Hiking in the National Park Malá Fatra
Slovakia is full of beautiful national parks, and the National Park Malá Fatra is no exception. Over 280 km (173 miles) of hiking and cycling routes are available in it.
We stopped here for only one night, but it was worth it. We were staying in the small village of Štefanová situated northwest of Slovakia close to the Veľky Rozsutec mountain. You can find many traditional houses and cottages here, but most are used as hotels now.
Our waddle:
- Waddle duration: 3 hours (we took it very slowly)
- Distance: 5,40 km (3,35 miles)
- Route: Yellow&Blue
- Map: link
Accessibility
A car is among the best and recommended options to come here. We parked ours directly at the available small parking space our accommodation provided. If you are here for a one-day trip, there is ample parking before entering the village.
We also saw a bus entering the village, so there might be other possibilities to reach the village.
Accommodation
The one night we stayed, we slept at the Pension Stárekthat we booked through Booking.
The guest house is located right at the village’s entrance. The atmosphere is very cozy, and the food they offer is tasty. You can have a good time there even for more extended stays. As mentioned, we stayed only one night, so let’s move on to the most important part – waddling.
Janošik’s Holes
The holes are a popular destination, and many people visit. They are located in the National Nature Reserve of Slovakia. Part of this reserve is a system of gorges and canyons, which are called Holes (Diery) and are named after a Slovak national hero Janošik.
The holes consist of three independent parts – Lower Holes (Dolné Diery), Upper Holes (Horné Diery), and New Holes (Nové Diery).
Each of the parts has some characteristics. The gorges are accessible by ladders and footbridges to waterfalls and abundant and rare flora.
The most beautiful parts of the Lower and Upper Holes follow an instructive route and start in Štefanová. Our waddle started at the village before we turned to the tourist route, which led us through a forest first.
After waddling through the beautiful forest, we ended up in a beautiful meadow. We were lucky. We had a perfect day for hiking, which means we met many fellow hikers.
Continuing on the path, we slowly came to another meadow, providing refreshments in case one needed a break.
Read also: The Statue of Juraj Jánošík
This was the last meadow we encountered, and the route took us into the forest again – a Slovak jungle.
Very relaxing, and you can clear your mind while waddling on. Continuing our path, we encountered more and more beautiful nature.
You will waddle on different paths – from stone and tree roots to dusty ones.
In the end, we returned and ended up back at the meadows before returning to Štefanová for a delicious and deserved dinner.
