Poland and Slovakia Hiking Trip with Queer Out Here
Poland and Slovakia Hiking Trip with Queer Out Here
13th to 20th June 2026
Just £950 including Accommodation and in -country transport
QUEER OUT HERE
Queer Out Here is a walking and hiking community for queer folks. We bring people together to enjoy the outdoors and experience the mental and physical benefits of group walks. Our hikes are safe, joyful spaces where LGBTQIA+ people can connect and feel welcomed.
Our goal is to build a connected community of trans and queer people who find belonging through time outside together. There's no formal membership — if you want to join, you're in!
This trip is for the whole extended Queer Out Here community. It will be supported by Ailish Breen.
THE TATRAS
The remote Tatras (Tatry) mountains are part of the Western Carpathian Mountains. They combine dramatic alpine scenery with beautiful azure lakes and comfortable welcoming mountain refuges. They lie on the South Eastern Polish and Northern Slovakian border. The trekking is scenic and remote with ample opportunities to spot wildlife such as chamois, lynx and golden eagles. .
THE HIKE
We will be trekking for five days through remote and rugged mountains. The distances covered per day will be between 5km and 13km - which doesn’t sound like much, but we’ll be doing lots of steep up and down during that time!
Highlights of the hike will include roaming past alpine lakes, traversing valley-to-valley passes, crossing into Slovakia’s Tatras, and walking stunning ridge‑top and waterfall‑lined paths. We’ll be rewarded for our hard efforts with lots of beautiful scenery.
HOW FIT DO I NEED TO BE?
Please ensure you read this carefully and consider whether this is the right trip for you.
We’ll be trekking for five days through remote and rugged mountain landscapes, covering daily distances of 5 to 13 km. While those distances may sound short, the terrain is rocky and uneven throughout, and each day will include sustained steep ascents and descents — this is definitely a physically demanding hike. Expect to walk for 5 to 8 hours per day with breaks, moving at a steady pace of around 3 km per hour on mountainous ground.
This trip is best suited to people with some previous hiking experience — ideally in mountainous areas like Snowdonia, the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, or something similar in another country. If you’ve comfortably completed a full-day walk with uphill climbs and rough terrain before, you’ll likely be well-prepared.
If you're unsure, feel free to reach out — we’d be happy to help you decide if this is the right adventure for you.
THE TRAVEL - GETTING THERE
The trip starts and finishes in Krakow which can beaccessed via Ryan Air flights from Manchester or Wizz Air and British Airways flights from London. You will need to sort out your own air travel and UK airport transfers. The group will likely be arriving from different places at different times so you may be travelling alone.
Our base for the first night is Zakopane; a beautiful Polish town at the base of the mountains which is a popular departure point for hiking in the Tatras. It is especially known for it’s wooden style chalets and scenic views. It is a two hour bus transfer from Krakow to Zakopane which will be organised and paid for by Pride Expeditions. We will be finishing the trip in Krakow and we will also organise a transfer back to Krakow airport for you.
THE ACCOMODATION
We will be staying in remote mountain huts (called refuges) during the trek. These huts are only accessible by foot and offer basic communal accommodation in dormitories and hearty polish cuisine such as Pierogi and Zurek.
During our four-nights in huts we will be supplied with all bedding and dinner plus breakfast, and given a pack lunch box for our days hiking. These four nights will be in a shared dormitory with our queer group only.
After the trek we return to Krakow and stay for two nights in a hotel near the city centre. In Krakow we will be in twin rooms or doubles, if you book with a partner. There are no activities planned for this final day. You choose to explore Krakow with the group, take some time out or go on a city tour. The option is yours.
WHY IS IT QUEER FRIENDLY?
Pride Expeditions have been running LGBTQ+ trips to Poland since 2020. We have a network of trusted local guides across the globe who support our ethos to welcome all to the mountains. Queer Out Here is all about welcoming the queer community into the outdoors.
Our local Polish guide on this trip is also from the LGBTQ+ community
Accommodation is non-gendered; but the toilets likely will be.
Discrimination wont be tolerated; we embrace everyone’s uniqueness and welcome all to the mountains
Read our here ABOUT US and why we travel to countries like Poland and Morocco.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Transfer from the Kraków airport to the hotel in Zakopane;
1 night hotel in Zakopane with breakfast (twin room);
1 night hotel in Kraków with breakfast (twin room);
4 nights in the huts with breakfast and dinner (dormitories);
Transfer to the start of the hike;
Transfer from the end of the hike to Kraków hotel;
Transfer to the Kraków airport;
5 lunch-boxes
Services of an international mountain leader and local LGBTQ guide
You will need to pay for and organise your own flights to and from Krakow. You will also need to get to the airport where you depart from the UK yourself. Three evening meals and three lunches when in Zakopane and Krakow will need to be paid for yourself and drinks other than water are not included . If you chose to arrive a day early or leave a day later, or extend your trip for longer, you will also need to pay for your own accommodation and airport transfers.
THE ITINERARY
This is the planned itinerary although timings can change due to weather, hut closures and path closures and group abilities. The distances are short but with a lot of ascent. To complete these days you need to be able to walk at 3 kilometers per hour on uneven terrain. Every night you will be briefed on what to expect the next day and what to pack, and every morning there will be another briefing to set us off.
Day 1 - Saturday 13th June 2026 Arrival
After arrival in Krakow we will be transported to Zakopane at the base of the impressive Tatra Mountains. We will welcome the group and get to know each other a little bit with a welcome circle, do a full trek briefing, and set our intentions for the trip. We’ll eat dinner together, and after dinner we spend the night in a hotel.
Day 2 - Sunday 14th June 2026 to Five Lakes Hut (9km with 680m of ascent approximately 4hrs hiking)
After breakfast we take a short private transfer to Palenica Bialczanska from where we will start hiking through Roztoka Valley to the five lakes hut. We will walk along the highest waterfall in Poland, Wielka Siklawa.
Day 3 Monday 15th June 2026 Five Lakes to Roztoka hut via Moskie Oko (10km 780m descent 160m ascent - extra 3km and 300m ascent and descent for Czary Staw)
In the morning climbing up to the top of Świstowa Czuba at 1763 meters above sea level. From Świstówka there are scenic views to the whole five lakes valley. We descend a long way down to Morskie Oko; an emerald blue lake and one of the most popular sights in the Polish Tatra. There is the option to extend the hike to the stunning Czary Staw lake for those feeling up to it.
Day 4 Tuesday 16th June 2026 Roztoka hut- Jaworzyna Tatrzańska-Kieżmarska hut (12km, 760m ascent and 220m descent)
We will walk back to Palenica Białczańska from where we will take a public transport to Jaworzyna Tatrzańska in Slovakia (20 min bus transfer). From Jaworzyna we will walk up in the valley to the Pod Kopą pass at 1778 meters above sea level. From the pass, we will walk down across White lakes valley to Chata pri Zelenym Plesie hut located at the Green lake in KIezmarska Valley, Slovakia.
Day 5 Wednesday 17th June 2026 Chata pri Zelenom Plesie hut to Zamkovskiego hut (10km 450m ascent and 550m descent)
We will walk on the stunning balcony path above the valley called the Magistrala to the Zamkowskiego. The views open to the Spisz area and the beautiful Poprad river valley in Slovakia. This is a very scenic day.
Day 6 Thursday 18th June 2026 Zamkovskiego hut- Stary Smokovec (5km 500m descent)
From Zamkovskiego chata hut, we will walk along waterfalls on Studeny river and will arrive at Hrebieniok where there is a funicular on the top. There is the possibility to use it to go down to Stary Smokowiec for those who are finding it hard to descend. We will walk down to Stary Smokoviec, the oldest health resort at the foot of Slovakian Tatras. We will have time to visit the resort and then make our way way back with private transfer direct to Kraków. This transfer is two hours.
Day 7 Friday 19th June
This is a free day to explore Krakow as you want. You may chose to stay with the group or do a city tour.
Day 8 Saturday 20th June
Fly home on a flight as you please.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?
We will be staying in mountain refuges during the trek and anything you need to bring such as spare clothes and toiletries you will need to carry - so you’ll want to pack light!
All bedding and food is provided in the huts. A comprehensive equipment list will be sent to you once you have booked on.
Expect to bring the following items as a minimum.
Sturdy walking boots
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Clothes for trekking in
2 litre water bottle (s)
Sunhat and Sunscreen
A 30-40 litre rucksack that will contain everything you need for the trek
Walking Poles
HOW TO BOOK
To book onto this trip you need to pay a £150 deposit to Pride Expeditions. There are 16 places on this trip and places will be allocated on paying a deposit.
The remaining amount of £800 will be split onto two payments in the lead up to the trip. The full amount will be due by the 13th April 2026. You are welcoming to pay monthly if you would prefer or stick to the two payments of £400. Pride Expeditions is a registered tour operator for the LGBTQ+ community. This trip is being organised in conjunction with Queer Out Here.
Once you have booked on and paid, you will be added to a whats app group and there will be an online briefing at some point before the trip.
If you have an questions please contact us through our websites