AnnaWP wrote:Hi guys, I was looking for some advice about trekking in Eastern Europe. Myself and 3 friends are planning on a trip this June/July. We have all trekked before and want to do a challenging walk but nothing too technical (odd bit of easy scrambling ok) and nothing above the snowline. We are thinking of the Carpathian/Tatras mountains but finding it difficult to get info on them. We are students so are on a tight budget. Can you camp? What are the huts like and how much are they? How much is food/can you self cater? Any books/websites recommended for route planning? Cheers,
Hello Anna,
I think you will not be short in advices, since there is a certain amount of folks on SP from many of those countries. Tatras can be a good choice. Check also if you have cheap flights to Slovenia (really good place, amazing mountains), or also possibly Romania (Brasov area) or Bulgaria (Pilin/Rila, fine too).
About the Tatras: Camping: is strictly forbidden by the national park rules of both countries (PL/SK). But the huts are reasonnably cheap. You can spend a night for about 7/8€. The bad thing is that they tend to be overcrowded during week ends and holidays, so plan a mattress and a sleeping bag. Well, not all of them, but we can tell you which to avoid. The good thing is that the network is so dense, and they all serve food, so you can afford not carrying too much food along. A meal is about 5€
The best site in which you will find most complete information in English remains (without any chauvinism)... Summitpost !
Have a look to this page and all the peak pages related (left pannel):
http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/15 ... atras.html
Check also the Western Tatras group (Tatras are in two halfs) :
http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/18 ... atras.html
If you need any help in planning your trip, just let us know how much time you have for it, and I'm sure many suggestions will be posted here. Please also indicate if you have already planned to see one of the two countries in particular, or from where you will fly and arrive. (from UK, there are convenient flights both to Cracow in Poland, or Poprad in Slovakia)
Eric