Zakopane · Tatra Mountains · Kraków · Poland
Your private guide in the Tatra Mountains
From the moment you land in Kraków until your flight home: one licensed local guide who plans, books and leads your whole stay in Zakopane and the Tatras – at your pace, in English.
For families, couples and private groups from the UK, the Gulf, Germany, Scandinavia and the Baltics who want to see the best of southern Poland without queues, stress or guesswork.
- One contact for the whole trip – airport transfer, hotel selection, daily programme, tickets, restaurants and a guide by your side.
- Kraków airport (KRK) to Zakopane: about 110 km, usually 2 hours by car; longer on summer and winter weekends.
- Highlights: Morskie Oko, the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, Gubałówka, Dunajec rafting, thermal pools, the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Kraków.
- Guiding is in English or Polish. I am a licensed Tatra guide living in Jurgów, 30 minutes from Zakopane.
- Transparent: you pay hotels, transfers and tickets directly to the providers at their own prices; my fee covers planning and guiding.
What I take care of
You tell me who is travelling, when, and what you dream of. I prepare a day-by-day plan, book what needs to be booked and stay with you – or one phone call away – for the whole stay.
Meet & greet at Kraków or Katowice airport with a name sign; private car or van with a licensed driver. On request I meet you personally.
Shortlist of the best 5-star hotels, spa resorts and private wooden chalets that fit your family and budget.
From easy valley walks to real summits – always matched to your fitness and the weather.
See more (in Polish) →Cable cars, Wieliczka, Dunajec rafting, Morskie Oko parking – booked in advance where possible.
Highland cuisine, fine dining, halal, vegetarian or child-friendly – tables reserved for you.
Horse-drawn sleigh rides with torches, skiing with instructors, snowshoe walks and thermal pools.
See more (in Polish) →Old Town, Wawel Castle and the underground salt cathedral – on the way in or out.
One chat for the whole family during the stay: questions, changes, recommendations.
Ways to travel with me
A day with a private guide
You already have a hotel in Zakopane and want one perfect day.
- Pickup from your hotel
- Morskie Oko, Kasprowy Wierch, Kościeliska Valley or a summit
- Route chosen for your fitness and the forecast
- 4–9 hours
Individual quote – depends on route and group size
Ask about this optionKraków + Zakopane in 3–4 days
A long weekend with the highlights and no planning on your side.
- Airport pickup and transfer to Zakopane
- 2 guided days in the Tatras and Zakopane
- Return via Wieliczka or Kraków Old Town
- Hotel and restaurant suggestions
Individual quote
Ask about this optionFull stay 5–10 days
Families and couples who want everything arranged – from landing to departure.
- Day-by-day plan before you fly
- Transfers, tickets and table bookings
- Guided days: Tatras, Zakopane, Pieniny, Slovak side
- WhatsApp concierge during the whole stay
Individual quote after a short call
Ask about this optionFamilies, friends and VIP guests
Multi-generation families, groups of friends, business guests who value privacy.
- Discreet, flexible programme
- Vans or several cars with licensed drivers
- Options for grandparents, children and non-hikers
- Private dinners and folk-music evenings
Individual quote
Ask about this option- Planning the whole stay and the day-by-day programme
- Guiding by a licensed Tatra guide (English or Polish)
- Booking help and coordination of all suppliers
- Contact on WhatsApp during the stay
- Plan B for bad weather
- Hotels and villas
- Airport and daily transfers (licensed carriers)
- Cable cars, museums, Wieliczka, rafting, thermal pools
- Meals, ski passes, instructors
- Travel insurance
Sample 7-day itinerary (summer)
This is only a starting point – I adjust every day to your interests, your children’s ages and the weather forecast.
- Day 1 – ArrivalPickup at Kraków Airport, drive to Zakopane (about 2 h). Check-in, evening walk along Krupówki street and dinner with live highland music.
- Day 2 – ZakopaneFunicular up Gubałówka for the panorama of the Tatras, wooden villas in the Zakopane style, the Jaszczurówka chapel. Afternoon in thermal pools.
- Day 3 – Morskie OkoThe most famous lake of the Tatras below the highest Polish peaks. A walk on an asphalt road with breaks for photos; lunch in the mountain hut by the lake.
- Day 4 – Kasprowy WierchCable car to 1,987 m on the Polish–Slovak border, a short ridge walk if the weather allows, then the Kościeliska Valley and the Mroźna cave.
- Day 5 – PieninyDunajec rafting on wooden rafts through a limestone gorge, Niedzica castle and the UNESCO wooden church in Dębno.
- Day 6 – Slovak sideTreetop walk in Bachledka and the mountain lake Štrbské Pleso – or a lazy spa day.
- Day 7 – KrakówTransfer to Kraków via the Wieliczka Salt Mine, afternoon in the Old Town and at Wawel Castle; airport or hotel in Kraków.
Winter variant (December–March): sleigh ride with torches and a bonfire, ski lessons in Białka Tatrzańska, snowshoe walk, the cable car to snowy Kasprowy Wierch and Christmas markets in Kraków.
Attractions I can show you
| Attraction | What to expect | Season | From Zakopane |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morskie Oko | Iconic lake below Mięguszowieckie peaks; ~9 km each way on an asphalt road, horse carriages on part of the way (subject to park rules) | all year | 40 min drive + walk |
| Kasprowy Wierch | Cable car to 1,987 m, views into Slovakia; skiing in winter | all year (maintenance breaks) | 15 min to Kuźnice |
| Gubałówka & Krupówki | Funicular from the centre, panorama of the Tatras, shopping street | all year | in town |
| Zakopane style | Wooden villas, Koliba villa museum, Jaszczurówka chapel, old cemetery | all year | in town |
| Kościeliska Valley | Easy valley walk, streams, the Mroźna cave (closed Nov–Apr) | all year | 15 min |
| Thermal pools | Chochołów, Białka (Bania), Bukowina – outdoor pools with mountain views | all year | 20–35 min |
| Dunajec rafting | Wooden rafts with highland raftsmen through the Pieniny gorge | April–October | about 1 h |
| Niedzica & Dębno | Castle above the lake, UNESCO-listed wooden church | all year | 35–60 min |
| Bachledka treetop walk | Wooden walkway above the forest with a view of the Belianske Tatras (Slovakia) | all year | 45 min |
| Štrbské Pleso | Mountain lake and resort on the Slovak side | all year | 1.5 h |
| Wieliczka Salt Mine | UNESCO site with a chapel carved in salt; guided tours only | all year | 1 h 45 min |
| Kraków | Old Town, Cloth Hall, Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Kazimierz | all year | 2 h |
| Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial | Former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp; visits with Memorial educators, booked in advance | all year | 2.5 h |
Map: airports and highlights
Blue markers: airports (Kraków, Katowice, Poprad). Click a marker for details.
Airport pickup and getting here
- Kraków Airport (KRK) – the main gateway, with direct flights from many European cities and connections via the major hubs. To Zakopane about 110 km, usually 2 hours.
- Katowice Airport (KTW) – an alternative, about 2.5–3 hours to Zakopane.
- Poprad-Tatry (Slovakia) – small airport on the other side of the mountains, about 1–1.5 hours to Zakopane.
- The driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and tracks your flight. Child seats, extra luggage space and a van for larger families on request.
- Arriving late at night? Spend the first night in Kraków and travel to the mountains rested the next morning, with a stop on the way.
Who travels with me
Most of my international guests are families and couples who come to Poland for the first time. They want the classic sights, but also quiet places, good food and someone who answers every question – from “Is this trail OK for grandma?” to “Where can we pray?” or “Which restaurant serves the real oscypek cheese?”.
- United Kingdom – Kraków is a short flight away; many guests combine a city break with 3–4 days in the mountains.
- Saudi Arabia, UAE and the Gulf – summer in Zakopane is green and fresh (daytime temperatures usually around 20 °C). I plan around prayer times, help with halal restaurants and keep the programme family-friendly and private. Arabic page: العربية.
- Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia – see the page in your language using the language switcher above.
- Families with children and grandparents – cable cars, carriages, short walks and pools instead of long hikes.
- Active travellers – summits such as Giewont, Kasprowy Wierch on foot, or even Gerlach, the highest peak of the Carpathians.
When to come
Practical information
- Currency: Polish złoty (PLN). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; keep some cash for mountain huts and markets.
- Weather: mountain weather changes fast. Bring layers, a rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes – I will send a packing list.
- Safety: in the Tatra National Park you must stay on marked trails; after dusk the trails are closed from March to November. I plan days so we are down in good time.
- Insurance: mountain rescue in Poland is free, but on the Slovak side rescue is paid – travel insurance that covers hiking is strongly recommended.
- Entry rules: check visa requirements for your passport before booking flights (Schengen area).
- Electricity: 230 V, type C/E sockets – UK and Gulf visitors need an adapter.
How it works
- MessageWrite via the form or WhatsApp: dates, number of people, airport and interests.
- Short callWe talk 15–20 minutes about your expectations, fitness and budget.
- ProposalYou receive a day-by-day plan, hotel suggestions and a quote for my services.
- BookingsYou confirm; hotels, transfers and tickets are booked in your name and paid directly.
- Your stayI meet you, guide you and stay in touch on WhatsApp until you fly home.
I provide the guiding and planning services myself. Transfers are carried out by licensed carriers, and hotels, tickets and other services are booked in your name and paid directly to the providers – you always see their original prices. I do not sell package holidays.
Guiding on the Slovak side follows Slovak law – mountain hikes there are led by a guide licensed in Slovakia.
I live at the foot of the Tatras, on the border of Poland and Slovakia, and guide families, couples and groups in the Tatras, Zakopane and the Podhale region. My job is to make your stay easy, safe and full of stories – about the mountains, the highlanders and their traditions.
I speak Polish and English and usually reply on the same day.
💬 WhatsApp / 📞 +48 533 566 312 · ✉️ adriansierociuk@gmail.com
Plan your stay
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Kraków Airport to Zakopane?
By private transfer it takes about 2 hours (110 km), longer on weekends in high season. I arrange a licensed driver who meets you in the arrivals hall; on request I come along and the guided programme starts on the way.
Do I need a guide in Zakopane and the Tatras?
Not for the town, but a licensed guide makes a big difference in the mountains: the right trail for your fitness and the weather, safety, no time wasted on parking and queues, and the stories behind what you see. For organised school groups a Tatra guide is even compulsory in the national park.
How much does a private guide in Zakopane cost?
Every stay is quoted individually because it depends on the number of days, people and the type of routes. You pay me for planning and guiding; hotels, transfers and tickets are paid directly to the providers at their own prices. See also the guide price list (in Polish).
Is Zakopane good for families with small children and grandparents?
Yes. Gubałówka and Kasprowy Wierch have cable cars, Morskie Oko can be partly reached by carriage, valleys such as Kościeliska are flat, and thermal pools are perfect for rainy days.
Can you arrange halal food and prayer breaks?
Yes. I plan the day around prayer times, recommend restaurants with halal meals and quiet places for prayer, and keep the programme private and family-friendly.
When is the best time to visit the Tatra Mountains?
September and October for hiking and colours; July and August for long days and rafting (book early); December to March for snow, skiing and sleigh rides.
Do you also guide on the Slovak side?
We visit Slovak sights such as the Bachledka treetop walk and Štrbské Pleso. Mountain hikes in Slovakia are led by a guide licensed in Slovakia, as Slovak law requires.
You may also like: elopement in the Tatra Mountains, sleigh ride with a bonfire, thermal pools in Podhale (in Polish).