Zakopane is popular with hikers of all abilities, and it is possible to hike all year round with adequate equipment, experience and preparation. The Tatra mountains which cross Poland and Slovakia offer some excellent, long established hiking trails. There are simple bothies or huts as shelter for hikers at reasonable intervals, which are very well used in the summer. The Hala Kondratowa is shown on the left. Camping is not permitted in the National Park.

The highest peak in Poland is Rysy at 2499 m. The youth hostel at the edge of Morskie Oko is ideal if you're planning to climb up Rysy. It provides clean rooms, good, simple and very cheap local food; the apple pie is superb and the bigos amazing. There's the usual toilet attendant wanting 1 zloty that you find in many Polish establishments but the toilets are clean and have toilet paper, albeit of the rough brown variety.

A mountain guide and rescue service is available in the Tatras.

Mountain Guides:

• Centrum Przwodnictwa Tatrzanskiego TPN, ul. Chalubinskiego 44, Tel: 637 99
• Kolo Przewodnikow Tatrzanskich PTTK, ul. Krupowki 12, Tel: 158 48
• Przewodnictwo, Alpinizm, Narciarstwo,. ul. Krupowki 35, Tel: 142 61
• Basia & Arek Gasienica-Jozkowy Bulwary, Slowackiego 7, Tel: 663 43

Mountain Rescue: (Tatrzanskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe), Tel: 634 44

Suggestions for hikers

• Plan well in advance and make sure that you have all the necessary equipment and a map
• Be prepared for wet weather
• Obtain a permit for any rock climbing

Accommodation

During the summer holidays, children often stand by the roadside holding a 'Noclegi' sign.  This is the equivalent of bed and breakfast, often in a private home. You can always take a look before you commit.

Dom Turysty (Tel: 0048 18 206 32 07, Fax: 0048 18 206 32 84) , located in the town centre offers a range of accommodation to suit all budgets. They also arrange mountain guide,  transport services and group discounts.

Photographs courtesy of the Chelmsford Youth Hosteling Association who visited in 1999.

Holiday house to let in Rabka, 25 miles from Zakopane - sleeps 10+

Smart 5 bedroom (3 en-suite) holiday house to let in quiet part of Rabka, 300 m from one of the ski slopes.

The house has 5 bedrooms, jacuzzi bath, 3 living areas, small kitchen, bathroom, shower room, 2 additional WCs. Garage and own driveway. Small garden. Balcony with table and chairs plus BBQ.

Full gas central heating. Open fire in one living area.

Rabka is known as the 'town of the world's children'. It's built around an enormous central park with swing parks, restaurant, paths and cycle trails. There are 3 ski slopes in winter, toboggan run and an ice skating rink. In summer enjoy horse and cart rides, swimming pools, Rabkoland funfair.

Bus fare into Krakow is just 9 zl each way (takes just over an hour), much less to Zakopane.

Click on the photograph of this holiday let in Poland for details and prices or Telephone +44 (0) 1245 325 273 for bookings and information.

Mountain Huts

Youth Hostel in Zakopane