The Carpathians are famous for the wealth of natural landscapes, the cleanest air, ringing waterfalls, mineral water springs and transparent rivers. Fantastic nature and developed infrastructure make it an ideal place for hiking. Find out which routes are the most popular among tourists

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The Carpathians are an ideal place for a summer vacation, because it has everything: fabulous nature, rich culture and delicious local cuisine. Tourists can best enjoy the mountain scenery while climbing the mountains. The nature and landscapes of the Carpathian Mountains can energize you and give you unforgettable memories. Here, every tourist will be able to test their strength and feel the real taste of life. All you have to do is choose a route that suits you.

What hiking routes are popular among tourists in the Carpathians? Top 8 best hikes that will change your idea of ​​vacation in the Carpathians further in our material.

Hiking in the Carpathians: routes

● Dovbush Trail and Makovitsa Mountain

- Height: 984 m.

- Duration: 4-5 hours.

- Distance: 10 km.

The route to the natural complex of stone caves and the artistic-memorial complex "Trails of Dovbush" is one of the most popular in Yaremcha and has more than a century of history. The path winds up the mountain between the beech-juniper-spruce forest. On the way you will meet the works of local masters dedicated to Dovbush and you will be able to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the distant past and make your vacation in the Carpathians interesting and informative.

Above, a winding stone path climbs over the rocks of Dovbush and goes in a winding serpentine to Mount Makovytsia (984 m), which belongs to the Gorgana mountain massif. The mountain offers a view of villages and towns, Hoverla with Petros, as well as Sinyak and Khomyak. This route is very easy and suitable even for beginners, because it does not require special physical training.

● Pip Ivan

- Height of the mountain: 2028 m.

- Duration: 1 day.

- Distance: 24 km.

The peak of Pip Ivan is not similar to other Carpathian peaks, because the top of the mountain is crowned by the stone building of the former "White Elephant" observatory. The name of the mountain comes from the winds that "pop", that is, sing.

There are several trails leading to the top, most often tourists go up by routes from the villages of Dzembronya or Šibene, through Lake Maricheyka.

● Ascent to Hoverla

- Height: 2061 m.

- Duration: 5-6 hours of active walking.

- Distance: 20 km.

Hoverla is the highest point of Ukraine and one of the most popular peaks of the Ukrainian Carpathians. It is located on the border of Zakarpattia and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, on the high-mountainous Black Mountain Carpathian ridge. Tourists who will go on a hike to Hoverla will be able to walk through a zone of forest, alpine meadows, shrubs, see stone outcrops, a variety of rare vegetation, as well as the sources of the Prut River. Also, most travelers are attracted here by fantastic landscapes and mysterious local nature.

● Gorgans

- Ridge height: 1500 m.

- Duration: 1 day.

- Distance: 14-24 km.

The Gorgana ski massif is a popular destination for one-day hikes. Tourists are amazed by the amazing landscapes here - massifs with mounds of gray-green stones, which were formed by an ancient glacier. They are covered with thickets of alpine pine and juniper.

However, taking into account the rocky landscape, tourists who decide to go on a hike here should choose trekking shoes and carefully monitor the weather (it is better not to climb in the rain).

● Hike to Mount Spitsy

- Height of the mountain: 1863 m.

- Duration: 1 day.

- Distance: 13 km.

Shpytsy is one of the most interesting mountains of the Ukrainian Carpathians. During the route, you can see whole rows of unusual rock ledges, the height of which in some places reaches from 15 to 50 meters. They say that Oleksa Dovbush himself is buried here.

There are two roads: from the recreation center "Zaroslyak", through the fabulous lake Nesamovyte - this direction is suitable for a leisurely walk. But from the village of Bystrets through the Gadzhina tract.

The spikes look like mighty giants, to which the subalpine meadows spread below give mystery.

● Polonyna Borzhava

- Height: 1681 m.

- Duration: 1 day.

The picturesque Borzhava Carpathian Range is the longest Transcarpathian range. A walking trip to Borzhava will give you a sea of ​​unforgettable emotions from amazing mountain views, and will also give you the opportunity to test your endurance, because the journey will not be short and not entirely easy. The "Suriya Tea House" rises on the mountain, where you can drink Ivan tea, masala or coffee and taste handmade candies.

● Climbing Mount Petros

- Height of the mountain: 2020 m.

- Duration: up to 2 days.

- Distance: 32 km.

Tourists planning a long-term hike in the Carpathians will be interested in climbing to the top of Petros. The local nature surprises with its emerald spruces and pines. In the summer, blueberries grow here in abundance.

In good weather, the ascent will open up wide panoramas of the surrounding mountains: Gorgany, Marmarosi and Svydovetsky ridge. There is a chapel on the top of Petros, which becomes a shelter and salvation for travelers from bad weather (strong winds often blow on the mountain and rain and thunderstorms pour down). From the top of Petros you can see Hoverla and the entire Black Mountain range.

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Carpathian waterfalls

● Probiy waterfall is a popular tourist attraction and natural monument in the Carpathians. A 20 m high bridge is built above the waterfall. Below it is a wide and deep basin with a calmer current.

Probij (another name is Yaremchansky Waterfall) is a cascading waterfall in the Ukrainian Carpathians, on the Prut River, located within the city of Yaremche, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. Probij is one of the most abundant waterfalls in the Carpathians. The height of the water fall is 8 m, the angle of inclination is almost 45 degrees. Behind the waterfall is the central souvenir market in Yaremcha.

The duration of the route is 4-5 hours, tourists will cover a distance of 9 km

● Shipit waterfall is a cascading waterfall located in the heart of the Carpathians, at the foot of the Hymba mountain, in a beech gorge. Due to its fantastic beauty, it was also included in the list of wonders of Ukraine. The waterfall originates on the high slopes of Velikiy Verkh mountain (1598 m). The height of Shipit is 14 meters. It is in great demand among tourists, because you can admire it at any time.

Also nearby is another pearl of Ukraine - Lake Synevyr - the largest mountain lake of the Carpathians, located in the protected area of ​​the National Nature Park with the same name, at an altitude of almost a thousand meters. Due to its beauty and uniqueness, Synevyr is included in the list of "Seven Wonders of Ukraine". Its depth reaches 24 meters, and the water remains icy in all weather conditions. Synevir is approximately 10,000 years old, it was formed as a result of a powerful earthquake.

The majestic Carpathians invite tourists to fantastic trips, so choose a destination and plan an unforgettable and quite active vacation already this summer.

We remind you that camping vacations are a great way to live in harmony with nature, while not losing comfort. Therefore, when planning a vacation in the Carpathians this summer, we advise you to pay attention to the best tent cities in Ukraine.

Our managers will help you organize the perfect trip. Contact a Visit Ukraine specialist through any convenient messenger (Telegram | WhatsApp) to plan the perfect route through the Carpathians.

Find a selection of new and most popular tourist locations in Transcarpathia here. We talked about where you can go on the new mountain shuttle that was launched in the Carpathians in this article.

We wish you a good trip!

Photo: Mariya Oliynyk / Unsplash

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