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Summer is in full swing and kids are enjoying the holidays.
All this means that the holiday season continues, i.e. planning of summer trips and adventures is there.
Like every year, the High Tatras are the favourite holiday destination for most Slovaks who spend the summer in their home country. And that’s why we have a great family trip suggestion for you that kids of all age groups will love.
Chalet below Mt Solisko
Most keen tourists head for the Chalet below Mt Solisko once they come to Štrbské Pleso. It is located at the altitude of 1,830 metres and one can eat and even sleep there.
We put our small tourist into a baby carrier and set out for the resort information centre next to the lower chairlift station. There we took our Gopass cards out and chose the easier version with the chairlift as our trip wasn’t about to end at the chalet and we could save time in this way because our 2-year-old son cannot sit in the carrier for long. Plans with babies need to be adapted often and made foresightedly to minimise complications resulting from the needs of small tourists. 😊
From the chalet, the view of the Low Tatras and the whole Liptov region is really beautiful. It is one of the youngest chalets in the Tatras and is open all year round. One can get there on foot along a tourist trail or with a 4-seater chairlift that ends next to it.
Mt Predné Solisko on foot
After the short travel to the chalet and feasting our eyes on the beauty around, we decided to keep hiking to Mt Predné Solisko and enjoy more panoramas. Our son was ready to drive us on from his carrier like he always does so we could set out.
A red-marked trail runs from the chalet to Mt Predné Solisko and it takes about 40 minutes to get to the summit. The terrain is moderate, but some sections require at least certain hiking skills as there are high stairs of rocks.
Mt Predné Solisko is 2,117 metres high and there is a big cross on the very top. We enjoyed the about 1-kilometre-long ascent led by me as the sun was hidden behind the clouds and I didn’t sweat that much.
After taking a compulsory summit photo, we went back to the chalet to refresh ourselves, wait until our son wakes up and travel with the chairlift back to the lower station.
Consulting the app
The weather was a typical Tatry-edition all day long, i.e. it was changing every moment. At the beginning, it looked like the sun might be shining, but once we got to the Chalet below Mt Solisko, it clouded over. So we were not sure whether we should keep hiking up or rather go back.
So we consulted our smart Gopass app, which offers a lot of useful information about individual localities in the Tatras but also about other places. After checking the current weather and the local webcams, we decided to continue as there was no rain planned. It was overcast, which suited me perfectly as I was carrying our little son.
A walk around the tarn is a MUST
The ascent to Mt Solisko was not long thanks to the chairlift help so we decided to add something extra. We went down to Štrbské pleso (tarn) and took a walk around it at a brisk pace. The path is about 4 kilometres long and offers beautiful views of the surrounding peaks too. And what’s most important, children can run around there on flat terrain. Our son caught up with our previous effort easily so we were all absolutely satisfied at the end.
Where next?
The area around Štrbské Pleso offers a lot of hiking and family trip options, various attractions and activities for kids or difficult hiking trips.
Those who park their cars there, can also walk to the Skok waterfall. The hike is not difficult and suitable also for beginners or families with kids.
As for more difficult trips, one can take a “tour” around Mt Solisko over the Bystrá lávka pass or set out for Mt Kriváň, which is further away.
When the visual speaks for itself
After an amazing day spent in Štrbské Pleso, we moved to Starý Smokovec, where we had booked the most iconic hotel in the Tatras (in my opinion).
Grandhotel Starý Smokovec is a legend that was built more than 100 years ago and has welcome various prominent guests from all around the world ever since. The atmosphere there is truly unique and is definitely worth trying. The period architecture with elements that can be seen in modern hotels only rarely today fits in the Tatras perfectly.
Hrebienok funicular tickets are included in the price for hotel guests and Hrebienok is the starting point of several trips that one can make in the Tatras. The hotel gastronomy is also flawless and everybody will find something for themselves there.
The High Tatras and Štrbské Pleso with its surroundings offer a wide spectrum of activities for everybody. Whether to enjoy alpine hiking or easier trips for families with kids, this is the right starting point. Attractions in the resort are popular with children, but older generations are not bored there either. What’s more, there is a new lookout tower from where one can admire the peaks and the nearby tarn. Whether you prefer proper hiking or rather peaceful walks, I can definitely recommend Štrbské Pleso. The already mentioned Gopass app might come in handy too as it includes all the necessary information and can help you make plans.
