From Kraków we travel into breathtaking Tatra National Park • Climb through dense forest and open meadows, pausing to enjoy panoramic vistas of surrounding mountains and valleys • Bustling Zakopane has long been a popular resort for alpine enthusiasts and the highlands’ fascinating gateway city • Sample local flavors at the first of many exceptional dinners.

Hop a bus across the border into Slovakia • Hike a craggy canyon to a roaring waterfall • Enjoy the views at our splendid hotel nestled between Strbské Lake and the Slovakian High Tatras • Discover a panorama of craggy massifs, pristine lakes and wildflower-strewn meadows • Savor a hot lunch on the trail at a rustic mountain hut • Up for a challenge? Hike to Vel’ké Hincovo Pleso, the area’s largest and deepest glacial lake, tucked high amid rocky peaks • Hiking through a spectacular alpine refuge for myriad flora and fauna, see for yourself why Tatra National Park is recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.

Hike across a dramatic ridgeline back into Poland, passing grazing sheep and traditional wooden boats that float along the Dunajec River • Get to know Szczawnica, a mountainside spa town made famous nearly two centuries ago by the curative properties of its thermal mineral springs • Pass through tiny mountain hamlets where local ethnic communities proudly display their distinctive dress, customs and language • Venture into Pieniny National Park, stopping to greet local shepherds and sample their goods—care for some oscypek (smoked sheep milk cheese)? • Joined by a local mountain guide, we gain insight into the region's varied landscapes, as well as the traditional highland culture • Take a last jaunt to a hut for some homemade apple tart before traveling on to Kraków.