Tucked away on the southern slopes of the High Tatras, the Great Cold Valley — known in Slovak as Veľká Studená dolina — is a true gem of the mountain world. It holds the record for the highest number of mountain lakes of any valley in the entire Tatra range: 26 lakes scattered across its wild cirques and side basins. If you are looking for a valley that delivers both accessible lower paths and serious high-alpine adventure higher up, this is it.

The valley stretches roughly 5.5 km and widens to over 2 km at its broadest point. The lower section eases you in gently through forest, the middle opens up into meadows, and higher up the terrain narrows into a dramatic rocky gorge called Brána ('the Gate'). Beyond the Gate the valley fans out into steep side branches reaching toward the main Tatra ridge at the pass of Prielom (2,288 m). Several streams — Vareškový, Zbojnícky, Sivý, and Strelecký — merge here into the Great Cold Stream. In summer the valley glows with alpine flowers and the terrace of the Zbojnícka mountain hut offers stunning views of the Javorový Peak's sheer walls. Autumn brings fiery colours from the dwarf pine and bilberry slopes, while winter transforms the valley into a silent, snow-draped wilderness best left to experienced winter mountaineers.

• Tatranská Lomnica — blue trail, following the Waterfalls of the Cold Stream up through the full length of the valley to the Prielom pass (2,288 m), difficulty: moderate to demanding
• Starý Smokovec — via Hrebienok and the Tatra Magistrale, blue trail, difficulty: moderate
• From Zbojnícka chata — yellow trail via Zbojnícka pláň and Strelecké polia to Priečne sedlo, then descending to Téry hut — one-way only, difficulty: demanding

• The valley is within the Tatra National Park — stay on marked trails at all times
• Zbojnícka chata mountain hut in the upper valley offers accommodation and meals — advance booking recommended
• The crossing via Prielom toward Lysá Poľana is permitted only along the official marked route

With 26 mountain lakes, this valley is the undisputed lake champion of the Tatras — and the mountain hut Zbojnícka chata has its own colourful history dating back to a hunting lodge built by the state forestry authority in 1907.