Hike between hillside villages in Poland’s forested foothills • Grab your first lunch at a cozy converted barn run by a local artist—the specialty is the pierogi! • Settle into our 1920s abode in Zakopane, Poland’s premier mountain resort town • Ascend into UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Tatra National Park • Hike through forest clearings inhabited by shepherds and their flocks • Opt to bag a peak for 360-degree views • Refreshments await at a humble mountain hut • Join a local for a guided stroll through Zakopane.

Trek along a ridgeline that forms the natural border between Poland and Slovakia • Stop at a shepherd’s hut trailside for a glimpse of how oscypek, the region’s famous smoky cheese, is made—not to mention a taste • Stroll the old town of Kežmarok with a local guide who offers insights on daily Slovak life • Savor a hearty dinner in tavern-like surroundings with live folk music • Ascend by cable car to a high alpine ridge near Chopok for sweeping views • Explore glacial valleys and lofty lakes hidden among the peaks of the Slovak High Tatras • Contemplate humankind’s daredevil ambitions in the peaceful Mountaineer’s Cemetery, a hidden wilderness memorial to those who have lost their lives on the world’s mountains • Toast to our week together in our hotel’s elegant dining room • Follow a forested trail before hopping in the shuttle to Budapest, our fascinating gateway city.