A trip to the most popular Tatra peak, Giewont, visible from Zakopane. The crossing takes about half a day and is one of the most physically demanding in the Western Tatras due to the quite steepness in the higher parts and artificial facilities (chains). The route is full of beautiful views. You must However, keep in mind that in high season, there are queues on the way to the peak, so it is worth going out on the trail very early in the morning or visiting Giewont outside the season. Trail color: blue Walking time: 3 h 15 min (up) Highest point: Giewont 1894 m above sea level We start the trip in Kuźnice, where we follow the rocky road south, following the blue signs. On the way we pass the gate of the Albertine convent. After about 35 minutes, we reach the scenic Kalatówki Glade, where crocuses bloom in early spring. There is a building of the PTTK mountain hotel in Kalatówki. Then the path enters the forest and for another 35 minutes we walk along the forest track, reaching the vast Hala Kondratowa, where there is a mountain shelter. The next section is a slightly more tiring but easy hike along a stone pavement (1 hour 35 minutes) through a valley called Piekiełek to Przełęcz Kondracka. The pass is a very scenic place, and on the right side the destination of our trip appears in all its glory. We keep following the blue signs and walk towards the peak of Giewont. After 15 minutes we pass Wyżnia Przełęcz Kondracka, after which there is a key ascent using artificial facilities in the form of chains. Traffic in this place goes in one direction. After 15 minutes of climbing, we reach the top, from where there is a beautiful panorama of the Western Tatras, the High Tatras and the entire Podhale region. An additional attraction of Giewont is the 15-meter-high cross placed there in 1901 by the inhabitants of Zakopane. The descent from the summit dome of Giewont takes a different route than the entrance (one-way traffic). In addition to the same return route, there are several other options for descending from Giewont, but please remember that none of these routes ends in Kuźnice. From Wyżnia Przełęcz Kondracka you can go down the red trail directly to the Strążyska Valley (descent time 2 h 20 min - the steepest variant), while from Przełęcz Kondracka follow the yellow signs to the Mała Łąka Valley (descent time 2 h 20 min - the descent is steeper than to Kuźnice , but less than to the Strążyska Valley). The trip can be further extended - from Przełęcz Kondracka you can follow the yellow trail to Kopa Kondracka or continue along the red trail through the ridge of Czerwone Wierchy or an interesting, rocky ridge through Suche Czuby towards Kasprowy Wierch. Each of these routes offers amazing views with little technical difficulty. However, you must remember that the trip will then be a full-day trip, so you should prepare properly, estimate your strength and choose a day with certain weather conditions for such a trip.