The High Tatras are a mountain range located in the northern part of Slovakia, on the border with Poland. Three quarters of its area lies in Slovakia. Twenty-nine peaks with a height of over 2,500 metres above sea level highlight its Alpine character as well as basins along the perimeter. The High Tatras were declared the first national park in Slovakia (TANAP) in 1949 and in 1993, together with the Polish part of the Tatras, were declared by UNESCO a “Biosphere Reserve Tatras”. With the length of 55 km, the High Tatras are the smallest mountain range in Europe. They were formed in the Tertiary Period by lifting of granite massif above ground level and their present form acquired by glacial activity during the Quaternary Period. This orogenic activity has resulted in the formation of distinctive rocky peaks – Gerlachovský Peak (2,655 m), which is the highest peak in the Tatras and in the entire Carpathians, Ľadový Peak (2,627m), Kežmarský Peak (2,558 m), Lomnický Peak (2,634 m), deep glacial valleys -Mengusovská Valley, Veľká and Malá Studená Valleys, and lakes of glacial origin, which have their own name in the Tatras – moraines and tarns – Štrbské pleso and Skalnaté pleso. In the Tatras, we register about 1,400 plant species and many animal species, strictly protected within TANAP all year round, live here too.

The climate has predominantly montane to alpine character and is therefore cold and wet. Snow cover lingers in this area for 180 days a year (in the valleys) up to 250 days (in the highest areas), and all year round in some places, mainly on the shadowy northern slopes. Windy weather throughout the year is typical for the Tatras. The average annual temperature at an altitude of around 1,000 metres above sea level is 5 ° C and 15 ° C in July. Autumn is the best time for hiking in the Tatras because of the stable weather and excellent visibility due to lower temperatures. In terms of tourism, the High Tatras are the most valuable region of Slovakia and the heart of winter sports. They are the most popular centre of downhill and cross-country skiing, hiking and year-round recreation. There are also several climatic spas. The best known tourist resorts in the High Tatras are Štrbské Pleso, Starý Smokovec and Tatranská Lomnica. A dense network of well-marked hiking trails is available for hikers. The Tatras are a paradise for mountaineers as well as the lovers of this sport. The most massive rock wall is the 900 metres high northern face of Malý kežmarský štít (peak). There are sixteen marked and maintained mountain bike routes, graded according to the difficulty from easy, through moderate to four difficult trails for extremely proficient riders only. About 12,900 permanent beds are currently available for the visitors of the High Tatras in the facilities providing a wide range of accommodation options, from classic Art Nouveau hotels through spa hotels and hotel companies to family guest-houses and private villas.