Warzęchowa Kotlina is one of those hidden gems in the High Tatras that rewards hikers with silence, raw mountain scenery and a beautiful alpine lake that is hard to forget. Nestled at around 1833 m above sea level in the Staroleśna Valley on the Slovak side of the Tatras, this glacial basin is flanked by impressive rocky pillars and shelters the sizeable Warzęchowy Tarn.

The atmosphere here is wild and unspoiled. To the west rises the Zbójnicki Ridge, to the south the Warzęchowy Pillar and Nowoleśny Pillar tower above, while to the north the basin opens into the Zbójnickie Korycisko ravine. In early summer the still surface of the tarn mirrors lingering snowfields in the shadowed gullies; by autumn the whole cirque settles into a mood of austere, stony calm. If you are looking for genuine Tatra wilderness without the crowds, this is your place.

• From the Waterfalls of Cold Water (Vodopády Studeného potoka) or Rainerova Chata — blue trail along the Staroleśny Stream via Zbójnická Chata hut. Walking time from Rainerova Chata to the hut: approx. 2 h 15 min (descent approx. 1 h 45 min). Difficulty: moderate.
• From Zbójnická Chata hut onward to Rohatka pass — blue trail, approx. 1 h 15 min (descent approx. 55 min). Difficulty: moderate.

• The basin lies within TANAP (Tatra National Park, Slovakia) — national park regulations apply. Stay on marked trails.

The name 'Warzęchowa' comes from an old word for a ladle or scoop — a fitting description for this perfectly bowl-shaped glacial hollow carved out of the mountain rock over thousands of years.