Slovakia - Eastern Europe - page 633

Rafting on the Dunajec
Just to the east of the High Tatras, the peaks end abruptly and the rolling
highlands of eastern Slovakia start. This is the border region with Poland,
and communities on both sides share a common folk culture and heritage
going back hundreds of years. A short segment of the border is formed by
the Dunajec river, a surprisingly narrow waterway that zigzags through
some breathtakingly rocky crags, with Poland on the left and Slovakia on
the right.
Daily from April to October, several tour operators run guided group
floats down the river, starting from just outside the small town of Cerven;
Klástor, about 60km (40 miles) from the High Tatras. These trips are great
fun and make for a special day out, particularly for the kids. The floats fol-
low the river about 12km (8 miles) to the town of Lesnica in the Pieniny
National Park. The guides are dressed up in traditional “Gorál” (highland)
folk costumes and can be quite entertaining (most speak only Slovak, but
some can also manage a smattering of German and English). The entire trip
takes about 90 minutes and costs about 300 Sk ($10/£5.50) per person.
In Lesnica, you can get a drink or light meal at a little cottage restaurant
before boarding a bus back to the rafting operator. If you have the time
and energy, rent a bike and ride along a little path beside the river back to
your car. It's easy to organize a trip from the High Tatras; simply inquire at
your hotel or the tourist information office and they can book you on a
coach tour. If you want to travel independently, one of the better organiz-
ers is Pltnictvo on the main road just outside of Cerven; Klástor ( & 052/
482-2805; www.nokle.szm.sk).
Horn; Smokovec II/17. & 0903/653-555. Lunch and dinner items 90 Sk-150 Sk ($3-$5/£1.65-£2.75). No credit
cards. Daily 11am-10pm.
EXPLORING
Aside from simply hiking, biking, or skiing the hills, there's not much else in the way
of must-sees or -dos. If you get a bad-weather day, there are a couple of things worth
seeking out.
Museum of the Tatra National Park (TANAP) A small, easily managed
museum that details the founding of the Tatra National Park, with some nice displays
of the tremendous variety of the flora and fauna native to the High Tatras. The
exhibits include some stuffed bears, Tatra “grizzlies,” several of whom are said to be
still frolicking around the higher elevations.
Tatranská Lomnica. Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 8am-noon.
Cable Car to Lomnick;Stít It's possible to reach one of the highest peaks in
the Tatras, Lomnick ;S tít (2,634m/8,700 ft.), without ever having to lace up your hik-
ing boots. A modern cable car makes the bracing ascent in several stages from its base
in Tatranská Lomnica, though the price can be steep for groups or families. Each car
holds about 15 people. You'll be allowed to spend about 50 minutes at the top before