Geographical information
During the Low Tatras Hike you will visit these cultural, historic and nature places:
Košice (city)
Košice is the second largest Slovak city; more than 230 000 inhabitants live here. This area was settled as early as the primeval ages. The first written reference of the city dates back to 1230. In 1342 Košice became a royal municipium and in 1369 it became the first city in Europe to be awarded its own coat-of-arms. In Košice there are plenty of historic sites. The best known is a monumental St. Elizabeth’s Cathedral, built in the 15th century, the largest Dome in Slovakia. Košice are also well known for its International Peace Marathon, one of the oldest world’s marathons.
Day 1
Slovak Paradise (National Park)
The Slovak Paradise was proclaimed National Park in 1988. It is one of the most visited areas of Slovakia. There are the elevated plateaus (Geravy, Glac), gulleys and gorges, waterfalls and caves there. The tourist routes lead through the gorges that the visitors cross using the metal and wooden ladders. More than 90 % of Slovak Paradise is covered by forests and one can see a bear, a lynx or a wolf here. There are also almost 200 caves and gorges in Slovak Paradise. The Dobšinská Ice Cave, that is a part of the UNESCO world heritage, is accessible since 1871.
Dobšinská Ice cave is one of the most important worlds’ ice caves. In 2000 it was added to the UNESCO natural world heritage. The inner part of the cave is covered by ice that is up to 25 meters thick. It was discovered in 1870. The cave is 1483 meters long. The tour is 515 meters long and lasts for 30 minutes.
Palcmanská Maša (water reservoir)
A small water reservoir built in 1956. It is an important recreation centre of the Slovak Paradise. The accommodation and catering establishments were built nearby.
Day 2, 3
Telgárt (village)
The first written reference of the village dates back to 1326. During the World War II the fascists burnt out the village. Many people`s habits retain here till the present times. Telgárt is the starting point of tourist routes to Kráľova Hoľa and pass-over the Low Tatras.
Nízke Tatry - Low Tatras (mountain range, national park)
The Low Tatras are the second most visited and the most important mountain range of Slovakia. It represents a massive mountain arch, which stretches in an east-west orientation in the length of 100 kilometers. The highest peak is Ďumbier with the altitude of 2043 meters. From many peaks there is a unique view to mountains and valleys of Slovakia. The Low Tatras National Park (NAPANT) was proclaimed here in 1979. The forests cover 90% of the area of the National park. You can see here some big beasts such as bears and wolves. The Low Tatras provides great opportunities of hiking through almost a thousand kilometers of marked tourist routes. Through the main ridge of the Low Tatras leads the tourist route of Heroes of SNP (the Slovak National Uprising) in the length of 9 km, which is a part of the international tourist route No. E8.
The highest peak of the eastern part of the Low Tatras with the altitude of 1946 meters. In 1960 a television transmitter was built here. On the hillside of the mountain a several big Slovak rivers spring - Váh, Hron, Hornád. Kráľova Hoľa is a massive and majestic peak, seen from several mountain ranges of Slovakia.From Kráľova Hoľa there are also beautiful views and a big part of Slovakia can be seen from it. The peak is very sought by tourists.
They serve as accommodation for tourists hiking through the main ridge of the Low Tatras. There are water springs nearby.
Day 4
A cottage situated on the hillside of Ďumbier in the altitude of 1740 meters above the sea level. It is the crossroads of tourist routes.
Day 5
Ďumbier (peak)
The highest peak of the Low Tatras with the altitude of 2043 meters above the sea level. In the past ferrum and gold were mining in hillsides of Ďumbier. The remains of this activity such as mining tunnels and routes can be seen also today. During the World War II harsh battles between partisans and fascists were fought near Ďumbier. On the hillside of Ďumbier there is the Cottage of M.R. Štefánik (1740 meters above the sea level).
The most beautiful and the best-known valley of the Low Tatras with the length of 15 kilometers. It is the main centre of tourism in the mountain range of the Low Tatras. There are plenty accommodation and catering establishments in the valley. There are also many caves here, from which the best-known ones are Demänovská Freedom Cave and Demänovská Ice Cave. In Krčahovo there are the reconstructed partisans’ bunkers from the World War II.
Demänovská Freedom Cave (cave)
Perhaps the most beautiful dripstone cave in Slovakia. It is 8126 meters long. It was discovered in 1921. A regular tour is 1150 meters long and lasts 60 minutes; the longer one is 2150 meters long and lasts 100 minutes. The regular temperature inside the cave is approx 6°C.
Demänovská Ice Cave (cave)
This cave is known for several centuries. It is covered by ice. Its overall length is 1975 m. The tour is 650 m long and lasts for 45 minutes. The average temperature inside the cave is slightly above 0°C (in summer). The remains of the cave bear were found here, however people used to think these were dragon’s bones, so they named the cave The Dragon Cave.