Much Better Adventures

Adventures / Epic Treks

Hike Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains in a Weekend

Trek across the scenic peaks and awesome valleys of Slovakia’s highest mountain range – now a UNESCO protected reserve

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Trip Ref #8770

Adventures / Epic Treks

Hike Slovakia’s High Tatras Mountains in a Weekend

Trek across the scenic peaks and awesome valleys of Slovakia’s highest mountain range – now a UNESCO protected reserve

DURATION
3 nights
LOCATION
Slovakia
ANNUAL LEAVE
1 ½ days off work
SEASON
Jun—Oct
GROUP SIZE
Up to 15 people
MEETING POINT
John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice Airport, Poland
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel
DIFFICULTY
Moderate

You’ll cover 18km of uneven terrain each day with as much as 850m of ascent and 1350m of descent, so a good level of fitness is essential.

Spend 3 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 trekking route of the Tatranská Magistrala trail - remote, quiet and insanely beautiful

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

Tips for your guides

Personal expenses

Travel insurance

The Area

Logistics

Starts

Krakow Airport, Poland

17:00

Ends

Krakow Airport, Poland

19:30

Transfers

You’ll be picked up on arrival and dropped off in time for departure.

Travel options

There are regular flights to Krakow from major airports across the UK and Europe.

What about all the carbon?

We mitigate 4x the carbon generated by all our customer flights annually through our partnership with Cool Earth.

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?

Novy Smokovec

You’ll stay in a friendly family-run three-star hotel that's a modern twist on the traditional Slovakian style. All rooms are stylishly furnished and comfortable, with en-suite, Wi-Fi, 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).

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 thermal pool 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.

Please Note

All our adventures take place in wild places. Things can go wrong in wild places. Your perfectly planned itinerary may change a bit (or a lot) if the weather turns, someone gets hurt, or a volcano erupts. Usually though, changes make it all the better.

15% Off Outdoor Gear

In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 15% discount on us to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock, Runner's Need, and Cycle Surgery.

What do I need to bring?

Bags

  • Soft overnight duffel bag or rucksack
  • Daypack (35+ litres)
  • Waterproof liner for kitbag or rucksack / drybags

Clothes

  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Breathable wicking layers
  • Fleece jacket or similar
  • Buff or neck scarf
  • Lightweight gloves
  • Lightweight trousers/shorts / skirts
  • T-shirts, underwear & socks
  • Swimwear
  • Sunhat
  • Something to sleep in
  • Hiking boots (worn-in)
  • Sandals

Other

  • Sunglasses
  • Padlock for left luggage
  • Universal travel adapter
  • Power bank or solar charger
  • Spare camera batteries
  • Passports (and visas)
  • Travel Insurance documents
  • Earplugs
  • Insect repellent
  • Suncream
  • Personal first-aid kit (including blister treatment)
  • Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
  • Quick-dry towel
  • Alcohol hand-gel
  • Headtorch or torch
  • Reusable water bottle x1 ltr (2 of these if you have room)
  • Biodegradable wet-wipes
  • Energy bars and snacks
  • Water purification tablets/treatment system

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 and while experience of this is recommended it’s not required.

Sure can! Over 50% 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.

We’ve teamed up with the guys at World Nomads to offer insurance designed for adventurous travellers across 140 countries that includes overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities. To get yours sorted, click here.

We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book the trip, 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 specifically designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want them to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly likeminded.

“I cannot recommend this highly enough! The people on the trip were amazing. Easily the best trip I’ve ever been on!” Charlotte, 2019, Trustpilot.

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