 Walking
Amber Trail:
Budapest - Cracow
Walking through Hungary, Slovakia and
Poland
10-day / 9-night walking tour
Self-guided or guided walking trip
Length of walks: 120 km / 75 miles
Trip rating: Moderate to Challenging
Self-guided
tours:
Every day from April to the end of October
Dates for guided tours:
July 15-24, 2008
July 31-August 9, 2008
September 10-19, 2008
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. (Read
more about this hiking tour in Hungary,
Slovakia and Poland)
Highlights
-
5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites Genteel
city of Budapest
Old
town of Banska Stiavnica
Traditional
village of Vlkolinec
Pilgrimage site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Royal city of Cracow
- The magnificent
Danube Bend
-Massive
Gothic castles
- Cracow amber market
Itinerary
10-day / 9-night walking tour
| 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 |
| Day 2 |
Szentendre - Visegrad (16 km / 10 miles)
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. |
| Day 3 |
Esztergom - Kamenica nad Hronom - Banska Stiavnica (15
km / 9 miles)
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 |
| Day 4 |
Prencov - Banska Stiavnica (18 km / 11 miles)
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
Stiavnicke 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.
Overnight in Banska Stiavnica. |
| Day 5 |
Banska Stiavnica - Ruzomberok - Vlkolinec (16
km / 10 miles)
Transfer by car 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, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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. |
| Day 6 |
Ruzomberok - Salatin - Liptovsky Mikulas (17 km
/ 11 miles)
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. |
| Day 7 |
Prosiecka and Kvacanska Valley (17
km / 11 miles)
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. 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
car 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. |
| Day 8 |
Demanovska Valley (14 km / 9
miles)
Morning transfer by car to the very heart of the Low Tatras: Demanovska
Valley. 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). Evening transfer by van back to Liptovsky
Mikulas.
Overnight in Liptovsky Mikulas |
| Day 9 |
Liptovsky Mikulas - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Cracow (7
km / 4 miles)
Morning transfer by car to to the village of Lanckorona in Poland, where
there is an interesting project to save the local folk architecture. Hike
from here to today's highlight Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, and the Stations
of the Cross consisting of 32 chapels and chaplets, ending in the monumental
Bernadine monastery.
Late afternoon transfer to Cracow. Overnight in Cracow |
| Day 10 |
Cracow
In Cracow, you'll need more than one day: 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 cafes or pubs, theaters or clubs,
and that takes more than a day, too... |
| Price of guided tour: |
1790 EUR per
person (based on twin-bedded room) |
| Single supplement: |
350 EUR |
| Minimum group size: |
4 people |
| Guided walking tours include: |
• Professional bilingual guide
• Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions
• Support van
• Buffet breakfast and dinner
• Luggage transfer
• Detailed hiking maps with highlighted route
• English route descriptions
• Private guided tours at chateaux, castles, museums
and other select attractions
• Special events, including wine tasting and picnics
|
|
| Price of self-guided tour: |
1290 EUR per person (based
on twin-bedded room) |
| Single supplement: |
350 EUR |
| Self-guided walking tours include: |
• Accommodation in selected hotels and pensions
• Buffet breakfast
• Luggage transfer
• Detailed hiking maps with highlighted route
• English route descriptions
• Global Positioning System (GPS) console with
programmed
route
• Transportation by car according to program
• Welcome briefing upon arrival
• Stand-by support (cell phone and contact person)
|
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Greenways
Travel Club
