The subtle and captivating beauty of Masury lies in its sparkling lakes teeming with wildlife, its lush undulating landscape, dark woods, thousands of storks, and a peacefulness practically unparalleled elsewhere in Europe. The trip begins and ends in Warsaw.
Time seems to stand still in this beautiful pastoral region boasting 3,000 lakes. It remains one of the most scenic natural areas of Europe, despite considerable development of the tourist industry since the fall of the iron curtain. For this seven-day trip, Rotalis has purposely created a route exclusively in the heart of the Masurian Lake District. Here you'll travel on idyllic paths, often riding for miles in the shade of tree-lined alleyways and along the shorelines of interconnecting lakes.
The first thing to strike new visitors is the beauty of natural scenery unparalleled in the flatlands of Europe: lakes, crystal clear rivers and, due to low agricultural development, untouched, sometimes melancholy landscapes. This lush environment supports a rich animal life, particularly waterfowl. Nearly 10,000 pairs of Storks nest in this part of Poland, arriving in early April.
Tour Details
Duration
7 Days/6 Nights
Location
Masurian Lakes
Season
Summer, Fall
Tour Type
Road Touring
Nearest City
Warsaw
Physical Condition Required
Fair
Destination(s)
Poland
Distance Traveled
15-30 Miles Per Day
Skill Levels Accommodated
Apart from one longer stretch with traffic contact on the third day, routes are practically traffic free. Only on flat or slightly hilly terrain, this is an easy tour.
Fully Guided
Yes
Support Vehicles
Yes
Bike Rentals Available
Yes
Accommodations
In Warsaw you are staying at the city's leading hotel. All other hotels are decent medium-level hotels, all but one located direct on the waterfront of one of the numerous lakes.
Dining
Good Polish cuisine.
Rates
$1,300.00per personCurrency Converter (Rates shown are in US Dollars. Rates and terms are subject to change.)
Additional Rate Info
Single Room Supplement: € 203 Per Person (approximately $267 USD)
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Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Sunday Warsaw - Rudczanny (10 miles)
(For information regarding arrival day - Saturday - please look under: notes) This morning, the bus will bring you to Popielno, located on a peninsula in Lake Sniardwy, the largest lake in Masury. Here, you'll visit a research station where wild horses (Tarpane) are being bred to create a new breed of workhorses. From here, you'll head into one of the biggest forested areas of Poland, the Puszcza Piska, where, with some luck, you may see a Tarpan herd, which is now at home here. In bad weather, the bus will bring you from Warsaw directly to the day's destination - the lovely lakeside hotel "Diabla Gora".
Day 2: Monday Rudczanny - Jedrychowo (21 miles)
The first highlight of the trip is a two-hour canoe tour on the Kruttina River, often called Europe's most beautiful paddling route. Regardless of your paddling experience, or lack thereof, you'll enjoy floating down this slow and gently flowing river under a beautiful crown of trees. On the way to the launching spot, you'll traverse a hamlet with a distinctively Russian architecture. One hundred and fifty years ago, settlers fleeing the Russian Orthodox Church settled here. Also on the program is a visit to the birth house of the Poet, Ernst Wichert. Tonight, you'll be a guest of the wonderful "Hotel im Park" on Lake Lampasz.
Day 3: Tuesday Jedrychowo - Ketrzyn (30 miles)
In nearby Sorkwity, visit a church whose unimposing exterior belies the surprising interior, a jewel of East-Prussian rural Baroque style. In the early afternoon you'll reach one of Poland's most important pilgrimage destinations, Swieta Lipka, site of an extravagantly splendid Baroque church. Until 50 years ago, it was the only Catholic church in Masury. Spend the night in Ketrzyn, one of Masury's larger cities, in the friendly hotel "Koch" which distinguishes itself with its excellent cuisine.
Day 4: Wednesday Ketrzyn - Gizycko (23 miles)
A half-hour bike ride away is a morbid main attraction of the area: the Wolfsschanze, Adolf Hitler's bunker-fortress. He spent nearly 800 days here between 1941 and 1944, and it was here that he hatched and directed a large part of his war of destruction. The only serious assassination attempt on Hitler also took place here. No one can evade the oppressive feeling of the place while wandering through the dense woods amongst the huge cement remains. From here, you'll reach a lovely swimming and picnic spot, and then arrive in the Masurian "summer capital" of Gizycko at around 4:00 p.m. Tonight’s host is the excellent Hotel "Europa." (two nights)
Day 5: Thursday Gizycko - Szyntort - Gizycko (15 miles)
On a comfortable ship, you'll cross Lake Dargin and circle an island that is the nesting place for 700 Cormorants! The cormorants live in the tree tops and their overpopulation on the island has led to a virtual defoliation of the island's trees, creating a somewhat surreal-looking bird preserve. The bikes will be waiting in Szyntort. On the return ride, you'll again be treated to beautiful panoramic views over lake landscapes teeming with bird life. With luck, you may even see a white-tailed eagle. Dinner tonight is onboard a cozy private boat which will take you through the island world of southern Lake Kisajano. (second night Hotel "Europa")
Day 6: Friday Gizycko - Mikolajki (26 miles)
In order to avoid a stretch of heavy traffic, a chartered boat will take you on a half-hour ride across Lake Niegocin. Today's ride once again reveals the full glory of the natural beauty of Masury in all of its variety. You'll see lakes and canals, moors and woods, the incredible spectrum of the avian world, and then more lakes. The last stop is Mikolajki, often referred to as the "Venice of Masury." The trip ends at either the comfortable Hotel "Mazurski Dworek," which has a private swimming beach, or the very good Hotel "Amax".
Day 7: Saturday Mikolajki - Warsaw (0 miles)
This morning, a bus will brings you back to Warsaw so that you will arrive around noon, in plenty of time to make connections by train or plane to major European cities and beyond. Those wishing to spend extra time in this bustling metropolis can benefit from a preferential rate at the five-star Hotel "Bristol".
Notes
2007 Trip Dates: May 12-19; May 19-26; May 26-June 2; June 2-9; June 16-23; June 23-30; July 14-21; July 21-28; July 28-August 4; August 4-11; August 11-18; August 18-25; August 25-September 1
Arrival: Arrival throughout Saturday. By air or train from major European cities or beyond. The easiest way to join the tour is by plane to Warsaw. Those arriving by car have the possibility to leave it in Warsaw during the tour. Your hotel room will be available starting at 2 p.m. at the Art Nouveau style "Le Royal Meridian Bristol", the city's leading hotel, located a few minutes by foot from the city castle and old town (overnight stay and breakfast are included in the package). Guests who arrive by 5 p.m. will be treated to a tour of historical Warsaw.
Poland: Poland offers some of the most beautiful and untouched landscapes in Europe and is an ideal place to bike. Time seems to have stood still in much of the countryside and it is not unusual to see cows being herded along small tree-lined lanes or horse carts used for transport. Both of Rotalis’ routes are located in mainly pastoral northeastern Poland, an area that also offers several cultural highlights - Gdansk in particular.
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