Mountain chalets in Slovakia

Simple mountain chalets are popular type of accomodation in Slovakian mountains – Low Tatras, Greater Fatra, Little Fatra, Polana or even the Tatras.

Mountain chalet in the Greater Fatra

In the Choc Mountains

Some of the shelters are newly built in order to host hikers. These are small solid wooden buildings with well arranged interior - sleeping place, heater and cooking stuff (pots, cups, etc.). Latrine is a real luxury there :) However, there are also many chalets which are former shepherds' huts modified for tourism purposes. Some were solidly renovated, the others are in poor condition.

Most of the chalets are free of charge. After spending a night in such a place we are obliged to leave it in the previous condition. What does it mean in practice? Clean up after yourself, take your garbage, keep the latrine clean (if one exists) or chopp the wooace for the fireple. In fact, it is very important to comply with these rules in every place ;)

In the Greater Fatra

Most chalets have access to the fresh water but you should not expected the tap and sink inside ;) It means that there is a spring near the cottage. Sometimes the sign shows the way to the spring, however in most cases we have to rely on a good map with marked waters. Some shelters are located in a considerable distance from the water (even several kilometers) or the closest springs are seasonal – be prepared for that.

Planning accommodation in a particular shelter check if the place is open to public. A part of the huts is under the supervision of some tourism organizations which hold the keys to the buildings. You need to get the key before you set off on the trail.

Hiking with an overnight in mountain huts is a great adventure. Sleeping in simple conditions (sometimes being squeezed like sardines in a can), chopping wood, drying wet clothes on the strings stretched inside, shared cooking and finally a conversation with casual roommates have unforgetable charm :)

Enjoy!

Tatra Mountains

Low Tatras

Low Tatras

Choc Mountains

Low Tatras

Greater Fatra

Low Tatras

Greater Fatra

Polana Mountains

Tatry Ice Master - ice sculpturing championships

Every winter since 2013 a very interesting and spectacular competition takes place in the Tatras - the ice sculpturing championships called the TATRY ICE MASTER. Top artists from several countries of the world come to Slovakia to take part in the contest. During three days they have to complete the tasks - create ice sculptures in 3 different categories:

1. Bears
2. The country I come from
3. Abstract - free choice

That is amazing! You can watch the artist working, using different technics and tools, transforming ice blocks into fantastic shapes. 

The championship is accompanied by singers performances, daily contests, ice-shops and other amusements.

Everything takes place in the beautiful area of the High Tatras. There are splendid waterfalls 20 minutes walk from Hrebienok.

Directions: Hrebienok, The High Tatras, Slovakia. Take a funicular (or go on foot :) from Stary Smokovec to Hrebienok. On the way back you can enjoy 3 km long sledge track :)

Polana Mountains - the geological curio

Did you know that the biggest extinct volcano is located in Slovakia? For me it was a great surprise, that there is something so unusual and interesting close to my home. Nowadays the name of this volcano is Polana.

Slopes of the Polana Mountains, Slovakia

The Polana are medium-high mountains with forests, clearings, fields and lovely hamlets. The highest peak is Polana at 1458 m ASL. We named this place Slovak Tuscany ;) You can hike here (lot's of marked trails!), do some cycling trips or simply stay in one place and enjoy tranquility. Maps of the region you can buy in bigger towns or cities like Banska Bystrica.

The Polana Mountains are a geological curiosity. They used to be over 2500 m ASL high stratovolcano which finaly exploded and destroyed thyself. Nowadays we can find there interesting rocks (andesite or tuff - consolidated volcanic ash) and extraordinary rock formations. The mountain range is protected by Polana Protected Landscape Area. 

Waterfall Bystre

At the foothills of the Polana lies a town of Detva known for its folklore. Detva is a manufacturing center of famous Slovak music instrument fujara - shepherd's overtone fipple flute. It has really unique shape. You can see it in Detva museum or during one of the folk festivals which are held here. Some of them are even the international events. 

Detva is also known for its carved and painted wooden crosses which are the decoration of tombstones at local cemetery. They also stand as a roadside chapels. 

Man playing the fujara at folk festival in Detva.

There is (at least!) one more interesting place situated in the vincinity of the Polana. It is the wooden Protestant church from 1726 located in village Hronsek. Its wooden construction with severe interior can hold up 1100 worshippers. The site was enetered onto the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

I highly recommend this lovely and little known region!

Farm stay, Slovakia, The Polana Mountains. 

Mountain insurance in Poland and Slovakia

The mountain rescue in Poland and Slovakia is provided by the Mountain Rescue Service organizations:

1. In Poland there are the Mountain Volunteer Search and Rescue (Górskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe - GOPR) and the Tatra Mountains Volunteer Search and Rescue (Tatrzańskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe – TOPR).

EMERGENCY NUMBER: +48 601 100 300

Website: http://www.gopr.pl/ http://www.topr.pl/

2. In Slovakia it is The Mountain Rescue Service (Horská záchranná služba – HZS).

EMERGENCY NUMBER: 18 300

Website: http://www.hzs.sk/

INSURANCE

Poland: You don't have to buy any special insurance at the moment.

Slovakia: You are obliged to buy special mountain insurance policy. Otherwise you will have to cover the costs of your rescue while accident.

Where to buy the policy?

1. Alpenverein, Euro26 Sport are honoured.

2. Some commercial insurances offer the insurance. You may buy it in the office, online or via sms.

3. At the branches of the Mountain Rescue Service. The main office is located in the center of Stary Smokovec (opening hours from 7 AM).

4. Some hotels and Tourist Information Centers provide assistance in buying the policy.

5. At the ticket offices for example to the Slovak Paradise. It is not included in the ticket price, you buy it additionally.

The Tatra Mountain Guide

This time I will write something private. Probably I want to boast a bit ;) So... Finally, after an almost 3-year course, I passed exams and became the Tatra mountain guide. I am so happy, because now I can use all the hiking experience and geography knowledge I have, to show others the small part of the world which are the Tatras.

www.sliwinski-foto.eu 

Who is the Tatra mountain guide? It is a person who loves mountains, has vast experience and knowledge about the region and is entitled to lead private and organised tours. There are several levels of guidance – the first one allowes to lead tours along the marked trails, the others have permission for the climbing routes.

Course. During the course we learned not only the topography of the Tatras, but also about the nature, history and etnography of the region and surrounding area both in Poland and Slovakia. We had lots of lectures, coach trips, hiking tours, climbing and first aid trainings. But it was not enough – the most important thing was our own work.

I am very lucky because my husband is a guide too (the Tatra mountain guide and UIMLA guide) so we could talk about the mountains for hours ;) He also comes from the highlanders family so I had a chance to learn about the local culture and traditions from the inside.

Peolple. During the course I met wonderful people! We all are in different age, come from different parts of Poland, have different jobs and hobbys. But the thing that links us together is the passion for mountains. I am really greateful for the time we spent together.

Future. Maybe we will go for a trip together? ;)

Monika

P.S. Don't hesitate to ask any questions about the Tatra Mountains and surrounding area!

Caves in Slovakia

There is over a dozen of caves in Slovakia open to visitors. They are placed in different mountain ranges all over Slovakia. Most of them are typical karst caves but there are few quite unusual like aragonite cave or ice caves. We had a great chance to visit some of them. You can read about our impressions below. We also put general information about the cave.

Stanišovská cave

It is a karst cave located north of the Janska Valley on the southern slopes of the Low Tatras, 15 km from Liptovský Mikuláš. What is really special about this cave is that there is no lights inside - you visit it only with headlamp (which guide gives to you at the entrance). Thanks to that you feel like a real explorer. If all visitors turn off the light for a moment you can experience the true darkness. Other attractions in the cave are tiny creatures that live in the water, small lake or dripstone (but not so spectacular like in other caves). 

Official website: http://www.stanisovska.sk/m.php?t=1&m=3

PHOTOS:

READ ABOUT OTHER CAVES SOON!

The Choč Mountains

The Choč Mountains are a mountain range located in north-central Slovakia, west from the Tatra Mountains. The highest peak is Veľký Choč (1 611 metres above sea level). Small mountains but very diversified – you will find here forests, meadows, rocky summits, karst valleys, waterfalls and mineral springs. 

Prosiecka Valley

For those who would like to hike inside the ravines, climb ladders or walk through wooden footbridges we recommend Prosiecka Valley. It is a very picturesque trail, not very difficult and quite popular among tourists. The place impressed me much :)

The way back leads through Kvacanska Valley. It's main attraction is an old sawmill located in the bottom of the valley. Visitors can see how the machinery works. It is interesting both for children and adults.

Veľký Choč

Those who want to get more tired may ascend the highest peak - Veľký Choč. It's rocky summit is a great view point for surrounding mountain ranges - Tatra Mountains, Low Tatras, Fatra Mountains and others. Another option is climbing Prosečné - it is a shorter trip, almost all the time you walk in forest. 

Finally, after a very tiring trip ;) hikers can quench their thirst drinking healthy water from mineral springs in Lúčky or take a rest in a hot spring water park in Bešeňová. There is also a little lake with hot water in Kalameny - it is an non-commercial place.

Tiny beautiful mountains. Good things come in small packages ;)

 

Waterfall in Lúčky

Prosiecka Valley

Pulsatilla slavica

Old sawmill in Kvacanska Valley

Old sawmill in Kvacanska Valley

Museum of photography and cinematography in Slovakia

We had a great chance to visit the Jozef Maximilian Petzval Museum in Spisska Bela. Andrzej is a photographer so we were laughing that it was a must-see for him ;) I also enjoyed it realy much.

Petzval inventions

Jozef Petzval was a mathematician, physicist and inventor who became famous for his work in optics. His achievements are used today in cinematography and astronomy. Among his inventions are the portrait lens and wide-angle lens. He also invented the opera glasses. You can see everything in the museum.

Museum is located in the center of Spisska Bela in the house of Jozef Petzval – the place where he was born and lived several years. The number of exhibits gathered there made an impression on us. You will find there not only the memorabilia of the inventor - the exhibition includes more than 600 exhibits documenting the history of photographic equipment. Beside the vast range of cameras and lenses visitors have also a chance to see how camera obscura and darkroom works or what stereoscopy (3D imaging) is. A part of exhibition is devoted to the beginnings of cinematography.

Read more: http://www.stm-ke.sk/index.php/en/detached-expositions/j-m-petzval-s-museum-in-spisska-bela

Visiting the museum with a digital guide. 

We highly recommend!

Contact:Petzvalova 30, 059 01 Spišská Belá

Phone: + 421 (0)52/459 13 07, +421(0)918 965 699,

E-mail: muzeum.petzval@stm-ke.sk, stmke@stm-ke.sk

Opening hours:

Monday - Saturday - 10:00 to 16:30 hrs.
Sunday - closed

Admission:
adults € 1.50
discounted € 1.00
making photos € 1.00
Providing discounts on the basis of the discount coupons EBC - European Club Benefit

Day hikes in the Slovak Tatra Mountains

View from Ľadový štít (available only with a mountain guide)

There are many options for one-day hiking trips in the Slovak Tatras. Generally you will not find so difficult trails accessible without a mountain guide as there are in Poland. But on the other hand some of the summits are higher than Polish ones. And what is the most significant – the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia are less crowded than in Poland.

Western Tatras

Typical valley of the Western Tatra Mountains

Valleys in the Slovak Western Tatra Mountains are quite long and not very steep. They are suitable for people who seek easy trails with beautiful views. Žiarska dolina, Studená dolina, Bobrovecká dolina and Tichá dolina have even asphaltic floor what makes them really easy to reach but on the other hand more tiring for people returning from longer trips.

Most of the summits in the Western Tatras which are accessible by the marked trails are easy to reach. They only require good physical condition because the hikes are quite long. Some technical difficulties you will find at the main ridge between Roháče and Salatín. 

 

There are shelters in some valleys – good place to rest and have a meal. You can also spend there night or two but it is not necessary to sleep there, even if you want to do hikes in the higher parts of the mountains. Good starting points for a day hikes are Oravice, Pribilina, Jalovec, Zar and Podbanske. Zuberec is a bit to far from the beginnings of trails - you can sleep there, but than it is better to drive into the valley to start a trip.

High Tatras

The High Tatras

Hiking trails in Slovak High Tatras mostly lead through valleys and passes – some of them are really spectacular like Sedielko, Prielom, Závory or Poľský hrebeň. There are also few high summits you can ascend on your own (Rysy, Východná Vysoká, Kôprovský štít, Jahňací štít, Slavkovský štít and Kriváň). All of them are suitable for one-day trips but require good physical condition.

Rest of the summits is accesible only with a licensed mountain guide – the highest Tatra peak Gerlach too. The second highest peak Lomnický štít is available also with a cable car.

Shelters are located in most of the valleys. They are good starting point for day trips.

Belianske Tatras

Belianske Tatras are very beautiful but generally inaccessible. Very fiew trails lead there and there is only one shelter called Plesnivec. The great attraction is Belianska Cave - the largest and the only one open to the public cave in the Slovak Tatras.

Transport

You can of course drive between entrances of the valleys by car and leave it on the parking spots. In the Western Tatras it is the best idea. But in the High Tatras there is better way – a train which connects all the beginings of trails. It is cheaper and very convenient. Remember to buy ticket on the train station. If you sleep in shelters you can also drive into some valleys by car.

Hiking trails in the Slovak Tatra Mountains are not accessible to public between 1 November and 15 June. 

Check also: One-day hiking trips in the Polish Tatras
 

Picturesque gorge Tiesňavy in the Western Tatras