THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

9 days from GBP779 to GBP889 including flights
Tripcode: TVT

Countries Visited: Poland

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Our Clients’ Reviews

Average Review Rating: from 11 reviews.

Daniel Rafferty

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written September 2011
Overall I thought this was an excellent holiday with good walking and views, excellent huts and food, a good group and a first-class leader.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The highlight for me was Day 5 in the heart of the Tatras: varied and challenging walking as well as great views.
What did you think of your group leader?
The leader did an excellent job. Theresa is very knowledgeable about the area and she engaged well with all members of the party and was good fun to be with.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be ruthless about the amount and weight you are carrying. You can leave stuff at Zakopane and really because you are walking from hut to hut you do not need much.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The arrangements in the hotel in Krakow were not brilliant though I enjoyed the city itself greatly.
Michael Foy

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written August 2011
Excellent trip, spectacular views, an amazing guide and a great week, capped off by visiting a fab city. My second exodus trip and certainly not my last. If I had one issue, it's that it was a little busy but that is more a reflection on the beauty and popularity of the area, rather than anything else.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The guide providing constant snipets of information and good jokes were always great moments. The flexibility in the approach to the walking people were allowed to go at their own pace but not get separated.
Some challenging walking with great panoramas and the fact that we saw a large amount of the tatras in a very short period of time.
What did you think of your group leader?
Great, and an absolute character. Full of life and clearly very passionate and knowledgeble about the area, I strongly suspect had it not been for the guide the trip would not have been quite so good. She catered to the needs of the entire group, supporting the less confident group members during the more challenging chain sections on Rysy and near the Eagles Pass.
She told many great stories and worked hard to teach the group about Poland and the Tatras on a historic, geographic and social level. As well as telling a number of funny jokes & playing a number of excellent scrabble words. Thanks Teressa for all the lol's.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take a big bag as you can leave stuff in the hotel, this was my big mistake. Make sure you have a pair of flip flops for the evening, you won't regret the weight.
Make sure you take a compliment of warm clothes it can be cold at times. This is certainly a challenging trek and some of the chain parts are very exposed make sure you take a head for heights.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Have fun and try and pick up the lingo ask your guide, the locals love the effort.
We did the cycle tour of Krakow which was ace and showed us so much of the city in a relatively short time and I would really reccomend this. If you have the chance stay a little longer in Krakow as there is lots to see.
Kathryn Gawne

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written August 2011
The Polish High Tatras was a challenging trip with incredible views and a lovely atmosphere. The mountains are spectacular but busy at times. Well worth it though!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Our first attempt at climbing with chains was a particulary proud moment for me. It definitely got the heart racing from the start with narrow ledges and very steep long drops. It felt brilliant to reach the top and take in the view knowing what you have just achieved.
Our group was great - friendly and laid back. It was good to be with such a supportive, helpful and 'professional' bunch of people!
What did you think of your group leader?
What a character! You often find that the guide can make a big difference on the enjoyment of a trip like this and I think we were very lucky.
She had an excellent knowledge of the Tatras and obviously loves the area. She quickly gained an understanding of the abilities within the group and was able to both challenge and support us. She was particularly good at this on the chain sections of the walk.
The huge number of stories and anecdotes she had were both interesting and amusing at times. She showed a great sense of humour but was strict when it was needed. I have definitely come back with a greater knowledge of Poland thanks to Theresa.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are worried about heights think carefully about this trip - there are a couple of days when it can get a bit exposed in small sections. It all adds to the challenge though.
Pack carefully for the actual trek - you can leave stuff in Zakopane. I was pleased I had taken sandals to the mountain huts as the last thing you want to do after a shower and change of clothes is put your boots back on!!
Travel Scrabble and a pack of cards are always fun!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Definitely a trip I would recommend to friends. The Tatras were the best part but Krakow is pretty cool too. It seems like a chilled out city and its easy to get around.
We visited Auschwitz on the way back to Krakow. This is a sombre and and difficult place to be but I am glad I went. It certainly is a place people should visit, if they have the opportunity, to either pay their respects to the people who were imprisoned there and/or to understand better what went on.
Wendy Wheeler

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written August 2011
The Tatras mountains were far more beautiful and well provided for than I had expected; the accommodation was good and interesting (!); the group size was perfect and we all got along very well; and our guide, Teresa was brilliant.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Teresa mentioned chains early on in the trip and several of us were quite apprehensive, but when we first reached the chains I found them a huge help for little legs trying to scramble over big rocks, but also quite exciting (I know its not climbing, but it felt adventurous to me!).
I was really pleased and inspired to see so many other walkers about. Its tempting to want mountain paths to yourself, but in actual fact the emptiness of British walking is rather sad compared to the vibrancy and popularity of the Tatras - it is also fantastic to reach a well appointed hut full of chocolate and fizzy drinks, just when you need them most!
What did you think of your group leader?
Teresa was great; her english is excellent and she has much to say about Poland, the Tatras and all her experiences. She is certainly a professional and also very funny and entertaining - she joined us for a game of Scrabble one night and came up with some high scoring words even though she had never played the game before (I lost that game so it wasn't a high point for me!). She was also brilliant when I was struggling to come down mount Rysy - I was tired and nervous and she stuck by me the whole way, making sure I was completely safe and she held back the rest of the group to ensure we did not get separated. Then she arranged for the two of us to jump the queue for a horse drawn carriage ride to the edge of the park, which I enjoyed particularly as our speedy driver overtook two other carriages!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Not to be scared by the chains, but you will need to be fit. The most difficult thing is packing for 5 days - considering what you need, what you can cope with carrying, what your bag can cope with - the Exodus trip notes said all the right things, but it is up to the individual to consider toiletries vs fresh T-shirts daily....
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I just really enjoyed the trip and would have enjoyed a couple more days of walking, though not at the expense of the time in Krakow as I think that was valuable too.
The Tatras mountains are fantastic value in my opinion
Anthony Turner

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written September 2010
Within easy reach of the UK, but there are far nicer places to go trekking in Europe. The trip is rightly rated challenging/tough and is recommended for fit & experienced walkers only. Although well maintained the paths are steep with lots of stone steps and very hard on your knees. There is also some challenging scrambling on days 5 & 6 which involves the use of chains (you hold onto the chain for stability as there are insufficient hand & foot holds). Cross between rock climbing & normal scrambling. I would recommend this trip if you are looking for 5 days of hard walking within Europe, but best avoided if you are after a relaxing walking holiday. All walks involved a hard, steep climb followed by a hard, steep decent to the mountain hut and at times our trip felt like a training camp for hikers.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I was very disappointed with the High Tatras, but Krakow is certainly worth a visit. Lots to see and do, good bars & restaurants, really nice city.
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent local knowledge & very enthusiastic, but her organisational skills were not great and she really struggled at times to properly explain things in English. Always seemed to be pushing us to go faster which reinforced the feeling you were on a training camp, rather than a holiday.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Some of the scrambling is very challenging & close to rock climbing. Equipment wise gaiters are not required, but make sure you have waterproof trousers & good quality waterproof boots. Be warned that the food in the mountain hostels is very basis, but you can always get a nice cold beer! Also be prepared for lot & lots of fellow walkers. The trails were absolutely packed when we were there in September.
Kieron Rackley

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written September 2010
Overall an excellent trip with exciting moments in the mountains and wonderful landscape, interesting culture and lively accomodation.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Definitely the ascent of Rysy - ranks up there as a favourite mountain day out of many treks. Almost felt like I was a real mountaineer using chains to reach the top along dramatic ridges. Although we had glorious sunshine all week there were snow patches which added to the effect. We agreed to descend into Slovakia to avoid these icy patches and this was an added bonus - better than retracing our steps and the descent was easier(paid a few extra pounds by agreement to return to our hostel). Beautiful lakes. There was a bar not far down the Slovakian side which we sensibly avoided!
Apart from the walking and landscape I liked the hostels. One had a very relaxing bar to sample honey vodka and various beers and the evening meals were tasty. Zakopane and Krakow were both worth visiting too.
What did you think of your group leader?
I think the phrase `a bit of a character` best descibes our group leader. Very lively and competent(everything was well organised) I really enjoyed her animation. She could be a little stern in the mountains however. As we encountered several precarious patches of snow and ice on the harder walk sections she had to make difficult evaluations but managed to get us safely across. We had an additional guide on Rysy as the group was sizeable.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Didn`t need gaiters or sheet liners(these were supplied). If you are a light sleeper maybe take ear plugs. On the ascent of Rysy you can travel light by leaving stuff at the hostel which is a nice boost.
I was in two minds whether to visit Auschwitz - it was obviously a very sombre experience. The few who went enjoyed the Salt Mines. Plenty of time to explore Krakow - the hotel is just off the main square. The old quarter was particularly interesting with quirky bookshops and atomospheric cafes.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Pound for pound this is a great holiday. Only gripe was I was too tired after an early flight to truly appreciate Zakopane. The mountains are popular(no way as busy as the Lake Distict in August and cars are kept away) but big enough to absorb the walkers and the people we met were friendly and up for a chat.
Alastair Govan

THE POLISH HIGH TATRAS

Written September 2010
We were very unlucky with the weather - cloudy most of the time with some rain, but also lots of unseasonal snow on the ridges, which meant we were mainly limited to low levels. The walking was therefore quite tame. Also, the national park was incredibly busy (think Lake District bank holiday crowds and double it) so it rarely felt like the mountain experience I was expecting. We had only one leader for a group of about 14, which might also have constrained what we were able to do.On the plus side, it was a great group, which helped keep spirits up!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Not sure 'inspirational' is the right word, but Auschwitz was probably the most moving place I've ever been.
What did you think of your group leader?
Very capable and organised, tried to make te best of the difficult (weather-related) circumstances.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go prepared for rain and cool weather. The weather is generally nowhere near as good (not just on our trip) as implied in the trip notes which say 'clothes tend to dry overnight' (they don't) and 'temperatures will be mild to hot' (on our trip daytime temperatures in the valleys averaged about 12 deg C, close to freezing higher up).