Turiec - a Cauldron in the Embrace of the Forests
The Turiec cauldron is a picturesque region in central Slovakia. It is an ideal starting point for
tourism and travel in the often visited Small and Large Fatra. The National Park, Small Fatra,
is characterized by an expressive, multifarious surface, whose beauty is enhanced by picturesque sceneries,
rock formations, towers and walls. It has been, predominantly, created from dolomite and limestone.
Especially beautiful are the crowded rock formations resembling people and animals. In every season,
this region can bewitch visitors with its beauty and peace. The protected region, Large Fatra, is visited
throughout the year, especially its beautiful, long valleys with rich occurrence of rare plants and creatures.
Program of this trip:
Day 1: arrival to Slovakia, accommodation, informal reception.
Day 2: First we will visit Sutovska Dolina valley with the rumbling Sutovsky
Vodopad, the tallest waterfall (38 m) in the Mala Fatra. The waterfall flows from Mojzisove Pramene
(Moses’ Springs) at the end of the valley. Precipitous cliffs 50-60 m tall tower over the waterfall.
Day 3: We will ascend one of the grand mountains of Velka Fatra, Tlsta
(altitude 1414 m), near Gaderska Dolina (Gaderska valley). The mountain can be recognised from far
away by several horizontal limestone and dolomite rock terraces. From underneath the mountain top,
one can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding landscape adorned by karst formations.
Day 4: The next peak of Velka Fatra, Ostra (Sharp Mountain; altitude 1256 m),
is sharp, rocky, and divided into spires and pillars.
Day 5: We will walk through the most popular reaches of the Vratna valley:
Dolne Diery, Horne Diery, and Tiesnavy; splendid landscapes of a ”rock city”, narrow gorges, miniature canyons,
waterfalls and spires carved into the rock by the force of a mountain stream.
Day 6: We will visit city of Martin, the center of the Turiec region,
and take a walk through Skanzen, a Museum of Slovak Village Life.
Day 7: We will climb Velky Rozsutec (altitude 1611 m), a jagged peak in
the Mala Fatra famous for its forked top with a number of limestone spires.
Day 8: We will ascend Drienok (altitude 1273 m), a steep mountain that
offers enjoyment of unique plant communities and magical views of the rock outcroppings that are abundant
in this section of the Velka Fatra.
Day 9: To conclude our trip we will scale Velky Fatransky Krivan
(altitude 1709 m), the highest peak in the Mala Fatra.
Day 10: Farewell and departure from Slovakia.