Poland is among countries that start with P listed on Countryaah.com. Poland’s landscape is diverse: it ranges from the flat coastal areas on the Baltic Sea and the central lowlands to the high mountains of the High Tatras on the border with Slovakia. The highest mountain in Poland is the northern summit of Rysy (Meeraugspitze) on the border with Slovakia, which reaches almost 2,500 m.
- Day 1: Welcome to Poland!
- Day 2: Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains
- Day 3: Ascent to the Tatra High Trail
- Day 4: Through a Carpathian gorge on the high path
- Day 5: Slovakia: Ascent to the mountain hut on the Green Lake
- Day 6: Descent into the cave: Bela Tatras from above and below
- Day 7: Krakow: City walk together, also underground
- Day 8: Farewell to Krakow
We approach the first peaks from the water. Raftsmen take us with them on their wooden raft, the green hills of the “Pieniny” National Park pass us by. In the spa town of Szczawnica we continue on foot, we hike on a high path across the national park and so get in the mood for the peaks of the High Tatras.
The “smallest high mountain range in the world” is barely 50 kilometers long and a maximum of 15 kilometers wide, yet it dominates the entire repertoire of the Alps: high peaks, shimmering lakes, high waterfalls and rustic huts. We spend the night in one of them, which is located directly on the “Green Lake” at 1,550 meters – the highest peaks of the Tatra Mountains tower right behind the lake.
We start the journey in Poland, but it also takes us to Slovakia, where most of the High Tatras are located. The basis for our tours is the mountain town of Zakopane with its wooden architecture of the “Gorals”. Here we stock up on Oscypek, smoked sheep’s cheese: the cheese rollers or spindles look like wood carvings.
After five days in the mountains, we move to Krakow. We explore the historic old town and the Jewish quarter there.
Meals: B = breakfast / L = lunch / packed lunch / D = dinner
1st day:
Welcome to Poland!
Joint arrival by train to Zakopane: We will meet our guide at approximately 9.45 a.m. in Vienna at the main train station. With the train via Bratislava we reach the Slovak side of the Tatras after a common journey time of about 4 hours. From there, our organized bus takes us to Poland directly to the hotel in Zakopane (approx. 1 hour). Our journey takes us through Carpathian valleys through rural Podhale – a very traditional region, characterized by neat wooden buildings. There we take a break with a tour of the village in the beautiful mountain village of Chochołów. This village is known by many as an “inhabited open-air museum” because of its traditional wooden houses in the Podhale style. We also want to meet a “folk carver” there. After we reach our hotel
Alternative
individual arrival: Alternatively, an individual arrival directly to the accommodation in Zakopane is possible.
You can book flights to Vienna (or straight to Krakow) with us (price on request). You can also book transfers from Krakow to Zakopane with us (maximum cost EUR 50). Please let us know when booking.
Travel time: approx. 4 hours by train and approx. 45 min. By bus.
Overnight in Zakopane in a beautiful house in the typical Tatra wood construction,
each room with its own bathroom.
(- / – / A)
2nd day:
Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains
The starting point today is our accommodation. The path leads us over meadows and valleys into the mountain landscape, which we can see from the accommodation. The goal is a small and largely unknown vantage point (at almost 1,400 m) with a good view of Zakopane, the Sub-Carpathian Mountains and the mountains. On the way there we visit a dairy farmer who offers traditional Tatra sheep cheese (Oscypek) in his smokehouse.
In the evening we have the option of ending the day of hiking in a modern thermal bath, which was only opened in 2016, in 37 degrees warm medicinal water. There is a swimming pool, therapeutic bath and / or sauna area available to us there. Admission is not included and is around EUR 15 to EUR 20.
Alternatively, we have time in the evening to explore the city of Zakopane with its numerous pubs (live music) on our own.
Hike: approx. 4-5 hours (approx. +600 m / -600 m)
Overnight in Zakopane in a beautiful hotel in the typical Tatra wood construction,
each room with its own bathroom.
(FA)
3rd day:
Ascent to the Tatra High Trail
Today we climb the summit of Kasprowy Wierch (1,987 m) in the main Tatra ridge. Our tour begins with the ascent via a managed hut to the main Tatra ridge on the border with Slovakia. Via a high path we reach the Kasprowy Wierch panoramic mountain, where there is a summit restaurant and we can strengthen ourselves. The cable car goes down to Zakopane.
Hike: approx. 5 hours, (approx. 12 km, approx. +1,100 m / -300 m)
Overnight stay in Zakopane in a beautiful hotel in the typical Tatra wood construction,
each room with its own bathroom.
(FA)
4th day:
Through a Carpathian gorge on the high path
A few kilometers further east, in the lower, wooded mountains of the Pieninen – also called Pieniny – the Carpathian Mountains show their lovely side: idyllic, rugged and promising. The Pieninen is cut through by the breakthrough valley of the Dunajec (“Little Danube”), which forms the Polish-Slovakian border here. Traditionally dressed raftsmen take us on a raft trip, during which we can marvel at our first Carpathian peaks from the river until we reach the Pieninen National Park near Szczawnica.
From here we continue on foot, we hike over the panoramic rock Sokolica (747 m) on a high path across the Pieninen National Park. We will also admire the very interesting, small medieval parish church of Dębno (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Hike: approx. 4 hours (approx. 8 km, approx. +600 m / -550 m) Raft
trip: approx. 2.25 hours (18 km)
Travel time in the bus: approx. 2.25 hours (100 km)
Overnight in Zakopane in a beautiful hotel in the typical Tatra wood construction,
each room with its own bathroom.
(FA)
5th day:
Slovakia: Ascent to the mountain hut on the Green Lake
After about an hour’s drive with a short break at the Jaszczurówka wooden church in Zakopane style, we reach the starting point of the hike to the mountain hut. We are already on the Slovak side, in the historical Spiš region on the easternmost mountain ridge of the Tatras, known as the “Bela Tatras”. The ascent route leads us through a valley that is not very busy at lunchtime to a saddle at around 1,800 m, which separates the High Tatras from the Bela Tatras. We also take a panoramic path through a rustic high valley, and soon mountain lakes in almost all colors offer beautiful photo opportunities: We pass the White Lake, the Triangular Lake, the Black Lake before we arrive at the Green Lake. In the evening we reach our destination for the day, the Zelené Pleso mountain hut (“Green Lake”), located in a valley basin at 1,550 m.
It is not possible to transport luggage when staying overnight in the mountain hut. The luggage for 2 days must be carried in a backpack. Bed linen, towels and food are available, so there is hardly any luggage to be carried.
Driving time: approx. 1 hour.
Hike: approx. 5 hours (approx. 8 km, approx. +900 m / -300 m)
Overnight stay in a mountain hut on the Green Lake in shared rooms and shared bathroom on the corridor (no single room possible)
(F / – / A)
6th day:
Descent into the cave: Bela Tatras from above and below
Leisurely, never too steep, a small path leads us steadily downwards towards the valley. Blossoming mountain meadows, repeated views of the mighty Tatra peaks, and an “Edelweiß” mountain hut accompany us on the way. One of the most famous caves in Slovakia awaits us here: The Bela stalactite cave offers underground lakes, pagoda-like stalagmites and even concerts of classical music during a one-hour tour.
In the evening we drive back to Poland, to Krakow. We stop for dinner in an original restaurant near Nowy Targ.
Hike: approx. 3.5 hours (approx. 9 km, approx. -800 m)
Travel time: approx. 2.25 hours (120 km)
Overnight stay in Krakow in an attractively renovated old town apartment,
2 rooms share a bathroom / WC
(F / – / A)
7th day:
Krakow: walking through the city together, also underground
A German-speaking city guide shows us the most important sights of Krakow’s old town, including St. Mary’s Church and the Wawel Royal Castle. Directly under the town square is the “Krakow Underworld” – after several years of archaeological research, the “underground Krakow” was recently opened for our visit.
In the evening we take a tour of the city in the Jewish quarter of Krakow, in Kazimierz. After dinner in a traditional Jewish restaurant, we can explore the lively old town of Krakow and Kazimierz with their cozy cafés on our own.
Overnight stay in Krakow in an attractively renovated old town apartment,
2 rooms share a bathroom / toilet
(F / – / A)
8th day:
Farewell to Krakow
Today it’s time to say goodbye. We go back to Vienna by bus or train.
Unless you have booked additional days in Krakow or combine the trip with another trip to Poland (Poland’s east – swamps, rivers & jungle)… if desired, please let us know when booking.
(F / – / -)
