Slovakia and the Tatra Mountains

Tatra Mountains

Although our tour is billed as a four-country tour with stays in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary, there is actually a fifth country included – Slovakia.

On day 8, on the drive between Krakow, Poland and Budapest, Hungary, we are treated with a drive through the beautiful Tatra Mountains situated in the northern part of Slovakia, one of the smallest mountain ranges in the world.

In 1993, the Tatras were declared by UNESCO to be the “Biospheric Reservation of the Tatras.”  There are 25 peaks surpassing 2500 meters above sea level.  The highest peak in the range is Gerlachovsky peak (2655 m.) making the Tatras a great winter sport area.

There are 85 mountain lakes on the Slovak side of the Tatras nestled in the valleys.  At the end of the valleys are beautiful waterfalls that make the Tatras even more breathtaking. These 360-degree images give a sweeping view of the mountain lakes.

The Tatras also play host to a wide variety of flora and fauna from the lovely blue willow gentian to the cedar pines that grow on the steepest back of the hillsides.  The Tatra chamois, wolves, and brown bears find homes in the deep forests.

Although this day may appear to be a long bus ride to our final destination, it is definitely not a day for napping on the bus.  In this case, the phrase “you snooze, you lose” is really quite appropriate!