Because the whole area of the mountains is protected by Poland and Slovakia in national parks it is not possible to cross ridge on other way than on foot or in winter on ski. However, It is possible to round Tatra Mountains on a bicycle. This trip is about 230 km long and due to stunning views belongs among the most beautiful in Europe.

Tatra Mountains have been the most popular destination of wanders for more than 150 years. Both in Polish and Slovak part the chain of tourist shelters and ski slopes is well developed. Below we present some useful websites with the most important Polish shelters, useful on making direct reservations or scheduling the routes.

For skiers the most important thing is the recently modernized cable-car railway from Zakopane to Kasprowy Wierch as well as ski lifts complexes located in Goryczkowa Valley and Gąsienicowa Hala. They facilitate to do the ski slope on the highest world level.

Even though mountain rescue system in Tatra mountains is very well organized, still every year there are many lethal accidents. Due to the protection of nature and numerous threats resulting from the difficult territory, walking is restricted exclusively to the routes designated by the administrative organs of respective National Parks. It needs to bear in mind, that routes in Slovak part of Tatra Mountains are closed for winter.

One glance on the map of Tatra Mountains is enough to tell, that the names of the valleys on both sides of the main ridge of the Tatra Mountains sound almost the same. Despite the fact, that Tatra Mountains have been divided with a political border “since forever”, people dwelling Poland, as well as the historical “Upper Hungary” have always been close and related. Until the present day highlanders from Slovakia use similar dialect and usually deal with very similar branches and sectors of economy. Regional, characteristic dairy products from Tatra Mountains are smoked sheep milk cheese “oscypek” – made in the Tatra Mountains and “bunc”, and the handicraft products are sheep’s fur and hand-made shoes called “kierpce” i.e. shoes with pointed toes traditionally worn by Polish highlanders and elegant vests.

Links

• beautiful panoramas of the Tatra Mountains