Slovakia Tours Slovakia Heritage Tour 2023

Our Slovakia Heritage adventure begins at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel (meeting) for our morning drive through the rolling Danube plains to the 14th century mining town of Banská Štiavnica, nestled in a richly-forested valley. We’ll join in the fun of the town’s age-old Salamander Festival which brings together mining guild members from all over Europe and traditional Slovak folk groups.In the late afternoon, we’ll settle into the Hotel Kuria, in the quaint city of Banská Bystrica. In the evening, we’ll gather for our Welcome Dinner (included) which will feature a special fujara performance. A uniquely Slovak shepherd’s flute, the fujara has been named to the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

Meal(s): Welcome dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Kuria***
Overnight: Banska Bystrica

In the morning, we’ll step back in time in the ancient mining and lacemaking village of Špania Dolina, in the hills just outside of Banská Bystrica. We’ll walk the village and forested lanes(at your pace) and visit the mining and lacemaking museums. The afternoon will be yours to enjoy the 400-year old Harvest Market Festival which fills the Banská Bystrica’s beautiful center square with 3 booths to browse and perfomances to watch…both traditional and contemporary. You can also delve into World War II history from a Central European perspective at the Museum of the Slovak National Uprising, shop, or relax. In the late afternoon we’ll gather for a Wine & Cheese reception(included) to go over the tour itinerary, answer questions and practice every day expressions with an introductory Slovak lesson.

Meal(s): Breakfast, Wine and cheese reception
Accommodation: Hotel Kuria***
Overnight: Banska Bystrica

You can enjoy the beauty of the Tatry Mountains at your own pace. There are several options for a day of out-door, scenic adventure in this dramatic small alpine range or relaxing in the resort towns, including taking a gondola to the top of the range, traveling the light rail train through the resorts, shopping, visiting the excellent Tatra National Park Museum, and taking short or long hikes in the mountains. In the evening, we’ll stroll the shore of a glacial lake in Strbske Pleso and enjoy dinner at a typical mountain chalet restaurant.Optional personal family and village visits can be arranged.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Stary Smokovec****
Overnight: Stary Smokovec, High Tatras

We’ll travel from the High Tatry Mountains to Bardejov with a surprise stop along the way. After checking into the Hotel Pod Branou in the heart of the city and lunch, we’ll explore Bardejov from the classic 19th century spa and Šariš out door folk museum to it’s exquisite medieval center, visiting the Basilica of St. Egidius with it’s many carved altars, and the Icon Museum if you wish.You can relax in a cafe and take in the atmosphere of the central square before dinner. Optional personal family and village visits can be arranged.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Pod Branou****
Overnight: Bardejov

We’ll enjoy morning guided walking tours of Košice’s well-preserved historic center. Afternoon free to shop and explore the thriving downtown of Slovakia’s second largest city. Since many of our Slovak American ancestors came from Eastern Slovakia, this is a day we help travelers arrange for guides to visit their families or family villages. Optional evening special cultural program.

Meal(s): Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel DoubleTree Hilton****
Overnight: Kosice