Prosna and Warta

Poland is a vast, mostly flat land, and cycling through rural areas is easy and pleasant. Particularly beautiful are trails situated in the river valley that have been flowing unchanged, along a wild course for centuries. Our trips on the Narew River in Podlasie and on the Pilica River between Krakow and Warsaw enjoy great popularity. Now we invite you to a carefully planned 9-day ride along two beautiful rivers in the central part of the country. Cycling stages can be completed with short canoeing excursions.

We are driving through an area with a diverse cultural heritage, on the border of several historical regions. It is not occupied by crowds of tourists which is why it’s worth coming here to relax and take a break from daily tumult. At the end of each stage awaits a surprise. We have chosen cozy hotels for accommodation, two of which are quite unique as they are located in former noble palaces surrounded by gardens.

Small, charming towns with colorful markets, thermal baths, good regional cuisine and countless joys will make you reminisce your vacation in unusual places with satisfaction.

Day 1 (Monday) Arrival in Pawłowice
We start our trip on the northern edge of Silesia. We meet at the 19th-century Wilhelm von Pannwitz Palace, which today serves as a stylish hotel and restaurant with its own vineyard. We provide transfer from Krakow; you can reach the nearby Kluczbork station by train.

Day 2 (Tuesday) Pawłowice - Bolesławiec   40 km cycling
We start the rally very gently and on foot. Near the palace, there is a bicycle path on the former Olesno-Praszka railway track, which takes us to Gorzów Śląski. Here, buildings made of bog iron are a local curiosity. Further on, there are forest roads and a long picturesque alley that leads to Byczyna - a medieval castle with a perfectly preserved ring of defensive walls. The restaurant in the basement of the town hall is open for lunch. Accommodation is in Bolesławiec nad Prosną, near a large park with a bathing area and the ruins of a castle on a hill.

Day 3 (Wednesday) Bolesławiec - Grabów nad Prosną   45 km cycling
We travel along rural roads, switching between the left and right banks of the Prosna River, which in the 19th century, when Poland did not exist on the maps of Europe, marked the border between the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Traces of this division are still visible in the landscape to this day. On the eastern side - a mosaic of small fields with copper, on the west - brick architecture and beautiful avenues of linden and red oaks. Grabów is an exceptionally charming “town above the river”. If you arrive here early, you can rent a kayak on the city beach with a marina and enjoy a short trip.

Day 4 (Thursday) Grabów nad Prosną - Kalisz - Tłokinia   48 km cycling
Kalisz is the largest city on the route. Prosna is divided into three arms, flowing around the historic old town. Everyone will find something for themselves. For the spirit - museums, galleries and sanctuaries. For the body – an aquapark. After sightseeing, we drive a few more kilometers to Tłokinia Kościelna. Here, the greatest hotel attraction of the trip opens the door - the meticulously renovated classicist palace of the Chrystowski family with antiques in the rooms and French cuisine in the conservatory-dining room.

Day 5 (Friday) Tłokinia - Uniejów   55 km cycling
We will easily pass a slightly longer stage on asphalt paths with a large chance for western tailwind. Along the way, an idyllic mosaic of small fields, orchards, forests and meadows and one of the smallest Polish cities - Dobra. You can enjoy a picnic and sunbathe at the Murowaniec Lagoon located in a remote area. But the greatest attraction awaits at the end of this stage. Today, Uniejów has become an elegant health resort with its brine springs and a marvelous thermal swimming pool. Accommodation in a luxurious spa hotel near the thermal baths with a view of the Warta River.

Day 6 (Saturday) Uniejów - Sieradz   57 km cycling
From then on, for the remaining portion of the trip we will be moving up the Warta River, by all means not steeply uphill, since it is a flat, lowland valley. The large Jeziorsko reservoir is once again an opportunity for sunbathing and swimming. At the end of the stage, Sieradz, one of the oldest Polish cities, has an exceptionally beautiful old town and market square. You simply must take a picture here on the armchair next to the most famous resident of Sieradz - the hairdresser Antoine de Paris. On Saturday evening, pubs pulsate with bustle and we have a chance to enjoy a concert in the local amphitheater.

Day 7 (Sunday) Sieradz - Osjaków   45 km cycling
Again, a slightly shorter stage, leading through small villages and green meadows.  If you finish it early, you can make a switch to the kayak again in the afternoon. The most picturesque section of the upper Warta begins in Osjaków, enjoyed greatly by water sports enthusiasts.

Day 8 (Monday) Osjaków - Działoszyn   50 km cycling
The last stage is unique - we will admire a natural gem of superior quality. In the Załęczański Landscape Park, the Warta makes a sweeping 180-degree curve and is simply beautiful. There are many opportunities for making a stop at the very shore and wading in the crystal-clear water on the sandy bottom. We celebrate the end of the trip in the elegant hotel in Działoszyn.

Day 9 (Tuesday) End or extension of the trip
We offer transport from Działoszyn to Częstochowa and Kraków. There is one more possibility, that is...

The 10-day option

The optimal, 9-day route of the trip - as you can see on the map - has the shape of an unclosed loop. That said, if you are ambitious and would like to spend one more day (on Wednesday) to close it entirely and another night in the palace in Pawłowice - there are various options for a 50-60 km route, starting with the forest valley of Liswarta, then through villages near the Prosna springs. 

Dates of tours in 2024:

PAW-1   29.04 - 07.05
PAW-2   13.05 - 21.05
PAW-3   03.06 - 11.06
PAW-4   17.06 - 25.06
PAW-5   01.07 - 09.07
PAW-6   08.07 - 16.07
PAW-7   15.07 - 23.07
PAW-8   29.07 - 06.08
PAW-9   05.08 - 13.08
PAW-10   12.08 - 20.08

Prices:*

Self-guided Tour:
1 person sharing twin EUR 770
1 person in single EUR 940

Included in the basic price:  

• Transport Krakow - Pawłowice and Działoszyn - Krakow
• 8 nights accommodation in twin bedded rooms with shower/WC, including 2 nights in palaces, 1 night in four star Spa hotel, 3 nights in 3 star hotels, 2 nights in 2 star hotels or pensions.
• Half board (breakfast and dinner - carefully selected menu)
• Transfer of luggage between hotels
• Route description, detailed cycling map and GPS data

Not included in the price:
Journey to Krakow, entry fees, private payments such as other meals, drinks and tips. Optional kayaking trips - services paid on the spot directly to local organizers, we help with making the reservation

Bicycle rental: EUR 80
E-bike rental EUR 180

Extending the trip (closing the loop) Działoszyn - Pawłowice 60 EUR per person sharing twin room or 75 EUR per person in single room - included luggage transport and additional accommodation with breakfast at the Palace in Pawłowice.

Extra night B&B in Krakow (Hotel*** central location)
1 Person sharing twin EUR 49
1 Person in single EUR 77

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