Cycling the Green Velo in Podlasie. Short tour.
Individual tour
Category: bike tour
Duration: 5 or 7 days
Offer: 2022
Meals: breakfasts
Accommodation: hotels and pensions, rooms with bathroom
Difficulty: easy
Distance by bike: up to 257 km
Podlasie is a still undiscovered destination, full of pristine nature, picturesque views and atmospheric towns. This multicultural region is considered to be the gate to the East. Four national parks are located here: Białowieża (recognized on UNESCO World Heritage Site list), Biebrza, Narew and Wigry. Cycling, we will be passing orthodox churches, synagogues, wooden churches and huts with finely decorated shutters, ancient grave mounds, pristine rivers, wild animals, pristine forests. In the night, we may observe the Milky Way in the sky, and by the table – enjoy local specialties.
During the trip, we will visit the most important natural and cultural destinations of Podlasie, the „must see” for everyone visiting the region. Trip is an easy one, making it suitable for anyone who wants to explore the region by bike.
Białystok
Białystok, regional capital is a multicultural city. Important economical, administrative, educational, cultural and tourism center in Poland. City of Ludwik Zamenhof – creator of Esperanto, Albert Sabin – discoverer of Polio vaccine, and Tomasz Bagiński – Academy Award laureate. Here we will visit the baroque Branicki Palace with its gardens, the late-Renaissance Old Church, St. Roch’s Basilica, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and the market square with its baroque City Hall.
Supraśl
A resort with over 500 years of history and special microclimate, created by etherical oils provided by the trees of Knyszyn forest and peloid from nearby Sokołda. We recommend a walk in the town and visiting the Orthodox Icon Museum, located in the Archimandrite’s Palace.
Kruszyniany
Kruszyniany is a famous Tartar village, visited not long ago by Prince Charles of Wales himself. It is known for beautiful nature, delicious local cuisine and unique landmarks, such as XVIIth century wooden mosque and muslim cemetery.
Białowieża forest
Polish part of the Białowieża forest was included on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979. It’s strict reserve is one of the last places to see the ecosystem of primeval, lowland forest in the world. Bisons live here, as do over 50 different species of mammals, 200 species of birds and 1000 species of insects. The oldest oaks are over 600 years old. Many of them exceed in height and width, which made them a sought export material, used for constructing masts of ships, which travelled the oceans of the world.
Short summary:
Day 1. Arrival to Białystok
Day 2. Białystok – Supraśl – Krynki – Kruszyniany
Day 3. Kruszyniany – Bondary – Zalew Siemianówka – Narewka – Białowieża
Day 4. Białowieża – Topiło or Kamieniuki – Białowieża
Day 5. Białowieża – Hajnówka – train to Białystok
Or, extending the trip:
Day 5. Białowieża – Narewka –Trześcianka
Day 6. Trześcianka – Puchły – Soce – Zabłudów -Białystok
Day 7. Białystok – departure
Day 1. Białystok
Arrival to Białystok (numerous connections from Warsaw). About 16:00, meeting with our representative to pass the bikes and all the necessary information. Then, a guided tour of the city, including the baroque Branicki Palace with its gardens, the late-Renaissance Old Church, St. Roch’s Basilica, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and the market square with its baroque City Hall. Accommodation in a hotel in Białystok.
Price includes: guided tour of Białystok
Day 2. Białystok – Supraśl – Krynki – Kruszyniany
Distance: about 57 km
Elevations: 247 m – 264 m
After breakfast, we leave the luggage at the reception and start cycling. We depart from the City Hall. Cycling the bike roads, we leave the city and enter the Green Velo route to Supraśl. We advise to make a short pause for a walk in the centre and touring the Orthodox Icon musem. Afterwards, we ride further through Knyszyn forest, where we can make a stop in Kopna Góra to visit the forest park. We can either cycle directly to Kruszyniany, or extend the route to visit Krynki and its ruins of synagogue.
Optional: tour of Orthodox Icon Museum in Supraśl (ticket 6 EUR, sightseeing with a guide 30 EUR)
Day 3. Kruszyniany – Bondary – Siemianówka reservoir – Narewka – Białowieża
Distance: about 61 km
Elevations: 107 m – 116 m
After breakfast, a guided tour of Kruszyniany mosque awaits us. Further along Green Velo we reach Michałowo, and then Siemianówka reservoir. We recommend to make a stop on the dam and maybe take a bath on one of the beaches. Further we reach Narewka by the Białowieża forest. Then we cycle through the forest to Białowieża, where we reach our hotel (Hotel Białowieski***). After checking in we can rest at the hotel’s swimming pool and spa centre. We also advise to try the beer made at the hotel.
Day 4. Białowieża
You can choose what to do today. Regardless of your choice, the day ends with a bonfire and outdoor dinner consisting of local specialties. Below are three proposed bike tours:
Option 1. Białowieża – Topiło – Białowieża
Distance: about 49 km
Elevations: 149 m – 149 m
Topiło is a small village in the forest at the river Perebel, only 3 km from the Belarussian border. Topiło reservoir is located here, rich in flora and fauna with two educational trails, also with a viewing point. We reach the village cycling through forest roads. We can also visit the palace park with its interactive natural museum and the animal exhibition reserve just a few kilometers from the village.
Option 2. Optional: Guided tour of Białowieża, visit to strict reserve
We propose an optional guided tour of Białowieża and the strict reserve, which will show you the most interesting locations of the village and tell about its history. The tour takes about 7 hours, the guide will be waiting for at the reception after breakfast. You will tour the Palace Park and the natural museum, before venturing into the strict reserve, which is accessible only with a licensed tour guide. We will also see the animal exhibition reserve, where you can observe bisons, wolves, deer, rabbits, lynxes , wild boars, and other species in their natural habitat. On way back, we will also visit the mysterious place of power – an ancient mound, which had a mystical meaning for ancient cultures inhabiting the forest area. After return, a bonfire and dinner awaits.
Cost for 2 people: 90 EUR/person. Cost from 4 people: 45 EUR/person
Day 5. Białowieża – Hajnówka –train to Białystok
or, optional extension Białowieża – Narewka –Trześcianka
Distance: about 46 km
Elevation: 112 m – 130 m
The last day of our trip. We reach Hajnówka trains station by bike, and after about 1,5h ride we reach Białystok. At scheduled place, we meet Nature Travel representative, return our bikes and receive our luggage.
You may extend your stay in Hotel „Białowieski”. The cost of bike rental will not rise then.
It is also possible to extend your trip and reach Białystok by bike. In this case, you will cycle to Trześcianka and be accommodated in one of local pensions.
Day 6 (optional). Trześcianka – Puchły – Soce – Zabłudów -Białystok
Distance: about 40 km
Elevations: 208 m – 219 m
Today’s trip takes us through Puchły and Soce. It is a popular tourist trail, known for its wooden architecture with finely decorated shutters and wooden orthodox churches. Further, we pass Zabłudów and reach Białystok, where you can spend time in one of the restaurants in the city centre.
Day 7. Białystok departure
Departure from Białystok. Before, return of bikes to our representative.
Price includes:
- 4 or 6 accommodations with breakfasts in hotels/pensions of good quality, rooms with bathroom
- Bonfire and regional dinner at Hotel Białowieski*** on day 4.
- Local taxes
- Luggage transfer between accommodations
- Guided tour in Białystok
- Guided tour of the mosque in Kruszyniany
- Technical assistance during the trip
- Tourist’s package: detailed description of the route, along with the information required for reaching the destination by bike.
- GPS-track
- Handing out and picking up of the bike at the appointed location
- Miminum number of participants: 2 people
Price does not include:
- Arrival
- Bike rental
- Meals other than breakfast and dinner on day 4.
- Additional accommodations
- Private expenses during the trip
Price per person
270 EUR/person in double room
Price per person in single room: 330 EUR/person
Extending the tour in double room: 95 EUR/person
Extending the tour in single room: 130 EUR/perso
Additional discounts:
- Children 0-5 years (without a separate bed) – free
- Children 5-10 years – 50%, additional bed (assuming 2 fully paying adults)
- Children 10-16 years on additional bed – 80% of the price (assuming 2 fully paying adults)
- Children 17 lat and more and adults sleeping on separate beds in 3-4 person rooms – 10% discount
- Group reservation starting from 4 adults – 5% discount/person (in double room)
Cost of bike rental during the trip:
Unisex trekking bike – 45 EUR/person
Electric bike – 125 EUR/person
Child trailer – 45 EUR/each
Child seat – 25 EUR/each
Additional expenses:
- Orthodox Icon Museum in Supraśl: 6 EUR/person
- Guide in the Icon museum: 30 EUR
- Optional guided tour of Białowieża on day 4, tickets animal exhibition reserve, to Natural Museum, to strict reserve – 2 people: 90 EUR/person. 4 people: 45 EUR/person
- Transfer to Bialystok with bike: 25 EUR/person
- Additional accommodation in Białystok in ***hotel with breakfast: 35 EUR/person in DBL room
- Additional accommodation in Białowieża in Hotel*** „Białowieski” with breakfast: 35 EUR/person in DBL room
Dates:
Starts every Saturday from 07.05.2021 to 10.09.2021*
*Minimum number of participants: 2 people
ADDITIONAL DATES POSSIBLE FOR GROUPS OF AT LEAST 4 PARTICIPANTS
Since Poland lies in the Schengen zone, EU citizens may enter it’s boarders with valid ID. Non-EU citizens are submitted to the same rules of entry as when entering any other EU country.
Arrival:
By plane – we recommend a flight to Warsaw and then taking a train to Białystok (about 2h30min by train)
Reservation form
Hotel Białowieski
Our ***Hotel "Białowieski" Conference, Wellness & SPA offers You wide variety of spending free time in Białowieża Forest. From active bike and hiking tourism to relaxing in our swimming pool and spa complex.