Overview
An eight day, self-guided walking holiday will take you to Żywiecki Beskid – the second-highest mountain range in the polish part of Carpathians. Visit Babia Góra National Park listed by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve and climb the Devil’s Peak (1,725m). Continue the journey to Zakopane, nestled at the foot of the spectacular Tatras Mountains. Don’t miss the opportunity to walk its trails, dotted with beautiful, crystal clear glacial lakes. Cross the border with Slovakia to the northern part of Belianske Tatras, visit charming little villages like Javorina and Ždiar. Finish your adventure in Poland’s old capital, Kraków.
- Kraków
- Tatra National Park
- Babia Góra National Park
- Zakopane
- Belianske Tatras, Slovakia
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kraków
Arrival and accommodation in a hotel in Kraków. Take in this fascinating city with the UNESCO Old Town, home to the biggest medieval Market Square and the atmospheric streets of Jewish Quarter.
- Accommodation: Hotel Kazimierz or similar
Day 2: Krowiarki Pass to Zawoja | 11km
Transfer to Krowiarki Pass (approx. 2h). Today you will climb Diablak (Devil’s Peak), the highest summit in Babia Góra biosphere reserve (Old Women’s/Witches’ Mountain). It reaches 1,725m above sea level and forms a watershed between Baltic Sea and Black Sea basins. There are several legends about the mountain, most of which feature a devil as one of the characters. This may be a reflection of the fickle, usually windy, capricious weather on the summit.
- Walking for the day: 11km, 5h, ↑690m ↓986m
- Accommodation: Hotel&Spa Jawor or similar
Day 3: Zawoja to Kościelisko | 16km
After breakfast, transfer to Siwa Polana in Chochołowska Valley. Walk to Kościelisko through the famous and beautiful Chochołowska and Kościeliska Valleys in Tatra National Park. Overnight in Zakopane, a popular resort town in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains, known for its centuries-long history, distinctive folk art, ancient crafts and examples of highlander architecture.
- Walking for the day: 16km, 6-7h, ↑727m ↓710m
- Accommodation: Hotel Logos or similar
Day 4: Kościelisko to Zakopane | 13km
Morning transfer to Koscielisko. Today’s goal is to reach Zakopane through vallies and Sarnie Skałki (Deer’s rock) 1,377m. Enjoy the rugged, limestone and dolomite ridges, covered with dazzling evergreens, following the trail twisted through the dark shadows of the towering mountainsides, with views of the brightly-illuminated valleys. Stroll from the charming Strążyska Valley to the picturesque Siklawica waterfall, quite impressive in the spring when the snow melts. The total height of the waterfall is 23m. Follow the trail up to Sarnie Skałki, which is the best viewpoint for a Polish holy mountain Giewont, also called from its shape, a sleeping knight.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 5-6h, ↑654m ↓709m
- Accommodation: Hotel Logos or similar
Day 5: Valley of the Five Lakes | 25km
Walk to the Valley of the Five Lakes (Gąsienicowe Lakes Valley). You can easily see the first four lakes (Wielki, Mały, Przedni and Czarny) walking around the mountain hut. The last one, Zadni lake, requires a longer hike on the blue trail towards Świnica – one of the highest peaks in Poland, 2,300m. Enjoy the crystal clear lakes of different shapes and colours and take in the spectacular views.
- Walking for the day: 25km, 7-8h, ↑1548m ↓1549m
- Accommodation: Hotel Logos or similar
Day 6: Javorina to Ždiar | 18km
Today our driver will pick you up and take you across the border to Slovakia. You will start your hike in Javorina, a charming village in Poprad District in the Prešov Region. Walk to Ždiar, one of the oldest settlements in the Tatras. The culture of Goral people is evident everywhere from the gingerbread-style log buildings and the local embroidery to traditional meals, heavy with cheese.
- Walking for the day: 18km, 5-6h, ↑1,182m ↓1,290m
- Accommodation: Hotel Sova in Ždiar or similar
Day 7: Belianske Tatras / Kraków | 9km
Enjoy a short walk in the Belianske Tatras. Although most of the area is not accessible to protect the rare animals and plants, you can still stroll along Monkova Dolina. The main ridge of the mountain is made of limestone and dolomite and differs significantly from the High Tatras. The northern parts of the Belianske Tatras are home to the largest population of the Tatra chamois, and typical flower of the mountains is the beautiful edelweiss. Visit the Bachledka Treetop walk in the heart of majestic forests of the Pieniny National Park, a long and winding pathway at the top of the forest and don’t miss the view from the 32-metre high observation tower. Transfer to Kraków in the afternoon.
- Walking for the day: 9km, 3h, ↑377m ↓402m
- Accommodation: Hotel Kazimierz or similar
Day 8: Departure
Return home or extend your stay.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of mostly small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to natural adventures. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- 3*** Hotel Kazimierz (Kraków)
- 3*** Hotel&Spa Jawor (Zawoja)
- 3*** Hotel Logos(Zakopane)
- Guesthouse Penzión Ždiar (Ždiar)
*Hotels are subject to availability. In case a particular hotel is fully booked for your desired dates we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will give you the exact accommodation details upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included. Picnic lunches can be pre-ordered locally. Dinner is available either from the restaurant in the hotel or from several restaurants in towns and villages where the accommodation is located. Most restaurants offer local specialities as well as international cuisine. Try traditional spirits called Horec or Tatra Tea. These are the typical spirits for the High Tatras and are made of herbs. Be careful – they are quite strong.
Difficulty and terrain
Moderate level suitable for fit hikers. On some days it is possible to modify and shorten the itinerary for the less experienced walkers. The trails in the High Tatras are pretty rocky and the terrain can become slippery in rain and fog (read more about difficulty grades). We strongly advise you to follow only marked trails and never try to shorten the path through the unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
The tour is available from mid-June to the end of September. Self-guided holidays are flexible, with no fixed dates, and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The climate is mostly mountainous and alpine. Windy weather is typical, and during summer afternoon rainstorms are also common. The average temperatures vary from 14C in May to 20C in August. The highest precipitation occurs in June. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to Poland and Best time to go to Slovakia.
Getting there
Up-to-date FCO travel advice on Slovakia is available here and on Poland – here.
Click to view travel options and route planner
By plane
Recommended arrival and departure airport: Kraków (KRK).
By train or bus
- Kraków Airport is the largest regional airport in Poland. The airport is located 11km west of Kraków. The train is considered the best solution from the airport to Kraków’s city centre for its travel time and cost. The journey from Kraków airport to the city centre takes 20mins, and costs €4. Cost of taxi from/to airport to the city centre is approximately PLN100 (€22).
- If you are able to travel to Poland without flying, this holiday is reachable by rail with an international train station in Kraków. For more details, see Polregio, Intercit or use the Omio planner above.
- The journey from Katowice Airport to Kraków is approximately 2h by bus. For more information, visit Matuszek or use the Omio planner above. The airport offers many convenient low-cost flights from the UK (Liverpool, London – Stansted, London – Luton).
Included
Included
- Accommodation in en-suite rooms (as described in the itinerary) with breakfast included
- Transfer from Kraków to Krowiarki Pass on day two
- Transfer from Zawoja to Siwa Polana on day three
- Transfer from Koscielisko to Zakopane on day three
- Transfer from Zakopane to Koscielisko on day four
- Transfer from Zakopane to Javorina on day six
- Transfer from Belianske Tatras to Kraków on day seven
- Luggage transfers between the accommodations when changing hotels – one bag per person
- Detailed digital pre-departure holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions and road note; maps with daily routes and optional hikes marked
- 24/7 phone support by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and arrival airport transfer
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses
- Any items not specifically mentioned as included in the programme
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Guided tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine near Kraków with transport
- Guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum near Kraków with transport
- Extra nights in Kraków available upon request
