Hiking tour to the most highest and beautiful mountains of Slovakia and central Europe.The High Tatras ridge has been great hiking paradise for visitors locals for long period. Recently more and more visitors come there and discover beauties of mountains and traditional folk culture of Slovaks. The area is not too large but offers great variety of attraction. The impressive peaks hail visitors from far away, surrounding picturesque scenes of mountain lakes, waterfalls and rare Alpine flora and fauna are unforgettable experiences.

general information

Walking
In the Tatra National Park (TANAP) , walkers must keep to the marked footpaths, which helps to prevent erosion and to preserve the environment for a wide range of native animals and plants. Paths are generally of a high standard with chains fitted in places. In the Mala Fatra we walk up narrow canyons where occasionally there are metal walkways, ladders and chains.

Transport
We fly direct to Vienna and then take private coach to Mala Fatra in Slovakia. At the end of the holiday we return the same way or continue to Prague, Cracow. We will have our own private bus to take us between hotels.
We may use the Tatran Electric train linking the three High Tatras resorts, funicular railway, and chairlifts.

Timing
The best period of year for this tour is from June to the end of September, when weather is very pleasant and raining is not common.

Walks
Daily walks varied from 4 - 7(8) hours with more options every day. Every day you will carry just a daysack. Guides will prepare picnics for most of days. Sometimes we can have lunch in mountain huts.


ITINERARY
DAY 1 Transfer to Mala Fatra in Slovakia by coach. Rest of day free or short walk. Mala Fatra is small national park famous for unusual Alpine flora, Orchids, birds including Wallcrepers, Eagles, and also home of European Brown Bear. This is limestone area. One of few areas in Slovakia where local people live traditional way of life .
Accommodation: 3star hotel in village Terchova.


DAY 2 A longer day to climb the highest peak of the area - Velky Krivan (1709m), reaching the summit along a fine rising ridge. A good day for plants too and perhaps a sighting of the local eagles. From the summit we descend to Snilovske saddle and down to Stefanova. (6 -7hours) .
Shorter option for those who will use chair lift to the ridge.
Accommodation: mountain hotel village Terchova.

DAY 3 We move today to the High Tatras ( 150km) possibly stop and visit the village of VLKOLINEC (complex of 40 wooden houses where people still live and which is signed in UNESCO heritage list ) and the medieval town of Levoca, one of the best preserved in Slovakia. Before we will finish in our hotel in the centre of the High Tatras we will also stop in a museum of the High Tatras in Tatranska Lomnica.
Accommodation in mountain hotel in small spa town in centre of the High Tatras .

DAY 4 Transfer by private car (30 minutes) to Popradske Pleso . We follow a popular route to the summit of Rysy (2499m) one of the jewels of the Tatra and the highest peak in Poland. Its rocky summit gives spectacular views across the nearby peaks and ridges. The ascent takes around 4 hours and the return 3 hours. Popular story said that this summit was climbed by communist leader V.I. Lenin in 1912 and his foot-steps are still marked there! In the end of day we will by transferred by private car back to our hotel.
Accommodation: as previous day
Walking profile: 1350 m.a.s.l-2km-1494-1km-1600-1km-1919-1,5km-2291-o,5km-2337-0,5km-2499 and back

DAY 5 We take the funicular from Stary Smokovec to Hrebienok and walk up the Mala Studena valley to Teryho chalet, the oldest in the High Tatras dating from the end of the last century. From here we reach the Priecne saddle (2352m), a fairly tough climb with a section of scrambling. Descending, we follow an undulating path past some small lakes to Zbojnicka chalet before an easy descent down the valley ( 7 - 8 hours). Way down going through Velka Studena Dolina valley. We use funicular again on our way down.
Accommodation: as previous day
Walking profile: 1200 m.a.s.l-1,5km-1400-2,5km-20131-1km-2352-2km-1650-5km-1200
Shorter and easier option: after reach Teryho hut walk back the same way. Mala Studena dolina valley is one of the most scenic in the High Tatras.

DAY 6 DAY OFF OR RELAXING DAY
Special trip to Pieniny national park(Slovak smallest national park) on Polish-Slovak border - 60km from Tatras. Easy walk along border of the river Dunajec or traditional log rafting. Picnic with local folk music group can be arranged on request. Raft trips on the river Dunajec are quite popular there. Cerveny Klaster is the fourteenth-century former Cartusian monastry which was converted into a museum. On return journey we can stop in another medieval town - KEZMAROK.
Accommodation: as previous day