Tour overview

This 8-day small-group adventure crosses Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, mixing historic cities with mountain hiking, river rafting and little-visited villages. Groups have between 4 and 18 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader throughout. You travel by private bus, public bus and on foot, and stay seven nights: two at the Hotel Wyspiański in Kraków, two at the Hotel Titris in Tatranská Lomnica, one in a pension in Banská Bystrica and two in central Budapest. Breakfast is included daily.

The trip begins in Kraków, Poland's royal capital until the 16th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its medieval core and old Jewish quarter. An orientation walk around the Old Quarter is followed by free time, with the option to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, its chambers carved deep underground.

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Leaving Kraków, you take an inflatable raft through the Dunajec Gorge, floating between limestone cliffs along the Polish–Slovak border, before arriving in the High Tatras, the highest mountains of the Carpathians. A full day's trek from Biela Voda leads you up through forests to mountain lakes and viewpoints, with refuges for a warming drink along the way.

On the way south you stop at Vlkolínec, a UNESCO-listed village of around 50 traditional timber houses, before reaching Banská Bystrica for an orientation walk. Next you visit the Hronsek wooden church, built without a single nail, and the old silver-mining town of Banská Štiavnica, then the wine region of Sebechleby with its little vineyard cellars, before crossing into Hungary. In Budapest a guided walking tour introduces Buda's cobbled hillside streets and the grand boulevards of Pest.

The physical rating is medium, with one full-day mountain hike and active days. This trip suits active travellers who want to see a less-visited side of Central Europe with a small group. Your leader shares local knowledge along the way, from Slovak dishes to the history of the mining towns, and the variety of activities means every day feels different. Most departures run from late spring to early autumn, when the mountain trails are open.

Trip highlights

  • Kraków's Old Quarter (Day 2)
  • Rafting through the Dunajec Gorge (Day 3)
  • A full-day hike in the High Tatras (Day 4)
  • The timber village of Vlkolínec (Day 5)
  • Banská Štiavnica and Slovak wine country (Day 6)
  • A guided walk in Budapest (Day 7)

Your route

10 stops from Krakow to Budapest

8-day route: Kraków – Dunajec Gorge – High Tatras – Vlkolínec – Banská Štiavnica – Budapest
  1. Krakow Days 1–2
  2. Dunajec Gorge Day 3
  3. Spiš Castle Day 3
  4. Tatranská Lomnica Days 3–4
  5. Vlkolínec Day 5
  6. Banská Bystrica Day 5
  7. Hronsek Day 6
  8. Banská Štiavnica Day 6
  9. Sebechleby Day 6
  10. Budapest Days 6–8

Why choose this tour

Mountains, rivers and villages between two great cities. Slovakia's hidden corners with a small group and a tour leader.

Best suited to

  • Active travellers who enjoy hiking
  • Travellers looking for somewhere different
  • Solo travellers looking for a small group
  • Return visitors to Central Europe
The Dunajec Gorge

Day-by-day itinerary

8 days from Kraków, Poland to Budapest, Hungary

  1. Day 1 · Kraków Arrive in Kraków

    Meet the group in Kraków.

    Hotel
    Hotel Wyspiański or similar
  2. Day 2 · Kraków, Wieliczka Kraków

    An Old Quarter walk, with an optional salt mine visit.

    Hotel
    Hotel Wyspiański or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Dunajec Gorge, Tatranská Lomnica Dunajec Gorge to the Tatras

    Raft the gorge, then continue to the Tatras.

    Hotel
    Hotel Titris or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  4. Day 4 · High Tatras, Biela Voda Hike the High Tatras

    A full-day mountain trek.

    Hotel
    Hotel Titris or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Vlkolínec, Banská Bystrica Vlkolínec to Banská Bystrica

    Visit a UNESCO timber village on the way.

    Hotel
    Pension Grand or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · Hronsek, Banská Štiavnica, Sebechleby, Budapest Banská Štiavnica to Budapest

    A wooden church, a mining town and wine cellars, then Budapest.

    Hotel
    Roombach Hotel Budapest Center or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Buda, Pest Budapest

    A guided walking tour of Budapest.

    Hotel
    Roombach Hotel Budapest Center or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Budapest Trip ends in Budapest

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The Sukiennice Cloth Hall on Kraków's Main Market Square, Poland

Where you stay

  • Kraków (2 nights) Hotel Wyspiański or similar
  • Tatranská Lomnica (2 nights) Hotel Titris or similar
  • Banská Bystrica (1 night) Pension Grand or similar
  • Budapest (2 nights) Roombach Hotel Budapest Center or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 6 nights in hotels and 1 in a pension
  • Meals 7 breakfasts
  • Private and public bus transport
  • Kraków orientation walk
  • Dunajec Gorge rafting
  • High Tatras hike, Vlkolínec, Hronsek church and Banská Štiavnica
  • Budapest walking tour
  • Tour leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Kraków and from Budapest
  • Optional Wieliczka Salt Mine visit
  • Meals not listed
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Rugged peaks in the High Tatras

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a relaxed city tour — there is a full-day hike
  • You want luxury — one night is in a simple pension
  • You want many meals included — only breakfasts are
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Hungary · UK FCDO travel advice for Poland · UK FCDO travel advice for Slovakia
The Calvary at Banská Štiavnica

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,595 per person, twin share, tour only. 8 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How hard is the Tatras hike?

A full day on mountain trails with uphill sections. A good level of fitness is needed.

Is the rafting suitable for beginners?

Yes, it is a gentle float through the gorge in an inflatable raft.

Which countries do we visit?

Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

Which meals are included?

Breakfast every day.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors do not need a visa for these countries for a short holiday stay.

How many people travel together?

Between 4 and 18 travellers aged 16 and over, with a tour leader.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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