Tatra Mountains / Tatry are the southern natural borders between Poland and Slovakia. They occupy an area of 785 square kilometers, although about 2/3 are situated in Slovakia, where also the highest peak Poprad (2 655 metres) is located. The highest peak of Polish part with 2 499 metres is Mr. Rysy, located in nearby the mountain town Zakopane .

Tatra Mountain also a part of Carpathian mountain range 

Rysy is a mountain with three actual peaks with different levels of difficulty, from which only one of them lies in Poland. As the highest point of the country, Mt. Rysy is facing a great popularity among tourists, especially during the summer period.

Even though that the ascent is rather steep (especially the Polish side) and can be considered challenging, it does not require any technical climbing and can be accessible without a mountain guide from both Polish and Slovak side. The summit will then reward you with breathtaking views over the wild Tatras‘ landscape.

Tatra Mountains: The best way to climb  is to start in Zakopane.

This town is a popular destination which draws visitors not only thanks to being the perfect starting point for climbers, but also thanks to the phenomenal lake Morskie Oko and top conditions for winter sports such as skiing, ski jumping, snowboarding and other.

Morskie Oko, the greatest one of Tatra Mountains’ lakes, is perfect for those not so keen on extreme hiking thanks to its easy access, even though it’s situated in considerable surface elevation of 1 395 metres, surrounded by mighty mountain peaks all around.

Another great hiking pleasure is the Giewont mountain massif, which is often described as one of the most characteristic ones in Tatra Mountains.

 The distinctive silhouette comprising of three peaks is referred to as the “Sleeping Knight“, connected to the legend saying that the King Boleslaw and his knights will awaken from their sleep should the nation be of their need in the time of great danger. The way to the top gets more dangerous, the higher you get.

There are multiple ways to access the mountain, varying in difficulty and duration (from 3 hours hiking trail from the city to 10 hours hike including the cable-car ride to Mount Kasprowy Wierch) and especially during summer season, the summit might be little overcrowded as Giewont is one of the most popular targets for hikers in the area.

The panoramic view from the elevation of 1 895 metres is, however, incredibly rewarding and worth all the effort and sweat.