Winter Hiking in the High Tatras Mountains

• Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with ankle support (please let us know your boot size after booking, for the right crampons) • Hiking jacket - RIGHT: short, thinner, breathable and waterproof. WRONG: long, thick, and warm • Trousers for hiking (waterproof is an advantage, but not a must) • Four-layer clothing system. Example: base layer, long sleeve shirt, fleece, downjacket/warm sweater. • Snow/mud gaiters - essential! Make sure you get the correct size when buying new. • Backpack for carrying personal items • Swimsuit for thermal baths • Gloves, hat, scarf • Sunglasses or even ski goggles. It’s advantageous when the sun is shining or when it´s snowing and windy too. • Knee bandage (optional) • Trekking poles (optional) • Ear plugs (to sleep tight :)

You need a good level of fitness as we will be walking 15-18 km a day with up to 700m of elevation gain. Walking in fresh snow is physically more challenging than walking on hard ground in summer.

Sure you can. The majority of our travellers are solo travellers. You will be sharing the room with someone of your gender. We never put females and males together in one room. If you would like a single room, message us after booking to arrange it. The cost is €80 extra and you will pay this when you are in Slovakia.

The currency in Slovakia is the Euro. You can pay with a card in most places. Cash is needed on two days when we take a break in mountain huts, which do not accept cards.

It’s highly recommended you take out personal travel insurance. Travel cover protects you in the case of unforeseen circumstances including cancellations, injuries, equipment loss, flight changes and other events that could negatively impact your trip. We suggest specialist adventure travel insurers, [Rise & Shield](https://riseandshield.com/). They cover 100s of activities and are easy to deal with if you need to make a claim. They also cover unique scenarios, like trekking at altitude or emergency evacuation in hard-to-reach places, that ordinary travel insurance doesn’t cover.

No, the hikes are walked on wide trails covered in snow. There are no steep or technical passages. We do not use an ice axe during this weekend, just crampons.

Breakfast is usually buffet style with cold meats, cereals, eggs, sausages, fruit, etc. For lunch, we stop at mountain huts and hotels along the way. You should bring at least some sweet snacks, nuts, and fruit for energy. In that case, we can stop at a local supermarket. We recommend budgeting around 30-40 EUR for lunches. For dinner, you can choose from three different meals. You can expect traditional meals, including chicken and pork meat with potatoes and rice. However, they can also cater to various diets if needed.

You will stay in a smaller guesthouse of 3* quality in one of the villages at the foot of the Tatra mountains. The rooms are spacious and recently refurbished. It has WIFI and a small wellness center with saunas and jacuzzi. The rooms don't provide toiletries and you need to bring your own.

Day 1: No hiking Day 2: 17km, 700m ascent and descent, 6-7 hours Day 3: 13km, 500m ascent and descent, 5-6 hours Day 4: 8km, 65m ascent and 350 descent, 2 hours

We meet on the first day at the Krakow Airport in Poland at 4:00 PM. Our guide will wait simply in front of Arrivals with a Skyhook sign. On the last day, we drop you off back at the Krakow Airport in Poland at around 3:00 PM.

No need to carry all of kit for the trip while hiking - just your daypack. We stay at the same accommodation for this trip, so you can leave your main bag at the hotel.

Unfortunately, a drop-off in the city is not possible as the transfers are long and the traffic in the city is usually very bad. However, it's easy to get to the city by train from the airport. It's only a 17 min ride and costs around €4.

Slovakia is part of the European Union and the Schengen zone. Please check the following website for more information: https://www.mzv.sk/en/services/information-for-foreigners/visas-for-foreigners-to-enter-sr#352_xhfz_inpage_nav_3

You can book the trip if you are at least 18 years old. The trip is also available for children older than 12 years if you would like to arrange a private group (please message us for information).

Sure, we try to accommodate dietary reuirements. Please let us know what kind of diet you have and the hotel will prepare meals according to your needs. You can indicate this on your trip form after booking or drop us a message. Please bear in mind, though, that we stay in mountain hotels and ingredients are not easy to source in these remote locations. Options for very specific diets can sometimes be limited. If you have a special diet, then we recommend you pack extra suitable (lightweight) snacks. Being flexible and open-minded about the food is a part of the adventure of a remote group trip.