NEW TRIP
On the Trail in Slovakia and Poland’s High Tatras Mountains
Hiking the Carpathians: Budapest to Krakow
Overview
The great Carpathian range, Europe’s second largest mountain chain after the Alps, spans 1,500 miles and seven countries—and on this adventure, we hike in three of them: Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. We begin with a hike in Hungary’s vineyards and rich beech forests, then cross the border into Slovakia—on foot! We then hike the High Tatras, the highest part of the Carpathians, whose spiky, snow-dusted peaks form a natural wall between Slovakia and Poland. While not as well known as the Swiss Alps, the Tatras are equally rich in glacier-carved valleys. Our final hike is in the Polish side of the Tatras, winding along the Slovak-Polish border. Our grand finale finds us in Krakow, one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the world.
Arrive: Budapest, Hungary
Depart: Krakow, Poland
Highlights
- Enjoy spectacular hikes below jagged High Tatras peaks in both Slovakia and Poland
- Cross the international border from Hungary to Slovakia—on foot
- Take a cable car to a High Tatras peak for a breathtaking ridge hike
- Visit beautiful Eger and the mountain resorts of Starý Smokovec and Zakopane
- Sample the savory mountain cuisine of Slovakia and Poland
Itinerary
We meet in Budapest and head to Eger, an elegant city with Baroque architecture, cobbled lanes, and a 1,000-year winemaking tradition. We’ll taste the wares of Hungarian wine country and the next day hike in the beech forests and limestone hills of 150-square-mile Bükk National Park.
Aggtelek National Park is a unique protected area nestled along the border between northern Hungary and Slovakia and known for awe-inspiring natural caves with stunning stalactites and stalagmites, including UNESCO-listed Baradla Cave, 10 miles long. In this park, we’ll hike from Hungary into Slovakia—crossing the international border on foot! In the Slovak town of Starý Smokovec, we’ll have our first hike in the rocky High Tatras, circling near the stunning glacial lake of Štrbské Pleso, a hiking and mountaineering destination since the 1870s.
A spectacular cable car ride brings us up to Lomnický štít (8,643') for an alpine hike on the Tatranská Magistrala, a long-distance trail across the Tatras. Another hike brings us through deep forests above gleaming Lake Morskie Oko, set at 4,500 feet in Tatras National Park. From Zakopane, Poland’s hiking capital, with its traditional chalets, a cable car whisks us high in the mountains to Kasprowy Wierch (6,500'), one of the most iconic peaks in the High Tatras. Here we’ll hike the dramatic ridgetop trail contouring the border between Poland and Slovakia.
Descending to the Chocholowska Valley, we hike a trail where in 1981, Polish Pope John Paul II had a clandestine meeting with Lech Walesa, the head of Solidarity, a turning point for the post-Communist future of Poland. Our last two nights are in glorious Krakow, whose Old Town is a masterpiece of medieval urban design. At its heart is Rynek Glówny, the largest market square in Europe, surrounded by elegant townhouses and historic churches. Depart on Day 10.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 4, Moderate to Strenuous, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 10 miles in a day, being on your feet for up to 7 hours a day, and hiking on uneven surfaces, including downhill over loose scree. All trip members should have ample hiking experience and be able to keep up with the group, as there are no alternative hiking options available. Trail conditions, weather, and the group's level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing
Average Hiking Day
- 8 miles
- 4-5 hours
- 1,500 feet elevation gain/loss
Challenge Day
- Day 5: 10 miles, 7 hours, 700 feet gain, 3,400 feet loss; includes steep sections
While not technically difficult and staying in moderate altitudes, this trip is aimed at those who have at least some experience mountain hiking. We will hike on variable hill and mountain trails, with occasional steep, uneven sections with loose scree, so participants must have good balance and be confident on their feet. Hiking poles are highly recommended. At lower elevations, the trails are usually packed dirt, but higher up they are often much rockier, with occasional sections of rock and loose scree.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared-make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in.
The Carpathians have a temperate continental climate. In Slovakia and Poland, the snowmelt begins in April, with May bringing warmer temperatures. High mountain ridges may still see snow into June. Summers are mild to hot (68F-77F), and short mountain thunderstorms are common, so rain gear should be brought on hikes. Autumn is crisp and colorful, with temperatures in the 60-70°F range. Leaves begin to turn by late September, and higher regions cool quickly by October. Winter brings snow from November through March. Ski resorts operate from December to March.
Our accommodations are in comfortable hotels that are centrally located in the towns and cities that we pass through. Please note that the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Carpathian cuisine features savory mountain dishes made with pork, beef, game meat, or poultry, along with root vegetables. Goulash, potato dumplings (halušky), traditional sausages, smoked meats, and local sheep cheeses (bryndza, oštiepok, parenica) are found on many menus. Typical vegetarian dishes include soups of mushroom, sauerkraut, and lentils. Slovak and Hungarian vineyards produce international varietals including Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris, along with local specialties such as Tokay.
Our support vehicle will transport the group's luggage, so you only need to carry a daypack (rain gear, sweater, camera, water bottle, etc.). Trip members are always free to skip a day's hike and travel to the next destination in the support vehicle (or remain at the hotel if we are not transferring that day). In the Tatras, we will use cable cars to access some of the hikes.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.