Hike Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains in a Weekend
Trek across the scenic peaks and awesome valleys of Slovakia’s highest mountain range – a UNESCO protected reserve
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guidesHotel
3 nights in a family-run hotelMeals
All your breakfasts and dinnersTransfers
To and from the airport and everything in betweenPermits
All permits and entry feesSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 8 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
…
What's it like?
Spend three days in the High Tatras – one of the wildest and most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe
Experience a hiker's paradise of forested valleys, hidden waterfalls and alpine lakes all nestled beneath 2500m+ peaks
Follow the epic but little-known route of the Tatranská Magistrala trail – remote, quiet and insanely beautiful
Looking for a longer adventure? See our alternative trip Adventure Hiking in Slovakia in a Week
Key Information
Day 1
Arrival
Meet your host and take a scenic drive over the border into Slovakia to your friendly family-run hotel in the lovely village of Stary Smokovec. Check-in, unwind and then meet the rest of your group for dinner and a chance to discuss the plan for the days ahead.
Day 2
Green Lake
Hiking
Catch the cable car part way up Lomnicky Peak, the second-highest mountain in Slovakia. Hike to the summit of this 2000+m peak and then descend through a rugged valley to the serene Green Lake. Enjoy lunch at a lakeside hut and then walk through a dwarf pine forest to White Lake. Spend the evening unwinding in a jacuzzi or sauna and then grab some dinner before a well-deserved night’s sleep.
Day 3
The Velicka Valley
Hiking
Hike to the beautiful Velicka Valley, located at the foot of the highest mountain in Slovakia, Gerlachovsky Peak (2655m). Enjoy the incredible scenery and then trek to a pretty mountain lake for lunch with a waterfall view. Explore the famous Tatranska Magistrala trail as it winds its way through a labyrinth of dwarf pines and spruces and then follow a pristine mountain stream back to your the hotel for your last night in the mountains.
Day 4
Strbske Lake and home
Hiking
Pack up and head to Strbske Lake, one of the most scenic and photographed in Slovakia. Enjoy a hike through some stunning scenery on the way to Popradske Lake, then grab some lunch and return to Krakow in time for your flight home.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Krakow John Paul II International Airport, Poland
17:00
Ends
Krakow John Paul II International Airport, Poland
17:30
Transfers
You’ll be picked up on arrival and dropped off in time for any departures after 19:30.
Travel options
There are regular flights to Krakow from major airports across the UK and Europe.
Your group arrival and departure transfers are long (150km/approximately 3 hours) and include a border crossing. For this reason, private transfers are not usually offered by your host as the cost is prohibitive and you are encouraged to join the group arrival/departure transfers.
As the first and last day of your adventure are full days and the traffic between Krakow Airport and the city is usually heavy, it is not possible to be picked up or dropped off at a city hotel. However, public transport between the city and the airport is good. There is a train that leaves once or twice per hour, this takes 17minutes and is very economical.
Alternatively, there are a small number of flights between the UK and Poprad-Tatry Airport. Private transfers between this airport and your starting/finishing point are not available, however, the cost of a taxi is approximately 15-25 EUR one way.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Slovakian food is simple, fresh and hearty with staples that include pork, poultry, cheese, pastry, potatoes, onions and garlic. Lentil and vegetable stews are also common, as is wild game, pasta and the Gnocchi dish "Bryndzove Halušky."
There are a variety of restaurants in town, including European-American fusion, pizza, pubs and Italian. It’s possible to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free diets, just let your host know before arrival.
What is the accommodation like?
Tatras Mountains
You'll be staying in a friendly, family run Penzion Lomnicky hotel in the village of Stara Lesna. The hotel is beautifully presented with a modern twist on traditional Slovakian style. All rooms are en-suite and come with WiFi, towels and a hairdryer.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Moderate
On a typical day you’ll cover 18km of uneven terrain with as much as 1000m of ascent, so a moderate level of fitness is needed to enjoy it to the full. Some hikes also include short sections of scrambling. Whilst prior experience is recommended it’s not required to enjoy the trip.
The High Tatras in summer are beautiful and relatively warm. From June to August the average daytime temperature on a sunny day can be 20-30 °C. It rains approximately 12 days each month, totalling 80mm monthly.
Spring and autumn temperatures are cooler, ranging from 4 – 13 °C, but it is also drier (just 60mm monthly) and the colours are beautiful.
Make sure to pack for occasional rainfall and cooler evenings.
Stunning Slovakia!
Highly recommend this hiking trip in the High Tatras mountains. Our guide, Jan, was superb; we enjoyed some wonderful conversations and learnt so much about Slovakia and this particular region. The hikes were varied and really enjoyable, the scenery was out of this world, with spectacular views. I’d recommend going in October as the autumnal colours were so beautiful. Our hotel was comfortable and the food (and wine!) excellent; the jacuzzi/spa an added bonus (as was the evening visit to the thermal baths). All in all it was a wonderful hiking experience, made all the more special having Jan as our guide and a really friendly group. I didn’t want it to end!
Excellently organised trip with a great local guide!
The trip was with a fantastic group, our guide Tom had amazing knowledge of the area! It was well organised and we got to see a vast amount of the Tatras throughout the 3 days! Would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore Slovakia!
Surpassing all others - MBA are a class act
I can't praise this trip highly enough. The organisation was seamless, our brilliant guide Tom took care of everything and made the trip carefree and really fun. The hotel was very comfortable, the staff very accommodating, great breakfast and dinner choices and the spa after a hard day up the mountains was a lovely addition!
The hiking was excellent, the routes chosen over the 3 days were very different, the scenery was spectacular and we really enjoyed the more challenging and technical sections.
We had a wonderful group of like minded souls which further cemented a very magical weekend in the mountains.
Special extra mention to mountain man Tom, who was born to be a mountain guide. He generously shared his extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna, his passion for nature and our surroundings, while making us laugh and keeping us safe. What a dude : )
Moody and magical
I joined this trip in the first weekend of October and had the most amazing time. We only saw glimpses of the majestic Tatras mountains due to the mist, but really enjoyed the moody, atmospheric experience and autumn colours. Our guide Patrick was fantastic. He kept a close eye on the weather and adjusted our itinerary to make the most of our trip. We visited breathtakingly beautiful caves, hiked through forests and around lakes, ate wonderfully hearty food and soaked in thermal baths. The group was great too. As with all my other Much Better Adventures trips, we met as strangers and left as friends.
Slovakia is magický
My first trip with MBA, it did not disappoint! Tom was an incredible guide, so knowledgeable about the mountains, the wildlife and fauna and clearly passionate about introducing people to Slovakia. I really enjoyed the hikes, the views are incredible and Tom planned the days perfectly so we got the best conditions for each hike. Already planning my next trip!
Life changing trip
Tom was an exceptional guide. He planned a wonderful trip that matched our abilities as a group and showed us the best that Slovakia has to offer. Would not hesitate to recommend this trip in an extraordinarily beautiful place.
Fabulous hiking trip
I've just spent a fabulous few days hiking in the High Tatras mountains of Slovakia. We had three days of varied hikes with breathtaking views and stunning scenery. Tom was a wonderful guide, so knowledgeable and with a great sense of humour. Tye hospitality was also superb. This trip really exceeded my expectations and I'm so thrilled I have taken the time to visit this beautiful country
Exceeded expectations!
This trip exceeded my expectations! From start to finish it was so well organised. Our guide Patrick was superb, supportive, kind & knowledgeable. The hotel & food were awesome plus meeting a group of like minded people. Thank you MBA, I will definitely book with you again & recommend you to my friends. Slovakia, wow, stunning scenery! Every day the trip offered a new experience! 5 stars from me.
Trip of a lifetime
This was my first time as a solo traveller and I was made to feel at ease as soon as I arrived. I was really anxious about this trip (especially as I have food allergies) but I couldn't have wished for a better time. Our guide, Tom, was not only lovely and welcoming but you could also tell he knew what he was doing. We had the worst weather for this trip (constant rain, winds and flooding) but he still managed to tweak the itinerary to make it brilliant for us. I would 100% recommend this trip, especially if this is your first time. I've met so many wonderful people, eaten a 3 course meal each evening and seen the most beautiful views all in such a short space of time. If you're considering it, DO IT!
Much Better Adventures
Excellent programme. Our guide, Tomas, adjusted the hikes because of the severe rainfall. Because of this we were able to hike everyday. The Penzión was also good, plenty of good food. Also, not expensive. Loved it, looking forward to doing another trip with them