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Hike Amber Trail Budapest to Krakow
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Czech Republic
Tours main page |
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Route
Highlights:
· 6
World Heritage Sites (protected by UNESCO)
·
genteel city of Budapest
· old
town of Banska Štiavnica
·
traditional village of Vlkolinec
·
pilgrimage site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
·
Wieliczka salt mine
·
Royal city of Cracow
· the
magnificent Danube Bend
·
massive Gothic castles
·
Krakow amber market
·
thermal cave spa
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10 - day trip from Budapest to Krakow
This rewarding
route leads through three countries - Hungary,
Slovakia, and Poland in the steps of the
historic amber trade route. Our journey starts
on the Danube River in Budapest, the capital of
Hungary, the "Paris of the East". The hike
itself begins in the nearby village of
Szentendre about 10 km north of Budapest.
Szentendre is a picturesque little town full of
cafes, restaurants, galleries, churches,
museums, little shops, and street artists. It is
the gateway to an especially panoramic part of
Hungary called the Danube Bend, where the river
winds between high hills to Visegrad (and a
castle with a beautiful view), and the historic
town of Ezstergom, for centuries the seat of the
Hungarian bishops, with its magnificent
cathedral.
In crossing the
Danube we reach Slovakia, the longest and most
scenically attractive part of the journey. The
first footpath here leads from the Slovak side
of the Danube into the Kováčovský Hills and
onward to Banská Štiavnica, a medieval mining
town, selected for the UNESCO World Heritage
List for its unique history. For those who wish
to rest and regenerate their strength, the spa
in Sklené Teplice offers swimming in thermal
caves.
The trail leads
through the unspoiled countryside of the
mountains in Slovakia and the typical highland
villages, over the High Fatra, Low Tatras, and
Western Tatra range, where the effort expended
in conquering the difficult route is more than
compensated for by the panoramic views of the
highest mountains in Slovakia. The little
mountain villages might be lost in time; the
hospitality of the local people, herds of sheep
and traditional crafts, all this is part of the
unforgettable experience of this trail, so far
relatively undiscovered by outsiders.
Read more about the trail here! |
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Walk Budapest
to
Krakow
Itinerary
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Day 1 |
Budapest - Szentendre
The change of scenery from big city to the
small town of Szentendre (12 miles from
Budapest) is a pleasant start for the best
of the hiking routes between Budapest and
Cracow. The town of Szentendre is easy to
reach by van on highway 11, by subway train
(HÉV), by coach (VOLÁN), and by boat on the
Danube (MAHART). Szentendre with its unique
atmosphere has two dozen museums, seven
churches, 13 galleries, and countless coffee
shops and little pubs. The nearby Open Air
Museum offers visitors a look at traditional
Hungarian village architecture.
Overnight in Szentendre |
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Day 2 |
Szentendre - Visegrad
Morning transfer by van to Visegrad. The
foot trail features wonderful views of the
Danube Bend and hills around Visegrad, where
in a relatively small area you can admire
one of the best-preserved Romanesque towers
in Central Europe, the Solomon Tower, or the
dominant feature of the countryside, the
Renaissance-style King Matthias Palace. On
Sibrik Hill you can see the remains of a
Roman military camp, and take in the beauty
of the whole area from the watch tower on
Nagy-villam Hill. Late afternoon transfer by
van to Esztergom, traditional seat of the
Hungarian bishops, with its enormous
basilica.
Overnight in Esztergom. |
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Day 3 |
Esztergom - Kamenica nad Hronom - Banska
Stiavnica
After Esztergom we transfer to the trailhead
in the village of Kamenica nad Hronom, where
the Kovacovske Hills nature trail starts.
The route leads through a National Nature
Reserve offering panoramic views of the
majestic Danube River from the Slovak side.
This part of the trail is one of the easier
hikes in both difficulty and length. In the
late afternoon transfer to Banska Stiavnica,
with a stop in the village of Brhlovce, with
its unique houses chopped into the rock, and
a fascinating museum on this unusual
feature.
Overnight in Banská Stiavnica |
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Day 4 |
Prencov - Banska Stiavnica - Sklene Teplice
First a tour of Banska Stiavnica, protected
by UNESCO for its history, atmosphere, and
location, then transport by van to the
village of Prencov where the route starts
that takes you to Sitno, the highest peak in
the Stiavnica Highlands, with observation
tower at the top. The nearby castle is named
after the mountain. The path leads on
through one-time mining country, with an
interesting system of lakes and collection
canals, to Banska Stiavnica. The second and
equally fantastic alternative is the foot
trail from Banska Stiavnica to the village
of Sklene Teplice, with a thermal cave spa
and the chance to regenerate your strength
for the next part of the Amber Trail. After
the spa you will be transferred back to
Banska Stiavnica.
Overnight in Banska Stiavnica. |
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Day 5 |
Banska
Stiavnica - Ruzomberok - Vlkolinec
Transfer by auto to the town of Ruzomberok,
the ideal starting point for the ranges of
the Low Tatras, High Fatra, and Chocsky
Hills.
The hiking route leaves Ruzomberok toward
the High Fatra by way of Sidorovo peak, from
which there is a most exquisite view of the
village of Vlkolinec, one of the main points
of interest on the Amber Trail, a historical
reserve containing the most undisturbed and
complete collection of traditional
architecture in Slovakia, put under UNESCO
heritage protection for its uniqueness. You
can take a shortcut in the form of a lift
that takes you from the top of Malino peak
back to Ruzomberok.
Overnight in Ruzomberok. |
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Day 6 |
Ruzomberok - Salatin - Liptovsky Mikulas
This day is set aside for a hike to the Low
Tatras, the most difficult segment of our
trip, which starts in the village of Ludrova
(3 miles from the center of Ruzomberok) and
goes to the top of Salatin Hill, a national
nature park of extraordinary botanic and
zoological value. The relatively easy
beginning of the route turns into a steep
climb to the top, where there is a really
fine view of the whole area around Liptov.
The entire circuit, ending back in Ludrova,
is one of the prettiest foot trails in the
Low Tatras. Late afternoon transfer from
Ruzomberok to Liptovsky Mikulas.
Overnight in Liptovsky Mikulas. |
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Day 7 |
Prosiecka and Kvacanska Valley
Liptovsky Mikulas is famous as the place
where Juraj Janosik, the "Slovak Robin
Hood", was hung on a hook to die in 1713.
The program starts with transportation to
the village of Prosiek in the Chocsky Hills,
the starting point for excursions into one
of Slovakia's most beautiful valleys. Taken
together with the Kvacanska Valley it is one
of the most interesting circuits, featuring
a remarkably wild natural environment with
caves, waterfalls, and a unique, restored
wooden mill in the hamlet of Oblazy. In
places the only way to go up is by ladder.
After finishing the walking route you are
taken by van back to Liptovsky Mikulas, with
a stop in the village of Zuberec, with a
unique open-air museum of folk structures
typical of the Orava region.
Overnight in Liptovsky Mikulas. |
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Day 8 |
Demanovska Valley
By van in the morning to the very heart of
the Low Tatras: Demanovska Valley offers a
variety of possibilities, depending on the
weather and the physical resources of the
hikers. One of them is to visit the
Demanovske limestone caves, go up on the
lift almost to the top of Chopok Mountain,
and continue to the highest peak of the Low
Tatras, Dumbier Mountain (2043m), or else
take the Demanovske Valley instructional
trail.
Evening transfer by van back to Liptovsky
Mikulas. Overnight in Liptovsky Mikulas
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Day 9 |
Orava
- Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Krakow
Morning transport by van to the village of
Oravsky Podzamok, at the foot of majestic
Gothic Oravský Castle, one of the highlights
of the trip, featured in the classic 1922
vampire film Nosferatu. After that we cross
over by van into Poland, where we tour the
village of Lanckorona, where an interesting
project to save the local folk architecture
is underway. The second highlight of the
program is a visit to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska,
and the Stations of the Cross consisting of
32 chapels and chaplets, ending in the
monumental Bernadine monastery.
Late afternoon transfer to Krakow. Overnight
in Krakow |
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Day 10 |
Krakow
and Wieliczka
In the morning you will visit the salt mine
in Wieliczka, which has been in constant
operation since the Middle Ages. It includes
vast chambers ornately waved out of rock
salt. Back in Krakow, you'll need more than
one day, of course: Wawel Castle, the Old
Market Square, the Kazimierz Jewish quarter,
or the town walls and Royal Way could easily
take a day each. But then to really soak up
the atmosphere of this living city you must
get into cafés or pubs, theaters or clubs,
and that takes more than a day, too...
Click
to Print Itinerary
Book Now |
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Guided Set Departures 2008:
Dates for guided walking
tour:
July 15-25, 2008
July 31- August 9, 2008
September 10-19, 2008
Private guided
tours available everyday from April
to the end of October.
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Costs |
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Self-Guided:
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Price Net Per Person |
EURO
1,290.- |
(based on twin - bed
room)
• Single supplement:
EURO 350,-
Book Now |
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Includes:
• accommodation in selected
hotels and pensions
• buffet breakfast
• luggage transfer
• information package (route
instructions, maps,
suggestions)
• transportation by car
according to program
• welcome briefing upon
arrival
• quality bike rental
• stand-by support
• GPS navigation system and
cell phone |
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If you'd like to
customize this itinerary,
email us! |
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Guided Set Departures:
|
Price Net Per Person |
EURO
1,790.- |
(based on twin - bed
room)
• Single supplement:
EURO 350,-
• Minimum size of group:
4 people
Book Now |
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Included:
• professional bilingual
guide
• support van
• accommodation in selected
hotels and pensions
• buffet breakfast and
dinner included
• luggage transfer
• quality bike rental
• private guided tours at
chateaux, castles, museums,
and other select attractions
• special events, including
wine tasting and picnics |
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| Difficulty
Level |
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easy
to moderate
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Self-Guided
& Guided
Set Departure Walking Vacations in Central Europe
