Tourism and active leisure are not only reserved for spring, summer and autumn, but also for winter, even though many people ignore it while planning holidays. Winter is awaited mostly by keen skiers, but can the rest of us enjoy this snowy aura? Certainly, yes! We invite you to the Polish-Slovak border region, which has to offer much more than one could imagine.
Let’s take a look at the mountains, foothills and winter in the different light: in the light of new opportunities, which await us. Surely, we have walked the trails during the summer, when the surroundings were green, and the air smelled like sun. Maybe, we happened to see the sunrise over the hills covered with autumn mist. Maybe it’s time to try the winter hike? Many trails are accessible in winter, and even the beginning hikers will find something suitable for them. In the Island Beskids we can hike to Luboń Wielki, preferably along the blue trail. Bieszczady will welcome us with the wintery Polonynas and Chatka Puchatka – the highest situated shelter in these mountains – covered with ice and snow. We need proper clothes, a thermos with hot tea, snowshoes or crampons (they don’t have to be professional) and – let’s go!
The skiers have nothing to complain about – in the Polish-Slovak border region there are plenty of ski lifts and cross-country skiing trails. It’s worth to mention relatively “new” eleven kilometers trail, which was demarcated from Obidowa to Turbacz – the highest peak in the Gorce Mountains. It can be used both by the amateurs and professionals: it was frequently crossed by the Olympic Champion Justyna Kowalczyk. Both Polish and Slovak units: borough of Nowy Targ and Slovak borough of Závažná Poruba cooperated on demarcation of the trail. Many trails are located in the Low Beskid, for short cross-country skiing we can go in the area of Krynica, Tylicz or Wysoka. There is a variety of attractions also on the Slovak side: interesting sites are located not only in the high parts of the Tatras, the cross country skiers are also invited to the Little Carpathians, the White Carpathians or Kysucke Bekydy. The incredible conditions are guaranteed also on the trails along the ridges e.g. Great Fatra.
Do not forget about the most popular form of skiing – downhill skiing. Less extreme ski runs are available almost everywhere in the Polish-Slovak border region: the Bieszczady Mountains and the Beskids offer short, but incredibly picturesque ski runs, however most of the winter sports lovers are attracted by the Tatras. The most popular in Poland Kasprowy Wierch and Kotelnica Białczańska Ski Resort offer a dozen kilometers of ski runs on different levels of difficulty and highly developed infrastructure both for skiers and snowboarders. The longest, over five kilometers slope is available on the Slovak peak of Tatranska Lomnica and the Ski Resort Jasna, with the ski run starting right under the peak of Chopok. Many ski resorts offer not only active leisure on the slopes, but also other attractions like: concerts, festivals, possibility to visit a SPA, swimming pools and thermal baths: skiing holidays are a good opportunity to regain strength.
Winter is not a season, which we should, as they say “sleep through”. It is a beautiful season allowing us to rediscover already well-known territories. The paths, the forests and the country huts look entirely different than in the summer, when they are surrounded by the greenery. There are numerous possibilities to spend the free time in winter – more active tourists may spend all the days skiing on the numerous ski runs, and rather inactive guests can spend their time in the mountain hut, by the fireplace.
CARPATHIA is something more than a territorial brand – it is a way of thinking about the Carpathians. Join us to contribute to the economic quality mark of the Carpathians, which accumulates the best products, attractions and services unique for the Carpathians.
More information about the CARPATHIA brand:
The Association of the Carpathian Euroregion Poland:
www.wedrowaniebezplecaka.visitcarpathia.com
