If I'm honest, I didn't have a plan for Slovakia, apart from hiking in the High Tatras
The High Tatras are a part of the Tatras. It is the highest part of the Carpathians and is located in both Slovakia and Poland. Zakopane is probably the most famous place in the High Tatras, known for winter sports.
The main ridge of the High Tatras is only 27 km long, almost nothing compared to the Alps.
24 peaks of the High Tatras are over 2,500m high. The highest mountains are the Gerlachovský štít at 2'655 m, which is also the highest mountain in Slovakia and the entire Carpathian Mountains, the Gerlachovská veža at 2'642 m and the Lomnický štít at 2'632 m
And my campsite Rijo Camping Stara Lesna was right at the base station of Lomnický štít. But 2,632 m is definitely too much for me. I contented myself with a hike up to 1'200m
The weather was good, I was up at 6:00 am and so I started my earliest mountain hike at 7:30 am
It was Sunday and at 8:00 there was already a queue for the lift, but I wanted to walk up
My way led to the middle station and then across to a mountain stream, which I followed down. There are several smaller and larger waterfalls that invite you to relax
My colleague Jana also suggested the Lower Tatras to me. Less busy and many options. The Lower Tatras are located southwest of the High Tatras and you can get there in 45 minutes by car. Options for me are
- Slovak Paradise and Sucha Belá, although both actually demarcate the Lower Tatras to the east
- The area around the Ďumbier or
- around Kráľova hoľa
- Not in the Lower Tatras but an option is Malá Fatra
Let's see where it goes