Nature Tours to Poland

North-western Poland may not be a place that springs immediately to mind as being of great natural interest but, as in so many areas in the country, there are many surprises and much to discover. There are two National Parks (Slowinski and Wolinski), one of international importance, on the long, sandy Baltic Coast. Inland, there are extensive forests and hundreds of lakes which form the Pomeranian Lake District. Two other National Parks (Drawienski and Bory Tucholskie) protect the most valuable areas. This tour will be of particular interest to naturalists, as it explores the National Parks, Landscape Parks and varied Nature Reserves of this wonderful region.

Amongst the characteristic scenic features of Poland's northern plains are long meandring rivers, countless lakes and enormous wetlands, many of them of international wildlife significance. It is marvellous country to drift through paddling a canoe and this tour presents you with an opportunity to explore the Drawa River, one of the most beautiful in all Poland. The Drawa is in the north-west of the country around one hundred kilometres east of the historic border city of Szczecin. We aim to follow its complete course as it flows south from Lake Drawsko to its confluece with the River Notec at Krzyz. En route we will visit sites of cultural and wildlife interest, including one of Poland's recently established national parks, Drawienski. Canoes and associated equipment are provided, and plenty of time is set aside at the beginning of the tour for familiarisation. While canoeing experience is not essential it will be advantageous, and you will need to be reasonable.

This tour passes through the fascinating lowlands of north-west Poland, linking a number of sites well known to ornithologists including the Slonsk and Swidwie nature reserves [both Ramsar Sites] and Wolin National Park, together with the Odra River estuaries. Its proximity to Berlin makes this area easily accessible from the whole of Europe.

A thirteen day tour in which we explore the spectacular scenery of the Babia Gora, Tatra, Pieniny, Gorce and Ojcow National Parks, amongst high mountains and in close contact with nature. We will also meet the local people of the mountains, 'The Highlanders', and visit Cracow, one of Europe's great historic cities. The full day walks in the high mountain areas follow routes which are well within the capabilities of any reasonably fit person who enjoys walking.

The Tatra and Pieniny are regarded as the most beautiful of the mountainous National Parks of Poland. These eight and ten day tours enable you to experience the remarkable scenery of these special places, to meet the local people of the mountains, 'The Highlanders', and to visit Krakow, one of Europe's great historic cities. The full day walks in the high mountain areas follow routes which are well within the capabilities of any reasonably fit person who enjoys walking.

A two weeks tour in which we explore the spectacular scenery of the Tatra National Park on the both sides of Polish - Slovak boundary. During the tour there will be several full day walks amongst high mountains and in close contact with nature. We will also meet the local people 'The Highlanders', and visit Krakow, one Europe's outstanding historic cities.

ACTIVITY TOUR - On some days the itinerary is obviously a fixed one but there will be days when you can choose to relax or walk on your own. Of course, you can obtain advice from your leader about where you can and cannot walk. The days which offer the most flexibility are Four, Nine, Ten, Twelve and Thirteen.

The Bieszczady Biosphere Reserve ( consisting of national park and adjacent landscape parks) represents the nature of the East Carpathian Mountains in Poland, close to the border with Slovakia and Ukraine. This ten day tour combines the satisfaction of being in truly wild and remote mountain country with the experience of a backwoodsman's life, walking the tracks which link the mountain huts where we will spend several nights. The tour also visits Krakow, one of Europe's great historic cities, and will stop at places of natural and cultural interest on the coach journeys to and from Bieszczady. The highest summit in the Park is Tarnica (1346 m) and each day's walk will follow terrain which suits people who are reasonably fit and are used to carrying a fairly full rucksack. The tour is designed to spend several days far from the comforts of modern-day life and so you must be prepared to carry all your personal gear while in Bieszczady. Food and cooking equipment will be provided but you will need to take your own sleeping bag and rucksack.

15-day tour cocentrating on observation of fauna and flora, following animal trails, photographic sessions and visits to Krakow, Lancut, Jaroslaw and Wieliczka.

This route leads through areas of high biological diversity - from the Vistula river valley, through the swamps and peat-bogs of Polesie, across the limestone upland of Roztocze to an extensive complex of fishponds. Two national parks, several landscape parks and numerous nature reserves protect an abundance of wildlife as well as picturesque countryside. The flora and fauna contains a high incidence of South European species, which cannot be found elsewhere in Poland. The whole area is relatively remote and little visited and provides an opportunity for close contact with nature.

An exciting cycling tour which explores beautiful and remote countryside in the south-east corner of Poland, amongst the Bieszczady Mountains of the great Carpathian range. It is here, on the border with Ukraine and Slovakia, that a large international biosphere reserve has been created to protect this primeval mountain environment. Bear, Wolf, Lynx and Otter are amongst the species still found here in their natural habitat. The tour begins and ends in the famous city of Krakow and heads south and east across the ancient Polish landscape of Pogorze (Piedmont), with many historic places of interest. The route has been carefully chosen to take maximum advantage of quiet minor roads and to limit each days ride to no more than sixty kilometres. You will be able to travel light because all luggage, apart from your immediate needs, will be transferred to the next over-night stop by car.

This superb cycle tour begins from the historic Polish city of Krakow and heads south then south-east into the picturesque Beskidy Mountains, which in turn form a part of the great Carpathian range. The rounded shapes of these sandstone hills, which rise to an average elevation of 1000 metres, provide wonderful cycling terrain. Wild nature and vast forests interlock with the patchwork field patterns which surround charming villages. These ancient Polish landscapes are a continual source of pleasure during the tour. The route has been carefully chosen to take maximum advantage of the quiet minor roads, field and forest tracks, and to limit each days ride to no more than sixty kilometres. You will be able to travel light because all luggage, apart from your immediate needs, will be transferred to the next overnight stop by car.

Rambling through the picturesque Cracow-Czestochowa Upland in beautiful scenery of steep limestone rocks, canyons and caves, complemented with numerous castles and monuments perched on rocky outcrops.

This historical tour passes through some of the most significant and best preserved fortress complexes in Southern Poland. It follows a route past the military memorials of many centuries but, in particular, visits the citadels, cemeteries and battlefields of World War One.

On September One, 1939, the German assault on the Polish garrison in Gdansk propelled the World into war. By the end of World War Two around twenty per cent of Polish citizens had been killed and much of the fabric of the country had been devastated. This two-week study tour visits locations and attempts to assist understanding of the terrible events of half a century ago.

An exploration of outstanding Carpathian scenery along the Polish-Slovak border. The tour will focus on the Tatra transboundary Biosphere Reserve, on both sides of the border, and make shorter visits to the Slovak Paradise, Low Tatry and Pieniny National Parks. We will be amongst high mountains, exploring them on foot. Close contact with wild nature will be juxtaposed with a short stay in Krakow, one of Europe's great historic cities.

The tour passes through some of the most interesting cities and country towns of Central Europe including Prague, Brno, Krakow and Bratislava. The route which links them together runs through outstanding areas of natural beauty including transfrontier Biosphere Reserves in Karkonosze (Czech Repuplic/Poland) and Tatra (Poland/Slovakia).

Although Wroclaw and Prague are situated only 220 km from each other the land lying between these two medieval towns is so abundant in nature and culture that during this ten day tour we will be able to visit only selected examples of this richness. The tour passes mostly through the mountains offering close contact with nature, spectacular views and opportunities for moderate physical effort.

This botanical tour passes through the areas of the highest biodiversity in the West Carpathians and arguably the whole of Central Europe. However mountain flora is the principal target of this tour, providing opportunities to see interesting geological phenomena, mountain animals (including bears, if we are lucky ) and outstanding landscapes. The full day walks in the mountain areas follow routes which are well within the capabilities of any reasonably fit person who enjoys walking. The start and finish points - Cracow and Budapest - are both beautiful cities, which creates an additional attraction.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania offer tourists an unforgettable experience of contact with ethnic diversity, fine monuments of a long and complicated history and fascinating nature. This exciting twelve day tour leads through the most interesting cultural and natural places in the Baltic Countries. The tour includes some long transfers, of necessity in this vast and sparsely populated area.

The Baltic Countries offer unforgettable experiences for all nature-lovers, but perhaps primarily for birdwatchers. This fascinating two week tour passes through natural forests, vast dunes, swampy meadows, estuaries and huge peat-bogs, but also provides an opportunity to visit several historic places of great importance.