Hiking in the High Tatras is definitely a wonderful experience. I have hiked in many places, in the north of Italy, in New Zealand, Australia, Korea, but hiking in Slovakia, in the High Tatras is always very special to me. Not only because of the view, nature, the glacial lakes which are just so unspoiled, but because the majority of the hikes can be done in one day. As a person who is just beginning to hike and has not much stamina, I appreciate the possibility of being able to get to a peak and be back at home for dinner, have a warm shower and not worry that I will be sleeping in a tent and feel cold. Do not get me wrong, I love being outdoors, but I enjoy it, even more, when I can do it comfortably. And this is why I would not think twice when going hiking in the High Tatras.
Let’s talk about what the High Tatras has to offer, and oh my, it has to offer a lot! It will be impossible to mention all the places and hikes here, but some places which are close to my heart are Zelene Pleso and Popradske Pleso. I really like the hike to Poprdske Pleso. Starting in Strbske Pleso, walking through the forest, then on a rocky path overlooking the mountains, passing by pristine waters and finally arriving in this magical place. Once there you can visit the symbolic cemetery for those who lost their lives in the mountains. Although it is quite sad to think about it, the cemetery pays respect to these people, the mountains and it is a very colourful and calm place to think of your own life.
Having mentioned that one of the most important things while hiking in the Tatras is that you need to respect the mountains. Always check the forecast before. Talk to local people or hike with a local guide. Make sure you have plenty of water and food for your hike and have a plan B in case you can not complete it, you will certainly have good options of things to do, like going to spas, visiting historical places and castles.
What to take with you
Take plenty of food and water for your hike.
Have the emergency number of the rescue mountain team with you and check if your mobile has coverage and enough battery.
Waterproof clothes and waterproof hiking shoes.
Warm clothes and a change of clothes in a backpack in case you get wet.
Small backpack.
Sunscreen, you can get burn if when it is winter due to the altitude.
Hiking sticks are optional but you will see a lot of people with them in the Tatras.
How to get there
From London Luton airport there is a direct flight to Poprad Tarty. Otherwise, you can fly to Kosice, take a taxi to the train station and get a train to Poprad Tatry. From Poprad Tatry, you can go to the High Tatras by train too. It is important to check the times ahead as the trains might not run quite often and we do not like waiting, do we?
If you prefer to have a trip with less hassle and with locals guide you, hiring the services of a company like us, Experience Slovakia, will make your life much easier, especially if you do not have much time to spend here. Although people are helpful in Slovakia, it is still difficult to find people who speak English, and that is why we are here, to help you with your travel arrangements and for sure with communicating and find your way around.
Trails in the mountains
The trails are very well marked with different colours, with signs showing the directions to take, how far it is from a certain point, with cyclist routes and there is always a map somewhere in the trail to show you where you are and where to go.
You can always choose the trail that suits your level of fitness. I would strongly recommend you to study the routes before going to have a better understanding of your way and alternative routes if it is necessary to change your plan. It is not always easy to find maps of the hiking trails available in detail, therefore it is not a bad idea to hire someone like Experience Slovakia to take you through the national park safely.
Things to respect
It does not hurt to remind you that being in a national park requires a lot of respect. We want you to visit the Tatras and tell people about it but we also expect all to respect the mountains, by not leaving your rubbish behind, if you brought something with you, you can take it back home and dispose it at the right place.
Taking plants, flowers not to mention animals from a national park is extremely forbidden. They belong to their habit. So if you see someone doing that, pl
ease raise their awareness of the importance of keeping the place as it is.
We want to have people visiting the High Tatras and enjoying their time here, and at the same time, we would like to preserve the place. It is very difficult nowadays, to find such a place on our planet, especially in the centre of Europe. A place with native forests, animals like brown bear, lynx, chamois and birds of prey, and clean, mineral water!
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