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4.9
| 49 reviews

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

Duration

3 nights

Annual Leave

2 days off work

Group Size

Up to 8 people

Season

Jun—Oct

Location

Slovakia

Meeting Point

Kraków Airport, Poland

Classic Accommodation

Hotel

Customer Reviews

(49)

4.9

Difficulty

Moderate

From

From

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

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

7-8hrs · 18km · 535m up · 1350m down

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

5-6hrs · 15km · 850m up · 900m down

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

4hrs · 10km · 350m up · 350m down

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.

Included

Guides

Expert, English-speaking local guides

Accommodation

3 nights in a family-run hotel

Meals

All your breakfasts and dinners

Transfers

To and from the airport and everything in-between

Permits

All permits and entry fees

Not Included

Flights to and from the meeting point

Some meals as described

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

Visas where required

Day 1

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 2 – Day 3

Hotel · Twin share

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner

Day 4

Departure day

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).

The Area

map

Logistics

Starts

Krakow Airport, Poland

17:00

Ends

Krakow 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.

Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.

What do I need to bring?

  • Sturdy, broken-in waterproof hiking shoes or boots. Or at least waterproof socks, because you will have to step into water at times.
  • Rain/windproof jacket
  • Waterproof trousers/overtrousers
  • Lightweight, breathable hiking shirts, trousers and shorts in summer.
  • Sweater or fleece
  • Hat, gloves, scarf (for September and October departures)
  • Water bottle
  • Small rucksack for carrying personal items
  • Swimsuit
  • Insect repellent
  • All personal toiletries
  • Ear plugs
*Requests for optional extras can be made after booking on your “My Bookings” page

Private Room Upgrade

Payable Before Departure

Private Room Upgrade

Per Person

Alex(November 2023)

A weekend exploring the beautiful Tatras mountains was made even better by sharing the joy of the trip with a fantastic group of people, lead by our host Jan who was helpful, knowledgable and excellent fun to be around! Never crammed so many sights, laughs and new experiences into just a couple of days out of office!

Katherine(November 2023)

A fantastic weekend adventure with a great guide Jan who went above and beyond in bad weather to make a great trip. Everyone in our group was great fun. If you're considering this trip, book it!

Rekha(November 2023)

My first much better adventures trip and it was brilliant. Great group size and our guide really took care of us. The accommodation was good and much better value for money compared to other solo tour companies I’ve seen for Europe.

Helen(November 2023)

What an incredible weekend in Slovakia! The most stunning trails leading us through dwarf pine forests, past gorgeous mountain lakes and high into the hills; all led by the brilliant Patrik. Patrik was the perfect host, so knowledgeable, and very friendly and approachable. He catered very well to everyone's different needs and abilities. Everything ran smoothly from start to finish, which meant that I could just enjoy rambling in this beautiful part of the world. Will definitely recommend this trip & Patrik as your guide!

Charlie(November 2023)

Don’t think twice about booking this trip, just do it! Fantastic trip! The hikes were challenging but not too tough, comfortable accommodation, stunning views, and our guide Tom was awesome! Very knowledgeable and accommodating to the group.

Abbie(October 2023)

Incredible trip to see the beautiful Slovakian Tatras mountains. Local guide Tom was knowledgeable and gave us recommendations that weren't included in the tour. The walks were well-paced, size of the group was good for keeping everyone together.

Paul(October 2023)

I would highly recommend this hiking adventure. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking throughout the hike. Tomás was an excellent guide with a great knowledge and passion for his country Slovakia. He constantly kept us updated and shared many local stories and history with us on the hikes. The accommodation and food were excellent. To summarise I couldn’t recommend this trip enough, if you love hiking Slovakia is a hidden gem you have to visit.

Charlie(October 2023)

Fantastic trip 5 stars! If you’re unsure let me tell you now, it’s an amazing trip with beautiful scenery. The hikes are challenging but not too difficult, the accommodation is clean and comfortable, good value for money and our guide Tom was outstanding! 110% recommend! Don’t wait!

Nathan(October 2023)

5* trip, excellent guide, incredible hiking and views perfect for a beginner/intermediate hiker. Highly recommend

Gary(October 2023)

Just an enjoyable trip, got lucky with weather, great guide, group got on very well.

Ashleigh(October 2023)

5* absolutely fantastic trip! Tomás our guide was great, very knowledgeable, loved the great outdoors and history! The hotel was clean and comfortable, good food.

The high Tatras mountains and Slovakia are stunning, photos do not do it justice! The walks were moderate as described.

I am a solo traveller in the group and highly recommend it to anyone.

Lita(September 2023)

This trip was just amazing! The guide was very good. We had a perfect few days. Even the weather did not put us down.

Emma(September 2023)

We have just had the most amazing trip and experience in the High Tatras. Our trip was guided by Tom who was just perfect. He has the right approach to guiding and his love of the country and mountains really showed. Nothing was too much trouble and he adapted each day according to the weather etc. He would give us lots of information about the local area and mountains and the pace of the walking was just right. It has left me with lots of lovely memories to take away ⛰️😄

Sarah(August 2023)

We would highly recommend this 3 day hike in Slovakia. The High Tatras are simply stunning and the trip was perfectly guided by Patrik. This was on the tough side of 'moderate' for us but we enjoyed the comfort zone stretch and appreciated Patrik's and the group's flexibility and understanding. The beautiful lakes, chair lift rides and epic mountain scenery will live long in our memory. Thank you MBA, Patrik and the whole lovely group for a fabulous adventure.

Julie(August 2023)

Incredible trip with an amazing host, Tom, who always kept us in the loop, made alternative plans when the weather was not on our side and kept us entertained with his stories and local knowledge. The trip was so well organised and it was a real treat not to have to do any of the thinking or planning. I highly recommend this trip. Just perfect!

Khushi(October 2022)

Best trip ever! The mountains, our guide, the food and the group...everything matched my expectations. Till next time MBA!

Aoife(September 2022)

I really enjoyed this trip! Our guide, Martin, was excellent, it was well organised and accommodation and food were good. My only suggestion is I would like some slightly more adventurous or off-the-beaten track routes.

Joanne(September 2022)

This is a fantastic hiking adventure. We were so well looked after by our guide, the accommodation exceeded our expectations and the views from the top were incredible. Thank you Patrik and our whole awesome group of new friends :)

Kate(September 2022)

We went as a private group and Tom was a fantastic host throughout the weekend. We had a slight issue with the weather, but it did not change our experience as Tom adapted the weekend to ensure we got the best of the Tatras. A trip to the local thermal spa was a highlight! The area is beautiful to explore, incredibly clean in the hotel and the food was very hearty! (Not great if you are wanting gluten free!). The paths we went on were very rocky so I would make sure you are prepared for that.

Alasdair(September 2022)

Fantastic weekend in the mountains with Patrik our guide, lots of local knowledge and information passed across as we travelled. Some challenging terrain at times, mainly on the steeper rocky trails, but the views making it very worthwhile. Time in the evening to enjoy the local bar, or the hotel spa.

Kevin(September 2022)

Tom was a first class guide of our small group, always attentive to everyone ensuring both enjoyment and safety along the way. I really appreciated the pace of the trip - doing the most challenging route on day one, and then winding down. The trip provided a great introduction to the Tatras and has certainly encouraged me to return in the near future.

Carl(September 2022)

Amazing location! Highly recommend

Caitlin(September 2022)

This trip was fantastic - such a beautiful part of the world with amazing mountain scenery, gorgeous lakes and well way-marked, clean trails. I loved the variation in the walks and our guide Patrik was brilliant - really knowledgable, friendly and patient. The hotel accommodation was even better than i'd been expecting and was the perfect place to relax after a day out walking. Thank you for a great holiday!

Becki(September 2022)

What a glorious trip! The hiking was wonderful and the views spectacular. Our group enjoyed getting to know each other too. Tomáš was the perfect host, welcoming us, guiding through the hike safely, sharing local stories, chatting with everyone and helping with anything we needed. This was my first experience with Much Better Adventures and it won’t be my last.

Laura(August 2022)

This was my first MBA trip and also my first solo trip - I would do it again in a heartbeat! Everything was so well organised, from the WhatsApp group set up a few days before departure right until our airport drop off at the end of the tour.

Our guide Patrik was great, very relaxed and friendly and very passionate about hiking in Slovakia! We had a freak hail & lightning storm one day while out in the mountains and Patrik handled it really well, we stayed safely sheltered away in the mountain hut while the worst of it passed before heading back down. The weather the rest of the time was absolutely glorious!

The walks are nice and straightforward if you're used to a bit of hiking. The views are gorgeous from the trails even when you're not hiking up to any summits. It was a great intro to Slovakia and I'd love to go back and explore a little more and so some summit hikes now!

One thing to be aware of which none of our group knew - you can't swim in the High Tatras! The area is protected and there are hefty fines if you're caught in the water. We'd all brought swimwear which we didn't use and I would have left it at home had I realised it wasn't going to be possible to swim.

Sachin(August 2022)

Slovakia is a lovely country. Very peaceful, very green and filled with very friendly locals. The Tatra mountains were amazing and trekking up and through them was completely mesmerising. For anyone who wants to get away for a long weekend, I highly recommend to add this to your list!

Hannah(August 2022)

My first trip with MBA to the High Tatras was fantastic! The scenery on the hikes was stunning and our guide Tom was brilliant. He was very friendly, knowledgeable and great company. The hotel we stayed in was also great with good food and nice staff. All in all I would thoroughly recommend this trip to anyone wanting to discover a beautiful place that’s off the beaten track.

Nim(August 2022)

Amazing organisation, communication and service. Thank you!

Heather(July 2022)

This trip is a must! The scenery was incredible and Tom was so knowledgable and a wonderful host! Will definitely be back for more hiking!

Lara(July 2022)

This was my first proper hike so I was pleasantly surprised! The Slovakian High Tatras do not disappoint with views out of a fairytale. Our guide Tom was awesome, super friendly and knowledgeable about the area and country history. Everything ran super smoothly and our accommodation was super clean and had a great location. The group were an amazing and super supportive bunch so the only downside is that the trip had to end!

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 122kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000miles/1609km would be approx. 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person if there was 2 of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight London - New York would be approx. 1,619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approx. 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

The High Tatras in summer are beautiful and relatively warm. From June to August the average daytime temperature is 12 °C, but it can range from 8 – 18 °C. It rains approximately 12 days each month, totalling 80mm monthly.

Spring and autumn temperatures are a little cooler, ranging from 4 – 13 °C, but it is also drier (just 60mm monthly) and the colours are beautiful.

Make sure to pack for occassional rainfall and cooler evenings.

You'll need to bring all your luggage with you, however on each day of hiking your main luggage can be left in the hotel in Novy Smokovec. You will only need to have a daypack for each day of hiking.

The local tap water is safe to drink. Please bring along your own reusable water bottles (at least 1.5L) to fill up to avoid buying single-use plastic bottles.

For current advice about travelling in Slovakia, have a read of the UK Foreign Office pages here.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.

TRIP DEPARTURE DATES

June 2024

Thursday • 6th June 2024

to Sunday • 9th June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 13th June 2024

to Sunday • 16th June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 20th June 2024

to Sunday • 23rd June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 27th June 2024

to Sunday • 30th June 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 4th July 2024

to Sunday • 7th July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 11th July 2024

to Sunday • 14th July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 18th July 2024

to Sunday • 21st July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Thursday • 25th July 2024

to Sunday • 28th July 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Saturday • 3rd August 2024

to Tuesday • 6th August 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Thursday • 15th August 2024

to Sunday • 18th August 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 1 space left

Thursday • 29th August 2024

to Sunday • 1st September 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 5th September 2024

to Sunday • 8th September 2024
Guaranteed to run
Fully Booked

Thursday • 12th September 2024

to Sunday • 15th September 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Thursday • 19th September 2024

to Sunday • 22nd September 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 2 spaces left

Saturday • 28th September 2024

to Tuesday • 1st October 2024
Guaranteed to run
Hurry, only 3 spaces left

Thursday • 3rd October 2024

to Sunday • 6th October 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 10th October 2024

to Sunday • 13th October 2024
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 17th October 2024

to Sunday • 20th October 2024
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 7th June 2025

to Tuesday • 10th June 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 12th June 2025

to Sunday • 15th June 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 21st June 2025

to Tuesday • 24th June 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 26th June 2025

to Sunday • 29th June 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 5th July 2025

to Tuesday • 8th July 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 10th July 2025

to Sunday • 13th July 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 19th July 2025

to Tuesday • 22nd July 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 24th July 2025

to Sunday • 27th July 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 2nd August 2025

to Tuesday • 5th August 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 9th August 2025

to Tuesday • 12th August 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 14th August 2025

to Sunday • 17th August 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 21st August 2025

to Sunday • 24th August 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 30th August 2025

to Tuesday • 2nd September 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 6th September 2025

to Tuesday • 9th September 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 11th September 2025

to Sunday • 14th September 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 18th September 2025

to Sunday • 21st September 2025
Guaranteed to run

Saturday • 27th September 2025

to Tuesday • 30th September 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 2nd October 2025

to Sunday • 5th October 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 9th October 2025

to Sunday • 12th October 2025
Guaranteed to run

Thursday • 16th October 2025

to Sunday • 19th October 2025
Guaranteed to run
Private trip

Go private and split the bill with ease.

Forget complex logistics, we've taken care of all the details to ensure a hassle-free get together. All of the adventure, none of the faff.

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