A halo of nostalgia seems to run along the railroad tracks that connect the cities and towns of a country that has been occupied a thousand times and is now emerging with strength and courage, giving the traveler colorful houses, charming cafes, pubs in cellars, flowers in the streets, mermaids, dragons and castles. It will conquer your stomach with pierogis and soups that will warm you as much or more than a shot of vodka with apple juice, and you will gather strength to travel through the mountains of the Tatra or Bieszczady. Poland is a mixture of culture and nature that will not leave you indifferent.
Mazuria is one of those places that are an open secret: a lake paradise for relaxing, sailing or kayaking on lakes like Lukajno or Sniardwy. On this trip you’ll explore the area and then visit the Bison Reserve in Białowieża.
You will discover charming villages such as Kazimierz Dolny and Sandomierz, all the way to the Bieszczady Mountains.
You will enjoy rafting down the Dunajec River and visiting Zalipie with its flower-filled houses. And you will remember the lively city of Krakow, from where you can visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines.
If you are looking for an unconventional route, this is the trip for you.
Itinerary
DAY 1: City of origin - Warsaw
Arrival at the airport in Warsaw and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at your leisure.
Overnight at a 4* hotel in Warsaw.
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DAY 2: Warsaw - Masuria
After breakfast guided tour of the city. We will start with the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in the city built in the socialist (Stalinist) architectural style. We will visit the Royal Lazienki Gardens, the most important and prestigious park in the Polish capital. Here you will find the monument to Frederic Chopin and a number of sculptures and palaces. The most important is the Palace on the Water.
Then we will see the places of martyrdom during the Nazi occupation. The area of the former Warsaw Ghetto, the Monument to the Heroes of the Ghetto, the Umschlagplatz, the place of deportation of Jews.
We continue along the Royal Route, on our way we will find: the University of Warsaw, the President’s Palace, the Royal Castle. The Old Town, Sigismund’s Column, the Market Square, Barbakan, the house of Marie Curie Sklodowska, the Warsaw Uprising Monument.
We will visit one of the city’s orchards, where Warsaw residents grow plants: flowers, fruits or vegetables, and rest in their small summer houses.
Then we leave for Masuria, the land of 1000 lakes.
Arrival at a country house where we will rest and spend the night close to nature.
Accommodation in agritourism.
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DAY 3: Masuria
After breakfast*, we will visit the Masurian region, the largest lake complex in Poland, known for its numerous water birds. The Masurian region is ideal for relaxing close to nature, sailing, fishing or kayaking. The lakes are connected by rivers, canals and sluices, which create navigation routes. During our trip we visited Lake Łuknajno, a wildlife reserve. Łuknajno nature reserve has been declared a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is closed to tourism and boating, but bird watching is possible from nearby towers. The lake is the only habitat of the Mute Swan.
In the afternoon canoeing on the Krutynia River (about 1 hour). Departure for the country lodge.
On the way we will stop in the town of Mikołajki, known as a tourist center of Masuria, situated between the lakes Tałty and Mikołajskie.
Free time to explore the town. Return to the lodge.
Accommodation in agritourism.
*Possibility of preparing breakfast with the products purchased. Optional cost.
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DAY 4: Masuria - Białowieża
After breakfast we will take a one-hour boat ride on Lake Mikołajskie. During the trip we will also see Lake Sniardwy, the largest lake in Poland. Departure to Białowieża. Arrival in Białowieża.
Accommodation in agritourism.
(B/-/-)
DAY 5: Białowieża - Kazimierz Dolny
Early in the morning, before breakfast, departure to look for wild bison -breakfast box-. Walk through the primary forest. Return to the hotel and breakfast. Visit to Bialowieża National Park, walk through the most interesting places of the park, including: history of the Uros, European Bison Reserves, Bialowieża grasslands, royal oaks. Visit to the reserve.
Departure by bus to Kazimierz Dolny, a picturesque village on the banks of the Vistula River. Walk through the center.
Accommodation in agritourism.
(B/-/-)
DAY 6: Kazimierz Dolny - Sandomierz - Bieszczady Mountains.
Before breakfast we will visit the typical market in Kazimierz Dolny, where we will have the opportunity to see and buy regional products. Every Tuesday from 5:00 a.m. the farmers of the region offer their products.
Return to the pension. After breakfast we will go for a walk (1 hour). Departure for the Bieszczady Mountains.
On the way we will stop in Sandomierz, a small charming town on the banks of the Vistula River. Guided tour of the city center. Walk through the Old Town where we will see the Market Square, the Town Hall, the Gothic Cathedral built in 1360 with the Baroque facade of the 17th century. Visit to the Sandomierz Castle.
Continuation of the trip to the south to the Bieszczady Mountains, located in the Subcarpathian Voivodeship.
Accommodation in agritourism.
(B/-/-)
DAY 7: Bieszczady Mountains
After breakfast* excursion to the Bieszczady Mountains. We will see the Solina Dam on the San River, the largest dam in Poland, 664 m long and 82 m high. It is built between two artificial lakes: Lake Myczkowskie and Lake Solińskie. The construction of the dam was considered at the beginning of the 20th century, but the outbreak of the Second World War thwarted these plans.
Possibility of a boat trip on Lake Solińskie**.
Return to the farm.
Free time to relax or take advantage of the activities offered: tennis, cycling**. Perfect place to relax. We will also have the opportunity to observe the breeding of deer and fallow deer.
Accommodation in agrotourism.
*You could even prepare your own breakfast with the products you bought.
**Optional additional activities.
(B/-/-)
DAY 8: Bieszczady Mountains - Sanok
Ethnographic Museum – Krakow
After breakfast we will depart for Sanok to visit the Ethnographic Museum – an example of open-air architecture.
Departure for Krakow. Upon arrival, city tour.
Accommodation in a 3* hotel in Krakow.
(B/-/-)
DAY 9: Krakow - Wieliczka Salt Mine* - Krakow
After breakfast, we will visit the city with an English-speaking guide. During the tour, we will discover the magic of Krakow: the Main Square, the largest in Europe, with its beautiful Cloth Market, St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University and Wawel Hill.
Afternoon at leisure or optional excursion*.
Overnight in a 3* hotel in Krakow.
*Optional excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines. Guided tour. The monumental Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. Every year about 600-800 thousand tourists from all over the world visit them, admiring the practically intact mine tunnels, ancient machinery and natural phenomena related to the geological structure of the salt deposits in this area. This exceptional site has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is the only mining site in the world that has been in continuous operation since the Middle Ages. At the end of the visit, transfer back to the hotel.
(B/-/-)
DAY 10: Krakow - Sromowce Kąty - Szczawnica - Niedzica
After breakfast we will go on an excursion to the Pieniny Mountains. Arrival in the village of Sromowce Kąty, where the route of rafting down the picturesque Dunajec River through the Pieniny Mountains begins. During the trip we will get to know the landscape of the park, which is very interesting for its undulating ridges that turn into sharp peaks, forested slopes interrupted by vertical precipices and a gorge between ravines through which the Dunajec River meanders. Rest in Szczawnica, a spa town situated between the Beskid Sądecki and Pieniny ranges.
Continuation of the trip to Niedzica to see the 14th century Dunajec Castle and the dam built between the lakes: Sromowieckie and Czorsztyńskie lakes. Guided tour of the castle.
Accommodation in a 3* hotel in Szczawnica or nearby.
(B/-/-)
DAY 11: Szczawnica - Zalipie - Warsaw
After breakfast we set off for Zalipie, a small village characterized by its unique handicraft of painting houses with floral motifs (since 1919). Visit to the museum – typical house of Zalipie.
Transfer to Warsaw.
Accommodation in a 4* hotel in Warsaw.
(B/-/-)
DAY 12: Warsaw
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. End of services.
(B/-/-)
* Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Important notes
✔ Tourist transportation, private and/or shared according to itinerary.
✔ Guided tours in: Warsaw, Sandomierz, Białowieża Park, Krakow.
✔ Entrances according to the program: private orchards in Warsaw, canoe trip on the Krutynia River and boat trip on the lake in Masuria, Białowieża Park, Castle Reserve Park in Sandomierz, Ethnographic Museum in Sanok, Marian Basilica in Krakow, rafting in Pieniny, Castle in Niedzica, Museum in Zalipie.
✔ Accommodation in hotels/ guesthouses/ cottages, the proposed or similar.
✔ 11 breakfasts.
✔ All services and arrangements according to the itinerary.
Does not include:
✘ International flights.
✘ Lunches and dinners.
✘ Gratuities.
✘ Optional excursions*.
✘ Passengers’ private expenses.
✘ Travel insurance.
✘ Any services not specified in the above itinerary.
Optional excursion Wieliczka Salt Mine:
Private transportation. Shared tour in English.
Accommodations in natural surroundings
Stays in agritourisms surrounded by nature
Nature
Visits to urban gardens. Nature walks. Visits to nature reserves. Contact with local fauna. Active tourism activities in natural environments.
Culture, traditions and history
Visits to local markets selling local products. Guided tours to get to know the most emblematic places of the cities and their history.
Passport or ID card
EU citizens can enter the country with a valid ID card or passport. However, it is advisable to travel to Poland with both documents. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact their nearest Polish embassy or consulate for up-to-date information.
Vaccines
None.
Clothing
Comfortable clothes and footwear. Coat for the colder seasons and light clothing for the summer, even so, it is recommended to bring something warm.
Electricity
In Poland the common voltage is 230 V. Frequency is 50 Hz. Plugs and sockets are type E.
Currency
Poland uses the Zloty. 1€ equals approximately 4.2 PLN, although you should check the exchange rate before starting your trip.
Languages
The official language is Polish, although a good part of the population has a high level of English.
Luggage
Due to the different accommodation changes, it is recommended to travel light.