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Family Slovakia Winter Adventure

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 Trip Length
8 Days
 Trip Starts
Krakow
 Trip Finishes
Krakow
8 Day Family Slovakia Winter Adventure Itinerary (Explore)
Countries Explored: Poland, Slovakia
Trip Style
Winter Activity
Accommodation
Comfortable
Max. Group Size
16
Pace
Moderate
Guide Level
Fully Guided
Trip Code
FPW

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Explore's 8 Day Family Slovakia Winter Adventure. Explore the stunning natural beauty of Poland and Slovakia's winter landscape with its snow-covered mountains and beautiful towns. Experience a wide range of unusual winter activities including skifox, a type of bike on skis, snow tubing on an air-filled ring and night sledging as well as snowshoeing, ice skating and cross country skiing.... a real winter adventure.

Itinerary

Arrive in Krakow. Dating from the 13th century, Krakow is a picture-postcard maze of narrow streets, grand buildings and al-fresco cafes.

For those arriving on time today our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 5pm for the welcome meeting and to take us on an orientation walk of the city.

If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Krakow's John Paul II International Airport (airport code KRK), which is 18km, around 30 minutes from the hotel.

Please note that if you wish to join the orientation walk today, you must arrive at the hotel by 5pm. If you are booking your own flights, we recommend giving yourself at least 1 hour to clear the airport. From the airport to the hotel is around 30 minutes' drive, so therefore the latest your flight can arrive is 3.30pm. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

On this evenings walk we will visit Rynek Glowny, Europe's largest medieval square with its quirky town houses and historic buildings that surround the area including Sukiennice which is the most famous and still in use today as a covered market. We also explore the delightful Old Town; a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only major Polish district to escape the war unscathed.

Overlooking all this is the fairy-tale Wawel Castle, where past kings and queens are buried and is the home of many treasures that have been collected by the Polish monarchy. There is also the opportunity this evening to explore the former Jewish Kazimierz District, which was the Jewish Ghetto in World War II and the setting for the film Schindler's List. Nowadays this area is probably the most vibrant part of the city with unique cafes, bars and restaurants and it offers an interesting insight into how the Krakow Jews lived during the war years. Stay: Hotel Wyspianski (Comfortable)

We travel this morning crossing the border from Poland into Slovakia, a journey of around three hours. Our destination is Novy Smokovec. This village with Stary Smokovec, Tatranska Lomnica and Strbske Pleso are the most frequently visited tourist places in the High Tatras. Novy Smokovec was also a spa centre which continues up to the present times. It is known for its skiing in winter and hiking and mountaineering in the summer and is located in the heart of the mountain range with stunning views of the Tatras Basin below. The Tatras Mountain range is strictly protected, and despite the area's popularity, the town still has many traditional wooden buildings and its alpine culture still strongly evident.

On arrival, we'll enjoy a gentle walk around the town to get our bearings, before donning snowshoes for an introductory walk close to our hotel. The trails provide the opportunity to enjoy the tranquil splendor of mountain scenery and beech trees that are covered in layers of blanketing snow. Snowshoeing is fairly easily mastered and we should need just a few minutes to feel confident enough before heading off on our afternoon's exploration which should last around 2 ½ hours. Your trip Leader will adjust the duration and distance to match the requirements of the group. Snowshoes and hiking poles are provided. Please note, the order of the itinerary may vary depending upon the weather conditions. Stay: Villa Siesta (Comfortable) (B)

Avalanche action awaits us today! It's a few minutes' walk to the funicular base station. We board the funicular and ascend to a high mountain village where many of the snow activities take place. From here we take a half hour's walk to Velka Studena dolina. During our walk, an unexpected event happens! We are challenged to find hidden objects under piles of snow - we receive a special device to search for the object as well as shovels and detectors. We all have to work together as a team to discover what lies beneath. Hot refreshments are provided.

There is time to relax for a few hours back at the hotel before venturing out for our night sledging activity. We take the funicular train up the mountain to reach the start of the 2.6km sledge track which leads from Hrebienok down the mountain to Stary Smokovec. The route is flood lit and it's a race to the bottom! Stay: Villa Siesta (Comfortable) (B)

Today is left free for optional activities including skiing and snowboarding in Stary Smokovec or Tatranska Lomnica both of which have a range of slopes available to suit the beginner or intermediate skier. The Tatranska Lomnica ski region located in the High Tatras, the highest in Slovakia, offers 12km of slopes and 8 ski lifts (mixture of modern chairlifts and cable cars) to an elevation of 2,196 meters; ideal for full or half day of skiing. For prices please refer to the budgeting section.

Alternatively take a break from the outdoors and relax in one of the numerous wellness centres found in the town.

If you wish to book ski lessons we suggest these are booked well in advance as ski lessons are in high demand. For current prices and how to book, see the budgeting section. Stay: Villa Siesta (Comfortable) (B)

After breakfast we head to a local lake to try our hand at ice skating. All equipment is provided.

This afternoon we walk to our cooking class which takes place in one of the local hotels. We learn how to cook a selection of traditional Slovakian dishes as we split into groups to prepare a starter, main and dessert. We then sit down and enjoy our creations at the end of the class. Stay: Villa Siesta (Comfortable) (B/D)

This morning we drive to Strbske Pleso further up the valley where we try out cross country skiing. Strbske Pleso is the highest village in the High Tatras with the nearby Tschirmer Lake an ideal location to learn to cross country ski, offering flat terrain with a stunning mountain backdrop.

The group may be divided according to physical ability with an initial 0.7km loop to get aquatinted. Proficient skiers can try the medium loops of up to 2 km with an instructor and there is a more technical loop of 5 km also available, for experienced skiers only.

The whole group will reunite at the nearby Koliba Pleso hut to enjoy a typical Slovak lunch typically bean, cabbage or garlic soup followed by sheep cheese gnocchi (halushky) or pierogi, goulash and schnitzel washed down with local beer or wine or soft drink.

This afternoon we try out a range of activities back in Stary Smokovec. First, snowtubing - these are fast inflatable tubes that you sit on and enjoy the ride back down the ski slope. All you have to do is sit into a rubber wheel, tie yourself to a ski-tow, let yourself be pulled a few meters upwards and slide downhill. No experience is necessary and you enjoy five rides. We then try Funtools which is like a bicycle with mini skis instead of wheels that you sit on to manoeuvre along the snow - a perfect activity for non-skiers. Stay: Villa Siesta (Comfortable) (B/L)

After breakfast we drive back to Krakow where we have the afternoon free to enjoy this city further. Stay: Hotel Wyspianski (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Krakow.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Krakow at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Krakow's John Paul II International Airport (airport code KRK), which is 18km, around 30 minutes from the hotel. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Enjoy a 2.5 km long sledge track ride at night
  • Active snow shoeing tour suitable for all levels
  • Try out snow tubing on air-filled wheels

  • Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a holiday which combines exciting activities and experiences with plenty of time to relax and unwind. Typically you'll be active and busy for part of the day but then also have time to rest and recharge your batteries.

  • Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
About Explore!
About Explore!

Launching in 1981, Explore offer trips from over 130 countries - from classic small group tours. Read more

Explore Leaders
Explore Leaders

Explore's leaders are more than just your typical guide. They're your local expert are are passionate about sharing their expertise with you. Read more

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Where do we Stay?

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Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and will no longer continue. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view the general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Prices and trip information are correct at the time at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Explore. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from Explore. These should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

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