WHAT´S INCLUDED?
Activities & Your Local Guide
Five thoughtfully paced mountain hikes led by an experienced English-speaking local guide.
Accommodation
Six nights in one comfortable 4-star mountain hotel in Starý Smokovec.
Meals
Six breakfasts and four dinners.
Transfers
All in-trip transport required for the planned hiking programme.
Group Size
Typically 6–8 guests , allowing for a more personal experience and a natural pace on the trail.
THE JOURNEY
Walk through five distinct corners of the Tatras, from forested valleys and mountain lakes to high granite basins.
Your local guide leads a carefully paced week of genuine mountain hiking without technical climbing, with traditional huts and the quieter limestone landscapes of the Belianske Tatras.
Each evening, return to the same comfortable hotel in Starý Smokovec, with no repacking and time to recover well.
Transport Arrival independently · private airport/rail transfer available on request
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec (or similar) · Twin/double room
Meals Dinner
Arrive in Starý Smokovec and settle into your base for the next six nights. There is no scheduled programme today, giving you time to unpack, rest after your journey and enjoy dinner at the hotel. Your guide will meet the group the following morning for a short introduction to the week, including the planned hiking programme, current mountain conditions and any final preparations before the first walk.
Hiking 4 hrs · 10–11 km · 500 m up · 700 m down
Transport 30 min · Hrebienok access from Starý Smokovec · return from Tatranská Polianka by included local transport
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · Twin/double room
Meals Breakfast · Dinner
Begin above Starý Smokovec and follow a mountain trail into Velická Valley beneath the slopes of Gerlach. Velické Pleso Mountain Lake and Sliezsky dom bring the first strong high-mountain setting of the week. Descend to Tatranská Polianka and return to the hotel by local transport.
Hiking 5½–6 hrs · 16–17 km · 700 m up · 700 m down
Transport 30 min · Included transfer to the eastern trailhead and return from Tatranské Matliare
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · Twin/double room
Meals Breakfast
Walk through the long Kežmarská Biela voda valley as forest gives way to increasingly rocky mountain scenery. Zelené Pleso Mountain Lake sits beneath steep eastern walls, with a traditional mountain hut where there is time to stop for lunch at your own expense. Continue down towards Tatranské Matliare before returning to Starý Smokovec.
Hiking 4 hrs · 11.4 km · 270 m up · 380 m down
Transport 1 hr 30 min · Local train to Štrbské Pleso and return from Popradské Pleso
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · Twin/double room
Meals Breakfast · Dinner
Begin the day beside Štrbské Pleso, framed by the western High Tatras, with time to enjoy the lakeside setting before taking to the trail. Follow a well-marked mountain path through forest and open sections to Popradské Pleso Mountain Lake, where you can pause by the water for lunch at your own expense. Afterwards, visit the Symbolic Cemetery, a memorial to those who lost their lives in the mountains, before descending to the mountain railway for the return to Starý Smokovec.
Hiking 4 hrs · 10–11 km · 560 m up · 720 m down
Transport 30 min · Included transfer to Kežmarské Žľaby and return from Tatranská Kotlina
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · Twin/double room
Meals Breakfast
Walk through the quieter limestone landscape of the Belianske Tatras, following forest paths and the Valley of Seven Springs to Plesnivec Mountain Hut. Pause for lunch at your own expense before descending towards Tatranská Kotlina. The later afternoon is free for an easy finish before returning to Starý Smokovec.
Hiking 4½–5 hrs · 11.4 km · 730 m up · 730 m down
Transport 10 min · Hrebienok access from Starý Smokovec · return to the same base after the hike
Stay 4-star Grandhotel Starý Smokovec · Twin/double room
Meals Breakfast · Dinner
Follow a steady ascent through Malá Studená Valley as forest and waterfalls give way to a high granite basin. Téryho Mountain Hut sits at 2,015 metres among mountain tarns and steep summits, giving the week a fitting final mountain objective. Return to Starý Smokovec for time to recover before a farewell dinner together.
Transport Onward travel independently · private transfer available on request
Meals Breakfast
Enjoy a final breakfast in Starý Smokovec before checking out of the hotel. The guided journey ends after breakfast, leaving the rest of the day free for onward travel. Continue independently or ask Slovakia Explorer to arrange a private transfer to your next destination.
Scheduled departures are listed below. If these dates do not suit you, ask us about a private departure on alternative dates, subject to availability.
Available
to Saturday 12th June 2027
Available
to Saturday 10th July 2027
Available
to Saturday 7th August 2027
Available
to Saturday 11th September 2027
Available
to Saturday 16th October 2027
Available
to Saturday 10th June 2028
Available
to Saturday 8th July 2028
Available
to Saturday 12th August 2028
Available
to Saturday 16th September 2028
Available
to Saturday 7th October 2028
Start: Starý Smokovec, High Tatras
End: Starý Smokovec, High Tatras
Your journey starts in Starý Smokovec in the High Tatras.
Recommended — Kraków Airport (KRK)
Kraków is a practical international gateway for travellers arriving from the UK and further afield. The drive to Starý Smokovec is usually around 2–2.5 hours, depending on traffic.
Other Options
Košice Airport (KSC)
A useful regional alternative with connections through major European hubs. Starý Smokovec is around 1.5 hours away by road.
Poprad-Tatry Airport (TAT)
The closest airport to the mountains, around 15 minutes from Starý Smokovec by road. Flight schedules are more limited and may be seasonal, but it is an excellent option when a suitable connection is available.
Arriving by Train — Poprad-Tatry
Poprad-Tatry is the main rail gateway to the High Tatras, with connections from Bratislava and Košice and useful international options via neighbouring Central European cities. From Poprad, the Tatra Electric Railway continues directly into Starý Smokovec.
Transfers
Prefer us to take care of your arrival?
We can arrange a private transfer from your chosen airport, railway station or previous hotel directly to Starý Smokovec. Transfer options and pricing are provided when you book.
Included
Activities & Experiences
Guiding & Support
Accommodation
Meals
Transfers
Not Included
We handpick places to stay for their character, comfort and sense of place – from welcoming family-run hotels to mountain lodges and small boutique stays.
Grandhotel Starý Smokovec
Starý Smokovec · 4-star hotel · 6 nights
Standing in the heart of Starý Smokovec, this historic Tatra hotel gives the journey a comfortable base close to the mountain railway and Hrebienok. After a day on the trails, settle back into the hotel, make use of the wellness facilities and enjoy an evening without packing for another move.
Highlights
Vegetarian and gluten-free options can be arranged with advance notice. Please let us know about any dietary requirements when you book. Mountain hut menus can be more limited, so some flexibility may be needed.
Private Arrival/Departure Transfer
Private transfers from selected airports, railway stations or hotels can be arranged on request; pricing is confirmed before booking.
Single Room Supplement
A single room can be requested for an additional charge, subject to availability; ask when booking.
The High Tatras are genuine mountain terrain, and weather can change quickly even in summer. You do not need technical mountaineering equipment for the planned itinerary, but good hiking footwear and appropriate mountain clothing are essential.
What We Provide
What You’ll Need to Bring
Petr Ivánek
Founder of Slovakia Explorer
Petr designs Slovakia Explorer journeys together with local guides and trusted partners who know these places first-hand. He brings together the routes, stays, local experiences and practical details that shape this journey, with a focus on travelling well rather than simply seeing more.
Based in Slovakia · Exploring Central Europe for over two decades
Regions: Slovakia · Czechia · Poland · Austria · Hungary
Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.
To download trip notes, please submit your email address down below.
You should be comfortable walking for around 4–6 hours on mountain terrain, including sustained climbs and descents. Regular walking or hiking fitness is more important than speed, and the guided pace is steady rather than competitive.
No technical mountain experience is required. You should, however, be comfortable walking on rocky, uneven trails and spending several hours on your feet in mountain terrain.
The planned itinerary does not include technical climbing, scrambling or mandatory chain-assisted sections. The walking is genuine mountain hiking, but the routes are chosen to avoid the more technical character found on some High Tatras trails.
Expect marked mountain paths with rocks, roots, stone steps and uneven surfaces. Some sections involve sustained uphill walking or longer descents, and trails can become wet or slippery after rain.
Sturdy hiking boots or hiking shoes with good grip are essential. Lightweight trainers or everyday walking shoes are not suitable for the rocky and sometimes wet mountain terrain.
They are not compulsory, but we strongly recommend them. They can make longer descents more comfortable and reduce strain on the knees, particularly later in the week.
Mountain weather can change quickly in the Tatras. Your guide may change the route, shorten a hike or alter the order of the hiking days when conditions make this the safer or more enjoyable option.
You can choose to sit out a hiking day and enjoy time independently in Starý Smokovec. Please let your guide know in advance so the day’s arrangements are clear.
You only carry a daypack with what you need for the day, such as water, waterproofs, an extra layer and personal items. There is no need to carry overnight luggage on the trails.
Exact timings depend on the route, weather and conditions. Your guide will confirm the following day’s plan locally, allowing the group to start at a sensible time for the mountains without turning the week into a rigid schedule.
The planned itinerary avoids technical climbing and mandatory chain-assisted sections, but these are still mountain trails and some places can feel open or elevated. If you are particularly uncomfortable with heights or uneven mountain terrain, tell us before booking and we can advise you honestly.
Yes. The published itinerary shows the intended programme, but your guide may adjust the route or sequence of days because of weather, trail conditions or the needs of the group. The aim is to preserve the quality of the mountain experience while making sensible decisions locally.
Global standards. Local roots.
Our approach has been shaped by years of working with some of the world’s most respected adventure travel companies. That experience informs how we think about safety, pacing and care. But Slovakia is our home. You’ll feel it in the places we choose, the people you meet and the small decisions along the way.
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