Cycling Krakow to High Tatras
Cycling Krakow to High Tatras
Cycling Krakow to High Tatras
8 Days Starting in Krakow, Poland and ending in Strbske Pleso, Slovakia
Visiting: Krakow, Mszana Dolna, Szczawnica, Levoca, Strbske Pleso, Tatras
Tour operator:
Tour code:
MCT-KTP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 16
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
Embark on an exhilarating journey from Krakow to the High Tatras on this cycling adventure through Poland and Slovakia. Starting in the historic city of Krakow, you'll ride through picturesque southern Poland, explore medieval ruins in Dobczyce, and ascend the scenic Gorce Mountains. Cross into Slovakia via a stunning gorge and discover the UNESCO-listed town of Levoca. Experience the grandeur of Spissky hrad, one of Central Europe's largest medieval castles, and cycle through the breathtaking Slovak Paradise National Park. Conclude your tour at the serene montane lake of Strbske Pleso in the High Tatras, with options for hiking, chairlift rides, and relaxation. This tour offers a perfect blend of cultural exploration and active adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Meet In Krakow
Location: Krakow
Meals Included: Dinner
We meet at our tour hotel in Krakow for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.
Day 2 : Krakow – Mszana Dolna
Location: Mszana Dolna
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Krakow we ride through the countryside of southern Poland to reach Dobczyce, with its ruins of a medieval castle overlooking a lake. Then we enter the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains and spend the night in Mszana Dolna, a charming Polish town hardly known to tourists.
Day 3 : Mszana Dolna – Szczawnica
Location: Szczawnica
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We ascend the slopes of the Gorce Mountains on a mix of rural roads and forest paths. Then it’s downhill into the Dunajec River Valley to reach the town of Szczawnica. In the afternoon you can take a chairlift up to Palenica Peak or head to Lake Czorsztyn by bike.
Day 4 : Szczawnica – Levoca
Location: Levoca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We cross into Slovakia via a pedestrian and bicycle-only path in a gorge of the Pieniny Mountains. An undulating ride through Slovakia’s Spis region then takes us to Levoca, a historic town renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval and Renaissance architecture.
Day 5 : Spis Castle Loop
Location: Levoca
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
A 30 km loop from Levoca takes us to Spissky hrad, one of Central Europe’s largest medieval castle ruins. Explore this UNESCO-listed fortress as well as the nearby ecclesiastical town of Spisska Kapitula, the ‘Slovak Vatican’.
Day 6 : Levoca – Strbske Pleso
Location: Strbske Pleso
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Following a route skirting the edges of Slovak Paradise National Park and leading through the historic city of Poprad, we reach the montane lake of Strbske Pleso in the High Tatras Mountains. We spend two nights here at a classic Slovakian hotel.
Day 7 : High Tatras Exploration
Location: Tatras
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, join a cool-down downhill ride with views of the granite peaks of the Tatras from the saddle. In the afternoon, there are options for hiking, taking a chairlift up to Predne Solisko, and relaxing in a wellness zone.
Day 8 : Strbske Pleso Departure
Location: Strbske Pleso
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour has ended but if you want to continue the cycling fun then book our “Cycling High Tatras to Budapest” tour which begins with a trip briefing and dinner at the same hotel this evening.
What's Included
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Welcome Dinner
A welcome dinner is provided on the first day of the tour in Krakow.
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Accommodation
Accommodation is provided throughout the tour, including a classic Slovakian hotel in Strbske Pleso for two nights.
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Cycling Routes
Cycling routes through various scenic locations including the countryside of southern Poland, the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, the Gorce Mountains, the Dunajec River Valley, and the High Tatras Mountains.
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UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Visits to UNESCO World Heritage-listed sites such as Levoca and Spissky hrad.
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Optional Activities
Optional activities include taking a chairlift up to Palenica Peak, hiking, and relaxing in a wellness zone.
What's Not Included
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Bike Hire
Bike hire is not included in the tour package.
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Meals
Meals are not explicitly included except for the welcome dinner on the first day.
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Transport to Start Location
Transport to the starting location in Krakow is not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional snacks, and drinks are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
Mode of Transport
Travel through the scenic countryside of Poland and Slovakia by bike, with routes including rural roads, forest paths, and a pedestrian and bicycle-only path.
Accommodation
Enjoy comfortable stays in charming Polish towns and classic Slovakian hotels, including two nights at a hotel in the High Tatras Mountains.
Check out our Q&As
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What is the starting point of the tour?
The tour starts in Krakow, Poland.
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Where does the tour end?
The tour ends in Strbske Pleso, Slovakia.
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What can I expect on the first day of the tour?
On the first day, you will meet at the tour hotel in Krakow for a trip briefing and welcome dinner.
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What activities are planned for the second day?
On the second day, you will ride through the countryside of southern Poland to reach Dobczyce, visit the ruins of a medieval castle, and then enter the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, spending the night in Mszana Dolna.
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What will we do on the third day?
On the third day, you will ascend the slopes of the Gorce Mountains, ride downhill into the Dunajec River Valley to reach Szczawnica, and have the option to take a chairlift up to Palenica Peak or bike to Lake Czorsztyn.
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How do we cross into Slovakia?
You will cross into Slovakia via a pedestrian and bicycle-only path in a gorge of the Pieniny Mountains.
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What is special about Levoca?
Levoca is a historic town renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed medieval and Renaissance architecture.
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What can we explore on the fifth day?
On the fifth day, you will take a 30 km loop from Levoca to explore Spissky hrad, one of Central Europe's largest medieval castle ruins, and the nearby ecclesiastical town of Spisska Kapitula, known as the 'Slovak Vatican'.
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What is the highlight of the sixth day?
The highlight of the sixth day is reaching the montane lake of Strbske Pleso in the High Tatras Mountains, where you will spend two nights at a classic Slovakian hotel.
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What activities are available on the seventh day?
On the seventh day, you can join a cool-down downhill ride with views of the granite peaks of the Tatras, and in the afternoon, you have options for hiking, taking a chairlift up to Predne Solisko, and relaxing in a wellness zone.
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What happens on the last day of the tour?
The tour ends on the last day, but you have the option to continue the cycling adventure by booking the 'Cycling High Tatras to Budapest' tour, which begins with a trip briefing and dinner at the same hotel in the evening.
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Do I need to have travel insurance?
Yes! SpiceRoads insists that all clients must take out good travel insurance before joining one of our tours. There are inherent risks involved in cycling and mountain biking and we will not be liable for your medical expenses or evacuation in case of an accident. This insurance must include adequate coverage for any personal accident, medical expenses, injury, death and repatriation. Insurance should also provide coverage for cancellations or curtailment of the holiday. Clients should also ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for any dangerous or unusual activities that might be included in their tour. If you join the tour without adequate insurance you may be disallowed from continuing on the tour without the right of refund. Clients are solely responsible for arranging their insurance and they should ensure that they are covered for the full duration of their tour. Your tour leader will ask for copies of your insurance before allowing you to join the tour. This protects both you and us.
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Is the trip guaranteed to depart and does it require a minimum number of people?
There is a minimum number of participants (usually 2) required to enable the trip to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to Depart'. Once a trip is guaranteed to depart you are free to book your flights and make other travel arrangements. If the trip status is ‘Limited’ will mean we have only a small number of spaces available for booking. If you are unsure about the trip status, please contact us.
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Why hire a bike from SpiceRoads?
SpiceRoads bikes are never just "fit for duty" but a key component of our riders’ tour experience and satisfaction. For tours with bike hire option, renting one of our bikes saves hassle, not to mention precious luggage allowance. All SpiceRoads tours use well-known makes of mountain, hybrid or road bikes (depending on the tour) with lightweight alloy frames, 24- to 27-speed gearing, v-brakes or disc brakes and Shimano components. Mountain bikes all have front suspension. We renew bikes in our fleet every two seasons. When in use, our bikes are well-cared for, including full service before each trip and daily cleaning while on tour. SpiceRoads tour support vehicles carry plenty of spares and extra tubes for every emergency.
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Do you have E-Bikes?
Electric "pedal assist" e-bikes are available on select tours. E-bikes can help manage long distances and climbing terrain through the use of a pedal-activated electric motor. Unlike other e-bikes, "pedal assistedr" e-bikes feel more natural to the rider. We recommend e-bikes for riders interested in tours that might normally be too challenging for them, or for groups of riders with mixed ability. E-bikes provide assistance for long distance or more challenging terrain, but they can’t do all the work for you! Always chose a tour within the range of your own abilities to ensure your own enjoyment when exploring a new destination. Contact us for a complete list of e-bike available tours.
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What do I need to bring if I rent a SpiceRoads bike?
Bikes rented for tours always come with a helmet, a single water bottle cage, and a standard saddle. If you prefer to bring your own saddle (just the saddle, not the seat post), additional water bottle cage, or SPD pedals, we will fit them to your bike for the tour. Don’t forgot to bring your shoes and cleats if you bring SPD pedals! Women specific seats are recommended for longer tours. We have a limited supply of gel seat covers to soften the ride, and of strap-on toe cages. Please enquire about adding these during your booking.
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Do you have details of the SpiceRoads fleet?
In Thailand we have a fleet of Verve city bikes, TREK 4300 and X-Caliber 7 mountain bikes, TREK 7.2 X, FX 3 and 7200 hybrid bikes and Trek 2.1 C, Domane 2.0, Lexa SL and carbon Émonda S5 road bikes. We also carry Giant 2019 Explore E+ 3 e-bikes. Our bicycles are available in sizes ranging from 13 inches to 22 1/2 inches or 47 cm to 62 cm. Please note that a certain frame model is not guaranteed. In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, baby seats, tag-alongs, and child bikes for children are available. In Bangkok the single-wheeled tag-along bike attach to the seat-post of an adult bike, allowing a child to pedal along behind the adult. There's no age limit to the tag-along bike, but there is a 36 kg weight limit. Bike hire is include in the tour price for short tours, while longer tours offer bike hire as a supplement, as many riders opt to bring their own bike for our cycling tours. Depending on the destination, length of tour, and type of bike, hire costs vary.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
SpiceRoads Cycling allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform spiceroads cycling, 40 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
SpiceRoads Cycling requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of spiceroads cycling charges.
At 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 0% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.