Day Hikes in the Majestic High Tatras, Slovakia

The High Tatras proudly stretch through northern Slovakia and southern Poland. Here, you’ll find some of the highest and most spectacular peaks in the 1,500 km long Carpathian mountain range. Within a 26 km stretch, there are no less than 29 peaks rising above 2,500 meters. This makes the region a small but unique, high alpine gem.

With its dramatic peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and lush valleys, hiking trails cater to all levels. You can follow paths winding through mystical forests, reach panoramic viewpoints from high mountain tops, and experience an unbeatable peace far from the noise of the city. The area is one of Europe’s few alpine landscapes outside of the Alps and boasts a fascinating flora and fauna. Rare animals such as three of Europe’s “Big Five” — brown bear, lynx, and wolf — inhabit the region, and if we’re lucky, we may even spot a golden eagle soaring above the mountains.

Whether you’re seeking a challenging climb or a peaceful walk in nature, the High Tatras will provide you with an unforgettable experience.

Accommodation and Day Hikes

We will stay at the same guesthouse throughout our stay in Slovakia. Located in the village of Tatranská Lomnica, which is a smaller ski resort in winter, it lies at the foot of the mighty Tatra Mountains.

The lifts are also open during the hiking season, and we will make use of them to get to higher altitudes on several days. The day hikes are moderately challenging; although we use lifts, the trails can still be quite demanding, and you should be accustomed to walking in rocky, alpine terrain.

Guides

Throughout the bus journey, our guide and travel producer, Simona Höglund, will accompany us. She will ensure everyone is settled at the guesthouse and introduced to the area. Simona will then embark on a hut-to-hut tour, while your day hikes will be led by local, English-speaking hiking guides who are experts in the region.

Bus Travel – An Eco-Friendly Choice

We’ve long wanted to offer the option of traveling by bus to our destinations. The challenge for us has always been that we never want to hike with more than 12 guests per guide, which is a hallmark of quality. With 12 guests, it’s difficult to make a bus trip financially viable, and the CO2 savings compared to flying are reduced.

This trip is open for 24 guests with two hiking guides. We will stay at the same hotel, do the same hiking tours, but the order of the days will be rearranged so that we are never more than 12 guests on each hike. We will also carpool with a smaller group of 10 people who are doing a more demanding hut-to-hut hike that same week (Read more about that trip here).

This way, the trip is both environmentally friendly and more affordable. The bus runs on fossil-free HVO fuel (where available) and holds the highest environmental class, Euro 6. HVO is made from 100% renewable raw materials and can significantly reduce carbon emissions. Further studies show that tourist buses have the least climate impact. Read more here! Or calculate it yourself here.

Besides the environmental benefits, we see several advantages to traveling by bus:

• We don’t have to deal with airports, check-in procedures, or loading/unloading luggage. We can just stow our bags, sit back, and relax from start to finish!
• We don’t have to worry about our luggage getting lost.
• We are a closed group, so we can bond and get to know each other throughout the trip.
• We can turn the journey into an experience by showing slideshows, watching movies, etc.
• We get to experience the places, countries, and cities we pass through, rather than just seeing clouds and a flat world from above.

The obvious downside is that the journey takes time. The bus departs from Gothenburg, with a stop in Malmö, and it takes about 20 hours to reach the hiking area in Slovakia. But if we’re going to change the way we travel, we must start viewing time differently. We hope more people will be ready to do this and see the benefits of this type of travel.