Rysy and the High Tatras 2011

SLOVAKIA
Rysy and the High Tatras
•
Hiking the Tatranska Magistrala trail
•
Climb Rysy – Poland’s highest mountain
•
The jagged peaks of the High Tatras
SELF-GUIDED Departures for a minimum of 2 persons travelling together
Tour Grade – B/C Tour Code - TRYS
For dates and prices visit: www.walksworldwide.com
Introduction
The High Tatras are the highest and most spectacular peaks in the entire Carpathian Mountain range.
The greater part of this rugged range of dramatic spires lies within the astonishingly beautiful country
of Slovakia, home to a wide variety of wildlife including bear, lynx, wolf and Golden Eagle. Our new
walking holiday based upon the travel experiences of Walks Worldwide staff, allows you to explore the
most majestic section of the High Tatras by following the excellent Tatranska Magistrala trail. There is
also the opportunity to make an optional ascent of Rysy (2499 metres), the highest mountain in
Poland and also the highest walk-up peak in Slovakia. It’s said that Lenin climbed Rysy for a meeting
with his Polish counterpart and from ‘Lenin’s Seat’ (a natural armchair-like rock on the summit), he
would have enjoyed what is widely regarded as one of the best mountain views in the whole of
Europe. On clear days the views from Rysy are truly incredible, as one rocky summit after another
extends to the far horizon, as well as down to jewelled mountain lakes that glitter and dazzle below on
the Polish side, over to the Low Tatras and Mala Fatra in Slovakia.
___________________________________________________________________
The Holiday
Routine From the charming mountain resort of
Tatranska Lomnica you climb up to and then
follow the delightful Tatranska Magistrala. The
next several days of walking above the forests,
winding your way along the High Tatras, with
the imposing peaks looming large over head
and fine views across Slovakia throughout
make this hiking nirvana. This is a waymarked,
easy to follow, mostly well-graded trail with
overnight halts at a series of rustic,
comfortable and very scenically located
mountain cottages and lodges which are
mostly inaccessible by vehicle. Each of these
cottages (mountain huts) is usually only about
four to seven hours walking distance apart, so
it’s entirely possible to reach each most by
lunchtime or mid-afternoon, leave your back
pack and explore higher into the various
valleys and onto high cols, or simply relax and
gaze at the mountain wonderland thus
providing a very flexible walking holiday. As
most of the mountain accommodation cannot
be reached by vehicle, baggage transfers are
not included for this trip meaning you will need
to carry all you need for the entire walking. A
baggage transfer to/from Popradske Pleso is
possible at extra cost-see baggage section for
more information. Other than some relatively
light extra items you will need for overnights,
this should not increase how much you carry in
your usual daypack by a great deal, as
sleeping bags are not required in the mountain
accommodations. Your penultimate walking
day will be the moderately challenging (and
optional) ascent of Rysy.
online at www.walksworldwide.com. You
should ensure you are comfortable walking at
this level of grading and are physically
prepared for the trip. The optional ascent of
Rysy (2499m) follows a marked trail all the way
to the summit and involves approx. 1000m of
ascent and descent. There is a remote
mountain hut (Chata Pod Rysmi, 2300m) about
an hour’s walk below the summit serving hot
drinks and food. To reach Chata Pod Rysmi
there is one short section of scrambling, which
is also chained to ease the ascent/descent.
This should present no difficulty to experienced
mountain walkers, especially if you consider
that ALL supplies of food etc have to be carried
up to Chata Pod Rysmi from Popradske Pleso
by other people ascending Rysy (and the
rubbish carried out).
Self-Guided Holiday
As the name suggests, self-guided holidays
are for those that prefer to be independent.
Within reason you are able to dictate your own
schedule, as well as walk at your own pace
with the aid of route notes and maps. All your
accommodation has been reserved in advance
and unless otherwise stated within this trip
dossier, your main baggage is transferred
between each accommodation along the way,
so there’s no need to worry about carrying
heavy loads and having to back pack. This
means you only need to walk each day and
carry your usual lightweight daypack. However,
it is important that you are entirely comfortable
with being independent whilst on a walking
holiday.
Walking conditions
Throughout you’ll be following waymarked
mountain trails with good conditions underfoot.
Some sections involve steep ascent and
descent, whilst others will be relatively
straightforward
in
comparison.
A
full
explanation of the trip grading can be found
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
For detailed information as to what a selfguided holiday entails please read the selfguided walking holidays section at Types of
Trip section on www.walksworldwide.com
before booking your self-guided walking
holiday.
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Route Notes- Help keep them up to date
Things can and do change along the routes that self-guided walking holidays follow. A sign may have
been changed, or even removed, a path may have been obstructed, even re-routed, a landmark the
route notes refer to may simply no longer exist. It is clearly impossible to keep track of all the changes
that
may
occur
outside
the
local
tour
operators
control and knowledge. It may be the route notes translation can be improved (they are translated into
several languages by the local operator after all) too. Clearly a case of “last person to walk the route”
has the most up to date information. In the spirit of camaraderie amongst walkers and in an effort to
constantly keep route notes updated and improved upon, the local operator (contact details in your
final joining instructions) will always welcome notification of any changes along the
way/recommendations for improvement if you would care to forward any useful and specific
information to them. Alternatively, send to Walks Worldwide and we will forward accordingly.
What you need to provide Your personal equipment as detailed in the clothing and equipment list
later in this trip dossier. Sleeping bags are not required as all the mountain accommodation provides
bedding. However, we recommend taking along a silk/cotton sleeping bag liner.
IMPORTANT-Due to the specialist nature of our holidays, day to day itineraries should be taken as a guide only, and as
statements of intent and not contractual obligations. We regularly update our trip dossiers to take into account changes to
trekking routes, accommodation, local transport etc. Such changes are a factor of this type of holiday and when made are out
of necessity. Other factors such as adverse weather, unforeseen circumstances and other matters entirely out of our control
etc can also lead to enforced changes during the course of the holiday. It is not possible to guarantee that any of our holidays
will operate exactly as per the anticipated itinerary. The most current trip dossier will be made available on our website. We
will also send you the most up to date trip dossier with your “Final Joining Instructions” approx. 2 weeks before departure
and you should carefully check this for any changes that may affect your plans. We also recommend you read the “Useful
Information” section on our website and in our current brochure.
Outline Itinerary
Day Your 'at-a-glance' Itinerary
1 Arrive Tatranska Lomnica
2 Trek past Biela Valley to Zelene Pleso
Overnight
Accn.
Meal plan
Tatranska Lomnica
Hotel
Zelene Pleso
Mountain Hut
BLD
Zamkovskeho
Chata
Mountain Hut
BLD
Popradske Pleso
Mountain Lodge
BL
Popradske Pleso
Mountain Lodge
BL
Popradske Pleso
Mountain Lodge
BL
3
4
5
6
Trek beneath Lomnicky Stit to Zamkovskeho Chata
Along the Tatranska Magistrala and descend to Popradske Pleso
Climb to the summit of Rysy (2499m)
Circuit walk to Slovakia’s biggest lake
7
8
Forest trail to Strbske Pleso, take mountain railway to Tatranska Lomnica Tatranska Lomnica
Depart Tatranska Lomnica
Hotel
B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner.
Poland-Tatras and the Polish Highlands
Printed on 07/06/2011
B
B
Day 1
Arrive at your hotel in Tatranska Lomnica (See
Joining Arrangements and Transfers section
later in this trip dossier), a small resort located
in the High Tatra Mountains.
Hotel, Tatranska Lomnica
around 3 hours here is to follow a trail up to the
tiny mountain lakes of Cervene and Belasě
where you can gaze down to Zelene Pleso
below and over to the Belianske Tatra range.
Mountain Hut, Zelene Pleso
Day 3
It’s a wonderful experience to be able to stay
high in the mountains amongst such
spectacular surroundings, especially first thing
in the mornings when all is calm and tranquil.
Down by the lake it is often possible to see
groups of Chamois first thing. Leaving Zelene
Pleso, you now follow the famous Tatranska
Magistrala. To wake you up, the route is
initially a steep ascent to cross a mountain
pass (circa 1900m) beneath the craggy summit
of Velka Svištovka. To aid ascent the steeper
sections are equipped with chains. Reaching
the pass efforts are rewarded with stunning
views down to Tatranska Lomnica, although
the keen mountain walker’s eyes will be drawn
to the dramatic ridgeline leading to Lomnicky
Stit. The Tatranska Magistrala then descends
steadily and then traverses the flanks of a
satellite peak of Lomnicky Stit, to reach a cable
car station and small restaurant by a tiny lake.
Here you can take the option of a cable car
ride all the way up to the top of Lomnicky Stit,
which at 2634m is the second highest summit
in the High Tatras. This is especially
recommended if the summit is clear, as the
views from the top are truly amazing.
Returning to the Tatranska Magistrala, it’s
around 90 minutes walk to our overnight halt,
the Zamkovskeho Mountain Hut. Walking time
approx. 5 hours Approx. 800m ascent and
descent.
Mountain Hut, Zamkovskeho Chata
Day 2
Leave your main baggage at the hotel in
Tatranska Lomnica to await your return on day
7. A baggage transfer service to/from
Popradske Pleso is available at extra cost- see
baggage section for more information. After
breakfast your walk into the dramatic High
Tatra Mountains of Slovakia begins in earnest.
In order to make the traverse today you head
upwards and eastwards (for the rest of the
walk you’ll be heading westwards). The route
ascends steadily through the forests of the
Biela and Kezmarska Valleys, initially following
the course of a mountain stream to round a
spur leading from Lomnicky Stit. As you gain
height and emerge above the tree line, the
jagged peaks of the High Tatras loom high
above, and now closer to the mountains, even
more impressive. You now head directly
upwards towards these impressive summits up
into the glacially created natural amphitheatre
to reach the small mountain lake of Zelene
Pleso at approx. 1500m. Here you’ll find the
charming and scenically located Zeleno
Cottage where you’ll spend the night
surrounded on three sides by high mountains.
Walking time approx. 5 hours, with 900m of
ascent. One additional walking option of
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
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Day 4
A longer walk along the Tatranska Magistrala
to Popradske Pleso. Baggage transfer
available to Popradske Pleso - see baggage
section for more information. From last nights
Chata it’s around 2 hours to reach the Sliezsky
Dom. Descending initially by a waterfall, the
Tatranska Magistrala then ascends a little. In
front of you there are stunning views of the
peaks, and as you get closer to Sliezsky Dom,
the highest of all, Gerlachovky Stit (Gerlach)
comes into view. This is not only the highest
peak in the Tatras, but the entire Carpathian
chain.
Day 5
Rysy at 2499m is the highest ‘walk-up’ summit
in Slovakia. As you will have now seen, many
of the jagged peaks of the High Tatras are the
realm of the Eagle and adventurous rock
climbers only. Rysy is also the highest peak in
Poland as the summit marks the border point
between Slovakia and Poland. This route to
the summit of Rysy is popular with both the
Slovaks and Poles alike, especially as the
route to the summit is much easier from the
Slovakian side. It is also a wonderful mountain
walk in it’s own right and the views from the
summit of Rysy are regarded as one of the
very best mountain panoramas in Europe.
Views extend both ways along the summits,
ridges and jewelled mountain lake valleys of
the High Tatras, down into Poland and
Slovakia alike.
Continuing along the delightful Tatranska
Magistrala with brief ascents and descents,
although primarily traversing the lower flanks
of the mountains brings you to Batizovske
Lake. The trail then rises very gradually to
reach a high point (circa 2000m) beneath the
peak of Klin. Traversing a high, steep sided
valley you then reach a col beneath the peak
of Ostrva. Below is the impressive sight of the
lake known as Popradske Pleso (1500m), one
of the larger glacial lakes and the remains of a
cwm glacier. From the col the Tatranska
Magistrala descends steeply in zigzag fashion
to reach the shores of this beautiful mountain
lake. The mountain lodge here has a small
café and terrace and is a great place to relax
and enjoy wonderful surroundings and save
your legs for tomorrow’s ascent of Rysy.
Walking time approx. 7 hours.
Mountain Lodge, Popradske Pleso
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
On clear days it is simply breathtaking. Effort
is required of course and it’s 1000m of ascent
to the top from Popradske Pleso. However,
this in fact no different to most Scottish
Munro’s and the regular mountain walker will
be able to complete the round trip in 6-8 hours.
You can of course swap this day around with
day 6 if you prefer.
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ridgeline of Mengukovske Stity looming above,
you can relax by the lake, and perhaps take a
swim, which may be very refreshing indeed as
the lake is 53m deep! One option would be to
follow the main trail higher as it zig-zags
steeply to a pass at 2180m, for fine views into
the remote Hlinska Dolina. Note- you are
advised not to descend from the pass into the
Hlinksa Dolina as there is no return trail. From
the lake you return back to Popradske Pleso
by the way you arrived. Walking time approx 4
hrs, with 500m ascent and descent.
The route is continuously waymarked with
frequently painted symbols all the way to the
top, and is at all times a defined and welltrodden path. Initially following a gradual trail
through dwarf pine you begin by walking into
the Menguskoska Valley, with the occasional
stream crossing over tiny wooden bridges.
Close to the head of the valley, a trail branches
off and begins to ascend steeply to reach a
small lake at around 1900m. Passing the lake
you continue to gain height quickly where
there’s then a brief section of scrambling (with
chains to ease the ascent), followed by more
zigzagging upwards to reach the Chata Pod
Rysmi (The Rysy Mountain Hut). Here you can
stop to rest your legs and take refreshments
before the final push for the summit about one
hour up from the Chata Pod Rysmi. Reaching
the summit you can enjoy the 360° views from
a rock formation known as Lenin’s Seat. The
return is by the same route. Walking time
approx. 6-8 hours, 1000m of ascent and
descent.
Mountain Lodge, Popradske Pleso
Day 7
After the previous days exertions today is very
easy in comparison, but also very pleasurable
and a little different to the past few days of
walking. Joining the Tatranska Magistrala once
more it’s a fairly gentle ascent through
woodland to Trigan (1481m). The last 20
minutes walk descends more gradually
through the forest to reach the largest of the
Slovak Tatra Mountain Lakes at the ski resort
of Strbske Pleso. Here the multitude of large
hotels, cafes, bars etc will be quite a shock at
first. Before leaving Strbske Pleso one option
you might like to take is the short chairlift ride
up to Soliskom for more mountain views. The
café here also does a very tasty Goulash!
From Strbske Pleso you simply hop onto the
wonderful mountain railway back to Tatranska
Lomnica.
Hotel, Tatranska Lomnica
Day 6
From Popradske Pleso you head back up the
lovely Mengukovska valley, retracing part of
the route you took to Rysy. However, you now
continue further up this delightful valley
following a trail that then climbs steadily into a
cwm to reach Hincovo Pleso (1946m), a
splendidly located glacial lake, and the largest
natural lake in Slovakia. With the impressive
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
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Journey time approx. 30 mins, cost approx.€8.
Your accommodation is 5 minutes walk from
the Tatranska Lomnica Mountain Railway
Station.
Alternatively you can take a taxi from Poprad
Airport to Tatranska Lomnica (journey time
approx. 45 minutes, cost approx. €50-€70).
Private transfers to/from Tatranska Lomnica
from/to Poprad can be booked in advance
through Walks Worldwide. The cost is £50 per
car each way (max 3 persons per car)
From Krakow International Airport
It’s around 4 hours journey time to Tatranska
Lomnica, so depending upon your flight arrival
and departure times, you may wish to consider
adding extra nights in Krakow either before or
at the end of the main trip.
We can arrange hotel accommodation in
Krakow (3* centrally located) at a cost of £46
per person per night (based on twin-share with
breakfast). Airport transfers to the hotel cannot
be provided. Taxi from airport to hotel approx.
€20)
Day 8
After breakfast depart Tatranska Lomnica or
join our “Paradise and the Mala Fatra” walking
holiday to discover more of the delights of
stunning Slovakia. See Joining Arrangements
and Transfers section.
We would recommend private transfers if flying
to/from Krakow as by public transport it’s quite
complicated and takes a long time.
Private transfers to/from Tatranska Lomnica
from/to Krakow costs £150 per car each way
(max 3 persons per car) from either Krakow
Airport, or Krakow Hotel.
Practical Information
Joining Arrangements and Transfers
The joining point for this trip is the first nights
accommodation in Tatranska Lomnica on day
1 of the trip itinerary. Airport transfers are not
included.
From Bratislava International Airport
The easiest and most straightforward option if
you prefer to use public transport to reach the
joining point. If you are arriving and departing
from Bratislava you can reach Tatranska
Lomnica by taking the train (taxi from airport to
train station) from Bratislava to Poprad. You
can take the Mountain Railway (located within
Poprad Main Line Train Station) to Tatranska
Lomnica (see joining in Poprad section).
The nearest International Airport is at Poprad
(approx 45 mins from Tatranska Lomnica),
although it is currently not particularly well
served by flights from the UK.
Alternative International Airports are Krakow
(Poland) and Bratislava, the capital of
Slovakia.
The train journey from Bratislava to Poprad
takes around 5hrs 30mins and costs around
€18 each way, plus 30 mins travelling time on
the mountain railway to Tatranska Lomnica.
Independent travel advice and costs of private
transfers to/from Tatranska Lomnica is given
below.
Details of train schedules etc can be found at:
www.zsr.sk
From Poprad International Airport
A 15 minute taxi journey from Poprad Airport
(cost approx. €8) will take you to the Mountain
Railway/Main Line Train Station. Here you take
the regular service (approx. every 30 mins)
Mountain Railway to Tatranska Lomnica.
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
Private transfers to/from Tatranska Lomnica
from/to Bratislava costs £295 per car each way
(max 3 persons per car). Journey time approx
6 hrs each way.
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Please contact the Walks Worldwide office to
check the status of your chosen holiday
BEFORE purchasing your International Air
ticket. You should not book your International
flight tickets or other travel arrangements until
your chosen holiday is guaranteed to run. If
you are purchasing your own air ticket, you
should be aware that most of the cheaper
airline tickets available for sale on the Internet
or from low cost carriers are non-refundable in
the case of cancellation. For this reason we
strongly advise you check the rules of the
ticket when you make a flight booking, and
check the limitations of any cancellation
insurance policy you have. We cannot be held
liable, for losses incurred relating to any flight
bookings or subsequent travel arrangements
you have made yourself.
Additional hotel nights in Bratislava may be
required before/after the trip itinerary and
these are best booked through a hotel booking
website such as expedia.com
International Airport
The nearest International Airport is at PopradTatry (approx 45 mins from Tatranska
Lomnica), although it is currently not
particularly well served by flights from the UK.
Alternative International Airports are Krakow
(Poland) and Bratislava, the capital of
Slovakia. Please see the travel advice in the
Joining Arrangements and Transfers section.
Due consideration to overland travelling times
should be given with regard to flight schedules
for Krakow and Bratislava, and extra nights
before/after the trip are advisable and as both
are interesting cities should make a welcome
addition to the main trip.
Travel by Train If you would prefer to travel by
train www.raileurope.co.uk provides an online
booking service for European rail services,
including Eurostar. You should not book your
International rail tickets or make any other
travel arrangements until your chosen holiday
is guaranteed to run.
For total flexibility and choice, the price of our
holidays often excludes flights. However, as an
ATOL bonded agent we are able to arrange
competitively priced tickets with the majority of
international airlines. Where low cost airlines
offer a better option, we are also able to
arrange these, subject to a small booking fee.
Only by arranging your flights with us can we
offer you the peace of mind and 100% financial
protection that booking with a licensed tour
operator brings.
Baggage
Please make sure that your baggage is clearly
marked with your name, inside as well as
outside, in case the labels get detached. Your
main baggage will remain at the hotel in
Tatranska Lomnica as baggage transfers are
not included because most accommodations
are not reachable by vehicle.
Contact us to discuss your regional flight
options for this holiday.
However the Mountain Lodge at Popradske
Pleso (where you overnight for days 4, 5 and
6) can be reached by 4wd drive vehicle.
Consequently, baggage transfers can be
provided to/from Popradske Pleso only at extra
cost. Your main baggage would be transferred
from Tatranska Lomnica to Popradske Pleso
on day 4. Your main baggage can also be
collected on day 7 from Popradske Pleso and
returned to Tatranska Lomnica. It’s certainly a
good idea to have your main baggage
transferred back to Tatranska Lomnica as
otherwise you’ll have to carry it yourself which
will prove to be a big hindrance to the pleasure
of the walk to Strbske Pleso.
If you would prefer to make your own
International travel arrangements you can
book this holiday as Land Only. You will need
to book flights that enable you to arrive in
Tatranska Lomnica no later than Day 1 of the
trip itinerary. Return flights should be booked
to
depart
no
sooner
than
late
afternoon/evening of Day 8 of the trip itinerary
dependent upon where your flight departs and
your overland travel preference. Please note if
you are booking Land Only it is your sole
responsibility to ensure you arrive at the joining
point for the contracted arrangements in good
time before these commence. No refunds will
be provided in respect of any unused services
contracted as a result. Similarly our contractual
obligations cease at the end of your contracted
arrangements.
If you would like to take advantage of this
baggage transfer option this must be
requested and paid for in advance at the time
of booking.
IMPORTANT- MAKE SURE YOUR CHOSEN
HOLIDAY IS GUARANTEED TO RUN BEFORE
YOU PURCHASE AIR TICKETS AND MAKING
ANY OTHER TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS.
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
The baggage transfer cost by private vehicle is
£60 each way. Cost is per vehicle not per
person, therefore if there are two persons in
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your party for example, the additional cost is
£30 per person each way.
Popradske Pleso has a more substantial
restaurant, we have not included evening
meals here so that you have freedom to
choose from their menus. There are several
restaurants and cafes in Tatranska Lomnica to
choose from. On most walking days you’ll also
pass by mountain huts where refreshments
and snacks will be available. Vegetarian
options will be limited.
You will carry your personal gear with you
each day. As sleeping bags and camping mats
are not required a larger daypack of 40-50
litres capacity should suffice and it should be
possible to keep the weight of your backpack
down to around 8-9kg. For the ascent of Rysy
and the walk to Hincovo Pleso you start at
Popradske Pleso and return to Popradske
Pleso, so you will also be able to leave
anything you don’t require for this day at
Popradske Pleso.
Climate
It is of course impossible to predict the precise
weather conditions you will encounter during
the course of your holiday. However, we do
schedule our holidays to coincide with what
should be the most suitable weather periods
for walking. Dependent upon when you travel
temperatures may be between 15ºC-23ºC+.
Mountains are notorious for creating their own,
localised weather conditions, so you should
always be prepared for inclement weather
conditions. For climate statistics visit
www.worldweather.org
Roughly speaking temperatures decrease by
approx. 1ºC for every 200 metre increase in
altitude.
Local transport
To return to Tatranska Lomnica from Strbske
Pleso at the end of the trek, the easiest way is
by the excellent Mountain Railway. A regular
service runs from Strbkse Pleso to Tatranska
Lomnica (approx. every 30 minutes).
Passports and Visas
British passport holders (and other EU
passport holders) do not require a visa to visit
Slovakia for stays up to three months (please
ensure your passport has at least 6 months
validity).
Altitude
The altitudes on this trip are moderate and you
should not anticipate any problems.
Accommodation
Accommodation will be reserved for you on a
twin share basis unless you have already
requested a single room only for the nights
(day 1 and day 7) you stay in a tourist class
hotel or Pension in the small resort of
Tatranska Lomnica. During the course of the
trekking accommodation is in simple Mountain
Huts and larger, more substantial Mountain
Lodges. Accommodation is small dorm style
and varies upon each location. Popradske
Pleso Lodge has a bar and restaurant.
Sleeping bags are not required as each
supplies bedding, although a sheet sleeping
bag (silk or cotton is recommended). Washing
and toilet facilities are available at each
location although these are quite simple at the
two
mountain
huts.
Single/private
accommodation is not available for the nights
spent in Mountain Lodges and Mountain Huts.
Vaccinations and medical precautions
We always recommend visiting your doctor
and dentist for a check up before travelling.
Your doctor will also have access to the most
up to date information on vaccinations and
medical precautions for the country you are
about to visit. In general, no vaccinations are
necessary for Slovakia. A useful travel health
online resource is www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Please make sure that you obtain form
EHIC either online www.dh.gov.uk or from
your local post office – you will need to
produce this if you have to see a doctor.
First Aid
You should always carry your own small,
personal first aid kit. This should consist of the
following: A general anti-biotic, throat
lozenges, painkillers, plasters (band-aids),
blister treatment, insect repellent (DEET),
rehydration salts, antiseptic cream, diarrhoea
treatment (e.g. Imodium).
Food
Meals included in the Land Only trip price are
indicated in the trip itinerary. You’ll take
breakfast at your overnight accommodation
and be provided with a packed lunch to carry
with you. For the two nights in the mountain
huts you’ll take your evening meal in these
mountain huts, where you can enjoy a simple
but hearty and tasty supper (please note
vegetarian options will be very limited). As
Slovakia – Rysy and the High Tatras
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Currency.
The Slovakian currency is the Euro (€). Please
refer to www.xe.com for up to date rates. ATM
machines are widely available in Poprad.
There are also ATM’s in Tatranska Lomnica
and Strbske Pleso.
Inclusions
Meals as shown in the trip itinerary
All accommodation
Route notes and maps
Language
In Slovakia the language is Slovakian.
Although you will find that English is widely
spoken to some degree along the Tatranska
Magistrala, we recommend you take along a
phrase book and also try to learn some simple
Slovakian phrases and greetings. The local
people will of course especially appreciate any
attempt to speak their language and is all part
of the fun.
Exclusions
Drinks
Souvenirs and personal items
Insurance
Meals not indicated
Airport transfers
International Flights
Optional excursion costs e.g. Cable car
costs etc
Mountain railway tickets
Optional Tatranska Lomnica/Popradske
Pleso/Popradske
Lomnica
baggage
transfers
Tipping
It is customary to leave a small tip at your
discretion for services.
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of booking any of our holidays
that you have comprehensive travel insurance.
It is your to responsibility to ensure you are
covered for medical and personal accident
risks for the part of the world you intend to
travel and the activities involved. This cover
should
include
repatriation
costs,
air
ambulance and helicopter rescue. It is also
advisable to take out cancellation insurance as
all deposits paid are non-refundable.
You may arrange either single-trip or annual
multi-trip travel insurance through Walks
Worldwide. Please call us on 0845 301 4737
or e-mail us- [email protected] for a
quotation.
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Clothing and Equipment Lists
At least one set of casual / non-walking clothes will be useful for wearing in hotels on this holiday.
Whilst walking you must not worry about how you look: comfort and protection against bad weather
are of prime importance. Because mountain weather is so very variable, we recommend a number of
thin layers rather than a few thick ones. The following list is our suggested guide to help you with your
packing based upon our many years of travelling/walking. Using your own judgment for packing is of
course important, especially with regard to casual clothing etc but please do not hesitate to contact us
if you have any questions about packing for your holiday, or are uncertain as to the suitability of your
clothing and equipment.
CLOTHING
Walking boots and spare laces
Trainers/approach shoes
Socks – 3+ pairs (Walking and Casual)
Underwear 3+
T-shirts 3+
Trekking Pants
Short trousers 1+
Light fleece 1+
Thick fleece 1+
Thermal Baselayer shirt 1+
Waterproof jacket with hood
Waterproof trousers
Warm Gloves
Sun Hat
Warm Hat
Swimwear (the mountain lakes can be quite inviting!)
EQUIPMENT
Rucksack (size 40-50 litre capacity)
2 Large water bottles (1 litre each)
Silk/Cotton Sleeping bag liner
Towel – quick drying pack towel is recommended
Torch (and spare bulb and batteries)
Camera & accessories
Binoculars
A variety of dry bag/plastic bags
Sunglasses
Trekking poles (highly recommended)
Reading material (optional)
Washing/Shaving kit
Insect Repellent
Small personal First Aid kit (see section above)
Anti-Bacterial Handwash
Water purifying tablets
Sun Cream & lip salve
Blister plasters – i.e. Compeed
Tickets/E tickets
Passport
Money
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The following items should also considered as being useful on a walking holiday
Penknife/small scissors (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Moisturising cream
Baby wipes
Snacks/Energy bars
Safety pins (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Padlock for your kitbag
Small sewing/repair kit (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Small mirror
Nail clippers (DO NOT PACK IN HAND LUGGAGE)
Spare glasses/contact lenses
Earplugs (against snorers)
Cold water Travel Wash (preferably biodegradable)
Travel adaptor
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