STUNNING SCENERIES AND AUSTERE MEMORIALS

May 30 ⇾ June 06
October 03 ⇾ October 11

In addition to our regular group departures to former Czechoslovakia, we also offer tour services for private travel parties and lone wolves alike. As a traveller-oriented boutique operator, tailored trips and bespoke adventures are our bread and butter. Get in touch for more info on our customised journeys to former Czechoslovakia! 

ITINERARY

DAY 1 — Košice

  • Meet-and-greet in the lobby of our hotel of choice in Košice (exact meeting time and hotel address will be communicated well in advance, private airport transfer available upon request).

  • The rest of the day will be entirely devoted to Košice, touring both the city’s main historical sights — such as the late-Gothic St. Elisabeth's Cathedral — and Czechoslovak-era hidden gems, like the modernist train station, the nearby Soviet War Memorial and the gargantuan panelák (prefab panel blocks) of Šaca, a rarely visited suburb full of nostalgia.

  • Overnight in Košice.

DAY 2 — LUNIK IX

  • Morning visit to Lunik IX, the largest Romani neighbourhood in Slovakia, an unjustly feared “ghetto” of crumbling concrete blocks and improvised shanty towns.

  • Our tour around Lunik IX will be guided by local Romani guides who will share with us precious insights about their unique culture and the challenging socio-economic environment most Slovak Roma have to cope with.

  • Afternoon excursion to the legendary Dargov Pass, visit to the local Soviet memorial, and traditional Slovak dinner in an authentic countryside restaurant.

  • Overnight in Košice.

DAY 3 — SVIDNÍK

  • Short transfer to the historical city of Prešov and onward journey towards the quintessentially Czechoslovak town of Svidník, where we will pay a visit to both the local Military Museum and the nearby Death Valley, an open-air tank graveyard left as a reminder of the Battle of the Dukla Pass, fought between Nazi Germany and Soviet-supported Slovak insurgents.

  • ČSSR-themed tour around Svidník and afternoon trip to the remote villages of Hunkovce and Vyšný Komárnik near the Dukla Pass: war memorials, bunkers, rusting aircrafts, observation towers and even a German cemetery.

  • Overnight in Svidník.

DAY 4 — Banská Bystrica

  • Today we’ll embark on a scenic road trip across the High Tatras, the highest mountain range in the region and Slovakia’s most celebrated drawcard.

  • Major stops during our drive will include the UNESCO-listed old town of Bardejov, the ČSSR-era resort town of Štrbské Pleso, a phantasmagoric Soviet-style mosaic in Poprad and the WWII-memorial-cum-museum in Nemecká.

  • We will then descend towards the Low Tatras and visit the abandoned village of Kalište, burnt down by the sweet old Nazis during the heroic Slovak National Uprising.

  • In the evening we’ll eventually reach the former copper mining town Banská Bystrica, the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia.

  • Overnight in Banská Bystrica.

DAY 5 — ZVOLEN

  • ČSSR-themed tour in and around Banská Bystrica and de rigueur visit to the Slovak National Uprising Museum.

  • In the afternoon we’ll then head for the socialism-shaped town of Zvolen and visit a few more ČSSR-era sights in its vicinity, such as the modernist spa in Sliač and the somber war memorial in Kremnička.

  • If time allows, we will also tour the picturesque mining village of Špania Dolina, a true architectural gem lost in the Slovak woods.

  • Overnight in Banská Bystrica.

DAY 6 — Žiar nad Hronom

  • Transfer to the Soviet-inspired planned city of Žiar nad Hronom with en-route photo stops in the historical little towns of Horná Štubňa and Kremnica.

  • Moving further west towards Bratislava, we will visit the ghost village of Horné Opatovce and the Cold War Museum in Alekšince.

  • After a brief tour around and about the socialist-modernist architectural heritage of the university city of Nitra, we will then reach the national capital Bratislava right in time for an early dinner.

  • Overnight in Bratislava.

DAY 7 — BRATISLAVA

  • Full day devoted to Bratislava, the no-nonsense capital of the country, a city full socialist architecture and Eastern European flair.

  • The list of ČSSR-era highlights we will visit during our sojourn in Bratislava includes (but is not limited to): the Soviet War Memorial, the Slovak Radio Building, the Central Railway Station and the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising.

  • Overnight in Bratislava.

DAY 8 — GOODBYE SLOVAKIA!  

  • After enjoying a last Slovak meal together, we'll take care of your transfer to Bratislava International Airport.

  • For those wishing to take the train/bus to reach further destinations, we’ll arrange for a transfer to the train/bus station in Bratislava.

  • Do you wish to spend more time in Slovakia and explore further offbeat Soviet remnants? Get in touch for more info on our private Soviet Tours around Slovakia! 

  • End of the tour.

1695 €

INCLUSIONS // Double/twin room accommodation (breakfast included), private transport in Slovakia (car/minivan), all entrance fees, English-speaking guiding service, 24/7 on-site and remote assistance.

EXCLUSIONS // Single supplement, international flights, main meals (lunches and dinners), extra drinks, visa fees (if required), tips, travel insurance.

The itinerary of our Slovakia tour has been carefully designed after several research trips to the country. It is, however, possible to modify the route upon request. Get in touch to learn more about our customised journeys to Slovakia!