Budapest to Krakow
Guided - 10 Nights/9 Days
Footloose or Guided. This walk travels the historic amber trade route. It starts on the Danube River in Budapest, ‘the Paris of the East’, and finishes in Krakow across the border in Poland.
Its’ highlights are no less than five UNESCO World Heritage sites as well as the magnificent Danube Bend, Gothic castles and the amber market at Krakow.
NEW - A GPS (global positioning system console with programmed route)
is included in the package.
Itinerary and Highlights
- Day 1 Budapest to Szentendre. Arrive Budapest and take the subway train to the picturesque little town of Szentendre where the route begins. Allow time to explore Szentendre’s many museums, churches and galleries. The nearby open air museum offers a look at Hungarian village architecture.
- Day 2 Szentendre to Visegrad (16 km). Transfer to Visegrad from where there are wonderful views of the Danube Bend. See the Solomon Tower, a dominant feature of the countryside, the Renaissance-style King Matthias Palace, and on Sibrik Hill, the remains of a Roman military camp. After walks in the surrounding hills, transfer to Esztergom, home to an enormous basilica.
- Day 3 Esztergom - Kamenica nad Hronom - Banska Stiavnica (15 km). Transfer to the village of Kamenica nad Hronom where the Kovacovske Hills nature trail starts. Easy walking with wonderful views of the Danube River from the Slovak side. Transfer to Banska Stiavnica stopping at the village of Brhlovce enroute to see the fascinating rock-cut houses.
- Day 4 Prencov to Banska Stiavnica (18 km). Tour Banska Stiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage site, then transfer to the village of Prencov to start the hike to Sitno, the highest peak in the Stiavnicke Highlands.
- Day 5 Banska Stiavnica - Ruzomberok - Vlkolinec (16 km). Transfer to the town of Ruzomberok, the start point for the Low Tatras, High Fatra and the Chocsky Hills. Set off toward High Fatra by way of Sidorovo Peak and enjoy views of the village of Vlkolinec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical reserve of traditional Slovak architecture. Take a short cut back to Ruzomberok on the lift from the top of Malino Peak.
- Day 6 Ruzomberok - Salatin - Liptovsky Mikulas (17 km). Today is the hardest day, a hike in the Low Tatras to the top of Salatin Hill, a nature park. Although one of the hardest, it is one of the prettiest trails in the Low Tatras.
- Day 7 Prosiecka and Kvacanska Valley (17 km). Leave Liptovsky Mikulas and transfer to the village of Prosiek in the Chocsky Hills for a circuit walk in a wild natural environment with caves, waterfalls and a unique restored wooden mill in the hamlet of Oblazy. Sometimes access is by ladders.
- Day 8 Demanovska Valley (14 km). Demanovska Valley is the heart of the Low Tatras. Visit limestone caves before going up Chopok Mountain by lift to continue on foot to the highest peak of the Low Tatras, Dumbier Mountain (2043m).
- Day 9 Liptovsky Mikulas - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Krakow (7 km). Transfer to the village of Lanckorona in Poland to begin the walk to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and the Stations of the Cross, consisting of 32 chapels ending at the monumental Bernadine monastery. Transfer to Krakow.
- Day 10 Krakow. You may need more than one day here to visit Wawel Castle, the Old Market Square, the Jewish quarter, town walls and the Royal Way, as well as the cafes, pubs, theatres and clubs.
Arrangements end - enquire about additional nights’ accommodation. - Day 11
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- Day 20
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Budapest Greenway