The usual way to get from Poland to Slovakia is by air, road, or rail. Though if you want a little more adventurous way, perhaps the ultimate way to get from Poland to Slovakia is by hiking over the Tatra Mountains!
This is no simple hike, you must climb Poland’s highest mountain – Rysy, standing at 2499m. That means an altitude gain of 1.6 kilometers. Don’t let that turn you off though, if you do decide to take this route you’ll be greatly rewarded. You’ll pass the beautiful lake of Morskie Oko, you’ll stand before the mighty Tatra Mountains, you’ll stand on the summit of the highest mountain in Poland, you’ll have absolutely incredible views of both Poland and Slovakia, you’ll stay in at a perfectly set lake side mountain lodge for a night, and you’ll save yourself some time and money getting to Slovakia. If you this sounds like a tempting adventure to you, read on!
Sections
Access
Krakow to Zakopane – Bus, 18PLN, 2h
Zakopane to Morskie Oko Trailhead – Bus, 10PLN, 30m
Tatra National Park Entry – 5PLN
Recommended Walking Times
Trailhead to Morskie Oko – 2h
Morskie Oko to Rysy – 4h
Rysy to Popradské Pleso – 3h
Popradské Pleso to Strbské Pleso – 1h30m
Popradské Pleso to Velické Pleso – 4h
Velické Pleso to Tatranská Polianka – 2h
My Walking Times
Trailhead to Morskie Oko (1410m) – 1h36m
Morskie Oko to Czarny Staw Pod Rysami Junction – 23m
Czarny Staw Pod Rysami Junction to Czarny Staw Pod Rysami (1583m) – 14m
Czarny Staw Pod Rysami to Kociol pod Rysami (shelf) (1950m) – 1h
Kociol pod Rysami to Rysy (2499m) – 41m
Rysy North to Rysy South (2503m) – 1m
Rysy to Chata Pod Rysmi hut (2250m) – 37m?
Chata Pod Rysmi to Velké Zabie Pleso – 37m?
Velké Zabie Pleso to Popradské Pleso (1494m) – 1h
Total Up: 3h54m
Total Down: 2h04m
Total Overall: 5h58m + 25m break
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Popradské Pleso (1494m) to Seldo pod Ostrva (1966m) – 1h5m
Seldo pod Ostrva to Batizovské Pleso (sign) 1884m – 1h12m
Batizovské Pleso to Gerlachovský Stít (2655m) – 2h24m
Gerlachovský Stít to Batizovské Pleso (1884m) – 2h05m
Batizovské Pleso to Velické Pleso (1879m) – 1h6m
Velické Pleso to Tatranská Polianka – 1h30m
Total Walking: 9h22m
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Tatranská Polianka to Poprad – Bus/Train, EUR1-3, 30-40m
