Slovakia’s Hidden Gems

Day 1 – Flight to Vienna

Afternoon flight from London Heathrow to Vienna from where our local Slovakian guide and mini-coach takes us to Bratislava for an overnight stay.

Day 2 – The Carpathian Wine Route

We visit a small workshop making traditional Slovakian pottery before continuing to a small local winery in Pezinok for a wine tasting. Continue to Modra and Dolna Krupa, with lunch at a mead producer before visiting Trnava Cathedral and, finally to Trencin for an overnight stay.

Day 3 – Cicmany & Zilina

Travel to the mountain village of Cicmany with its decorated wooden houses and take the local train from Rajecke Teplice to Zilina.

Day 4 – Orava Forestry Railway & Orava Castle

Exploring the national park further, we visit a local cheese producer and visit the Orava Forest Railway Museum for a short diesel hauled ride. Afternoon visit to Orava Castle and overnight at a guest house in the village of Oravske Jasenica.

Day 5 – Slanica Island, Klin & Trvrdosin

Ferry across the large Orava reservoir to Slanica Island which houses a museum. Continue to the village of Klin and the UNESCO World Heritage wooden church at Trvrdosin. Drive through the High Tatra Mountains to our accommodation at the Mountain Hotel Lujza Major for a 3-night stay.

Day 6 – High Tatras

Drive to Strba for a ride on the High Tatras Funicular Railway to Strbske Pleso, a beautiful lakeside resort. Time for a stroll along the lakeside before taking the narrow gauge electric train to Tatranska Lomnica for a cable car ascent to Skalnate Pleso Glacial Lake.

Day 7 – Spiss Region

We explore the historic towns of Kezmarok and Levoca where we find several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including St. Jacob’s Basilica in Levoca and Spiss Castle, the largest castle in Central Europe. We also visit Spisska Kapitula Abbey and St. Martin’s Cathedral.

Day 8 – Cierny Balog Forest Railway & Banska Bystrica

We make a photo stop at Chmaros Viaduct at Telgart on the Low Tatras rail line from Margecany to Banska Bystrica before arriving at Cierny Balog for a 90 minute steam-hauled round trip on the heritage narrow gauge forestry railway. Continue to Banska Bystrica, the main city of Central Slovakia, before a 2-night stay in Zvolen.

Day 9 – Banska Stiavnica

Drive to the historic city of Banska Stiavnica, a beautifully preserved Medieval town with a mining museum. Farewell dinner at our hotel.

Day 10 Flight from Vienna to London

Transfer to Vienna Airport for afternoon flight to London.