Mazury
Mazury - Discover The Land of a 1000 Lakes
Duration: 8 days, biking days: 6, bike route: 263 km
Difficulty: 
Warmia and Mazury - the land of a thousand lakes is a perfect place for a cycling holiday. The low populated area is dominated by natural beauty; numerous lakes, huge forests and National Parks.
Our route includes a pipe organ concert (complete with moving figures, when played) at Sw. Lipka, the most valuable Baroque monument in Poland. We shall explore the Boyen fortress, World War II bunker compounds, Wolfshantze and Memerki compound containing nearly 30 shelters.
We will relax with a poetry reading at Pranie Forest Lodge, which was built by the poet Konstanty Ildefons Gauczynski. A ship cruise through the picturesque lake Taulty is also included. You will have a chance to taste traditional Polish cuisine and experience Polish culture.
Our program could be adopted for individual, family or group tours.
Day 1 Welcome to Mazury
At 12.50 we will meet in Warsaw on the Central Train Station. We will then depart at 13.10 to Gizycko. On our way we will pay a short visit (c. 50 min) to Pultusk (18 400 inhabitants), which boasts a new Town Hall with a gothic tower - a gothic-eclectic castle. We will arrive in Gizycko at about 19.30. We will then checkin at the hotel and enjoy a warm meal. We will meet in the evening and prepare for the following day.
Daily Distance: 0 km Bus Transfer: 250 km
Day 2 Paths around Dargin Lake
At the beginning of each day brea k fast will be served from 8.00. We usually departure after brea k fast at 9.30 and travel mostly on local country and forest roads .
In the morning, bicycles will be allocated depending on the needs of the individual. From Gizycko we will ride around the east side of lake Dargin through small villages to the town Pozezdrze for a short break. After a 2 km ride we will arrive at SS headquarters compound called "Hochwald". Then, we will return to Pozerzdrze for a lunch, at 13.00 till 14.00. There is a local church, that was built in 1891, that is worth visiting. In the afternoon we will ride through local villages to Wegorzewo where we will spend the night and enjoy a nice meal. A bonfire is planned for the evening.
Day distance is about 48 km.
Day 3 The Wolfsschantze
We will depart after break fast and head towards the famous Mazury port and the village Sztynort. At this point we will have a 1 hour break, during which time we"ll visit the yacht port which was built in a 1691 palace-garden complex decorated by 350 year old trees. The country ro ads will lead to our next stop at the Memerki bunker complex where we will take time to wander around the old structures as well as enjoy a 1 hour lunch break. Aro und 15.45 we shall arrive at Wolfsschanze ? Hitler"s HQ, where an assassination attempt was thwarted. We will return to Ketrzyn for supper and overnight accommodation.
Day distance is about 52 km.
Day 4 The Shrine of the Holly Virgin
We arrive at Sw. Lipka, a most valuable Baroque sacral monument, to listen to the 11.30 pipe organ presentation. The church is guarded by a 18th century gate constructed at a local black smith"s in nearby Reszel. Our last route will lead us through forests and fields to Mragowo.
Day distance is about 48 km.
Day 5 Piska Nature Reserve and Pranie Forest Lodge
We will start our journey with a small ferry ride to Wejsumy village, which is situated on a lush forest covered peninsula. The local roads take us to a town called Ruciane Nida where we will stop for a 1 hour lunch at. The next stop will be at the forest lodge Pranie (Seehorst) for a guided tour around museum built to commemorate the poet Konstanty Ildefons Galczynski. At 15.00 we depart for Pisz through the huge Piska Forest. We will spend the night and eat supper in Pisz, where there will be an optional walk to the ruins of Johannisburg castle.
Day distance is about 53 km.
Day 6 Trail Around Sniardwy Lake
Our path will lead us through the Rostki and Ruda villages, where we will enjoy a short break by a 17th century nobility church. We will then take the forest roads, with a panoramic view of a lake, to the town of Orzysz. At 12.00 we will stop for lunch where we"ll have time to shop for souvenir. Then, at 13.30 a picturesque road, on the edge of Sniardwy Lake, will lead us to Mikolajki town. We will arrive at the hotel at about 15.30, where you can unpack, after which we will have time for a 1,5 hour visit to Tropikana swimming pool complex at the Golebiewski Hotel
Day distance is about 62 km.
Day 7 - We say good-bye to Mazury
After the 8.00 break fast we will say good-bye to Mazury and go to Warsaw. In Warsaw we will have a three-hour city sightseeing tour, which will include: the Old Town, the Royal Castle (from the outside) and the remaining tourist attractions. Today you will have a chance to take a closer look at Polish rural life. In the evening, everyone is invited to a good-bye dinner where Polish cuisine will be served; among other dishes - big filled dumplings and wild mushroom soup with a small glass of Zubrówka - bison grass vodka.
Daily Distance: 0 km Bus Transfer: 240 km
Day 8 - After breakfast, at 09.45, check-out at the hotel. Transfer to Central Train Station where you can easily catch a train to Germany and Austria, as well as a bus to the airport.
Price: EUR 490 - Group
Price: EUR 590 - Individually
Price include: Transport Warsaw - Mazury - Warsaw, Entrance fees
Standard: one Person in double room /Full Board/ servicess/ vegetarian menu possibile. Everynight accomodation is in a different town; Gizycko (Lotzen), Mikolajki (Nikolaiken), Ruciane Nida, in high standard hotels or guest houses. Luggage and bike service is transported along in the additional vehicle for clients" comfort.
Bike additional EUR 40
Surcharge for single room: EUR 140
On request we can make reservation in Warsaw"s hotels. If you are interested in, fell free to contact us.
Symbol MR
Terms:
2008-06-29 - 2008-07-07
2008-07-20 - 2008-07-27
2008-08-10 - 2008-08-17
2008-08-31 - 2008-09-07
