The adventure company owned by former Blue Peter star Peter Duncan has launched hiking holidays in the High Tatras mountains.
The UNESCO reserve in Slovakia has 35 valleys, 110 glacial lakes and numerous peaks – 10 above 2,600 metres.
The seven-night self-guided B&B holidays cost from £540 per person excluding flights and are suitable for all levels of ability.
Peter says: “The itineraries offer opportunities for great hiking with breathtaking views from the peaks, along with crystal clear ice lakes, waterfalls, virgin forests and also some UNESCO World Heritage sites.
“There are overnights in some lovely atmospheric, old Slovakian mountain spa hotels and all at an affordable price. As it’s self guided you’ll also feel a great sense of achievement!”
Hikes include:
Easy – Relaxed hiking and a chance to explore the unique nature and culture of the High Tatras. From the spa hotel base in the mountain resort of Tatranska Lomnica there’s a cable car ride on Europe’s longest single stage cable car to Lomnicky Stit (2,634 m), the second highest peak in the Tatras, with dramatlc views from the peak.
Further walks include Obrovsky vodopad (huge waterfall), Belianska cave and the beautiful Podpradske Pleso lake. Cultural highlights include visits to the historical town of Spisska Sobota and three UNESCO world heritage sites, including the wooden church in Kezmarok, the church of St James in Levoča, with the highest Gothic altar in the world and the magnificent medieval Spis castle.
Moderate – includes hike along a beautiful trail to Velka Svistovka peak, and descent to Zelene pleso lake in one of the most spectacular valleys in the Slovakian Alps with views of the magnificent 900 m high northern face of the Maly Kezmarsky peak.
A further hike to Hrebienok to see popular waterfalls including the Cold Creek Waterfalls, Maly and Velky vodopad (Small and Great Waterfall) and Dlhy vodopad (Long Waterfall).
From the next hotel in the 19th century mountain village of Stary Smokovec, there’s a walk to the resort of Sliezsky Dom and from here through the Tatranska Magistrala which is the longest trail passing through Tatras, past the Batizovske pleso lake, Popradske pleso and onto a spa hotel in Strbske pleso (the highest settlement in the Slovakia). There’s also a further hike to Skok waterfall considered the most beautiful in the high Tatras.
Challenging – For the more adventurous, there’s some of the best hiking in the High Tatras, with hikes to Vychodna Vysoka peak (2,428m), which offers a perfect view of the main ridge of the Tatras and Rysy peak (2,503 m) the highest peak in the High Tatras accessible on foot, which sits exactly on the Slovakia/Polish border and provides breathtaking panoramic views of the High Tatras range.
Accommodation includes B&B in four-star hotels. The adventure company provides detailed walking route notes, handpicked accommodation, hotel to hotel transfers and baggage transfers while walking and also in-country support. Flights are available with Wizzair from Luton to Proprad-Tatry, Slovakia.
