Jasenská dolina

Jasenská dolina is a relatively small ski resort, picturesquely set on the northern slopes of the Veľká Fatra (Great Fatra) in the Turiec region, at the foot of Lysec (1,381 m), a dozen or so kilometres from the town of Martin. Jasenská dolina offers skiers two areas: the Kašová ski area in the lower part of the valley and, roughly a kilometre further up the valley, the Lehota area. The pistes total just over 4 km. In Kašová most of them are laid out on wide, gentle grassy slopes, which together with the snowmaking system here make skiing possible even with little natural snow. Unfortunately, the Lehota ski area has no snowmaking. It has two red pistes served by one lift, better suited to skiers who are confident on the slopes. Kašová, on the other hand, is excellent for families with children and beginners (though not only for them). Three blue and two red-blue pistes are served by seven lifts, including one four-seater chairlift. Evening skiing on a floodlit slope is available. There are car parks below both ski areas. Jasenská dolina is popular with cross-country skiers. A total of 6.5 km of trails have been laid out in the area. The resort is not yet very well known outside Slovakia. It does, however, attract plenty of Slovak winter sports fans, especially at weekends, when extra attractions are on offer. Besides skiing, you can go snow tubing or ice skating, among other things. Horse-drawn sleigh rides and horse riding are also organised. Nearby you can visit one of the museums in Martin (including the Museum of the Slovak Village at Jahodnícke háje and the Ethnographic Museum). You can also take a slightly longer trip to the ruins of Sklabiňa Castle or to the spa town of Turčianske Teplice, one of the oldest in Central Europe.