The National Park of Malá Fatra is situated in the western most Slovak high mountains Malá Fatra. Gorges, rock peaks and an attractive ridge tour are among its attractions. The Krivánska part of the Malá Fatra Mts. was designated the Protected Landscape Area in 1967 for unusual abundance of its natural assets and the plant and animal species it contains. It was re-classified in 1988 to National Park Malá Fatra. It spreads on an area of 226 square kilometres. The area of its protective zone is 233 square kilometres. The main subject of protection is the territory with varied geological history and dissected relief forms, rare and precious biocenoses, flora and fauna, and the exceptional value of forest and mountain compounds with precious dwarf pinewoods, rapacious animals such as the wolf, lynx or bear. The administration of the National Park seats in Varín.

Zilina is the metropolis of the north-west of Slovakia, a town at the confluence of three rivers - the Vah, the Kysuca and the Rajčianka, and the fourth biggest town of the Slovak Republic. It is the seat of the Žilina Self-Governing Region and a gate to the region of Horné Považie. Zilina (population 85,655) has undergone dynamic development that has been accelerated by the investment of KIA Motors Slovakia. However, the town is not only an automobile production centre, but together with the Horné Považie region, it is also an interesting place for tourists. It is the seat of the University of Žilina, and since 2008 of the Žilina Bishopric. The popularity of the town as a centre of workshop and conference tourism has been growing too.