Blogs from Slovenský Raj National Park, Slovakia, Europe

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Europe » Slovakia » Slovenský Raj National Park October 2nd 2022

Our final day in Slovakia dawned dry & sunny! Because we'd had to swap hikes around due to the rain on Friday we had a longer hike than planned to do today so we set off early. Jamie's hip was complaining after all the hiking yesterday so we drpoped her off to do a shorter route with plenty of strudel time at Ranč Podlesok, which we'd taken to calling the Strudel Hut! Her walk was slightly more adventurous than she thought, in part due to a large gate blocing the route forcing a detour. The rest of us headed over to trek up Piecky (Fireplace) Gorge, which gets its name from the amazing rock formations that span the canyon. Again there was more water than usual due to the previous rain and there was a lot ... read more
There was't much of a dry path to find here!
Super high ladder!
Picking my way upstream

Europe » Slovakia » Slovenský Raj National Park October 1st 2022

Slept much better and woke with eyes still slightly swollen but not painful and with only light rain. After breakfast we headed back into the Slovak Paradise National Parkto hike along the Suchá Belá Gorge, one of the longest and most popular canyons in the park. The previous rain meant the stream was in full flow so we had to trek through water, climb over fallen trees and ascend ladders - the path even went through a window-like hole in the rock. Emerging from the canyon we ate our sandwiches before continuing along the top to the symbolic cemetery above Kláštorisko. Here the group divided with some heading off on a longer, more adventurous route down with Jan (which admittdly sound like more fun!) whilst Jamie and I took the shorter, gentler route with Andy that ... read more
A series of ladders
Wooden walkways
Picking our way upstream

Europe » Slovakia » Slovenský Raj National Park September 30th 2022

On Thursday we were up at 4:30am to get to the airport on time *yawn*. My flight got into Krakow just after 12, got through border control fairly promptly & ended up at Jet Bistro for a cup of tea. Using the chat group I discovered Lisa was there too so we met up and were gradually joined by others until about half the group were in the cafe! We chatted until Martin, Andy & Jan from Much Better Adventures arrived at 5pm to collect the group & set off in two minibuses on the 3h drive across to the border to our hotel in Slovakia. It was rainy & dark so we didn't get to appreciate the mountains fully as we crossed the border but we did appreciate the traditional food at Penzión Strachan where ... read more
Prielom Hornadu canyon
Group at the Tomasovsky viewpoint
Prielom Hornadu canyon


Uz pomalicky povinnu rannu kavu, pre mna kapucino zadelujeme v bufete v podlesku, ktory je hlavnou branou do slovenskeho raja. Zo stratenej do podlesku ideme cestou necestou ako pozeram do navigacie v aute. Proste ziadna cesta na navigacii, iba zelene pole. Tato skratka (c.3227), je sice iba par km avsak ide sa do kopca, same serpentiny. Clovek si nemoze priat nic krajsie hned takto zrana. Vyjazdil som sa paradne. Na parkovisku v podlesku platime parkovne 3€, jeden z pomocnikov na parkovisku nas navadza na miesto. V pokladni kupujeme vstup do np slovensky raj (1,5€) a ako som uz spominal davame kavicku. Nabudeny kofeinom sa napajame na zelenu znacku smer sucha bela zaver. Ludi takto skoro rano (nieco okolo 8/00) prakticky nula. Tesne pri vstupe do rokliny sucha bela je este dalsie stanovisko kde predavuju vstupy resp ... read more


V noci riadna burka a neskutovne teplo na izbe. Beriem zabezpeku a smer dobsinska ladova jaskyna. V kupelnom mestecko brusno chceme zadelit ranajky a kavicku, bez ktorej moj spolucestovatel nevie zacat den. No okolo 8/00 sa veru nedari. Nakonec kava pred breznom na pumpe. Miname brezno, ktore vyzera tiez ako fajn miesto na zastavku ale nie za dazda. Povodne som chcel spravit mensiu zastavku v murani a pozriet syslikov avsak cesta c.531 od severu je uzavreta, vdaka nadmernemu dazdu co bol naposledy. Strhlo to vraj kus cesty. V telgarte odstavujeme tatosa pri vagone, z ktoreho je spravena kaviarnicka a sup ho nafotit si chmarossky viadukt. Jasne, ze som nafotil jeho menej krajsiu cast ale pohodicka. Prichadzame na plne parkovisko pod jaskynou. Opat platene parkovisko. Baba nam oznamuje, ze posledny vstup do jaskyne bude o 13/00, cul ... read more


O locatia frumoasa de colindat tot in muntii Slovaciei pe langa pesterile din zona. Seamana bine cu Balea, hotel in varful muntelui, pret 103 euro, parcare in fata anevoioasa, se plateste un permis de sedere, datorita locurilor limitate si accesului un pic dificil, se circula pe o banda ingusta. De aceea se aranjeaza cu cei de la hotel sa preia clientii, lucru rapid si convenabil de ambele parti. Aici am servit atat mic dejun inclus in pret cam obligatoriu cat si cina- 17 euro.La rezervare ni s-au dat niste indicatii la sosirea in zona, urmarind niste indicatoare. Totul a fost in regula. Camera de munte, cu mult lemn, peisaj frumos de la geam, TV plasma, terasa perfecta pentru a savura o bere sau cidru, masa de biliard. Lacul ne-a imbiat la plimbareli de seara si de ... read more
interior camera
interior
interior camera


The drive from Bratislava to Slovensky Raj took around 3 hours. Slovensky Raj means the paradise of Slovakia, in my opinion, a very apt name. We stayed in a small village called Vernar. It is only popular during ski season, so when we arrived, we were the only occupants of the hostel. From there we drove to Sucha Bela to hike. It took us approximately 4 hours to get back to our car. As there were very few hikers, it was very peaceful and serene. We were lucky enough to see a Kamzi (mountain goat) cross our paths. I only managed to get a blur photo of it as it happened too fast. As if the kamzi heard my thoughts, it sneaked back to where we were and stood still, staring at us curiously and giving ... read more
On the way to Slovensky Raj
On the way to Slovensky Raj
On the way to Slovensky Raj

Europe » Slovakia » Slovenský Raj National Park September 21st 2012

Classic Rhapsody Back with the lovely guide Carla and our very dry bus driver Lukas on my second last busabout tour. Over breakie I met Mel, Paula, Becks and Sarah and we chatted on our way to our first stop the famous Bone church. I was surprised to find that it was exceedingly small but definately did not disappoint on the amount of bones or the creativity in which they were assembled. The bones are so old that it wasn't really creepy, just really amazing the sculptures that had been created. Even more amazing was our lynch from a grocery store, I bought fruit, a sandwich and a drink...for 2€! So cheap! On the next leg of the bus journey I chatted to Hamish, one of only two men on our tour (the other was part ... read more

Europe » Slovakia » Slovenský Raj National Park September 23rd 2010

Its been awhile since I last updated the blog and I've been busy exploring Poland and Slovakia! Started my Poland experience by taking a train from Olomoucs, CZ to Krakow, Poland. I learned during that trip that not everyone in CZ speaks English and that if you get on the slow train you get to see alot more of the countryside! You also get to miss your connections, spend hours waiting in train stations, and wish you could speak Czech! After an overly long journey, I reached my hostel in Krakow just in time for a free home cooked dinner! (every Thursday night at the Travelller's Inn, Krakow). That and some good conversation with fellow travellers really made everything OK! The next day I wondered around the old city square of Krakow before coming back to ... read more
Auschwitz
Lantern above the officer's club at Auschwitz
Birkenau


1993. Czechoslovakia is broken neatly in 2. Divide the country and the word roughly in half. The second half, Slovakia, is generally regarded as the little impoverished brother of big bro 1st half. Sounded like a good enough reason to us for a few, in fact 4 days. What do you do for 4 days in country you don't know a great deal about? HEAD FOR THE HILLS MA!!! We found a room in the midst of a bunch of national parks, all for the princely sum of 15 euro per night. Slovakia is bargain Europe. The national park closest to us is known as Slovensky Raj. This translates to Slovakian Paradise. I wasn't aware paradise would be so full of Polish tourists. In fact my ingnorance led me to think we'd be the only non-Slovakians ... read more
Spisske Hrad
Levoca
Bratislava




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