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Route Rating Level 2 to Level 4

PDF iconDetailed Itinerary

RESERVE THIS TRIP!

Premiere Inns
  • From $4,398
    To $4,498 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$960 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 2 lunches, 1 dinner.

Cancellation Policy

View cancellation policy

Meet / Depart

Budapest, Hungary/Kraków, Poland

Special Interest

Culture & History, Fine Wine & Cuisine, Geological Wonders, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Romance &/or Honeymoon

Recommended Reads

Essential trip reading

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or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
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Berkeley, CA 94710

Business Hours:
7 days a week
from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Time

Or contact your travel agent

Hungary Walking Vacations

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking

An Eastern European Odyssey

This one-of-a-kind journey provides an opportunity to experience the re-emergence of Eastern Europe. From Budapest, travel to Hungary’s idyllic wine-growing area, Tokaj. Walk from private vineyards to medieval towns before shuttling into Slovakia’s famed Spis region. Hike through the hills to Slovakia’s largest castle, then venture into the High Tatras, the loftiest range of the Carpathians. Here gondolas whisk us to grand heights for hikes past 9,000-foot granite peaks, emerald mountain lakes and alpine flora. As a final flourish, visit Kraków, a city buzzing with history and architectural wonders.

View other trips in Europe At Large

Days 1-2 tarcal

Meet in Budapest Shuttle to the Tokaj region, a World Heritage site famed for its dessert wine, Tokaji Aszú Stride along vineyard paths before hiking to a hilltop church Descend to the village of Tokaj for a wine tasting in an ancient cellar.

Day 3 tatranska lomnica

Journey into Slovakia to the village of Spisska Hrhov Walk to Spis Castle, a World Heritage site crowning a bluff above a windswept plain Soak up magnificent views of the High Tatras peaks in the mountain town of Tatranská Lomnica.

Day 4 javorina

A gondola carries us into an alpine landscape of granite spires and glacial lakes Embark on a challenging hike that ascends 1,200 feet over the High Tatras, showcasing jaw-dropping views.

Days 5-6 zakopane

On a hike to the alpine lake of Morskie Oko, pass through stands of spruce, dwarf pine and mountain ash, keeping your eyes peeled for martens, boar, wolves and lynx Ascend by gondola to Kasprowy Wierch for a strenuous hike with vistas of alpine lakes and valleys.

Days 7-8 krakow

Shuttle to Kraków and explore the city’s historic center, a World Heritage site boasting Europe’s largest market square, dating to the 13th century Walk to Wawel Castle or the intriguing Jewish quarter of Kazimierz.

Trip praise

I loved it! Having never been on a Backroads trip before, I imagined great things and my expectations were even surpassed. In spite of the fact that this was the first running of the trip, everything seemed to be well organized. Even the weather cooperated. We are already looking at the Backroads catalog to find a trip for next year.
Kate Staehly - Wellesley, MA

For more than 29 years, Backroads has been perfecting the art of active travel. We are the Hungary / Slovakia / Poland tour experts. For walking tours and hiking tours in Europe At Large, trust our in-depth connections. To see all our Europe At Large walking tours and hiking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large biking tours click here. For our selection of award-winning Europe At Large multisport tours click here.

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking

CENTRAL EUROPEAN GEMS : Premiere Inns

Gróf Degenfeld Castle Hotel

Tarcal (2 nights): Slumber in elegance at this 19th-century palace, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, which features a sunny terrace, wine bar, tennis courts, a swimming pool and splendidly appointed guest rooms.

Grandhotel Praha

Tatranská Lomnica (1 night): This 1905 Hapsburg-yellow grande dame rests at the foot of the second loftiest peak of the High Tatras.

Hotel Kolowrat

Javorina (1 night): Alpine accommodations with a swimming pool, sauna, solarium, massage service, bowling, billiards, a fitness center and fantastic mountain views.

Hotel Belvedere

Zakopane (2 nights): Enjoy well-appointed guest rooms, a swimming pool, massage treatments, a hot tub, a sauna and a full fitness center at this luxurious hotel in a spectacular mountain setting.

Hotel Copernicus

Kraków (1 night): This elegant Relais & Châteaux–member hotel in a beautifully restored Renaissance building offers a small swimming pool, fitness room, sauna and views of Wawel Castle.

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking

Gróf Degenfeld Castle Hotel

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Levels 1 to 2  1 Route Option Available
  • 5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 1 to 2  1 Route Option Available
  • 6.3 miles
  • 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 1 to 2  2 Route Options Available
  • 2.9, 5.4 miles
  • 500 - 1000 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • 7.5, 8.7 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 4 2 Route Options Available
  • 7.9, 9.5 miles
  • 2000 - 3000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Levels 3 to 4  1 Route Option Available
  • 9.3 miles
  • 2000 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Levels 1 to 2 1 Route Option Available
  • 5 miles
  • 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Walking Tour of Kraków 2.5 hours 

 

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Hiking

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level Average Time Average Distance
    Biking Walking
& Hiking
1 2-3
hours
10-20
miles
2-5
miles
2 2-4
hours
21-30
miles
5-7
miles
3 3-5
hours
31-40
miles
7-9
miles
4 4-6
hours
41-55
miles
9-11
miles
5 5-7+
hours
56-75+
miles
11-13+
miles