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Route Rating Level 3 to Level 5

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Casual Inns
  • From $4,498
    To $4,598 pp dbl. occ.
  • (+$730 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. More Info

9 DAYS, 8 NIGHTS
ROLLOVER DATES BELOW FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
2008 DATES
CLASSIC TRIPS
ROLLOVER DATES ABOVE FOR SPECIFIC PRICES
TRIP NOTES

All meals included except 2 lunches and 1 dinner.

PERFECT FOR A PRIVATE TRIP
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Cancellation Policy

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Meet / Depart

Budapest, Hungary/Kraków, Poland

Special Interest

Cooking, Culture & History, Natural Beauty &/or Wildlife, Romance &/or Honeymoon, Spa

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Contact Us

Call: 800-462-2848
or 510-527-1555
Fax: 510-527-1444
E-mail us

801 Cedar St.
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 Slovakia Biking Vacations

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

From Budapest to Krakow with a Hike Over the Tatras

The re-emergence of Hungary, Slovakia and Poland offers a stellar opportunity to discover the glories of old-world Europe. Designed to appeal to a broad range of cycling abilities, this unique itinerary lets you relish full days of 100-kilometer-plus cycling through a region that feels both ancient and amazingly new (or choose a more relaxed pace by taking advantage of our van support). Journey along routes that seamlessly link some of Europe’s most authentic (and least touristed) medieval cities and castles. Hike over the grand High Tatras, bike on quiet roads to alpine hamlets and cap off your journey in the fin-de-siècle gem of Kraków.

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Day 1 visegrad

Meet in Budapest Before our warm-up ride, sail by chartered boat up the Danube to Visegrád, famed for its medieval castle.

Day 2 banska stiavnica

Bike across the Mária Valéria Bridge, gracefully spanning the Danube, into Slovakia Pedal to the World Heritage site of Banská Stiavnica, with its elegant Renaissance architecture, cobblestone lanes and lush forested surroundings.

Day 3 banska bystrica

Undulating roads lead through beech forests to secluded Kremnica, an ancient mountain hamlet.

Day 4 levoca

Ride into the pastureland of Slovakia’s Spis region Wander the walled town of Levoca and visit the 14th-century Sväty Jakub Church Explore romantic Spis Castle, a World Heritage site.

Day 5 javorina

Ascend by gondola for an alpine hike across the spectacular High Tatras, or bike up and around these impressive mountains.

Days 6-7 zakopane

Pedal into Poland past remote villages en route to vibrant Zakopane Take a gondola up to Kasprowy Wierch for a challenging hike with magnificent lake and valley views Ride in a horse-drawn buggy to a traditional highlander Polish restaurant.

Days 8-9 krakow

Amid inspiring mountain scenery, spin to Niedzica Castle Shuttle to Kraków, another World Heritage site Don’t miss Wawel Castle and the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz with its ancient synagogues.

Route Rating What's this? Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Each offers options for more or less activity, so you can decide exactly how much you want to do day by day.

Lodging What's this? Our lodgings are divided into three different categories.

Premiere Inns:These lodgings possess both elegance and authentic regional flair.

Casual Inns:These lodgings are comfortable and appropriate to the areawith such characteristics as authenticity, scenic settings and proximity to our activities.

Deluxe Camping:We set up the tents (and take them down), handle every camp chore and perform culinary magic.

Detailed Itinerary

Reserve This Trip!

Trip praise

This was my 15th trip and I was worried about "measuring up" to the challenge of the Tatra Mountains. The leaders gave me so much encouragement and support that I felt comfortable and able to do it. Here's to 15 more!!!!
Patricia Ascher - Sausalito, CA

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

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

HISTORIC SETTINGS : Casual Inns*

Hotel Silvanus

Visegrád (1 night): Located on a ridge high above town, near the ruins of the Citadel, with an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath and impressive views of the Danube River.

Hotel Salamander

Banská Stiavnica (1 night): Simple accommodations wonderfully situated in the heart of the historic center.

Hotel Arcade

Banská Bystrica (1 night): A very basic hotel set in a 16th-century building on a narrow cobblestone street just steps from the town’s picturesque central square.

Hotel U Leva

Levoča (1 night): Comfort in a newly restored medieval house ideally set near the main square.

Hotel Kolowrat

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

Villa Marilor

Zakopane (2 nights): Enjoy well-appointed rooms, a hot tub and a scenic private park in a spectacular mountain setting.

* With 2 Premiere Inn nights

Hotel Pod Roza

Kraków (1 night): This elegant hotel, with individually decorated rooms, is located on the historic royal road connecting Floriańska Gate and Wawel Royal Castle.

*With 3 Premiere Inn nights at Hotel Kolowrat and Villa Marilor

* With 1 Premiere Inn night

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

Villa Marilor

Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

Route Rating

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1
  • Level 1 1 Route Option Available
  • 20 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 2
  • Levels 4 to 5  3 Route Options Available
  • 41, 63, 81 miles
  • 500 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 3
  • Levels 2 to 3  2 Route Options Available
  • 25, 36 miles
  • 500 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 4
  • Levels 3 to 4  2 Route Options Available
  • 35, 55 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 5
  • Levels 2 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 6.2 miles
  • 1500 feet elevation gain
  • or Biking 25, 42 miles
  • 1000 - 2000 feet elevation gain
Day 6
  • Levels 2 to 3 2 Route Options Available
  • 27, 34 miles
  • 1000 - 2500 feet elevation gain
Day 7
  • Levels 1 to 4  3 Route Options Available
  • Hiking 9.3 miles  
  • 2000 - 2500 feet elevation gain
  • or Biking 18, 31 miles
  • 1000 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 8
  • Levels 3 to 4  2 Route Option Available
  • 34, 41 miles
  • 500 - 1500 feet elevation gain
Day 9
  • Walking Tour of Kraków
Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking Hungary, Slovakia & Poland Biking

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