High Tatras Hut-To-Hut Trek in Comfort

The Tatra Mountains are an extremely popular place for trekking, and it’s not hard to see why. Covering 785 sq km (300 sq miles), they form the natural border between Slovakia and Poland and are the highest mountains in the Carpathian range.

The landscape, three-quarters of which is in Slovakia, is crammed with rocky peaks, deep glacial valleys, mountain lakes, waterfalls, pine forests and crystal-clear streams. This also makes it a haven for flower-filled meadows and wildlife such as Tatra chamois, brown bears, lynx, wolves, marmots, deer and many bird species. Protected by UNESCO, the mountains are formed of three parts: the High Tatras, the Belianske Tatras and the Western Tatras. On this trip, you’ll get to step foot into the first two, and have far-reaching views of the third.

Accommodation: Pension Jesensky (or similar)

After breakfast, you transfer by public bus to Tatranska Kotlina, the official start of today’s route across the Valley of the Seven Springs. This easternmost valley on the southern side of the Tatras is considered the gateway to the Belianske Tatras.

Your route begins in dense forest near to the famous Belianska Cave. The cave is 3,829m long and is a theatre of fascinating rock formations, chambers, halls and waterfalls. You may be able to visit today, or later on in your trip, if you wish. Continuing to Plesnivec Hut, you can take a rest, re-fuel and enjoy the forested surrounds, before arriving at Zelene Pleso, a glacial lake overlooking the majestic peaks of the Belianske Tatras.

Mountain huts are a great way to experience the majesty, solitude and might of the mountains. The huts are located in the middle of nowhere so you can soak up the views from dusk to dawn. They are also steeped in history and tradition, and usually have a story to tell. Locally-run, you’ll be assured of a warm and hospitable stay.

Tonight’s hut dates back to 1876. A traditional wooden cottage, it’s wedged right next to a crystal-clear glacial lake and nestled in the shadow of 2,500m peaks. You’ll be accommodated in multi-share rooms with bathrooms on each floor. There is a small restaurant and bar.

Walking: 5,5 hrs, 12km/7,5mi, 1019m up, 239m down.

Accommodation: Zelene Pleso Hut
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner.

Leaving the beautiful hut of Zelene Pleso behind, it’s time for a summit challenge. Following the famous Tatranska Magistrala path, you head to Velka Svistovka peak (2,037m).

The first part of the climb is on an easy, stony trail, past streams and waterfalls. As you head higher, the route turns rocky and you’ll need to clamber over boulders and along little ridges. The more difficult sections are secured by chains. The route evens out as you get near to the top, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the Belianske and High Tatras with Zelene Pleso Lake (your starting point) below you.

The area around Velka Svistovka is also well-known for its high concentration of the Tatra chamois. Continue to Skalnate Pleso Mountain Lake (1,751m), home to an observatory and weather station. There may be time to look around it, before the gentle descent down to Zamkovskeho Chata Hut at the bottom of the Studena Dolina (Cold) Valley.

Zamkovskeho Chata Hut is located in the shadow of Lomnicky Peak, which, at 2,634m, is the second highest mountain in Slovakia. The hut was built in 1943 to house partisans and their families. It provides basic and clean multi-share accommodation and has a restaurant.

Walking: 4,5 hrs, 8,5km/5,3mi, 585m up, 665m down.

Accommodation: Zamkovskeho Chata Hut
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Your first stop is Studeny Potok (Cold Stream) Waterfall. They are among the High Tatras’ top ten attractions because the cascading waters are beautiful as they tumble down the mountain into crystal-clear pools below. As this trip is self-guided, you can stay at the waterfalls for as long as you wish, maybe dabbling your feet into the refreshing water!

You continue to Rainerova Chata, the oldest hut in the Tatras. Built-in 1863, it’s a traditional stone hut serving drinks and snacks. Then continue to Sliezsky Dom, the highest hotel in Slovakia and your home for the night; beautifully located in the foothills of the Gerlachovsky Peak, the highest summit in Slovakia, near the Velicky Waterfall, which is home to Tatra marmots, an endemic subspecies of the alpine marmot. They’re often spotted playing on the rocks by the falls.

Walking: 5 hrs, 10km/6,2mi, 529m up, 344m down.

Accommodation: Mountain hotel Sliezsky Dom
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch

This hiking tour from Sliezsky Dom to Popradske Pleso Hut is an unforgettable adventure through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the Tatras. Along the way, we'll experience the stunning beauty of glacial lakes, soaring peaks, and rugged mountain passes.

As we continue along the trail, we'll soon arrive at Batizovske Pleso, a crystal-clear mountain lake nestled in a stunning cirque beneath the towering Batizovsky peak. This idyllic spot is the perfect place to rest and enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

Our next destination is Sedlo pod Ostrvou, a high mountain pass that offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Tatras. As we climb up the rocky path towards the pass, we'll pass by towering cliffs and rocky outcrops, with awe-inspiring views around every turn.

Finally, we'll reach Popradske Pleso Hut, our ultimate destination for the day. This cosy mountain lodge is situated on the shore of the tranquil Popradske Pleso Lake, surrounded by the stunning peaks of the Tatras. Here, we can rest and refuel with a hearty meal and a warm drink before continuing our journey deeper into the mountains.

Walking: 5,5hrs10km/6,2mi, 475m up, 623m down.

Accommodation: Popradske Pleso mountain hotel
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch

Today, you’ll attempt to summit Poland’s highest mountain, Rysy (2,053m). It’s a popular route because it’s perfectly achievable without any technical expertise and has beautiful views into Slovakia and Poland from the top – the mountain forms the natural border between the two countries.

Starting out from Popradske Pleso, you follow easier trails next to forested hills and lakes, before heading up onto more difficult terrain with boulders to negotiate. As you get higher, the route turns into a very steep climb with numerous sections secured by chains.

You’ll head to the highest of the three summits, the middle summit, which is renowned for offering one of the widest panoramas in the Tatras. If the weather’s kind, you’ll be able to see the highest peak in Slovakia, Gerlachovský Štít (1,654m), the Western Tatras and, on the Polish side, the biggest glacial lake in the range, Morske Oko (Sea Eye).

You’ll return to your mountain hotel via the same route.

Walking: 8hrs, 11,5km/7mi, 1031m up, 1031m down.

Accommodation: Popradske Pleso mountain hotel
Meals: breakfast, packed lunch

From Popradske Pleso, follow an easy route to Strbske Pleso (1,347m), the highest village in the Tatras with a glacial lake that’s surrounded by forested hills and tall peaks. The village is one of the most popular destinations in Slovakia as it provides many kilometres of hiking routes and the chance to admire the lake itself.

The rest of the day is free for you to explore the village. You could enjoy coffee and cake at one of the traditional restaurants.

In the early evening, take the mountain tram back to Tatranska Lomnica (your starting hotel) to check-in for the last night in the Tatras.

Walking: 2hrs, 5km/3,1mi, 93m up, 248m down.

Accommodation: Penzion Jesensky (or similar)
Meals: breakfast

It's time to say goodbye. Whether you're leaving right after breakfast or later, we'd love to help you with your airport transfer or any other travel needs. Let us know how we can assist when you book, and we'll take care of the rest. Thanks for staying with us, and we hope to see you again soon!

Meals: breakfast

Included

• Seven nights’ accommodation – hotels and mountain huts.
• Seven breakfasts, four packed lunches and two dinners.
• Maps and detailed route descriptions.
• Tour guide (only for guided groups)
• 24/7 local support

Not Included

• Flights
• Arrival and departure airport transfer
• Local bus on day 2, local tram on day 6 (allow 5 EUR)
• Travel insurance

What is the food like?

Food on the tour includes a mix of buffet and continental breakfasts, four packed lunches and two dinners.

Packed lunches typically include a sandwich or baguette, a piece of fruit, and a biscuit.

We have included dinners in mountain huts Zelene Pleso and Zamkovskeho. On the remaining days, dinners are available for an additional cost at your mountain hotels.

We can accommodate various dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten-free diets.

We encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle, as water is drinkable from the tap, and we aim to avoid single-use plastic bottles.

What is the accommodation like?

Penzion Jesensky

For the first and last night, you will be staying in Pension Jesensky, a mid-class, family-run hotel in a quiet area of Tatranska Lomnica, within walking distance of restaurants. The hotel offers ensuite facilities and free WiFi.

Zelene Pleso Hut

Zelene Pleso hut is a basic but clean mountain hut, offering rooms of various sizes for two up to eight people.

Zamkovskeho Chata Hut

Zamkovskeho Chata hut is a cosy and refurbished hut with a unique atmosphere. The hut provides comfortable rooms and a restaurant serving delicious local food.

Mountain Hotel Sliezsky Dom

At 1,670 metres above sea level, Sliezsky Dom**** is the highest-altitude mountain hotel in Slovakia, offering its guests the full range of services. It is located directly under Gerlach, the highest mountain summit in Slovakia. The Sliezsky dom mountain Hotel has a unique location and offers a full range of services to satisfy even the most demanding clientele.

Mountain Hotel Popradske Pleso

The Mountain Hotel Popradske Pleso is situated in the picturesque surroundings of the Mengusovská Valley on the banks of Popradske pleso at an altitude of 1,494 m. In addition to accommodation with ensuite facilities, there is a restaurant, a Slovak room, and a Finnish sauna.

* We will confirm the list of hotels and mountain huts when booking.

To enhance flexibility our holidays do not include flights. This gives you the freedom to choose a local airport that works for you and shop for the best deal.

We have compiled a list of airports with their distances and transportation options to the starting hotel in Kosice, for your convenience. Please see below for details:

• Poprad: 12 km (taxi): from 6 EUR per person
• Kosice: 110 km (taxi + train): from 15 EUR per person
• Krakow: 150 km (taxi): from 50 EUR per person
• Bratislava: 345 km (taxi + train) from 30 EUR per person

*Please note that the exact price for your transfer will be confirmed at the time of booking. The cost will depend on the size of your group.

Single room supplement: 40 EUR

We recommend you pack as light as possible. Below you will find a recommended packing list. There is no specialist walking or climbing equipment, such as harnesses etc., needed for this trip.

What you decide to do about luggage transfers (see below) will dictate the size of backpack/s you take for the trip and each day’s trekking. What you will need is a secure bag to leave at the starting hotel. If you’re in any doubt about what to pack, or the size of bag to take, please don’t hesitate to get in-touch with us and our specialist walking team will be happy to advise.

• Walking boots
• Trainers
• Shorts and t-shirts
• Walking trousers and tops
• Fleece or warm jumper
• Waterproofs
• Water bottle
• Small first-aid kit
• Sun cream, sunglasses and sunhat

This tour is typically designed for groups of 1 to 8 people, although larger groups are also welcome.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions at all. Our knowledgeable and helpful team is here to help, and we look forward to welcoming you to our spectacular country soon!