1.) ARRIVE IN PRAGUE
Arrive to Prague and transfer to your hotel in the centre of the city. According to your flight schedules you will have the rest of the day after arrival to explore Prague. Prague is the most exciting city in Central Europe with wonderful sightseeing, opera, restaurants and nightlife. It is definitely athe architectural gem in all Europe. Prague was built on medieval foundations and today is an amazing fusion of different architectural styles. The Castle is the most popular sight visited in Prague. It is the largest ancient castle in the world. |
2.) DAY IN PRAGUE
Today you will have a guided tour around Prague’s most attractive monuments and sights. The historical centre is where most of the beautiful architecture, museums, restaurants, tourist shopping and simply the "charm of Prague" can be found. Famous Wenceslas square and Charles University, Charles Bridge, which for over 400 years only connection between the Old Town and the Little Quarter, St Vitus Cathedral and of course 1100 years old Prague Castle. This afternoon you are free to explore more of a Prague yourself. It offers all sorts of sights as Jewish Quarter, number of churches, bustling street café scene, international community of artist, beautiful green parks and great shopping too, especially for crystal.
Tonight you will take an overnight sleepers train to town Poprad in High Tatras, Slovakia. |
3.) MOUNTAIN VILLAGE ZDIAR
After the 8 hours train journey you will wake under the Tatra Mountains in town of Poprad. A minibus with Slovakian mountain guide will meet you here and transfer you 40 km north to village Zdiar. Situated on the eastern edge of the High Tatras called Belianske Tatras, near the border with Poland, Zdiar was originally established in the 16th century as a farming settlement. It is a typical Goral – Highlanders community, a living museum of folk architecture. Its beauty is enhanced by its position amid a lovely natural setting between the cliffs of the mountains covered by thick woods. Today the village is a popular base for both winter and summer mountains activities and is developing a range of facilities for tourists. Family style guesthouses and pensions are offering real inviting atmosphere. After checking in to your rooms and energizing breakfast you will set of for a fist walk into the High Tatras to the “Chalet by the Green Tarn”. 15 min transfer will take us to the start of the walk. The chalet is situated in the magnificent setting of the valley of the Green Tarn (dolina Zeleného plesa). It lies 1551 metres above sea level, in the very heart of the High Tatra Mountains. Access to it through the Biela voda valley is not difficult. After about 2 -3 hours walk you can relax and enjoy the beauty of nature with a refreshing drink served in a Chalet. The beautiful landscape around the chalet is enhanced by the picturesque Zelene pleso tarn. |
4.) DAY IN POLAND, KASPROW PEAK, THERMAL POOL, ZAKOPANE
Today we will drive for 45 minutes to nearby polish town Zakopane. It is also called the capital of the Tatras. Zakopane, Poland's premier mountain resort, is one of the country's most popular holiday destinations, both in the winter for skiing, and in the summer for hiking and camping. First you will take a memorable cable car ride to Mt. Kasprowy Wierch (1987 metres). Kasprowy Wierch has been one of the most famous peaks of the Tatra Mountains since the cable car railway was built in 1936. Nowadays, thanks to it, Kasprowy Wierch ranks first as the most frequently visited mountain summit in Poland. The peak is situated in the middle of the range of the Tatra Mountains, thus, making it possible to enjoy a magnificent panorama of the Tatras. The views are breathtaking not only while standing on top of Kasprowy Wierch, but while ascending the peak. It takes about 2 hours to ascend on feet to valley bellow and will explore centre of Zakopane with its pretty wooden highlander’s architecture. Later this afternoon you’ll take a 15 km transfer to nearby village Bukowina Tatrzanska to newly built thermal resort. TERMA Bukowina Tatrzanska is a haven of fun and relaxation. From the minute you step inside the contemporary, beautifully designed buildings, you'll enjoy high standards of service and excellent leisure facilities. |
5.) TRADITIONAL RAFITN ON DUNAJEC RIVER, CYCLING
Leaving Zdiar you drive north for about 1 hour to the banks of the river Dunajec in Pieniny National Park. Flowing from Slovakia into Poland Dunajec carries the water from the peaks north to the Baltic Sea. For 20 km of its length Dunajec forms the natural border with Poland. There is only one walking bridge connecting two countries over the river. You will board a traditional wooden raft and travel down the river on your 11 km journey through beautiful limestone canyon of Pieniny national park. After about 2 hours trip there is time to take lunch before collecting bikes for the ride along the river Dunajec. Later this afternoon on the way back to Zdiar you will stop for a picnic with Slovakian family in a typical highlander’s village Osturna. While tasting homemade cakes and perhaps a glass of traditional blueberry liqueur you will learn about the Slovakian way of life. Far from the tourist main attractions, this is a great way to get a genuine insight into local culture and customs. |
6.) SPISSKY HRAD CASTLE, DOBSINSKA ICE CAVE
In the horizon of Spisske Podhradie town towers the Spis Castle. You’ll travel for over an hour to reach the castle. As a National Cultural Monument, Spis Castle with its large area, and partially in ruins, is one of the largest castle compounds in Central Europe. It is registered in the List of Monuments by UNESCO. Construction of this medieval castle on a travertine hill dates back to the beginning of the 12th century. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of a hill fort on this site dating back over 40,000 years. During the 13th and 14th centuries the castle was home to a cussession of noble royal families and was the scene of regular attacks and battles involving Tartar armies. After the castle you’ll stop for lunch at a traditional Slovakian restaurant. You might like to try some of specialties as Bryndzove halusky – potato gnocchi served with soft sheep’s cheese and sprinkled with bacon. Driving south for 40 minutes you will enter Slovak Paradise national Park. Dobsinska ladova cave, one of the largest ice caves in Europe. Thanks to its significance and unique ornamentation, it was included into the List of the Cultural and Natural Heritage of UNESCO. It originated some time at the end of the Tertiary Age. The cave is also the lowest situated one in the world in terms of sea level altitude, which enhances its originality. Ice survives in the cave thanks to the form of the cave, which is similar to a sack. As the cave is situated lower than its entrance, the cold air maintains in its bottom and its temperature never increases above zero. Following cave tour you’ll board the minibus and make the hour-long drive back to Zdiar. |
7,8.) HIGH TATRA TREK
You’ll begin your overnight trek into the heart of the mountains from Strbske Pleso settlement. It is the largest and the highest situated settlement in High Tatras at altitude of 1346m. From Zdiar you’ll drive southwest along the lower slopes of the mountains for about 45 minutes to Strbske Pleso. From here it is a two hours walk north toward the mountains to reach the lake of Popradske Pleso. The Mountain Hotel Popradske pleso in altitude of 1494 m, your overnight accommodation is just by the lake surrounded by mountains from each side. Originally built in the 19th century these chalets were built over Tatras for the pioneering climbers and mountaineers. Today they are used as accommodation and refreshment sources for hikers. You will continue your today’s walk to Velke Hincovo Lake, the largest in Slovakian Tatras. It is further two hours of walking and around 450m of ascent to reach the lake. The highest Tatra peak Gerlach (2655m) lies to the east and ahead of you to the north, Rysy (2499m) which straddles the border with Poland.
Next morning you will visit “Symbolic Cemetery”. The place where the memory of the victims of the High Tatras can be honoured, places under the western wall of the Ostrva peak. It consists of a small chapel with a shingle roof, carved wooden crosses and numerous commemorative boards. Youll finish the Tatra Trek by visiting waterfall Skok, translated as jump. The total height of this cascading waterfall is 25 m. Return back to Zdiar by your minibus in late afternoon. |
9.) FREE DAY
Your last day in Slovakia is free for you to choose from many activities on offer in Zdiar and Tatra region. You might just like to relax or head back to the mountains on foot for another trek, perhaps hire a bike and explore more of countryside from the bike seat or you can also ride a horse. Pribilina Open Air Museum where the local life is celebrated and preserved in wooden village is on offer as well. Your guide will be on hand to plan your free day and make the best of it. Tonight you’ll drive down to Poprad to catch an overnight sleeper train back to Prague. |
10.) DEPARTURE
Your tour ends. |