Masurian Lakeland

The Masurian lake plateau was and remains one of Poland's most popular destinations for tourists on two wheels. Not only natural beauty draws the tourist to this area with literally thousands of crystalline lakes, dreamy alleyways with trees that are centuries old and forested areas in their natural state. The Masurian area is also of great historical interest. It formed the Prussian province of East Prussia for some centuries. This is where Teutonic Knights left their Gothic and Medieval castles and the Nazis their bunkers. In fact it was here, in the famous 'Wolfschanze' (Wolf's Lair), that the fateful attempt to assassinate Hitler took place in the year 1944.

Masuria offers the cyclist predominantly flat land, side roads with few cars, a well developed tourist infrastructure and welcoming inhabitants - making it an appealing destination for individuals riding for pleasure. Bird Service has an affordable tour for cyclists travelling alone. Find an opportunity to take one of a number of fast trains or low-priced flights to Warsaw on a Saturday so that you can acquaint yourself with this fascinating area during a week of cycling before returning to Warsaw. It is a relaxing tour allowing you to experience the many attractions of the area. The overnight stays are at 5 different locations, there is a ship cruise and we also offer an optional canoe trip. On one of the days it is possible to choose between routes of different lengths. This package is compatible with our other weekly trips. For example, if you book the weeklong Krakow and Dunajec Cycle Path or the Cycling in Silesia tour, you could go on to Warsaw for our Masurian-Ring cycle tour.

Day 1: (Saturday) Arrival in Warsaw, hotel registration.

Day 2: (Sunday) Warsaw - Babięta - Mrągowo   31 km cycling
You arrive at Babięta, a village on the banks of the river Krutynia, after a three hour car or minibus journey. There will be a break for lunch and the bicycles will be handed out. The first leg is short and ends in Mrągowo, a resort with a historical town centre and a lakeside promenade.

Day 3: (Monday) Mrągowo - Kętrzyn   55 km cycling
You cycle through small villages and beautiful lakes to Reszel, in the historic region of Ermland. Reszel has a picturesque old town, a Gothic bridge and an impressive castle of brick that belonged to the Bishops of Ermland. You then go on to the pilgrimage church at Święta Lipka, a jewel from Baroque times set in the middle of Masurian wildness.

Day 4: (Tuesday) Kętrzyn - Węgorzewo   45 km cycling
Kętrzyn still has an old castle that had once belonged to the former German Teutonic Knights. We ride by witnesses to a recent dark past - 'Wolfschanze', the Fuehrer's headquarters - a bleak concrete ruin and then the still well kept headquarters of the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces at 'Mauerwald'. Finally you cycle directly on the shores of Lake Mamry for a few kilometers until reaching the lodgings in the sleepy port town of Angerburg.

Day 5: (Wednesday) Węgorzewo - Giżycko   30-60 km cycling
Today have the choice of either extending the rest period and going by ship to Giżycko in the afternoon or choosing between a shorter and a longer route. The shorter route is about 30 km and goes via Harsz (the village with the most White Stork nests in the entire tour). However, we would recommend the longer loop through Borecka forest. This forested area has been left in its natural state and has a rich variety of plant life and is also home to the European bison and has a network of beautiful, car-free bicycle routes. It is nature at its pristine best.

Day 6: (Thursday) Giżycko - Krutyń   40 km cycling
Following a 3-hour long ship journey (included in the price) you land in Mikołajki, the St. Tropez of Masuria with an idyllic and modern city centre, an attractive sailing port and old fishing houses. This area sees a great deal of seasonal tourism. An old fashioned rope ferry brings you to Popielno, a scientific breeding station for Tarpan horses. Popielno is one of the few villages on the shores of Jezioro Sniardwy, Poland's largest lake. Dark forest paths lead to the Russian Orthodox monastery in Wojnowo past the small but lively resort of Krutyń.

Day 7: (Friday) Krutyń - Warsaw   10-20 km cycling or 2-3 hours canoeing
You remain in  Masuria the entire morning and can visit other tourist attractions in the area of Krutyń by bicycle (for example the Ernst Wiechert memorial) or you could take a highly recommended 3-hour long canoe ride on the most beautiful part of the river. The journey back to Warsaw is at 3:00 p.m.

Day 8: (Saturday) Departure from Warsaw or prolongation.

Tour profile:
A very easy tour: About 70% is on asphalt and the rest on dirt roads. The landscape is flat or gently undulating.

See more pictures here...

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Dates of tours in 2024:

MA-1   27.04 - 04.05
MA-2   04.05 - 11.05
MA-3   11.05 - 18.05
MA-4   18.05 - 25.05
MA-5   25.05 - 01.06
MA-6   01.06 - 08.06
MA-7   08.06 - 15.06
MA-8   15.06 - 22.06
MA-9   22.06 - 29.06
MA-10  29.06 - 06.07
MA-11  06.07 - 13.07
MA-12  13.07 - 20.07
MA-13  20.07 - 27.07
MA-14  27.07 - 03.08
MA-15  03.08 - 10.08
MA-16  10.08 - 17.08
MA-17  17.08 - 24.08
MA-18  24.08 - 31.08
MA-19  31.08 - 07.09
MA-20  07.09 - 14.09
MA-21  14.09 - 21.09
MA-22  21.09 - 28.09
MA-23  28.09 - 05.10
MA-24  05.10 - 12.10

Prices*:

Self-guided Tour: 
1 person sharing twin EUR 740
1 person in single: EUR 900 

Included in the basic price:

• Transport Warsaw - Babięta and Krutyń - Warsaw
• 2 nights accommodation in three-star-hotel in Warsaw
• 5 nights accommodation in twin bedded rooms with shower / WC - small pensions in Masurian Lakeland
• 5 x half board (breakfast and dinner in Masurian Lakeland, not in Warsaw)
• Transfer of luggage from hotel to hotel
• Route description, detailed cycling map and GPS data
• Ship journey Gizycko - Mikolajki (can be replaced by bus transfers if there will be no regular service)

Not included in the price: Travel to Warsaw, entry fees, private payments such as other meals, drinks and tips, optional canoe trip. 

Extra night B&B in Warsaw (Hotel***): 
1 person sharing twin EUR 49
1 person in single EUR 77

Bicycle rental (per Week): EUR 70
E-bike rental: EUR 180

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