United Kingdom: You Don't Need an Expense Account to Enjoy This European Hiking Region

Breathtaking alpine scenery and budget prices make this overlooked Polish escape an alternative to Europe's overcrowded mountain regions. I had been hiking uphill for 10 knee-jarring kilometres (6.2 miles) when I finally arrived at a two-storey mountain hut. I was ready to drop to my knees, but not from fatigue.

Before me was a cathedral of snowcapped mountains enveloping the glacial lake of Morskie Oko. It was mid-April, but the water was still frozen solid, with locals and tourists alike testing their weight on its icy edges. These are the Tatras, a rugged slice of the Carpathian Mountains along the Slovak border.

With alpine scenery, spectacular cave systems and idyllic ski villages, they are also one of Europe's most affordable hiking regions. And yet, they remain consistently overlooked in favour of the crowded and pricey Alps and Dolomites. We found ourselves in the Tatras to celebrate a friend's 30th birthday. Nothing less than a stunning outdoor destination would do but it had to be budget and, with 10 of us along for the party, somewhere we wouldn't have to strain our limited funds by renting a car.