Poland - Tatras ski touring safari

Access

Krakow airport (KRK)

Flights to buy: return to Krakow, Poland.

Due to price variations, this ski touring trip in the Tatras is sold without flights. It will be more advantageous and simpler for you to book your flights from the airport and on the dates of your choice via airline websites or booking platforms such as MisterFly, Opodo, Kayak, etc.

Please note: don't buy flights for this trip until we've confirmed that departure is guaranteed.

Meeting point

The 1st day will be devoted to transferring you from Krakow airport to Zakopane on your arrival at the end of the day.

Group

4 to 6 people

Guiding

French Azimut mountain guide.

We work with a great team of guides. We choose them mainly for their friendliness, their teaching skills and their organisational skills. We listen carefully to our guides, work with them and make sure that their working conditions and pay are the best they can be.

Getting around

Private minibus, sledges.

Carrying

Your belongings for the entire trip, including picnics, a few snacks and individual and collective safety equipment for several days. An airbag is strongly recommended.

Ski lifts

None in sights!

The slopes may have some short steep passages. You should be at ease with ski touring techniques and skiing on all types of snow. We may also ski on glacier terrain. You should master uphill kick turns without hesitation. 

• Stamina level

Good physical condition is required, some uphill sections may have to be done on foot. Ascents and descents vary between 800 & 1200 metres per day. Depending on the chosen itinerary, there may be two outings per day. This allows those who want to pursue to do so and those who are tired to rest and relax.

Beware, you're not playing in the skatepark in your neighbourhood: even though you're extremely keen, are craving to make first tracks in the powder snow, don't forget that this trip is far away overseas, in remote areas and rescue services may be slow and often less well organised than in your home country. So keep cool and take it easy to fully enjoy...and please avoid a back flip without knowing what's behind.

Good to know: If you don't have the level required, the guide will be able to ask you to leave for the well-being of the rest of the group, if necessary. If any doubt, please do not hesitate to ask us!

The price includes

• Trip organisation & logistics upon arrival at meeting point
• Transportation on site
• Certified and expert mountain guide services (all his expenses are included: meals, accommodation, transportation, ski lift fares)
• Entrance fees to the Tatras National Park
• Minibus transfers upon arrival at one of the indicated meeting points
• Half-board accommodation in refuges for 5 nights and 2 nights in a hotel with breakfast.
• All picnic lunches for the 6-day tour
• Safety & rescue equipment sets are provided (tracking device, shovel and probe), if you don't have your own gear
• Quality cereal bars
• The AZIMUT welcome pack 

The price does not include

• Flights and transportation to/from the meeting point
• Personal snacks
• Dinners on days 1 & 7
• Krakow/airport transfer on day 8
• Drinks and extras
• Personal expenses
• Ski rental if required
• Personal insurance(s)
• Ski and equipment hire
• Any other expenses not mentioned under the above section “the price includes”

A 30% deposit, as well as the insurance cost if you choose to subscribe the latter, is required to secure your booking. You will receive a reminder email 35 days prior to departure for the outstanding balance that is due latest 30 days prior to departure. 

We strongly recommend you to be properly insured for the chosen activity. You should be covered for medical expenses, personal accident & liabilité, third party risks and rescue (helicopter), as well as trip cancellation or curtailment.

Repatriation and research insurance are mandatory when booking a trip with Azimut. We have a full range of iinsurances on offer to suit the trip you select and the risks that it may incur. 

Tipping is no obligation. However usually participants hand round an envelope for those who wish to tip the guide.

During the trip

Half-board in comfortable refuges. 

- Evening meals and breakfast in refuges, picnics taken in refuges.

- Snacks: provided with the picnic

- Hot showers available in refuges

- Sheets and slippers required for some refuges. 

-Snacks : details are important, especially after such demanding physical effort ! We've chosen to supply tasty, high-quality cereal bars.

Before and after ski touring trips

Once we've received your booking, we'll provide you with a list of accommodation in case you need to book a night before or after the trip. All accommodation on the list is close to the meeting points and you may often benefit from preferential rates. 

Poland's local currency is the Polish Zloty (PLN).

The exchange rate is PLN 4.55 for around €1. 

Withdrawals and exchanges are possible in Zakopane.

In case of emergency or delay, you can either contact your guide (a phone number will be provided before departure) or contact Azimut on: (+ 33) 04 92 23 07 24.

Telephone: The telephone network is unreliable in the Tatra mountains.

Wifi: Wifi is available in some of the refuges we visit.

Electricity: 220V, same plugs as in France.

Make sure to wear bright colours, it's good for the soul and gives photos a funky edge !

Skiing material (all in excellent condition)

• Ski touring skis with appropriate bindings, ski skins, ski crampons, ski poles and alpine crampons. We recommend you to have freeride type skis (wider at waist) so you can fully enjoy powdery descents as well as descents in any kind of snow.
• Ski touring boots
• A 35-40 litre backpack. Security advice: avalanche airbag backpacks are highly recommended. They help to stay on the surface in case of avalanche and minimize the risk of burial. Azimut guides use them. These bags contain cartridges with compressed air - please contact the airline to check on air transport regulations as they may be classed as hazardous goods.
• Avalanche kit: transceiver, shovel and probe (please let us know if you have your own, if not we lend them for free)
• Padded ski bag for airline transportation
• Ski helmet highly recommended

If you don't have the adequate equipment for the trip, don't worry and travel light: we rent out the required gear and hand it over at the start of the trip ! Our equipment is relatively new, if not brand new, of good quality and adapted to your choice of activity.

Prices of rental equipment during the entire trip (these competitive prices only take into account the number of days of the trip, also includes excess bagage fare - your rental gear will be handed over on site):

You can choose to rent equipment when booking your trip, or lateron by clicking on “my account”. If any of the equipment that you've chosen is out of stock you'll be notified and reimbursed.

Due to security restrictions on air transportation, we do not rent out airbags for overseas trips.

In case your skis and gear arrive late or are lost during transportation, we are not to be held responsible and do not apply a discount on rental gear nor pay for the cost of rental gear until your own gear arrives.

Clothes

This list of clothes is designed to give you an idea of clothes that it may be a good to have with you. No need to have the latest brands nor the latest gear, but if you need to refresh of refill your wardrobe, this guide would be a good start.

Headwear

• Warm hat or buff/scarf
• 2 pairs of ski goggles and sunglasses with UV factory 4 protective lenses. Photochromic glasses adapt to light intensity, and have filter index up to category 4, they are very useful
• Ski helmet (highly recommended) 

Bodywear 

• Under layer: breathable long sleeved tops to maintain heat. A tip: merino wool is breathable and has anti-bacterial properties and is therefore less likely to smell as opposed to synthetic fabrics. Take this into consideration if you need to update your wardrobe.
• Middle layer: a light polar or synthetic jacket for an extra layer of heat during breaks
• Outer layer: a Gore-tex or similar type of jacket with a breathable waterproof membrane. Make sure it's lightweight and compact so it doesn't take up too much space in your backpack
• Bottom layer: trousers with a breathable waterproof membrane (Gore Tex or similar) with long side zips allowing air to flow, recommended on climbs
• Hands: light fleece or soft shell gloves, a pair of silk glove liners to go underneath, warm gloves with a breathable and waterproof membrane. Mittens are always a good idea for really cold days of for those of you who feel the cold !
• Swimming gear: it takes up such little space, it would be a shame not to bring it just in case. Avoid swimming shorts or bermudas, they are not usually allowed.

Footwear

• Ski socks: merino wool socks are breathable and have anti-bacterial properties and are less likely to smell as opposed to those made of synthetic fabrics. Think about them if you need to stock up.
• Slippers / Crocs recommended for evening wear. 

Odds and ends

• 1 litre flask (Thermos or Camelback)
• Pocket knife
• Duck tape
• Suncream, UV factor 50 
• Duffle type bag holding up to 110 litres to leave at the hotel or in the vehicle. No suitcases.

Toiletries and first aid kit

• Personal toilet bag
• To make up your first aid kit, please find all information on the Ifremmont website. 

Our guides use the following brands for their gear and you'll have the opportunity to test them during the trip:

• SCOTT
• Arva
• Fitschi swiss bindings

Don't forget to

• Leave contact details with your friends and family
• Bring your papers and I.D. (passport and visa if necessary)
• Bring your contract number and documents related to your insurance (if you've chosen not to have insure coverage with us)
• Bring your “carte vitale” and your European health card (EU member states) - if you don't have one you can order one for free online  www.ameli.fr
• Check that you have the right equipment
• Take spare batteries and a charger for your electronic devices (camera, video recorder, tracking devices etc)
• Bring some cash and your credit card
• Leave in a good frame of mind: we're going to have a great time even if we may not happen to not make it to the summit !
• Before leaving: water the plants, empty the rubbish bin, turn off the water and gas, and tell your partner that you're going to have a good time (not by text message), that you well deserved... If you don't follow the latter recommendation, you'll most probably kick yourself when you get back !

See you on the slopes ! Have great runs with AZIMUT !