Tour Overview
| Duration | 10 Days / 9 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Slovakia — High Tatras, Gerlachovsky stit summit, Tatra peaks |
| Price From | $2,349 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Guided Advanced Hiking & Summiting, Challenging |
| Best Season | June — October |
| Data Source | travelslovakia.sk 2026 (€2,214 converted) |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive High Tatras
Transfer from Poprad. Afternoon orientation and equipment check. Welcome dinner with your certified mountain guide (UIAGM/IFMGA qualified) who will brief the full 10-day program. Overnight in Stary Smokovec.
Day 2: Acclimatization — Hrebienok & Waterfalls
Moderate hike to Hrebienok (1,285m) via the funicular from Stary Smokovec. Walk to the Studeny Potok waterfalls — a series of cascades in a narrow ravine. Afternoon: continue to Zamkovskeho Chata (1,475m) for lunch and your first taste of mountain hut culture. Return to hotel.
Day 3: Velka Svistovka — First Summit (2,038m)
Summit day: climb Velka Svistovka (2,038m) via the green-marked trail from Zelene Pleso. This is the highest marked trail summit in the Tatras, offering panoramic views of the entire range: Gerlachovsky stit, Lomnicky stit, and the Polish Tatras. Descend past Zelene Pleso (Green Lake) and the Biela Voda valley.
Day 4: Krivan — National Symbol of Slovakia (2,494m)
Climb Krivan (2,494m) — the national mountain of Slovakia, featured on Slovak euro coins. The ascent from Strbske Pleso is demanding (1,150m elevation gain, 6-7 hours round trip) but non-technical. Krivan’s distinctive curved summit ridge is one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the Carpathians. The view from the top: the entire High Tatras, the Low Tatras, and on clear days, the Beskids in the Czech Republic and Poland.
Day 5: Rest & Slovak Paradise
Recovery day. Visit Slovak Paradise National Park — hike the Sucha Bela gorge (wooden ladders, waterfalls). Afternoon: Spis Castle (UNESCO) and the medieval mining town of Levoca with its famous 18m wooden altar (tallest Gothic winged altar in the world).
Day 6: Gerlachovsky Stit — The Roof of the Carpathians (2,655m)
The ultimate challenge: climb Gerlachovsky stit (2,655m) — the highest peak in Slovakia and the entire Carpathian mountain range. This is a technical climb requiring a certified mountain guide (you must have a guide — solo ascent is illegal). The classic route via Velicka Valley involves scrambling, chains, and an exposed summit ridge. 8-10 hours round trip, 1,500m elevation gain. Standing on the roof of the Carpathians, looking down at 85 glacial lakes and 25 peaks over 2,500m, is the crowning achievement of any Tatra trip. Celebration dinner at a mountain restaurant.
Days 7-8: Hut-to-Hut Alpine Trek
Multi-day hut-to-hut trek through the High Tatras. Day 7: Velka Studena Valley to Teryho Chata (2,015m) — Slovakia’s highest hut. Sunset from the terrace is unforgettable. Day 8: cross Priecone sedlo (2,352m), descend through Velka Zmrzla Valley to Zbojnicka Chata (1,960m).
Day 9: Rysy — Border Peak with Poland (2,503m)
Final summit: Rysy (2,503m) — the highest point in Poland and a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The view from the dual summit encompasses both sides of the Tatras. Descend to Morskie Oko (Poland’s largest lake) for a farewell swim (for the brave!) in its icy waters. Return to hotel.
Day 10: Departure
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Poprad for departure.
Included
- 9 nights (7 hotel + 2 mountain huts)
- Daily breakfast + 4 dinners in huts
- UIAGM/IFMGA certified mountain guide throughout
- All technical equipment for Gerlach ascent
- All transfers + national park fees
