4.3

Hut-to-Hut Trekking in Poland's Tatra Mountains

  • Poland
  • 6 nights

Hike across the wildly beautiful Tatra mountain range from west to east, summiting Poland’s tallest peak along the way

What's Included?

  • Activities & Certified GuidesAll itinerary activities with expert, local, English-speaking guides
  • Accommodation4 nights in mountain huts and 2 nights in hotels
  • MealsAll breakfasts, all lunches and 4 dinners
  • TransfersA group transfer from/to the airport and all local transfers
  • EquipmentSafety kit for the Rysy scramble
  • Small Like-minded GroupsSolo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 12 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people

From…excluding flights

Highlights

  • Trek through the stunning Five Lakes Valley – a beautiful postglacial landscape with crystal-clear lakes and Poland’s highest waterfall

  • Tackle a thrilling rocky scramble to the top of Rysy (2501m), Poland's highest mountain, for panoramic views over the Carpathians

  • Experience warm mountain hospitality in historic highland huts and alpine hotels, finishing up in the charming town of Zakopane

Itinerary

    Day 1

    Warm up hike and first night in the mountains

    Hiking
    2-3 hrs · 7km · 300m up · 60m down
    Driving
    2-3 hrs
    Mountain hut
    Mixed dorm
    Dinner included
    Show Day 1 detail

    Meet your host at the airport for your transfer to the southern tip of Poland and the base of the Tatra Mountains. Your adventure begins in the picturesque Chocholowska Valley, famous for its stunning spruce forests. In spring, the valley is a sea of blooming purple crocuses, with sheep grazing peacefully on the pastures. Start your trek with an easy afternoon walk, following the river as you wind your way up the valley. Your destination is the Chocholowska mountain hut, perched at 1100m above sea level. Once there, settle in and enjoy your first traditional Polish dinner, served in the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the refuge, a perfect introduction to the Tatra Mountains.

  2. Day 2

    Grand passage of the Western Tatras

    Hiking
    8 hrs · 14km · 1390m up · 1430m down
    Mountain hut
    Mixed dorm
    All meals included
    Show Day 2 detail

    Rise early for your full first day in the Tatra Mountains and after a hearty breakfast, head out on an unforgettable hike. Today’s trail takes you from Chocholowska to the Kościeliska Valley, the second-largest in the Polish Tatras. Along the way, you’ll tackle the climb to Starorobociański Wierch (2176m), the highest peak of Poland's Western Tatras. This thrilling ascent involves a challenging scramble along a dramatic ridge, offering sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and peaks. The terrain here is wild and remote, far from the busier parts of the Tatra range, allowing you to experience the solitude of the mountains. After a day filled with rugged trails and breathtaking vistas, you’ll reach Ornak Hut nestled in Kościeliska Valley, where a delicious meal and warm bed await to restore you for tomorrow’s adventure.

    Day 3

    The red peaks of the Western Tatras

    Hiking
    7-8 hrs · 14km · 1290m up · 1200m down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    Breakfast and lunch included
    Show Day 3 detail

    Continue your adventure through the Western Tatras, trekking across the breathtaking Czerwone Wierchy ('red peaks'). In autumn, the grass-covered slopes glow with a striking red hue, giving these peaks their name. As you traverse the ridgeline, you'll be treated to sweeping views stretching across the High Central Tatras, tomorrow’s destination, with their jagged peaks now coming into sharp focus. After a rewarding day on the trail, bed down at the Kalatówki Mountain Hotel, a comfortable retreat nestled in the mountains, where you can relax and recharge for the next stage of your journey.

    Day 4

    Balcony of the Tatras

    Hiking
    3-5 hrs · 19km · 940m up · 1100m down
    Mountain hut
    Mixed dorm
    All meals included
    Show Day 4 detail

    Today's hike takes you along the 'Green Balcony of the Tatras', a stunning trail that winds through lush forests and rolling meadows, all set beneath the towering peaks of the High Tatras. As you walk, you may encounter local shepherds tending their flocks, the fragrant mountain wildflowers adding to the unique flavour of the renowned oscypek cheese they craft. Emerging from the forest, you'll be rewarded with sweeping panoramas of the entire High Tatra range – a breathtaking sight which makes this route truly special. The hike can be adapted to suit your group’s pace, with your guide offering the best options along the way. By late afternoon, you’ll arrive at Roztoka mountain hut, one of Poland’s most historic and welcoming refuges, dating back to 1876. Here, you’ll settle in for the next two nights, soaking up the hut’s warm mountain hospitality and cosy atmosphere.

    Day 5

    Discover the Five Lakes Valley

    Hiking
    4-7 hrs · 9km · 500m up · 500m down
    Mountain hut
    Mixed dorm
    Breakfast and lunch included
    Show Day 5 detail

    Embark on an out-and-back journey through one of the most breathtaking valleys in the Polish Tatra Mountains. The trail begins with a climb through Roztoka Valley, a serene forested gorge following the rushing Roztoka stream. As you ascend, the landscape transforms, revealing the stunning Valley of the Five Lakes – a dramatic, postglacial amphitheatre of crystal-clear alpine lakes surrounded by rugged peaks. Here, you’ll find Wielki Staw, the deepest and second-largest lake in the Tatras, as well as the picturesque Mickiewicz waterfalls. You will decide with your guide exactly how far up the valley to hike today, making sure your legs are ready for tomorrow's big challenge. After taking in the spectacular scenery, descend back through Roztoka Valley, returning to the cosy Roztoka Hut for a well-earned rest.

    Day 6

    Climb Poland's highest peak, Rysy (2501m)

    Hiking
    10-11 hrs · 20km · 1675m up · 1455m down
    Hotel
    Twin share
    All meals included
    Show Day 6 detail

    On your final day in the mountains, take on the ultimate challenge – Rysy (2501m), the highest peak in Poland. This demanding ascent includes a rocky scramble, with the more technical sections protected by handrail chains attached to the rock. You'll make the ascent with additional guides offering expert support, passing two spectacular alpine lakes along the way: Morskie Oko, the largest in the Tatras, and the striking Czarny Staw, framed by dramatic peaks. At the summit, soak in one of the most breathtaking panoramas in the entire Carpathian range – a fitting reward for your efforts. The descent takes you into Slovakia, where a transfer awaits to bring you back to Zakopane for a celebratory dinner and final night in a hotel.

  7. Day 7

    Goodbye, mountains!

    Breakfast included
    Show Day 7 detail

    After an unforgettable adventure in the Tatra Mountains, enjoy a final morning in Zakopane before transferring to Kraków Airport for your journey home. Take in the last views of the peaks as you reflect on an incredible trip filled with rugged trails, breathtaking summits, and rich mountain culture.

Practical Stuff

Getting There

Nearest airport
Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Pick up
Krakow Airport
12:30 on Day 1
Drop off
Krakow Airport
12:00 on Day 7

Detailed Logistics

Transfers

Your adventure begins at Krakow Airport (KRK), with your group airport transfer usually scheduled in the afternoon at 12:30, timed with flights arriving before 12:00. If you arrive in Krakow early, you can always spend the morning exploring the old town before making your way to the airport by public transport in time for the group transfer. There is a train between the airport and the city that leaves once or twice per hour, which takes 17 minutes and is very economical. At the end of your adventure, you will be dropped back at Krakow Airport (KRK) at 12:00, and we recommend booking any flight that departs after 15:00. Alternatively, your host can drop you back to Krakow if you prefer to spend an extra night in the city and fly the next day.

Travel options

There are regular direct flights to Krakow from Heathrow with British Airways, plus several options with low-cost carriers from regional airports across the UK.

There are also direct flights to Krakow from New York and Chicago, as well as from most major European cities.

Trip level explained

Level 6

Challenging-Tough

With multiple consecutive days involving 7-8 hours of trekking, this trip is challenging. Most days have a considerable amount of ascent and descent (1300m on average), often on rocky terrain. The climb to the summit of Rysy on Day 6 is particularly tough as you traverse the mountain during an 11-hour day, including crossing technical rocky terrain protected by chains. You'll need a head for heights, as much of Day 6 is on exposed trails with drops on one side. The route spends some time over 2000m which may affect your performance and make the days more tiring, due to the altitude.

Given the nature of the trip it is necessary to have some previous hiking experience under your belt. We would recommend working on your hill fitness (opens in new tab) over several weeks or months before attempting this route. This would involve developing a reasonable base of cardio and strength fitness combined with some specific hiking preparation in the hills. We suggest a few weekends of back-to-back walking days with as much up and down as you can fit in, and if you want to make it harder, carry a heavy backpack. This preparation will set you up to get the most out of your trek and enjoy yourself on your adventure.

What will I need to carry?

It is not possible to transfer luggage between the huts on this trip, therefore you will need to carry your overnight belongings and spare clothes for the duration of the trek. You will also need to carry your hiking gear (waterproofs etc.), packed lunch and water. The huts provide bed linen and all your meals, so excess weight can be kept to a minimum. It is likely all you need will fit in to a 40 litre pack and you should be able to keep the weight under 10kg, but do test this out beforehand.

On the Rysy summit day you can leave your overnight belongings at the hut to lighten the load for your climb.

Remote environment: factors to consider

Some parts of this trip take place in areas where access to medical facilities and emergency services may be limited. This may mean that reaching medical care takes longer than you might normally expect, or that local medical facilities have fewer resources than those you may be used to at home.

If someone becomes unwell or injured, initial treatment may be provided locally before onward travel to a larger hospital or city for further care. Evacuation could involve changing the planned route or using different forms of transport to reach appropriate medical facilities. Mobile phone coverage may also be intermittent in some locations.

Your guide is trained to manage situations in remote environments and will monitor the group and respond appropriately if any issues arise. However, it’s important that you let your guide know straight away if you feel unwell or experience any health concerns during the trip.

Before booking, consider your personal health and ability to travel in locations where access to medical care may be delayed. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions or concerns, we recommend seeking advice from a medical professional and discussing them with your host before travelling.

All travellers must have suitable travel insurance that covers the activities included in the trip and emergency medical evacuation if required.

What is and isn't Included?

What's included

  • Guided hike in the Chocholowska Valley
  • Guided hike from the Chocholowska hut to the Kościeliska Valley
  • Guided hike from the Ornak hut to Kalatówki via the Czerwone Wierchy
  • Guided hike along the 'Green Balcony of the Tatras'to Roztoka hut
  • Guided out-and-back hike in the Valley of the Five Lakes
  • Guided summit of Rysy (2501m), Poland's highest peak

  • Expert, English-speaking, local guides
  • An extra mountain guide for Rysy summit day (1 guide per 4 hikers)

  • 4 nights in cosy, traditional Polish mountain huts
  • 1 night in the welcoming Kalatowki Mountain Hotel
  • 1 night in a pension in heart of charming Zakopane

  • All (6) hearty breakfasts
  • All (5) packed lunches
  • 4 wholesome dinners

  • Group arrival transfer from Krakow Airport on Day 1
  • Group departure transfer to Krakow Airport on Day 7
  • All transfers during the trip

  • Safety kit for Rysy summit day

  • Entry fee to Tatra National Park

Where You'll Stay

Looking for a private room? See Optional Extras for details and pricing.

  • Ornak Mountian hut in the Tatra Mountains

    Tatra Mountains

    Stay

    Tatra Mountains

    During your trek, you will use the historical Polish Mountain Hut network to get around the Tatra Mountains. Polish Mountain Huts date back over 100 years and have maintained much of their traditional hospitality during this time. At each of the huts, you will be welcomed with delicious home-cooked meals, traditional apple pie and a pleasant atmosphere shared with fellow hikers. Sleeping rooms are in dormitory style with bunk beds, and vary from 3-4 persons to 6-9 persons per room. The mountain huts have shared shower facilities, toilets, and cosy common areas with board games and books. Some also have WiFi and a small shop selling essentials. Bed linen is provided and you can also rent a towel for a small fee. Although the huts can usually accept card payment for any extras, it is advised to carry cash in case of network problems. You will spend one night at the Chocholowska hut, one night at the Ornak hut, and two nights at the Roztoka Hut.

  • Twin room at Kalatowki Mountain Hotel

    Kalatowki

    Stay

    Kalatowki

    On your third night, you will stay at the Kalotowki Mountain Hotel. Nestled between the peaks of Giewont and Kasprowy Wierch, the hotel is in the heart of the mountains and right on the trail. Despite its remote location, the hotel is well-equipped with modern facilities including a sauna and a restaurant. Fresh water is provided from its own mountain spring and all rooms have wonderful views of the surrounding mountains. You will share a room on a twin-basis; most rooms are ensuite although some have only washbasins, with shared toilets/showers in the hallway.

  • Villa Orla Pension, Twin Room

    Zakopane

    Stay

    Zakopane

    On the final night of the trip, you will stay in the charming Villa Orla Hotel in the heart of Zakopane Old Town. A traditional, family-run 'pension', you will stay in ensuite rooms on a twin-share basis. The hotel has free WiFi, a restaurant, a games room and plenty of traditional mountain charm.

What You'll Eat

Huts in the Polish Tatra Mountains offer hearty and comforting meals, perfect for refuelling after a day of hiking. Typical mountain fare often includes soup, such as żurek (sour rye soup) or rosół (chicken broth), followed by pierogi (dumplings fill…

Food and Dietary info

Huts in the Polish Tatra Mountains offer hearty and comforting meals, perfect for refuelling after a day of hiking. Typical mountain fare often includes soup, such as żurek (sour rye soup) or rosół (chicken broth), followed by pierogi (dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese, or meat). For the main course, you might enjoy a plate of kiełbasa (smoked sausage) with sauerkraut or bigos ('hunter’s stew' made with meat, cabbage, and mushrooms). The region is also known for oscypek, a smoky sheep’s cheese, often served grilled with cranberries. Finish off with a sweet treat like szarlotka (apple pie), offering a delightful end to a traditional mountain meal. Breakfasts in the huts typically consist of eggs, sausage and a buffet of bread, ham, cheese, jam and yoghurt. Coffee, tea and juice are also usually avialable. Each day, you'll be given a packed lunch, prepared by the huts, which usually includes a sandwich with cheese or salami, a chocolate bar, crisps, and fruit.

Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for – please just request this on your passenger info form. Menus for each of the mountain huts can be viewed online.

Optional Extras

Upgrades

Optional Private Room Upgrade (1 night in Zakopane)
…/per person

For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge – see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking, as this is subject to availability and can be limited, depending on the hotel's availability.

To request any extras, message your host via your Much Better Adventures account once you have booked your trip.

All extras must be paid before your trip starts.

Ratings & Reviews

4.36 reviews
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)

Latest Reviews

  • Joseph P.

    First off - I really enjoyed this trip. Our group was sound and made up of interesting, independent and well travelled folk. No divas, no dramas. The scenery and hiking were great, and the trip was very worthwhile. Accommodation and food were good - Vegans to Carnivores and the middle ground were fed generously. The mountain huts are a bit more spacious than what I had encountered on previous trips in Europe. This was my third trip with MBA, and as always, no fuss, easy to deal with. This being a new trip, there were a few bits that I feel could be improved upon, and what I write from here on is not criticism, rather, a few notes for the organisers - Just my own opinions which may help future travellers. 1. Day three - Hotel stay day - The excellent morning hike up is somewhat diminished by a rather uninspiring descent to the hotel in the valley below - I believe that there is an option to continue along the peaks for a few more hours, and getting a cable car down. Not exactly ending up at the hotel, but there are accommodation options at the terminus, which may be worth looking into. 2. Day 4 - An unnecessary necessary stop into zakopane on the way to Roztoka hut to shed luggage weight for Rysy on day 6. Unfortunately, this is still two days away, so you still need clothes, etc. Everybody packed as per the guidelines, but our guide felt, strongly, that we were all carrying way too much. This excursion had the effect of ‘Breaking the spell’ of being in remote places. 3. Roztoka hut - two night stay - A nice hut with accommodation for maybe 70 people, but bathrooms for four 😇. This would be the better place to shed excess baggage weight for Rysy , but not an option this time round. 3. Rysy Climb - a real highlight of the trip for me, with an extremely early start (03:45am). A LONG day. Hardhats, harnesses and fall arresters legally required for the group, which we had to collect and carry from Roztoka hut to the point of use, approx 4 hrs from the start. A spectacular mountain, busy but so worth it. Descend into another country. But Enough of that. What can you expect? Some challenging hiking days, but nothing too tough. Amazing views, remote and all yours one minute, shared with seventy five others the next. Well marked and well trodden trails, despite the trip description. Summary - A good trip, just falling short of great on its first outing. Eat all of the raspberries,if you are fortunate enough to see them. Breathe in that fresh mountain air. Learn to say please, thank you, and hello in polish. Hats off if you get any further. English widely spoken. Bring some cash, although cards are widely accepted. Hiking poles useful. Open mind, open heart, big smile, earplugs. Apparently one of our group snored. I’d have had words, but I never heard him myself 😇. That’s it.

  • Jack M.

    This was my 8th MBA trip, first time in Poland/Slovakia and I really enjoyed it. The scenery was beautiful and locals very friendly. We had a brilliant group of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Americans, all travelling solo. The huts were the best I've experienced in terms of food/comfort/facilities/beds (comparing to the Alps and Iceland). Difficulty wise, I did the GR20 trip in Corsica with MBA a few weeks earlier which I found considerably easier than expected and this trip was slightly harder than expected. Mostly because of the volume of high steps required which was quite tiring on the calf muscles, particularly on the second day of hiking. This was the first time this trip ran and I do think it could benefit from some tweaks. On the last day for the summit of Rysy, we were up at 03:40 and didn't get back to the hotel until after 19:00. This meant on our final night of the trip and only night in Zakopane, we were all knackered and early to bed. Had this longest day been an alternative day, we could have finished earlier for our final night and socialised a bit more and/or explored the town. Also, if I'm honest, I wasn't so keen on the summit day. I wasn't aware beforehand but part of the summit hike is performed with helmets, harnesses and via feratta equipment. I understand that safety comes first but I wasn't expecting this from the trip description. The mountain was extremely busy and virtually nobody else on the mountains was clipping into the chain, so it really felt like we were holding everyone else up in both directions. As an experienced rock climber, I would have been happy without this equipment but didn't want to complicate matters for the guides. The summit was also desperately crowded (think Snowdon on a summer weekend). From my perspective, a quieter mountain would be more enjoyable but that's just me - everyone else had a blast :)

  • Shona S.

    The Tatra mountains are beautiful and well worth visiting. My first group holiday and I got lucky with my fellow adventures . . . . . . . we all got on great and had a fabulous holiday. Trip was not quite as I expected though. Our " lesser known trails" were well marked and trodden motorways and peaks were just packed with people. The only scrambling was the Rysy day, which could have easily been done without all the safety equipment ( as the hundreds of other people were doing. ) Huts were all comfortable with hot showers and we were well fed throughout. Overall, not as challenging as I expected but a great time had none the less.

  • Bilal K.

    Beautiful views, and the climax was incredible. The last hour or so up to the peak of Mt. Rysy was incredible!

  • Gareth M.

    Wonderful time with a truly superb group of people. Spectacular views, cosy huts and fresh mountain air. Poland didn't disappoint.

  • Aine G.

    Fantastic trip! The holiday was full of vigorous hikes with spectacular views. Accommodation was simple but had everything needed — clean beds, hot showers, and basic meals with dietary options. The group was fabulous and the guide very enthusiastic. Be prepared for long hiking days (5+ hours carrying your own supplies, with snow and rain always possible), traditional Polish food (lots of cheese, meat, and bread), and shared rooms with several people (facemasks/earplugs recommended). Overall, I’d highly recommend this trip to adventurous hikers! 😊🏕🏃‍♀️

Customer Photos

4.36 reviews
  • 5 stars (3)
  • 4 stars (2)
  • 3 stars (1)
  • 2 stars (0)
  • 1 star (0)
Showing all 6 reviews

  • Border Hopping Mountain adventure in Poland / Slovakia

    Joseph P. September 2025
    First off - I really enjoyed this trip. Our group was sound and made up of interesting, independent and well travelled folk. No divas, no dramas. The scenery and hiking were great, and the trip was very worthwhile. Accommodation and food were good - Vegans to Carnivores and the middle ground were fed generously. The mountain huts are a bit more spacious than what I had encountered on previous trips in Europe. This was my third trip with MBA, and as always, no fuss, easy to deal with. This being a new trip, there were a few bits that I feel could be improved upon, and what I write from here on is not criticism, rather, a few notes for the organisers - Just my own opinions which may help future travellers. 1. Day three - Hotel stay day - The excellent morning hike up is somewhat diminished by a rather uninspiring descent to the hotel in the valley below - I believe that there is an option to continue along the peaks for a few more hours, and getting a cable car down. Not exactly ending up at the hotel, but there are accommodation options at the terminus, which may be worth looking into. 2. Day 4 - An unnecessary necessary stop into zakopane on the way to Roztoka hut to shed luggage weight for Rysy on day 6. Unfortunately, this is still two days away, so you still need clothes, etc. Everybody packed as per the guidelines, but our guide felt, strongly, that we were all carrying way too much. This excursion had the effect of ‘Breaking the spell’ of being in remote places. 3. Roztoka hut - two night stay - A nice hut with accommodation for maybe 70 people, but bathrooms for four 😇. This would be the better place to shed excess baggage weight for Rysy , but not an option this time round. 3. Rysy Climb - a real highlight of the trip for me, with an extremely early start (03:45am). A LONG day. Hardhats, harnesses and fall arresters legally required for the group, which we had to collect and carry from Roztoka hut to the point of use, approx 4 hrs from the start. A spectacular mountain, busy but so worth it. Descend into another country. But Enough of that. What can you expect? Some challenging hiking days, but nothing too tough. Amazing views, remote and all yours one minute, shared with seventy five others the next. Well marked and well trodden trails, despite the trip description. Summary - A good trip, just falling short of great on its first outing. Eat all of the raspberries,if you are fortunate enough to see them. Breathe in that fresh mountain air. Learn to say please, thank you, and hello in polish. Hats off if you get any further. English widely spoken. Bring some cash, although cards are widely accepted. Hiking poles useful. Open mind, open heart, big smile, earplugs. Apparently one of our group snored. I’d have had words, but I never heard him myself 😇. That’s it.

  • Enjoyable hike linking the excellent Polish huts

    Jack M. September 2025
    This was my 8th MBA trip, first time in Poland/Slovakia and I really enjoyed it. The scenery was beautiful and locals very friendly. We had a brilliant group of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Americans, all travelling solo. The huts were the best I've experienced in terms of food/comfort/facilities/beds (comparing to the Alps and Iceland). Difficulty wise, I did the GR20 trip in Corsica with MBA a few weeks earlier which I found considerably easier than expected and this trip was slightly harder than expected. Mostly because of the volume of high steps required which was quite tiring on the calf muscles, particularly on the second day of hiking. This was the first time this trip ran and I do think it could benefit from some tweaks. On the last day for the summit of Rysy, we were up at 03:40 and didn't get back to the hotel until after 19:00. This meant on our final night of the trip and only night in Zakopane, we were all knackered and early to bed. Had this longest day been an alternative day, we could have finished earlier for our final night and socialised a bit more and/or explored the town. Also, if I'm honest, I wasn't so keen on the summit day. I wasn't aware beforehand but part of the summit hike is performed with helmets, harnesses and via feratta equipment. I understand that safety comes first but I wasn't expecting this from the trip description. The mountain was extremely busy and virtually nobody else on the mountains was clipping into the chain, so it really felt like we were holding everyone else up in both directions. As an experienced rock climber, I would have been happy without this equipment but didn't want to complicate matters for the guides. The summit was also desperately crowded (think Snowdon on a summer weekend). From my perspective, a quieter mountain would be more enjoyable but that's just me - everyone else had a blast :)

  • Tremendous Tatras

    Shona S. September 2025
    The Tatra mountains are beautiful and well worth visiting. My first group holiday and I got lucky with my fellow adventures . . . . . . . we all got on great and had a fabulous holiday. Trip was not quite as I expected though. Our " lesser known trails" were well marked and trodden motorways and peaks were just packed with people. The only scrambling was the Rysy day, which could have easily been done without all the safety equipment ( as the hundreds of other people were doing. ) Huts were all comfortable with hot showers and we were well fed throughout. Overall, not as challenging as I expected but a great time had none the less.

  • Beautiful Tatras

    Bilal K. September 2025
    Beautiful views, and the climax was incredible. The last hour or so up to the peak of Mt. Rysy was incredible!

  • Another fun-filled adventure

    Gareth M. September 2025
    Wonderful time with a truly superb group of people. Spectacular views, cosy huts and fresh mountain air. Poland didn't disappoint.

  • Hut-to-Hut Trekking in Poland's Tatra Mountains

    Aine G. September 2025
    Fantastic trip! The holiday was full of vigorous hikes with spectacular views. Accommodation was simple but had everything needed — clean beds, hot showers, and basic meals with dietary options. The group was fabulous and the guide very enthusiastic. Be prepared for long hiking days (5+ hours carrying your own supplies, with snow and rain always possible), traditional Polish food (lots of cheese, meat, and bread), and shared rooms with several people (facemasks/earplugs recommended). Overall, I’d highly recommend this trip to adventurous hikers! 😊🏕🏃‍♀️

Before You Travel

What to Pack

Backpack with hiking gear laid out

Know before you go! Some stuff we'll provide, other things you'll need to bring.

Kit List

What do I need to bring?

BAGS

  • Soft duffel bag or rucksack
  • Comfortable hiking rucksack (35-45 litres)
  • Waterproof liner or drybags for kitbag/rucksack

CLOTHES

  • Insulated jacket
  • Waterproof jacket
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Breathable wicking layers
  • Fleece jacket or similar
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Buff or neckscarf
  • Lightweight trousers/shorts/skirts
  • T-shirts
  • Underwear and socks
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunhat
  • Sleepwear
  • Hiking boots (worn-in)
  • Sandals

OTHER

  • Universal travel plug adapter
  • Power bank or solar charger
  • Passports (and visas)
  • Travel insurance documents
  • Ear plugs
  • Insect repellent
  • Suncream
  • Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
  • Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
  • Toilet kit (toilet paper, biodegradable bags to carry paper out to dispose of)
  • Quick-dry towel
  • Alcohol hand-gel
  • Headtorch or torch
  • Reusable water bottle x1 litre (or x2)
  • Biodegradable wet-wipes
  • Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks (opens in new tab)
  • Water purification tablets/treatment system

FAQs

In the event of poor weather such as heavy rain, strong winds and/or storms, it is possible that conditions may become unsafe to complete the planned hikes on this trip. Your guide will assess the conditions and weather forecasts and make a decision with your safety in mind. If it becomes necessary to make a change to the planned itinerary, an alternative hike or activity will be offered.

You will have one guide with your group, up to a maximum of 12 people. For the Rysy via ferrata on Day 6, you will have one guide for every four people.

Tap water throughout this trip is drinkable. You'll also come across a few mountain springs during the hikes.

Excess luggage can be transported from the start point to the hotel in Zakopane, which you can access at the end of your trek.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

  • 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
  • 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
  • 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Poland's Tatra Mountains offer pleasant hiking weather in summer, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20–30°C (68-86ºF) on sunny days. While rain is possible around 12 days per month, showers are usually brief. Spring and autumn bring cooler but stable conditions, with temperatures between 4–13°C (39-55ºF) and vibrant seasonal colours. Rainfall is lower in these months, but the evenings can be chilly. No matter when you visit, pack for changing mountain weather, with layers for warmth and waterproofs for occasional showers.

We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity.

What's the number?
It works out on average at 224kg of CO2 emissions per person, including all local transport, accommodation, food, activities, guides, staff and office operations.

The only thing it doesn’t include right now is flights and travel to the destination. We do make an overall estimate across all our customers separately, but as we don’t book flights, have customers from all corners of the world, and no way of reliably knowing their travel plans, we simply can’t include an individual number in the figure on display here. We’ve got a goal to fix that, so that when you book, there is a way to measure and mitigate the carbon emitted by your flight too.

But what does the number mean?
Yep, hard to picture eh? To give you an idea:

  • Driving 1000 miles/1609km would be approximately 281kg of CO2 in an average car (or 140.5kg per person, if there were two of you in it).
  • A return economy class flight between London and New York would be approximately 1619kg (1.66 tonnes) per person.
  • 10 trees in a temperate forest are estimated to remove approximately 250kg of CO2 from the air in a period of 5-10 years.

What are we doing about it?
Our trips are relatively low-carbon by design, and we're working with all our hosts to develop long term carbon reduction plans. We partner with the World Land Trust to ensure this trip achieves Net-Zero emissions. We also support their Buy an Acre programme, helping local communities to buy and protect natural habitats in perpetuity, ensuring the protection of the reserve and its wildlife.

Want to know more?
Amazingly, no international travel company has ever publicly published their carbon measurements before, as far as we know. We believe that must change, quickly. So we’re openly sharing the method we used in the hope that other companies will be able to more easily follow suit and build on what we've done so far. You'll find it all here.

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Departure dates

  • Saturday 20th June 2026

    to Friday 26th June 2026

    Last minute - Host approval required

    …

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