of the Skok waterfall and the lakes and valleys below. Be aware that this route does necessitate some scrambling and use of a fixed chain to negotiate some of the trickier sections. A more moderate alternative takes in the forests and ski areas around Tatranske Zruby.The High Tatras is home to the largest forest in Slovakia, as well as some 1300 species of plants (40 of which are endemic to the Tatras) and is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including chamois, marmots, bears and wolves, although the latter are usually very elusive. Approx walking: Strenuous; 6.5hrs, 14.5km, height gain/loss: 959m. Moderate: 3hrs, 4.5km, height gain/loss: 450m.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

Today’s options include a full day’s hike through some of the most dramatic sections of the Tatranská Magistráia, affording some spectacular views across the sub Tatras basin and the Poprad and Vah River valleys. The easier alternative follows a popular route to a beautiful mountain tarn (lake) at Popradské Pleso, where we have an opportunity to view the unique Symbolic Cemetery dedicated to the victims who have fallen foul of the High Tatras peaks. Approx walking: Moderate; 7hrs, 19km, height gain/loss: +571m, -916m. Easy: 2.5hrs, 7.5km, height gain/loss: +244m, -139m.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Majere, for our wooden rafting trip on the Dunajec River to a point close to the Polish border near Lesnica. This river has been a famous attraction in this area since the middle of the 19th century, when tourists came here to raft down the gorge. Following in the footsteps of those early travellers we take to the waters for a rafting trip through this beautiful landscape. Following the Dunajec River we meander along the bottom of the spectacular gorge that bears its name, passing a landscape of towering limestone cliffs, blanketed in lush forests of fir, beech, larch and spruce. Part of the Pieniny National Park, the gorge is without doubt one of the most stunning in Europe and its verdant slopes attract a diverse collection of wildlife, including lynx, wolf, stag and some 14 species of bats. Bird life includes eagle and pygmy owls, three toed woodpeckers and rare black storks can sometimes be spotted along the river’s edge. This is not a white water rafting trip, rather a gentle float through a beautiful landscape, so you do not need to worry about getting wet!

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

A moderate trek today takes in the popular summit of Predne Solisko (2093m), easily accessible by chair lift and a setting that offers some stunning views across Strbské Pleso. This is the last hill on the Solisko comb, which snakes southeast from the heights of Furkotsky Peak and the views down into the Furkotska dolina from here are simply breathtaking. Approx walking: Moderate; 4.5hrs, 11.5km, height gain/loss: 738m.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

A short, but strenuous walk this morning takes us to the top of Kôprovsky Stit (2367m), from where we have some excellent views out across 3 valleys – the Mengusovska and Hlinska Dolinas to the southeast and mountain tarns of the Temnosmrecinska Dolina to the northwest.  Approx walking: Strenuous; 3hrs, 1km, height gain/loss: 187m.

Overnight Simple Guest House Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Krakow where we've a free afternoon to enjoy the city. Poland's former capital (until 1596) has a very distinctive character and is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its historic architecture came through the Second World War unscathed and the city has preserved its rich culture to the present day. It was the residence of Polish kings, and has nearly a hundred churches, as well as Poland's oldest university. Among its most important architectural treasures are St Mary's Church, which contains the world-famous altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss, the medieval buildings of the Jagiellonian University, and Wawel Castle with the Cathedral.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tour ends Krakow after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast