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Frontier
Poland Adventure Tours 16th - 23rd MAY 2009
For the first time ever, we invite you to take part in a tour that will encompass the forests, meadows, national parks and habitats of North East Poland and neighbouring Lithuania. Thanks to the Schengen Agreement, allowing travel without border controls, we will be free to explore this border region and, for the first time, cross into no-man’s-land without any consequences. We will see how nature has adapted to these previously closed areas and how the landscape is slowly starting to adjust to the new freedom.
We will be exploring the two largest national parks in
both countries, which are in close proximity to each
other, as well as the largest tract of forest in Poland.
These habitats provide homes for numerous animals and
birds, including wolves, lynx, beaver, deer, cranes,
storks, white-tailed eagles and numerous other species.
We will be exploring rivers and lakes by canoe and
trekking through forest trails in one of Europe’s
remotest, most exciting, least known areas.
The Biebrza National Park will be teeming with thousands of birds and has the largest population of Elk in the whole country. A short journey will take us across into Lithuania and the adventure will continue in a country that has a great deal to offer but is, as yet, relatively unknown outside the capital, Vilnius. The landscape slowly starts changing the further east we go; Lithuania is a land of thousands of lakes and numerous rivers. We will see the mighty River Nemunas, which is the largest river in the country and which eventually flows into the Curonian Delta and then the Baltic. After our stay in Lithuania, we make our way back to Poland.
This tour will allow you to see two different countries, two cultures, numerous landscapes and habitats, take part in both land and water activities and hopefully see some fine examples of mammals and birds. If you are an amateur naturalist or have a keen sense of adventure or have always wanted to see central Europe, then this tour is ideal.
We will be using local guides, British translators, eating local food and of course drink and there will be time to compare beverages of both countries and debate late into the evenings.
Itinerary This type of tour is dependent on environmental factors beyond our control. So please note that there maybe minor changes to the itinerary depending on local conditions.
Day 1 Saturday - Arrival After arriving at Warsaw airport you will be collected and transported by minibus to Augustów. This small town lies at the heart of the lake-land and forest region in northeast Poland. It is located on the River Netta and is surrounded by the Puszcza Augustówska, the largest forest complex in Poland. Following a welcome meal in the evening we will give an outline of the tour.
Day 2 Sunday - A walk in the woods... We head towards the heart of the Puszcza Augustówska for breakfast in a foresters lodge, in the aptly named ‘wolf’s liar’. After breakfast, we head off for a 12km trek deep into the woods. The fresh green colours of spring growth will be visible everywhere as the suns rays permeate the forest canopy, and there will be much to see; woodland flowers, butterflies, birds and mammals. Please note that although there are wolves in the forest, it is highly unlikely that we will come across any, as they are extremely shy of man. We will, however, be keeping an eye open for tracks and signs. On the other hand, one never knows what is lurking amongst the trees. Hopefully there will not be any empty seats on the way back!
Day 3 Monday - Biebrza National Park After an early morning breakfast in the hotel, we head off towards Poland’s largest national park. The Biebrza National Park is one of Europe’s leading birding sites, and one of the best places to see the majestic crane in its natural environment. The middle basin of the park will allow us to see the queen of rivers in this region, the River Biebrza, which floods each spring and creates the wetland meadows which are home to over 200 species of birds. We will visit the viewing towers and hopefully spot elk grazing. The verdant fields of Biebrza have the effect of relaxing mind and body, silence and tranquility all around. If appropriate will also explore part of this region by horse and carriage.
Day 4 Tuesday - Augustów Canal Today we will be taking to the water on a short canoe trip on the Augustów Canal, heading towards the lock keepers cottage for an alfresco lunch. The canal on this particular stretch is famous for its beavers, and you will see at first hand what these industrious animals are capable of. We will also be paddling adjacent to meadows which over the last few years have become inhabited by little egrets and overhead will probably see marsh harriers hovering. On our return to Augustów, we will pack and head of towards Lithuania for the next part of our adventure.
Day 5 Wednesday - Dzukija National Park Today we will take a trip into the Dzukija National Park; the largest park in Lithuania. It comprises forests, meadows and rivers that flow through deep ravines. Our Lithuanian guides will introduce us to this sparsely populated area and provide us with an insight of the culture of the tribes that used to live in this area and also a short history of snake worship. 2009 is also the year Lithuania celebrates its millennium. The Lithuanian wood carver can be best described as one of the best in the world and see will see numerous examples of this old age tradition.
Day 6 Thursday - River Nemunas Today we will be exploring the River Nemunas basin and Regional Park. The River Nemunas is a slow, meandering river that at times is over 100 metres wide. The white-tailed eagle is common to this area and has been adopted as the regions symbol.
Day 7 Friday - Lake Galadus After a hearty breakfast, we head back towards Augustów. Along the way we will stop off at Lake Galadus, which straddles the frontier. This lake was split between both countries and was patrolled by boats of the old Soviet empire. Now one can easily paddle across the international border. We return to Augustów to explore the town and in the evening we will board one of the white ships for a tour of the lakes and a farewell supper.
Day 8 Saturday - Farewell Return to Warsaw and farewell.
What is included:
What is not included:
Additional information
Cost of tour
per person: £790.
The Tsarist cycle trail
In 2009 for the
first time we will be running the following tours, dates are
yet to be finalised.The introduction of Schengen this year
will allow us to run cross border tours with neighbouring
Lithuania, you will get a real taste of frontier country.
Irish
charity trekkers invade Augustów. One of the reasons for creating this section is to allow you to make a better informed choice of when to visit this area. We will provide information ,on when birds are returning from migration, when the first stork settles on its nest, when river levels are high or low or when the rutting season is about to begin.
We will inform you of when various timetables begin e.g. The date when the ships of the white fleet in Augustow begin sailing. The times and dates of the narrow gauge railway which operates from Elk. By scrutinising the local press on a daily basis, we will have information to hand which no other companies can offer. If a herd of bison wander into the local forest, we will be the first to know about it and this does happen every now and again. You will also be informed of weather conditions, we will tell you how thick the ice is on the lakes. We will also use this section to announce new tours and discuss with yourselves any ideas that you may have. It is hoped to update at least once a week. Autumn 2008 Lets go for a walk in the woods today. One of lifes simple pleasures, yet so rewarding. For those of us who are fortunate enough to live in the vicinity of one of Europe’s largest forest complexes, this is a daily treat. Autumn is a period of preparation for the harsh winter ahead, the hazel nuts are ripe both for human and animal, the trees are at their best , showing a multitude of colours and shades. The reds intermingle with yellows and browns, leaves slowly dropping to the forest floor. Yet again nature manages to suprise us, while the trees and plants are slowly starting to rest after the growth of spring and summer, the ground below is heaving with activity, life is stirring, slowly little heads are popping out of the forest litter, brown, yellow,white , red. Rejoice for they have arrived, the mushrooms are here, time to retrieve the collectors knife and wicker basket. Each weekend , they head for the woods, cars parked in strange positions on forest tracks, bicycles left next to trees, some will stay there until spring, as a few people forget where they left them. They dry them ,pickle them, boil them and fry them. The moment one lifts that glass of vodka infront of the roaring fire and then has a bite to eat of smoked ham, ryebread and a pickled boletus (Porcini,cep) Ah ! It was worth spending all those hours in the woods getting up at five. Although it is highly unlikely , that vodka will appear from the forest litter, but we have our sources. Traditionaly dried mushrooms over the old wood fired kitchen stoves, the aroma will stir the depths of your soul, one or two in soup or stew. The intensity of the taste difficult to imagine, when the same mushroom was collected from a damp forest patch. Boletus, honey fungus, chanterelles just to name a few that can be found in the Puszcza Augustowska. For a few days become part of this age old tradition, local collectors will take you out and offer guidance on this very serious pursuit and beware of the wolves! Itinerary Forest Fungi Foraging short breaks Arrive on friday, where you will be collected at the airport. Transported to Augustow. Early start saturday morning , short trip to the woods . Refreshments will be served alfresco in the forest.Saturday afternoon, free to explore the town and in the evening a horse and cart ride to the forest for an evening barbecue with traditional polish food and of course refreshments.
Sunday Monday morning return to the airport. Group size Two-Eight persons Acommodation Local hotels or pensions in forests. Full board including bonfires and horse and cart rides. This will be an introduction to Autumn in Polish forests. The mushrooms that you pick can be taken back. You will be treated with typical Polish food and drink anf of course a few suprises. The price of thius trip is dependent on group size. If you do not have time on a weekend, we can also arrange this to whatever suits you. For further details , please do not hesistate to contact me For further details, please contact andrew@frontierpoland.com or form below Please contact the following number 0048 501 274 244.
Bookings and further
information can be obtained from our agent in the U.K. |
For the first time, for those who are interested in European
history and would like to engage in a bit of healthy
activity in the fresh air cycling through Polands rural
landscapes, then we would like to offer you the unique
opportunity of travelling along the routes that were once
part of Imperial Russia and that the Tsar himself inevitably
had to use to visit his great empire.Parts of Poland was
part of that great Russian empire in the 18, 19 and
beginning of the 20th Century. This unique cycle trail, will
commence on the Polish –Belarussian border, on the so called
road to Grodno (Hrodno), Grodno used to be one of Polands
most famous and beautiful cities, it was situated on the
river Niemen, which eventually flows into the Baltic. After
the second world war, Polands borders shifted west and
Grodno, became part of the Soviet Union.
it was like in the cold war.Crossing no mans land and
leaving footprints in the snow, to be pursued by the border
guard with kalashnikovs and dogs.This stretch of No mans
land will soon be overgrown and for ever dissapear, this is
probably one of the last occasions to see this unique
feature of the remnants of the Soviet Dictatorship.One of
the other attractions of this tour, is that if it snows, you
will be taken out on a horse a sleigh ride through the
forest for an evening barbebcue, known in Polish as a
Kulig,refreshnments both hot and cold will be provided,
scenes reminiscent of DrZhivago and lara and temperatures
not too far away from the ones in Siberia. A unique
opportunity to see and experience a winter landscape, with
the possibility of howling wolves.
s.
This trek was the most hilly of all our treks from now on ,
it would be all down hill, that is trekking wise.
ngle,
a flock of 50-60 storks circled above, others started
sweating and were shouting vultures, I reminded them too
many high spirits from the evening before.Suddenly. a
scream, something brown, big and furry or even hairy had
jumped out the reeds and darted out in front of one or
trekkers, to this day, back in Limerick, the stories of the
wolf, wild boar , moose and maybe even beaver which came
close to eating an Irish trekker has become legend. Warnings
of beaver holes and snakes were passed down the line, to the
left, to the right and bloody hell no chance that’s a big
one, became the only words to be used for two hours.Counted
them out, counted them in,strange we had one extra trekker,
it was Mrs Beaver nagging Pat, about who is going to pay for
the damage to her roof, luckily Pat had recognised this type
of behaviour before in females and decided it was best to
quicken the pace with a shout I will get back to you on that
one.We made it to the lock, where the lock keeper and his
wife had prepared light refreshments and once again spirits
were raised to a acceptable level.End of trek.
morning , back into the woods. Lunch served at the
foresters cottage and tales of wolves. Later in the
afternoon a short visit to the Biebrza National park and
the viewing tower on the red marshes.