SLOVAKIA ADVENTURE – DAY ONE

Location: Slovak Paradise National Park

Miles: 10 miles

Health: Suchá Belá & Prielom Hornádu Gorges

Weather: Warm & beautiful

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7am – Breakfast in Slovakia is anything but ordinary. From pancakes and grapes to boiled eggs, raw carrots, and strong coffee, it’s a curious mix that somehow works. Nerves buzz quietly around the table as today’s hike looms. I’ve got a chesty cough and don’t feel my best but nothing is stopping me from tackling this adventure.

By 8am we’re bundled into the noddy bus. Two minibuses carry our group of 15, most of us sticking to yesterday’s seating habits. Max and Paul are the exception, they’re still the talk of the trip after accidentally boarding the wrong plane and ending up somewhere else in Poland so had to hire a car. Don’t ask me how!

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We start in silence. Maybe it’s nerves, maybe it’s just early. Our guide, Peter, briefs us on what lies ahead: the famous Suchá Belá gorge.

The canyon swallows us whole, towering rock walls dripping with moss, water rushing beneath wooden walkways, and birdsong echoing through the trees. The air smells fresh, damp, and earthy. Chains bolted to the cliff face steady our hands, while ladders are wet with spray from nearby cascades. Wooden stairs creak under our boots. Children scamper past with fearless grins, while our group’s laughter bounces off the stone walls.

It’s magical, but it’s not easy. One mile in, Peter warns: “That was the easy part.” As he then gives us the option to turn back now. Three people decide that their ladder climbing experience will end there and the rest of us tighten our gloves and push on.

And he was right. The ladders rise higher, the water deeper. There are no harnesses, no ropes, just grit and adrenaline. A slip here could be serious. Everyone stumbles at least once, pride bruised but spirits intact. In my head I’m thinking “this wouldn’t happen in the UK, we would be clipped in”.

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Finally, the gorge releases us into the forest. The incline is steep but the woodland is alive, pine needles crunching, sunlight dancing between branches, and even a cheeky robin stopping by. We pass the time with a music quiz, singing our way uphill until the summit appears.

A long-drop toilet provides comic relief, but nobody dares use it.

At the mountain café, Caroline, Snay, and Sudah greet us with smiles and cold beers. Sunshine spills over the deckchairs where Max, Paul, and Ollie collapse in bliss. Annette introduces us to Slovakian cola… safe to say, once was enough!

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Heading down is no walk in the park either. Peter, who doubles as a mountain rescuer, shares a sobering story of a cable car accident that claimed lives—including someone he knew. It’s a reminder of how powerful and unforgiving the mountains can be.

At the base, we find Slovakia’s ingenious beer vending machines. Max and Paul demonstrate the art of the perfect pour. Mine? A frothy grapefruit-flavoured mess. Still delicious, though.

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Back at the hotel, there’s just time for a bath and a chat with Natasha before dinner. To my surprise, everyone has gone full medieval for the evening feast! Costumes, shots of fiery liquor, and platters of ribs that melt off the bone. Laughter fills the room, but by 8:30pm my body calls time. The others head out for a village stroll while I retreat to bed, grateful for a little quiet.

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Today had it all: challenge, fear, laughter, and beauty. We climbed waterfalls, braved gorges, and shared stories over beer and ribs. We slipped, we sang, and we supported each other every step of the way.

Adventure isn’t about never stumbling, it’s about daring to climb the ladder anyway, trusting that the view at the top will be worth it. And today, it absolutely was.