Diversity of the terrain surrounding the Vihorlat Mountains is an ideal starting point for walking, especially in summer. A network of marked tourist trails crossing lowlands and mountainous woodlands spreads along the whole length of this Protected landscape area (PLA), which is 88 km large. The lowest point of the tourist trails is located close to the village of Remetské Hámre, app. 250 meters above sea level; the highest point of Vihorlat is 1076 meters above sea level high. The peak Sninský kameň and Morské oko lake dominate the PLA.

NPLA visitors can use an educational trail Morské oko lake – Sninský kameň peak – Sninské rybníky lakes, opened in 1984, for tourism. Along the trail the panels with information about history and other specificities of the area can be found. Proximity of the recreational resort Zemplínska šírava also influences increase in the number of people visiting the PLA Vihorlat. The more challenging tourist track Morské oko lake - Sninský kameň peak – Sninské rybníky lakes, 12 km long, features height difference from 618 m above sea level – Morské oko lake, through 1005 m above sea level – Sninský kameň peak, to Sninské rybníky lakes – 260 m above sea level.

As these localities have different altitude and are located in two different valleys united by the dominating Sninský kameň peak, the educational trails (ET) are divided into 4 separate parts:

1. the village of Remetské Hámre - Morské oko lake (panel no. 1- 7)

On this 8 km long track there are 7 panels providing the basic information about the PLA, history of the village of Remetské Hámre, history of the local railroad, mining and steel production, water resources, fauna and flora.

The educational trail follows the forest road. Trips can be done by cars or by walking. The trail features number of picturesque nooks with rippling stream Okna. It terminates in the parking lot below the Morské oko lake, which is also the starting point of the ET Morské oko lake - Sninský kameň peak - Sninské rybníky lakes, the part of which consists of the 4 km long Morské oko lake circuit.

2. Morské oko - circuit (panel no. 1- 4 Morské oko lake - Sninský kameň peak - Sninské rybníky lakes)

There are four panels along this 4 km long track, providing information about the PLA Vihorlat, the area’s geology, Morské oko lake, as well as about the surrounding forests. The track is not challenging and it is situated in a beautiful setting of the Morské oko lake.

3. Morské oko lake - Sninský kameň peak (panel no. 5 - 6)

This track is more physically demanding. It features height difference from 618 to 1005 m above sea level, spread across the length of 4km. This demanding track will reward you with magnificent views of the Cirocha river valley, forests of Vihorlat and the East Slovak Lowlands. Rocky cliffs are accessible by iron stairs. The Sninský kameň peak is 5-15 m wide and 50-70 m long. It offers great views of the town of Snina and the main ridge of the Vihorlat mountain range. Eastern platform offers a spectacular view of the Morské oko lake, border ridge of the Popričný hill and the East Slovak Lowlands. Panels provide information about fauna and flora of the Vihorlat forests and about a protected natural creation Sninský kameň.

The peak of Sninský kameň is accessible from the south and from the north. The southern path is 8 km long and leads along the wood asphalt road from the village of Remetské Hámre to the Morské oko lake, with further 4 km to the top of the peak. The northern path leads from the village of Zemplínske Hámre.

4. Sninský kameň peak - Sninské rybníky lakes (panel no. 7 - 10)

At the beginning of this 8 km long more demanding educational trail to Sninský kameň peak is the recreational area Sninské rybníky lakes (260 m above sea level).

Panoramatic views here would please even the most demanding visitor. There are four information panels placed along the trail, providing information about the PLA Vihorlat, about the area between the Cirocha river and the Sninský kameň peak. They also inform about the history of mining and metallurgy in the region, about fauna and flora of the Vihorlat forests and about the natural creation Sninský kameň.

Vihorlat, the indivisible part of which are famous natural creations like the Morské oko lake, Malé morské oko lake and the Sninský kameň peak, is a region with a variety of natural beauty spectacular in any season. Beauty of untouched nature lures not only natives, but also foreign tourists.
The natural creations are accessible by marked tourist tracks and educational trails.
In summer, these recreational areas are ideal for walking or cycling, the most popular track being the Sninský kameň peak hike. From this peak, the track takes you to the Slovak largest volcanic lake - Morské oko.

Another area which offers a wide variety of walking and cycling routes can be found in the surroundings of the Zemplínska šírava dam - Vinianske lake (Vinianske jazero), Sninské rybníky lakes and Vinianský castle. Vinianske lake serves as a base for Vihorlat tourist tracks. Marked tourist tracks start from the villages of Remetské Hámre, Strihovce, Zemplínske Hámre, Porúbka, Vinné, Belá nad Cirochou and from recreational resorts of Zemplínska šírava.

Apart from these, the recreational resort offers also other sport facilities. In winter, there are good conditions for cross-country and downhill skiing here (winter resorts Porúbka, Koromľa, Snina, Petrovce, Inovce, Chlmec).

Lakes and other water surfaces are the pride of the Vihorlat mountains. One of the largest lakes is the so called ‚Slovak sea‘, Zemplínska šírava. It offers good conditions for swimming, water sports, boat trips, fishing and entertainment. It is the second largest water surface in Slovakia and the twelfth largest lake in Europe. The size of the lake makes it a great place especially for yachting, water scooters driving, rowing or water skiing.

Zemplínska Šírava lake is situated near the town of Michalovce, under the Vihorlat mountains. The area of the lake is 33 km2, the lake is 3.5 km wide, its average depth is 9.5 m and the maximum depth is 14 m. The fact that Zemplínska šírava offers excellent conditions for swimming, water sports and fishing is proved by existence of seven recreational resorts around the lake, which offer a wide range of accommodation and catering services (Biela hora, Hôrka, Medvedia hora, Kaluža, Kamenec, Klokočov and Paľkov). Each resort has a number of hotels, hostels, chalets and there is also an auto camping. The beaches are gravel and grass. All resorts have facilities where tourists can rent a boat, water bicycles and, in some resorts, there is even a possibility to rent water scooters or water skis. Windsurfing lovers will find great conditions for their sport in this area as well. As the surface of the lake gets frozen in winters, there is also a possibility to perform some winter sports here, too.

Another center for swimming, rowing and water bicycle riding can be found at Sninské rybníky lakes, situated in the northern part of the PLA, near the town of Snina.

Vinianske lake, created by the construction of an artificial dam and by steering of the Viniansky stream water into the saddleback at the foot of the Marečková (401 m) and Šutová (319m) mounts also offers a resort suitable for water sports. The total area of the lake is 8 hectares and its average depth is 3 m. Water from mountain streams is suitable for swimming and rowing in summer and for skating in winter. Autumn offers good conditions for fishing.

Vyšná Rybnica, the water reservoir above the village bearing the same name, offers a chance for recreational skating in winter seasons too. Existing since 1974, the role of this reservoir is to protect the village from rain and floods. The dam offers excellent conditions for fishing, proved also by the existence of a trout farm, located nearby.

Eastern Slovakia sports many beautiful places. One of them are the Vihorlat mountains that offer its visitors not only great conditions for tourism, cycling or water sports, but which also welcome lovers of horses.

In the centre of Zemplín region, in Hôrka - one of the resorts of the lake Zemplínska šírava, a horse riding centre ‚Hipocentrum‘ can be found. It offers to its clients tourist services in the field of horse riding. It is available for beginners, who can try riding on a guided horse, as well as for more experienced riders, who are able to ride on their own.

Both beginners and more experienced clients can enjoy rides in the surroundings of the lake Zemplínska šírava.

If a client decides to go on a guided tour, s/he can choose from these 1 to 4 hours long trips along the following tracks:

• Close surroundings (field roads, even in an immediate proximity to the lake)
• A visit to the nearby village of Trnava pri Laborci (field roads)
• Viniansky castle hill, Vinianske lake (field roads, forest, - more demanding terrain)

VA 5-hours-long trip follows the following track:

Hipocentrum, Viniansky castle hill, hill Kyjov, Vinianske lake, Hipocentrum.

Trips lasting more than one day follow this track:

Viniansky castle hill, Pirnagov hill, Vihorlat hill, Morské oko lake, village of Poruba pod Vihorlatom, Hipocentrum.

Tracks are a subject of agreement with client

One of the interesting and attractive activities available in the region of the lake Zemplínska šírava is the public karting track KRISCAR in the resort Kamenec. Open since 1994, it has 9 bends – 5 clockwise and 4 anticlockwise.

The track features both sharp and slight bends and it is secured against any danger. In dangerous parts there are 3 protective tyres at the edge of the track, the number of tyres changes according to the track difficulty level. Both Start and Finish points are located in the depot. The total length of the track is 250 m.

More information can be found at
http://www.sirava.net/sk/motokarova-trat-kriscar.

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The Morské oko natural lake and the Sninský kameň peak, visited by both home and a growing number of foreign tourists, belong to the most beautiful natural creations of Eastern Slovakia and the protected landscape area Východné Karpaty (Eastern Carpathians). From the tourist point of view, the Morské oko lake is interesting mainly due to its rich fauna and flora. Attractive are also tourist trails of the picturesque Vihorlat mountains, also a part of the protected landscape area.

One of the biggest water surfaces in Slovakia, Zemplínska šírava, and Vinianske lake are situated close to the Morské oko lake. Surroundings of these lakes are very good for swimming, water sports, fishing and walking in surrounding mountains.

Zemplínska šírava lake, together with surrounding areas, presents a wide variety of activities in the fields of active relax, sports and rest. During hot summer days you can cool down in swimming pools in Kaluža, Klokočov and Paľkov recreational resorts. Šírava also offers excellent conditions for yachting, water scooters, rowing or water skiing. A lot of playgrounds and sport areas are to be found there too.

Visitors can spend a good time and enjoy themselves in the entertainment centre Kamenec (MOTEL KAMENEC – the biggest disco in the vicinity of Zemplínska šírava) or other discos and night clubs in the nearby village of Šírava or the town of Michalovce:

• Night club Orion (situated in the town of Michalovce, on the street Prof. Hlaváča 23. It is located in the centre of the town, app. 300 m from the pedestrian zone).
• Disco-cafe Idea (street: J.Hollého 60, Michalovce).
• Hotel MERKÚR (Zemplínska šírava, recreational resort Medvedia hora).
• Fishermen’s pub (Zemplínska šírava), etc.

If a visitor opts for relax, Zemplínska šírava provides saunas with swimming pools, whirlpools, sun-tan studios, fitness centers, messages and massage showers, located in places like e.g. Relax Centrum Merkur, Eurobus relax centrum, Sports centre Vojenská zotavovňa, Hotel Chemes, Hotel Šírava and other.

A quality time spent in this stunning part of Slovakia under the Vihorlat mountains cannot go without a good food, available in various restaurants in the town of Michalovce and resorts around the Zemplínska šírava lake.

Visitors can enjoy typical specialties of Slovak cuisine, e.g. mutton goulash, potato dumplings with cheese filling (pirohy) or gnocchi with sheep cheese and bacon (bryndzové halušky), as well as many other tasty dishes in these popular restaurants:

• Restaurant GASTRO (Štefánikova street 1285, Michalovce. The restaurant is located in the centre of the town).
• Restaurant and Cafe IDEA (J. Hollého street 60, Michalovce).
• Restaurant ‚U ŠVEJKA‘ (Nám. Osloboditeľov square 19, Michalovce).
• Restaurant ZLATÝ BAŽANT (Štefánikova street, Michalovce).
• Guest house Biela labuť (Masarykova street 47, Michalovce. The guest house is located at the edge of the town).
• Pub IRISH PUB (Gorkého street 5, Michalovce. Pub sports the style of an old Irish pub and is air-conditioned. In winter, a fire-place in the pub helps to create the atmosphere. Location of the pub is in the town centre.)
• Restaurant JALTA (Nám. Osloboditeľov square 70, Michalovce).
• Boarding house Euro Penzión Salaš (situated in the recreational resort Medvedia hora, a part of Zemplínska šírava. It is located in the picturesque surroundings created by a forest and has a great view over the Zemplínska šírava lake).
• Boarding house DOLINA (located in the recreational resort Hôrka-Lúč, a part of Zemplínska šírava. It is situated 200 m from the lake).

The region Zemplín has a lot to offer to its visitors. Apart from beautiful nature (Morské oko lake, Sninský kameň peak), it also presents a number of cultural and historical sights, e.g. Viniansky castle (in the village of Vinné); the Sztáray family manor house, built in baroque-classicistic style, at present housing the Zemplín museum in the nearby town of Michalovce; wooden churches in villages like Inovce and Ruská Bystrá. Architecture fans can admire sights in Michalovce, e.g. the original gothic Roman-catholic church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 14th century; Greek-catholic church of the Holy Ghost from years 1934-1935, built in neo-Byzantine style; or the town-hall from the year 1928 – the seat of the municipal authority in Michalovce. Among the most notable historic sights in Michalovce are also the foundations of rotunda in front of the baroque-classicistic manor house.

Among other attractions available are e.g. boat trip on the Šírava lake or the horse-riding centre ‚Hipocentrum Hôrka‘ in the village of Vinné.

The Vihorlat mountains are suitable for game hunting. Local hunters’ associations offer a possibility for hunting deers, roes, wild boars and small animals. Persons interested in fishing can buy fishing permits and practice fishing e.g. in the Zemplínska šírava (pikes, zanders, carps, eels and breams), Sninské rybníky and Morské oko lakes, as well as in the water reservoir Vyšná Rybnica and in the spots designated by Slovak Fishing Association.

One of the ‚deciding‘ hunting companies is OZ Sobrance (Kúpeľská 69, 073 01 Sobrance).

From the geographical point of view, OZ Sobrance is the easternmost company in the structure of the LSR š.p. (Forests of the Slovak Republic, state company) and it borders with OZ Košice, OZ Vranov, LPM Ulič, Ukraine and Hungary.

Within the OZ, 10 hunting areas are maintained, 3 of which are with major maintenance of small game and roes/roe deers; 2 with major maintenance of fallow deers and partly moufflons; and 5 areas with major maintenance of deers, wild boars and roes/roe deers.

Game hunting opportunities in the hunting areas of LSR š.p., OZ Sobrance:
LSR š.p., OZ Sobrance, Kúpeľská 69, 073 01 Sobrance, offers:

• Possibility to hunt roe deers between May 16 – Sept. 30, possibility of a common hunt for wolf combined with hunt for wild boars during open season,
• Possibility of both common and individual hunt for wild boars between July 16 – Dec. 31,
• Possibility of hunt for pheasants between Nov. 1 – Feb. 28. in separate pheasant farms of the company.

In the hunting area of the OZ all major species of hunting animals are hunted and maintained. From the group of small animals, these are hares and rabbits (in limited amounts only), pheasants (Common Pheasant, Reeves Pheasant), mallards, moufflons, fallow deers, roe deers/roes, wild boars. From the group of rare species, these are especially wolf or Hazel Grouse, the hunting season for these species starts with Eurasian Woodcock. The average number of hunted animals per open season is as follows: deers 36 pcs, fallow deers 28 pcs, moufflons 6 pcs, roe deers/roes 72 pcs, wild boars 96 pcs, pheasants 4500 pcs, rabbits/hares 15 pcs, ducks 40 pcs, woodcocks 15 pcs, wolf 2pcs.