Trek the Polish Tatra Mountains

Distance: 6 miles (10km)

Ascent: 1 350 feet (400m)

In summary: A short bus ride takes us to Toporowa Cyrhla where we’ll set off on our walk through the village and forest towards a mountain clearing. We’ll summit Wielki Kopieniec (1,328 m) and be rewarded with views towards the Polish Tatra Mountains. We’ll descend for lunch at Olczyska, then climb to Nosalowa Pass and descend again to Kuźnice. Finally, we’ll walk back to the hotel alongside the Bystra River.

Highlight: The views from Wielki Kopieniec. 

Distance: 9.5 miles (15km)

Ascent: 2 300 feet (700m)

In Summary: From Kuźnice we’ll set off into Tatra National Park. Ascending the Boczań ridge up to the wide pass at Między Kopami, we’ll enjoy far-reaching views down towards town. We’ll visit the hut at Murowaniec for refreshments before striding out to take in Czarny Staw Gąsienicowy (the Black Lake) - the perfect spot for lunch. We’ll then retrace our steps into Jaworzynka Valley and back to Kuźnice.

Highlight: The beautiful Black Lake.

Distance: 7 miles (11.5km)

Ascent: 1 350 feet (460m)

In summary: This walk starts at Kiry, a park entrance to the west of Zakopane in Kościelisko village.  The walk takes in two valleys – Kościeliska ans Mała Łąka – crossing a low pass (Przysłop Miętusi) with attractive mountain pasture in between.  We walk back to the hotel along the track called Droga pod Reglami, on the edge of the Tatra National Park with views towards the town.

Highlight: Enjoy stunning mountain scenery.

Distance: 9 miles (15km)

Ascent: 3 120 feet (950m)

In summary: An early start allows us to reach this popular summit before the crowds. The walk makes a sustained ascent via the Kondratowej hut, with some scrambling just beneath the summit with its large steel cross. There is some further scrambling on the long descent as we return to the hotel via the national park boundary path.

Highlight: The final scramble to the summit using fixed chains - exciting but achievable! 

Distance: 6 miles (9.5km)

Ascent: 1 500 feet (450m)

In summary: Once we’ve returned to Kuźnice by cable car, we’ll continue on a cobbled track to the Kalatówki mountain hotel for lunch. We’ll return on a smaller path through the forest, winding our way over a low ridge before descending through picture-perfect Białego Valley (or White Creek Valley) back to the hotel.

Highlight: The beautiful White Creek Valley

Distance: 9 miles (14.5km)

Ascent: 1 700 feet (530m)

In summary: Once we’ve gone up Kasprowy Wierch by cable car we’ll turn west along the undulating ridge to reach Kopa Kondracka (2,500m). Our route then reverses to the col and descends to the Kondratowa refuge for refreshments and back to Kuźnice.

Highlight: Walking the undulating ridge to Kopa Kondracka.

Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)

Ascent: 660 feet (220m)

In summary: After a bus ride to Wierch Poroniec, we’ll enjoy a gentle walk through the woods to Rusinowa Polana, a clearing dotted with shepherds’ huts and flocks of sheep. It’s also bestowed with great views over the High Tatras. We’ll visit a chapel in the Valley of Golden Creek and the Mickiewicz waterfalls, named after the great Polish romantic poet.

Highlight: The beautiful Mickiewicz waterfalls.

Distance: 11.5 miles (18km)

Ascent: 2 200 feet (670m)

In summary: A bus will take us to Palenica Białczańska before we make our way to the Mickiewicz waterfalls. Up in Roztoka Valley, we’ll be able to admire the Siklawa waterfall, the biggest in the Tatras. Then, we’ll head along Siklawa up to the Valley of Five Polish Lakes and visit the highest refuge in the Polish Tatras at 1,670 m for lunch. We’ll return to the bottom of Roztoka valley via an alternative trail.

Highlight: Soaking up the atmosphere of the mountains while relaxing at the refuge.

Distance: 7.5 miles (12km)

Ascent: 1 350 feet (400m)

In summary: A bus will take us to the Strbske Pleso ski resort where we’ll walk around the lake before climbing towards the higher lake, Popradske Pleso via a balcony path with fine views. Here we’ll have lunch at a hut then walk around the lake and return to the bus via a different path.

Highlight: The mountains reflecting in the lake at Strbske Pleso.

Distance: 12.5 miles (20km)

Ascent: 3 200 feet (980m)

In summary: Enjoy a long but beautiful walk in Slovakia. Once we’ve travelled by bus to Tatranska Kotlina we’ll walk up the Valley of Seven Springs, visiting the Chata Plesnivec hut on the way. Climbing further up, we’ll reach the Valley of White Lakes where we’ll stop for lunch and then keep ascending to a high pass (Kopske Sedlo) and descend down along Zadne Med’odoly valley to Javorina – the last Slovakian village before Polish border.

Highlight: The sense of achievement from reaching Kopske Sedlo.