Discover Hidden Europe Come and share in our passion for exploration. Roadventure Tours are week long point to point cycling adventures in Hidden Europe. An unforgettable trip that circumnavigates the Tatra Mountains, the highest part of the Carpathian Range. Carpathia Tour, Poland & Slovakia 6th - 12th August 2018 Start/End: Kraków Duration: 6 days riding / 6 nights Avg Daily Distance: 105km Avg Daily Elevation: 1600m Difficulty: 3-4/5* The Podia Way Roadventures are fun, social rides with a chance to meet new people with the same interests. They are not about performance, but the joys of adventure and exploration. If you want to test yourself up a climb, we have the guides to go with you, but if you want to ride it at the back at your own pace, we'll be right there with you. The Roadventure Tour is a 'point-to-point' week of exhilarating riding, staying in a different hotel each night. Our team will ensure the transfer of all your luggage ready for when you finish your day in the saddle. *depending on the optional routes
Kraków LITTLE FATRA - ŻYWIEC 142km (101km) 2,050m (1,240m) ŻYWIEC - KRAKÓW 94km 840m Przyłęków PIENINY - HIGH TATRAS 125km (106km) 2,720m (2,490m) Niedzica Zázrivá LOW TATRAS - LITTLE FATRA 83km 960m POLAND SLOVAKIA Velické Pleso Demänovská Dolina HIGH TATRAS - LOW TATRAS 107km 1,730m
Day 01 - Warm Up Ride 44km 642m You will be collected from Kraków airport and after a light meal transferred to the first mountain location; Niedzica, Poland. Once bikes have been prepared a short ride in the local area will help stretch the legs after the travelling. An evening meal will follow in a special location where a metal sculptor has spent the last decade working on every detail of the restaurant's décor. Day 2 - Pieniny - High Tatras 125km 2,720m The first full day on the bike takes in some highlights of the Pieniny National Park before heading south towards the High Tatras on the Slovakian side. The next mountain base is located 1,650m high in a ski lodge beside an alpine lake. (Optional shorter route available) Day 3 - High Tatras - Low Tatras 107km 1,730m Staying in Slovakia, the ride takes in some wilder landscapes of the Low Tatras National Park, where cars are prohibited. Another summit top finish at Chopok Mountain. Roadventure includes... - 6 nights accommodation (double occupancy) - Breakfast and evening meals - Kraków airport pick-up / drop-off - All logistics including transfer of luggage between hotels - Ride guides with in-depth local knowledge - Ride support with mechanical assistance - Ride photography - Routes designed around experiencing the local area - Ride nutrition and hydration provided by Chimpanzee - Wahoo GPS devices for test rides - Brooks saddles for test rides (special sale prices available) The cost of the trip per person is 1,450
Day 4 - Low Tatras - Little Fatra 83km 960m Roadventure does not include... - Flights - Lunch and snacks - Alcoholic drinks with meals - Travel insurance - Incidental expenses - Exclusive & customised Podia jersey (advanced request, additional cost) - Genesis Bike hire; steel & carbon bikes (advanced request, additional cost) A slightly easier day in the saddle to give your legs a chance to recover. However the scenery is no less stunning as we ride into the Malá Fatra National Park where we will spend the night. Day 5 - Little Fatra - Żywiec 142km 2,050m Day 5 sees the ride head back into Poland and towards Żywiec, the home of the famous Polish beer. Not before some testing climbs as we make our way through the Silesian Beskid National Park. (Optional shorter route and Żywiec brewery museum visit available) Day 6 - Żywiec - Kraków 94km 840m The last day of riding will take us back up through the south of Poland to Kraków. A stop along the way in the medieval town of Lanckorona; known for it's resident artists, as well as the best cake and coffee in the area. We finish the weekend in Kraków with the opportunity to celebrate in a city known for it s vibrant and youthful atmosphere.
"Lost roads surrounded by beautiful landscapes, crossing picturesque villages with long, curved climbs!" Philippe, Belgium What to expect Experiencing the Carpathian Mountains and the local culture is all part of this Roadventure. Fully planned routes with support vehicle, mechanic and crew to transfer your luggage between hotels as well as ride guides with you at all times. You will be looked after from the moment of your arrival to your departure. We invite riders of all abilities to come and challenge themselves on the rewarding terrain of the Carpathia Tour. We place great emphasis on the group dynamic and have various ways to ensure that riders of different levels are capable of enjoying their time with us. With experienced ride leaders and support crew we are able to split the group into ability levels when required and for some of the harder days we have alternative routes. The terrain of South Poland and Slovakia has much to offer; from winding alpine climbs to short punchy hills through forgotten villages and car-less national parks with perfect tarmac. Ride nutrition and hydration is provided by Chimpanzee. There will be an opportunity to have a light lunch or coffee/cake stop during the riding days (not included in the price). These breaks will be in restaurants that we have pre-selected on each route.
Partners To help make your Roadventure an unforgettable experience we have teamed up with some of the best cycling companies around. Genesis If you don't want to bring your own bike, we can offer you the fantastic Genesis Volare race machine. If you prefer carbon, that's no problem with the Genesis Zero. Brooks We have a range of Brooks C13 saddles for our guests to try on rides. Special discount available for guests to purchase their own on the Brooks online shop. Morgan Blue - A clean bike is a fast bike and we use Morgan Blue's amazing products to make sure yours will be just that. Chimpanzee Honest, all-natural, hydration and nutrition made from real foods. Free of all the bad stuff. Vegetarian and Vegan options are available. Wahoo Our ride guides and support vehicles use the great tracking features of the Wahoo ELEMNT. We are also able to offer a unit for guests to test on rides. Campagnolo Our service vehicle has spare wheels to fit any bike, so if you get a puncture we can change it as quick as they do in races.
Rental Bikes We love seeing people's bikes on Podia Roadventures, we even photograph some of them for our blog. But, we know that it isn't always practical to travel with your pride and joy. With this in mind, we wanted to offer a great solution to our guests and to achieve this we partnered with British brand Genesis. With a strong history of producing fantastic bikes for amateurs as well as their own professional team, they were in the perfect position to offer our guests a temporary steed. Our purpose built fleet of Volare's are steel machines made from Reynolds 853 tubing that provides an incredible level of comfort on long rides, but stiffness where it is needed. If steel really isn't your thing, get in touch and we can arrange a Genesis Zero Carbon bike.
Specification Our fleet of Volare's have been specially built by Genesis with a great choice of components. Shimano flows right through the build making use of the Ultegra 6800 mechanical groupset, along with Ultegra 6800 wheels. A mid-compact crankset (52-36) with a large range cassette (11-28) is the perfect combination to tackle the terrain around the Carpathian Mountains. Pro PLT seat post, bars and stem complete the build. We have a range of stem lengths to suit most riders, we ask that you send details of your bike dimensions before the trip, so we can ensure the rental fits you perfectly.
Accommodation & Food We want Podia Roadventures to be as much about riding in new places as well as experiencing the country and local regions. For it to be an unforgettable experience for you, we pay as much attention to where we go off the bike as on it. With this in mind we have selected hotels that have something special about them, whether that is their location, atmosphere or luxury just at the right moment of the Roadventures Tour. We will visit a restaurant whose metal sculptor owner has spent decades creating a unique surrounding, a hotel located up in the High Tatra Mountains next to an alpine lake, the brewery of the most famous Polish beer company; Żywiec as well as the youthful exuberance of the UNESCO heritage city of Kraków for the final night celebrations.
Carpathia Tour Hotels Spiska Hut, Niedzica, Poland A traditional 19th Century cabin renovated to a 3* chalet Horský Hotel Sliezsky Dom, Tatranská Polianka, Slovakia A mountain top hotel located next to an alpine lake Mikulasska Chata, Chopok, Slovakia A mountain side hotel located next to a lake in the Low Tatra Mountains Janosikov Dvor, Zázrivá, Slovakia Located in the Mala Fatra National Park. Traditional Slovak timber cottages Hotel Żywiecki, Żywiec, Poland A 4* hotel with Spa facilities Golden Tulip, Kazimierz - Kraków, Poland A 4* hotel in the fashionable Jewish Quarter of Kraków, where the locals go to relax and socialise.
Join us on a Roadventure Contact roadventures@podia.cc