Mount Gemba
Hemba (also known as Hymba) is a very popular mountain in the Ukrainian Carpathians, located on the border of two districts of the Zakarpattia region - Mizhhiria and Svalyava. Hemba is one of the highest peaks of the Borzhava valley.
The height is 1491 m (according to other information - 1497 m).
The top of Mount Hemba is unforested, domed, and has the shape of a curved crescent. The foothills of the mountain up to the level of about 1200-1300 m are covered with ancient forests, and above that - with vast meadows with thickets of blueberries.
On the northern slope of Hemba is one of the most beautiful, famous and visited waterfalls in Ukraine - the Shipit waterfall. The villages of Podobovets and Pylypets are located to the northeast of the peak.
Hemba is a well-known mountain tourism destination, as the popular route "Borzhava Peaks" passes through its peak, which starts in Mizhhirya and ends in Volovets (or vice versa).
In winter, the northern and northeastern spurs are served by 8 ski lifts. There is also a popular ski resort, Pylypets, which has the longest ski run in the Ukrainian Carpathians, with a length of approx. 3.5 km.
The summit at a glance
- Elevation: 1491 m above sea level
- Also known as: Hymba
- Range: Borzhava
- Nearest settlement: Pylypets
- Routes over the summit on Karpaty.rocks: 38
- Best time: May–October; deep snow is possible in winter
Routes to the summit
The routes over the summit most viewed by Karpaty.rocks readers. Length and ascent come from our track and a digital elevation model, time from Naismith's rule (without stops).
- Pylypets – Mount Hymba — 6.4 km, ascent 799 m, ≈3 h of walking
- Pylypets village, via Mount Hemba and Mount Velykyi Verkh to Pylypets village — 10.6 km, ascent 544 m, ≈3.5 h of walking, loop
- Pylypets village, via Mount Hemba, Mount Velykyi Verkh and Shypit Waterfall to Pylypets village — 15.2 km, ascent 1,085 m, ≈5.5 h of walking, loop
- Pylypets village, via Shypit Waterfall and Mount Hemba to Pylypets village — 17.7 km, ascent 871 m, ≈6 h of walking, loop
- Pylypets village, via Shypit Waterfall, Mount Hemba and Mount Velykyi Verkh to Volovets — 28.8 km, ascent 1,351 m, ≈9.5 h of walking
- Volovets, via Mount Plai, Mount Velykyi Verkh and Mount Hemba to Podobovets village — 25 km, ascent 1,457 m, ≈8.5 h of walking
All routes over the summit (38)
Weather and safety
The summit is above the tree line: fog, strong wind and thunderstorms are possible even in summer, and the weather can change within hours. Check the forecast before you set off, take water, a rain jacket and a warm layer, and plan to reach the top before midday.
In an emergency call 101 or 112. Carpathian mountain rescue contacts.
FAQ — Gemba
Gemba: how high is the summit?
It rises to 1491 m above sea level and belongs to the Borzhava range.
Gemba: how long does it take to reach the summit?
The shortest of the popular routes is “Pylypets – Mount Hymba”: 6.4 km with 799 m of ascent, about 3 h of walking without stops. Allow extra time for rests, photos and the weather.
Gemba: when is the best time to go?
May to October. In winter there may be deep snow on the way up, so experience and winter gear are needed.
Gemba: where to stay nearby?
The nearest settlement in our data is Pylypets. Places to stay nearby: hotels, guesthouses and cottages.
Video
Гора Гемба - Найзручніша кемпінгова зона Карпат | Україна вражаєТуризм и путешествияLocation on the map
Water and shelter nearby
- Spring below Mount Hemba1.2 km · Not verified · 1 314 m
- Spring below Mount Zhyd–Mahura1.2 km · Not verified · 1 292 m
- Spring below Mount Hemba (7)1.3 km · Not verified · 1 157 m
- Spring below Mount Hemba (6)1.4 km · Not verified · 1 089 m
- Spring below Mount Hemba (8)1.7 km · Not verified · 1 026 m
- Hut “Midianytsia”1.8 km · Not verified · 1 008 m
- Hut below Mount Hemba1.9 km · Not verified · 992 m
- Spring below Mount Velykyi Verkh (9)1.9 km · Not verified · 1 187 m
- Spring below Mount Hemba (3)1.9 km · Not verified · 989 m
- Spring below Mount Zhyd–Mahura (2)2.1 km · Not verified · 1 410 m
- Spring below Mount Velykyi Verkh (7)2.3 km · Not verified · 1 172 m
- Spring below Mount Zhyd–Mahura (4)2.4 km · Not verified · 1 415 m
- Spring below Mount Hemba (5)2.4 km · Not verified · 822 m
- Spring below Mount Zhyd–Mahura (3)2.5 km · Not verified · 1 294 m
- Spring below Mount Zhyd–Mahura (5)2.6 km · Not verified · 1 384 m
- Spring below Mount Velykyi Verkh (5)2.6 km · Not verified · 1 300 m
Comments
Places to stay nearby
All stays
HomesteadHomestead "Pos Pylypets"Pylypets3 km from Mount GembaKitchenWi‑FiPetsNearby: Shypit Waterfall 500 mMt Gemba 3.0 km17 trails
HotelHotel "Horyanyn" PylypetsPylypets3.1 km from Mount GembaSaunaBBQParkingNearby: Shypit Waterfall 800 mMt Gemba 3.1 km17 trails
HotelHotel "Piatkovskyi" PylypetsPylypets3.1 km from Mount GembaSaunaSPABBQNearby: Shypit Waterfall 1000 mMt Gemba 3.2 km17 trails
HotelHotel "Shepit Karpat" PylypetsPylypets3.2 km from Mount GembaPoolSaunaParkingNearby: Shypit Waterfall 1.1 kmMt Gemba 3.2 km17 trails
HotelHotel-Restaurant Complex "Berloga Pylypets"Pylypets3.3 km from Mount GembaHot tubSaunaParkingNearby: Shypit Waterfall 1.3 kmMt Gemba 3.3 km17 trails
HomesteadHomestead "Dva Braty" Podobovets (sauna, tub)Podobovets4.5 km from Mount GembaHot tubSaunaBBQNearby: Shypit Waterfall 2.0 kmMt Gemba 4.5 km16 trailsTrails via Mount Gemba
All 38
HardMulti-dayMarkedTranscarpathian Tourist TrailElevation profile202–2 061 m393.2 kmascent 17 790 m
ModerateOne-dayMarkedPylypets Mount HymbaElevation profile683–1 491 m6.4 kmascent 808 m≈ 3 h walking
ModerateOne-dayMarkedPylypets village loopvia Mount Hemba, Mount Velykyi VerkhElevation profile706–1 598 m10.6 kmascent 583 m≈ 4 h walkingNearby attractions
PeakMount Zhid-MaguraPylypetsaltitude 1 517 m · Borzhava range2.1 km from Mount Gemba24 trails to the topZhyd-Magura (also called Magura-Zhyd) is a 1517-meter peak of the Ukrainian Carpathians, which is located within the popular tourist destination, the Polonyna Borzhava...
Waterfall"Shypit Waterfall" PylypetsPylypets2.6 km from Mount GembaIn a cozy corner of the Carpathian Mountains, among the evergreen mountain forests and steep, sharp cliffs, lies the most full-flowing and beautiful waterfall in...
Mountain meadowPolonyna BorzhavaPylypetsaltitude 1 400 m3.2 km from Mount GembaPolonyna Borzhava is the longest polonyna massif in Zakarpattia and one of the best known in the Polonynskyi Ridge of the Ukrainian Carpathians.Craft nearby
All craft places
Adventures & attractionsPylypets Sky & Bike Park: chairlift and bike park, PylypetsPylypets3 km from Mount GembaPylypets Sky & Bike Park is a chairlift and bike park in the Zakarpattia village of Pylypets, one of the region’s best-loved ski resorts.
Cheese dairies & pasturesIZKI Highland Cheese Dairy, IzkyIzky5.2 km from Mount GembaThe IZKI cheese dairy is the culinary highlight of the eco-resort of the same name in the village of Izky, Zakarpattia.
Wildlife parks & animal farmsKelechyn Eco Park, KelechynKelechyn10 km from Mount GembaKelechyn Eco Park is a small petting park in the village of Kelechyn in Zakarpattia, on the road from Mizhhiria towards Volovets.
Craft producersAleks mineral waters, SvaliavaSvalyava21 km from Mount GembaAleks is a Svaliava mineral-water producer founded in 1995. It was one of the first companies in Ukraine to bottle natural mineral waters in PET bottles, and today it...
Craft producersMirella confectionery, SvaliavaSvalyava23 km from Mount GembaMirella is a café-patisserie in Svaliava founded by pastry chef Myroslava Holonych. It bakes signature cakes and pastries, traditional Transcarpathian baking, crackers...
Koliby & Hutsul cuisineKolyba “Nad Potokom”, PolianaPolyana25 km from Mount GembaKoliba nad Potokom (“Kolyba above the Stream”) is a wooden kolyba restaurant in the spa village of Poliana near Svaliava in Zakarpattia, on Dyskovetska Street, which...




