Poland’s Lake District
Poland Bike + Boat Tours
A bike & boat tour in Masuria, Poland
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Tour Type
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Skill Level
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Length8 days
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Prices from€1065 Rates
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Overview
A bike and boat tour in Poland? You asked, we searched, and we found this bike and boat tour in Masuria, the lake district of northeastern Poland. You will pedal through a land of native forests and wide heather plains dotted with storks, villages, and farms, an area of simple, natural beauty with more than 2,000 lakes, connected by countless canals and rivers. This region was selected as one of 28 finalists of the New 7 Wonders of Nature!
Tripsite has personally explored this bike and boat tour and has returned with first-hand information regarding the boat and the routes. This is a tour for those who love the water and the lakeside atmosphere and experience. It is a prime destination for nature and active enthusiasts and for history lovers.
This is not a tour for someone who is looking for mainstream Europe, with paved cycling paths, and quaint villages. You will ride on very sandy forest paths through a very rural environment that requires excellent balance and command of your bicycle. Though electric bikes are available for this tour, this may not be a solution for all. Remember that electric bikes are much heavier than regular touring bikes.
Highlights
- Natural landscape of the Lake District
- Baerenwinkel viewpoint
- Historical sites such as Wolf's Lair
- Boat tour at the Kruttinna
- Boyen Fortress in Gizycko
- Castle of Ryn
Read our blog on this tour so that you can be fully informed!
We have one other bike and boat tour in Poland. Check it out.
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Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Piaski, Masuria Lake District
Day 2: Bärenwinkel - Johannisburg (Pisz), 28 mi. (45 km)
Day 3: Rhein (Ryn) - Wolf's Lair, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Lötzen (Gizycko) - Lake Goldapgar, 34 mi. (54 km)
Day 5: Rhein (Ryn) - Zondern - Nikolaiken, 26 mi. (42 km)
Day 6: Nikolaiken - Popiellnen - Piaski, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 7: Eckertstorf - Kruttinnen - Piaski, 27 mi. (43 km)
Day 8: Individual departure or extension
All distances are approximate. Depending on water levels in the canals, for example, during extended periods of dry weather, the route can be subject to change. However, the characteristics of the tour remain unchanged. Depending on weather and conditions, daily routes may be altered.Day 1: Masuria
Included group bus transfer will make a stop at the Warsaw airport or Warsaw Central train station and transfer the entir group to the boat. Travel time is approximately 4 1/2 hours from the central train station.Your accommodations for your adventure, the MS Classic Lady, awaits in Piaski, Mazuria in a camp-like setting in the woods. It is a lovely spot for swimming or exploring the lake by canoe. During this first day, you will receive personal tour information and if time permits, hand over of the rental bikes. If this does not occur on the first day, you will receive your bikes the morning of the second day.Day 2: Bärenwinkel - Johannisburg (Pisz) by bike, Wejsuny - Nikolaiken, by boat, 28 mi. (45 km)
Your cycling adventure begins, leading eastward across Wejsuny, an old East Prussian village, Viewpoint on Lake Spirdingsee, providing a beautiful panorama of the passing sailboats and Devil Island. According to legend, evil spirits still live there. Frederick the Great once built a fortress on the island and today, a few ruins remain. As you cycle, you will pass through Pisz, located at the junction of Lake Roś and the Pisa River, with its gothic town hall and market place. Perhaps you would like to take the time to visit the museum in Pisz which houses a rich collection of fauna and flora from the surrounding area and archeological, ethnographic and historical souvenirs. You can also have an opportunity for swimming! Continuing on, the boat awaits in Wejsuny and will upon boarding, navigate to Nikolaiken.Day 3: Nikolkaiken - Rhein (Ryn) - Wolfsschanze - Wilkasy, 31 mi. (50 km)
In the morning, the boat takes you to Rhein (Ryn). From here you bike to Wolf's Lair, where you can see the remains of Hitler's military headquarters during World War II. A side trip (adds about 17 km) to Rastenburg (Ketrzyn) with its castle and the fortified church is recommended. Finally, you pass meadows, fields, and lonely hamlets until you reach Wilkasy where the MS CLASSIC LADY awaits you.Day 4: Loop ride, Wilkasy - Lötzen (Gizycko) - Lake Goldapgar - Wilkasy, 34 mi. (54 km)
Lötzen is the water sports center of Masuria. The Boyen Fortress and the church, which was built using the plans of the court architect Schinkel, are worth a visit. The fortress successfully withstood Russian attacks during WWI. In WWII, it was a defensive outpost of Wolf’s Lair and was relinquished to the Red Army without a fight during the 1945 offensive. The biking itinerary leads via Lötzen to Lake Goldapgar and follows the shores via Possessern back to Wilkasy .Day 5: Wilkasky - Rhein (Ryn) - Zondern - Nikolaiken, 26 mi. (42 km)
Today your day starts with a scenic cruise on the beautiful five-lakes-route to Szymonka. The first part of the bike tour goes to Rhein and its 14th-century castle. You continue to Zondern and along Lake Talty, where you have an amazing view across the Lakes District. Finally, you return to the MS CLASSIC LADY in Nikolaiken and will overnight here.Day 6: Nikolaiken - Popiellnen - Piaski, 16 mi. (25 km)
Today you can take an extra trip to the swan habitat on Lake Lucknaier (adds about 10 km). Otherwise, you have time for a stroll through Nikolaiken before taking the ferry to Spirding (Wierzba), where you visit Popiellnen (breeding station for the primeval Tarpan horse). Afterward, you cycle through Weissuhnen, where you can visit the beautiful church and through Ruciane-Nida back to Piaski. (Alternative you cycle to Lake Niedersee (Ruciane-Nida), before returning to the idyllic bay of Piaski).
Day 7: Loop ride, Piaski - Eckertstorf - Kruttinnen - Piaski, 27 mi. (43 km)
Today you cycle to Kruttinen via Eckertstorf (Wojnow) with its Russian Orthodox Old Believer Philipponen convent. In Kruttinen a short boat trip on the Kruttina Stream is recommended! Via Galkowo you cycle back to Piaski and join the MS Classic Lady for the last night on board.Day 8: Individual departure or extension
Transfer to Warsaw (included in package price) and individual departure or continued stay in the Masurian Lakes District. Group transfer leaves at 7 am.Perhaps you are looking for other bike and barge tours, or view our full list of bike trips.
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Accommodation
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Inclusions
What’s Included
- Accommodation for 7 nights on board the Classic Lady
- Breakfasts & dinner
- Airport transfers to & from the boat
- Bed linens & towels
- Harbor, bridge, & port fees
- Tour guide
- Ferry & punt ride
- Entrance fees to the following: Wolfsschanze, Festivals Boyen, Museum of Local History in Zondern, sheep farm, Tarpan station in Popiellnen, Philippine monastery
- 1 informational packet per cabin
What’s Not Included
- Rental bike, 7 gears unisex bike with back pedal brake equipped with one pannier (cost is to be paid directly on board)
- Lunches
- All beverages
- Bicycle protection
- Travel Insurance
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Dates & Pricing
Dates
2021
Classic Lady
Standard ClassSaturday departures
May 22, May 29, June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26, July 3, July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, August 7, August 14, August 21, August 28, & September 4, 2021
Please Note
- Rates are per person, based on double occupancy
- Tour prices are based on the fuel costs at time prices are set, often months or years in advance. In rare cases, additional fees may apply for fuel cost increases.
- Information to read before you book
- We recommend purchasing trip insurance
- Please see our FAQ
Pricing
Cabin type Double/twin/upper deck $ 1942 £ 984 $ 1,758 € 1165 Ft 491294 kr 172910 ₪ 4517 ¥ 188056 Mex$ 25377 NZ$ 2133 kr 13810 zł 5086 S$ 1678 kr 13646 CHF 1104 $ 1,249 Double/twin/lower deck $ 1776 £ 899 $ 1,607 € 1065 Ft 449123 kr 158068 ₪ 4129 ¥ 171914 Mex$ 23199 NZ$ 1950 kr 12625 zł 4650 S$ 1534 kr 12474 CHF 1009 $ 1,142 Double/twin for single-use/lower deck $ 2434 £ 1233 $ 2,203 € 1460 Ft 615699 kr 216694 ₪ 5660 ¥ 235675 Mex$ 31803 NZ$ 2673 kr 17307 zł 6374 S$ 2103 kr 17101 CHF 1384 $ 1,565 Extra Options
Touring bike rental to be paid onboard: $ 125 £ 63 $ 113 € 75 Ft 31628 kr 11132 ₪ 291 ¥ 12107 Mex$ 1634 NZ$ 137 kr 889 zł 327 S$ 108 kr 878 CHF 71 $ 80 Electric bike rental to be paid onboard: $ 275 £ 139 $ 249 € 165 Ft 69582 kr 24489 ₪ 640 ¥ 26635 Mex$ 3594 NZ$ 302 kr 1956 zł 720 S$ 238 kr 1933 CHF 156 $ 177
This tour is operated by a German company and a favorite with German cyclists. Traditionally, the tours have been conducted in German. Many times the guides speak English as well. If a bilingual guide is not available, an exclusive English speaking guide can be brought on board for a supplement and can be shared between two, three, four, people or large groups. The crew speaks limited English but are always willing to learn and understand.
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Extra Info
Skill Level — Moderate–Difficult
Rating a tour is one of the most difficult things that we do. Where one might find a tour moderate, another may call it difficult. Overall, this tour is a moderate tour, but there are some very sandy sections that many will call difficult. Tne terrain varies from flat to rolling hills with a few steeper climbs. The roads that you will cycle are mostly paved, quiet country roads but you will also cycle as well on some very sandy forest and meadow paths. Keep this in mind because if weather is severely dry, or wet, there may be sections where you will need to walk your bike. There is very minimal cycling on roads with traffic, but when entering and exciting towns, some traffic is unavoidable. Daily stages are from 25 to 54 km with a total cycling distance of 260 km. Though electric bikes are available for this tour, this may not be a solution for all. Remember that electric bikes are much heavier than regular touring bikes and actually require a greater command of the bicycle on this varied terrain than the regular touring bikes.
Airport Info
Fly to Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport (WAW)
Local Travel
Included in your tour is an arrival or departure transfer either from the airport or the Central Train Station. At the airport, the meeting point is Arrival Hall, meeting point, exit 2. At the train station, the meeting point is the arrival hall of Warsaw Central Train Station. A representative will be waiting with a sign “Masuren - Transfer”. Please let us know if your arrival is at another airport, train station, or by car and we can provide more details for you. After the tour, return transfer is provided to Warsaw Airport or train station.
Timetable for transfers: Warsaw - Masuria
Airport Frederic Chopin: 14:30 – arrival railway station Warsaw Central: 14:55
Departure railway station Warszawa Central: 15:00
Arrival in Piaski 19:45Masuria – Warsaw
Departure Piaski 07:00 – arrival railway station Warsaw Central - 11:45
Departure railway station 11:50 – arrival airport Frederic Chopin 12:20
Times approximate depending on traffic, etc.Climate
Please check local conditions before your arrival. Masuria has a temperate climate and experiences warm summers but is generally a bit cooler than in most parts of Poland.
Recommended
Please pack lightly as space in cabins is limited, measuring 11 m square.
Remarks
This tour is operated by a German company and a favorite with German cyclists. Traditionally, the tours have been conducted in German, but many of the guides do speak English. If an English speaking guide is not available on your tour date, you can request one. The supplement will be shared among the number of participants. Be sure to plan some extra time in Warsaw!
Important to know
Travel Documents
It is each traveler's responsibility to ensure that you are in compliance with the country or countries you plan to visit. This includes and is not limited to passport validity, visa requirements and acquisition, blank passport pages required for your destination (s), etc.
US citizens: A good website to research the requirements of the Schengen Agreement and entry into other countries is travel.state.gov.
Non-EU and EU residents: Please research the requirements of your country of residence for international travel and your destination country or countries.
*Important note: Please check on the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) status as once implemented, this will be required to visit any of the 26 Schengen-member countries for tourism, business, medical, or transit. This is an additional check on security rather than a visa.Tour Operator
This tour is run by DNV Tours.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.Would you like to learn more About Us? How about What Makes Us Different than other companies?
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