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One-Stop Resource for Bike Tours in Europe - and Now Beyond!
Representing Overseas Bike Tour Companies
More Than 200 Tours in 40 Countries
Get our newsletter | Contact Us
Call (877) 462-2423 or (423) 756-8907
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| Type of tour: | Self-guided/Guided |
| Level: | Moderate |
| Duration: | 7 Nights |
| Distance: | 30 Miles/day average |
| Dates: | Self-guided:
Saturdays: May 19 through September 8, 2012
Guided: Saturdays: May 19 through September 8, 2012 |
| Tour price: | $665 (self-guided) $810 (guided) |
| Start city: | Krakow, Poland |
| End city: | Krakow, Poland |
Many of the most beautiful cycle paths run along river valleys flanked by mountains and hills. These rides, parallel to foaming river waters, are gentle and pleasant and it is not surprising that every year thousands of cyclists follow cycle routes along the Mosel, the Rhine or the Danube. Similar routes can be found in other Alpine countries as well - but are there any in Poland? The answer to that is a resounding 'Yes!' One of these rides follows a spectacular route along the river Dunajec, from Podhale (the plateau at the foot of the High Tatras) to the towns of Stary Sacz and Nowy Sacz - an adventure you can now experience for yourself.
You may have heard of the Dunajec raft trips, one of the earliest attractions in Europe to be organised especially for tourists. The famous, deep gorge of this river forms a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. Following the cessation of border controls a few years ago and with the building of a new suspension bridge this natural wonder finally became accessible to cyclists as well. Other stretches of the Dunajec valley have paths that are just as beautiful taking you past the folk traditions of the Goral and Spisz people.
We invite you to a week-long tour, beginning and ending on a Saturday, with the first and last nights spent in Krakow and five nights in villages and towns in the mountains.
Many of the most beautiful cycle paths run along river valleys flanked by mountains and hills. These rides, parallel to foaming river waters, are gentle and pleasant and it is not surprising that every year thousands of cyclists follow cycle routes along the Mosel, the Rhine or the Danube. Similar routes can be found in other Alpine countries as well - but are there any in Poland? The answer to that is a resounding 'Yes!' One of these rides follows a spectacular route along the river Dunajec, from Podhale (the plateau at the foot of the High Tatras) to the towns of Stary Sacz and Nowy Sacz - an adventure you can now experience for yourself.
You may have heard of the Dunajec raft trips, one of the earliest attractions in Europe to be organised especially for tourists. The famous, deep gorge of this river forms a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. Following the cessation of border controls a few years ago and with the building of a new suspension bridge this natural wonder finally became accessible to cyclists as well. Other stretches of the Dunajec valley have paths that are just as beautiful taking you past the folk traditions of the Goral and Spisz people.
We invite you to a week-long tour, beginning and ending on a Saturday, with the first and last nights spent in Krakow and five nights in villages and towns in the mountains.
Day 1: Krakow Arrival
You arrive in Krakow and spend the first night in a three-star hotel in the Old Town. After finding your room, there is time for a stroll through Krakow and for a first impression of the Old Town and its nightlife.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 2: Krakow - Zab - Zakopane (15-18 miles/25-30 km)
Bikes are selected at our cycle hire centre in the middle of the Old Town our tour of Krakow, a former capital of Poland gets underway. The city that was once the residence of Polish kings is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and boasts a historic architecture which came through the Second World War unscathed.
Among Krakow's most important architectural treasures are St Mary's Church with the world-famous altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss; medieval buildings of Jagiellonian University, Poland's oldest university; Wawel Cathedral adjacent to the 11th century Wawel Castle; Europe's largest medieval town square; Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter; the promenade along the Vistula at the foot of Wawel Castle. On our cycle tour we visit the "Planty", attractive gardens laid out around the Old Town on the site of the earlier medieval city walls.
At about midday a minibus takes us to Podhale. Our destination is the village of Zab, Poland's highest village. The journey takes about 2 hours. The first ride will be to Gubalowka, from where we can enjoy a panoramic view of the High Tatras. We then cycle down the mountain, past farm carts laden with hay. After a short rest at the point where the Poroniec and Zakopianka streams join the White Dunajec, we ride through the village of Olcza to Zakopane.
Our accommodation here is not far from Krupowki, Zakopane's main street, a pedestrian area lined with lively cafés and shops. Zakopane has developed a very distinctive cultural character. The folk culture of the people who live in the Tatras, the Gorale, has been preserved in their music, their songs and their local costume. And the characteristic "Zakopane style" of timber architecture, which developed around the turn of the twentieth century, can be found nowhere else in Europe. During our break we can sample "oscypek", the delicious smoked ewe's-milk cheese made in the Goral houses here.
Overnight in Zakopane.
Day 3: Zakopane - Nowy Targ (29 miles/46 km)
We take the cable car back to the top of Gubalowka and then cycle down through the village of Dzianisz as far as Chocholow, a village which is now a "living open-air museum" of timber architecture, where we have lunch in the village inn.
Following a short climb we enter the valley of Cichy Potok ("the quiet stream") and continue further downhill along a quiet path, through Ciche, Stare Bystre, Ludzmierz (with a famous Marian pilgrimage shrine), to the town of Nowy Targ, the main town of the Gorale mountain people. We spend the night in a stylish hotel located on the green outskirts of the town.
Overnight in Nowy Targ.
Day 4: Nowy Targ - Niedzica (27 miles/44 km)
Today we head south and follow the course of the Bialka, a third mountain river flowing into the Dunajec and see its impressive gorge near Nowa Biala. On the way we can also take a look at one of Poland's oldest wooden churches at Debno, built around 1500, which has an impressive painted interior.
We are now in the Spisz region, an area with a rich history and a remarkable folk culture. Until 1918 this area was part of Hungary, and for many centuries it was home to several ethnic groups: Gorale and Ruthenians lived in the villages, Germans in the towns and the Hungarian nobility in the castles. Following the bank of the reservoir, we reach one of these castles at Niedzica and spend the night in a nearby hotel.
Overnight in Niedzica.
Day 5: Niedzica - Szcawinca (24 miles/40 km)
This is the most spectacular day of the tour. We follow the river through Sromowce, a village once famous for the flocks of geese that used to be bred here. Soon, at about midday, we cross the border into Slovakia on the newly built bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. After cycling to the village of Cerveny Klastor (Red Monastery), above which rise the three peaks of Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), the highest point in the Pieniny range, we have a meal and visit the local museum.
We then cycle along the "Pieniny Way", a narrow ledge open only to walkers and cyclists, carved out of breathtaking limestone cliffs that run the entire length of the Dunajec Gorge. Unlike the tourists on wooden rafts being steered down the river by Gorale we can stop at any time to take photographs or even to bathe in the river.
Also very beautiful is the gorge of the Lesnicky Potok, a stream which flows into the Dunajec from the Slovakian side, passing through the sleepy village of Lesnica. You can do a little shopping here before it's time to head back into Poland. The little spa town of Szczawnica is a pleasant surprise, with its cycle-friendly separate lanes for cyclists. In the afternoon we ride along the elegant promenade in the valley of the Grajcarek and explore the paths in the upper and lower spa gardens.
Overnight in Szczawnica.
Day 6: Szczawnica - Rytro (34 miles/55 km)
The stretch today leads us through what is known as the "green Dunajec Gorge", where the river passes between two ranges of the Beskids. Although there are no limestone cliff walls here, the slopes with their beech woods are still very impressive.
We soon leave the main road, crossing the river on a suspension bridge to the right bank and making our way between the paths among the farms of the village of Tylmanowa with glimpses of the old barns, granaries and hen-houses though open doors.
We stop for lunch at a guesthouse in Lacko, known for its strong slivovitz, a plum brandy. It is also possible to halt alongside fruit gardens on the valley slopes. At Golkowice we leave the Dunajec and ride to Rytro, an old feudal village at the foot of castle ruins. On our last evening we have a dinner with grilled trout fresh from the river.
Overnight in Rytro.
Day 7: Rytro - Krakow (34 miles/55 km)
After breakfast we take a 10 km ride through the Poprad Valley to Stary Sacz. The morning is spent exploring this historic little town, one of the most beautiful in southern Poland, cycling through the maze of narrow streets for a feel of the atmosphere of past times.
Then we continue (by bus) to the neighbouring town of Nowy Sacz, which still has something of the Habsburg Empire about it. The neo-gothic town hall in the attractive market square dates from that period and the streets are lined with well-restored art nouveau houses. From Nowy Sacz we return to Krakow (bus journey about 1.5 - 2 hours).
Our accommodation for the last night is in the same hotel as on the first night, but we will spend the rest of the day in the quiet Kazimierz district, once the Jewish quarter of the city. An evening of Klezmer music brings the tour to a close.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 8: Krakow Departure
After breakfast your journey ends. If you wish, you can book an extension.
Day 1: Krakow Arrival
You arrive in Krakow and spend the first night in a three-star hotel in the Old Town. After finding your room, there is time for a stroll through Krakow and for a first impression of the Old Town and its nightlife.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 2: Krakow - Zab - Zakopane (15-18 miles/25-30 km)
Bikes are selected at our cycle hire centre in the middle of the Old Town our tour of Krakow, a former capital of Poland gets underway. The city that was once the residence of Polish kings is on the UNESCO World Heritage list and boasts a historic architecture which came through the Second World War unscathed. Among Krakow's most important architectural treasures are St Mary's Church with the world-famous altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss; medieval buildings of Jagiellonian University, Poland's oldest university; Wawel Cathedral adjacent to the 11th century Wawel Castle; Europe's largest medieval town square; Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter; the promenade along the Vistula at the foot of Wawel Castle. On our cycle tour we visit the "Planty", attractive gardens laid out around the Old Town on the site of the earlier medieval city walls.
At about midday a minibus takes us to Podhale. Our destination is the village of Zab, Poland's highest village. The journey takes about 2 hours. The first ride will be to Gubalowka, from where we can enjoy a panoramic view of the High Tatras. We then cycle down the mountain, past farm carts laden with hay. After a short rest at the point where the Poroniec and Zakopianka streams join the White Dunajec, we ride through the village of Olcza to Zakopane. Our accommodation here is not far from Krupowki, Zakopane's main street, a pedestrian area lined with lively cafés and shops. Zakopane has developed a very distinctive cultural character. The folk culture of the people who live in the Tatras, the Gorale, has been preserved in their music, their songs and their local costume. And the characteristic "Zakopane style" of timber architecture, which developed around the turn of the twentieth century, can be found nowhere else in Europe. During our break we can sample "oscypek", the delicious smoked ewe's-milk cheese made in the Goral houses here.
Overnight in Zakopane.
Day 3: Zakopane - Nowy Targ (29 miles/46 km)
We take the cable car back to the top of Gubalowka and then cycle down through the village of Dzianisz as far as Chocholow, a village which is now a "living open-air museum" of timber architecture, where we have lunch in the village inn. Following a short climb we enter the valley of Cichy Potok ("the quiet stream") and continue further downhill along a quiet path, through Ciche, Stare Bystre, Ludzmierz (with a famous Marian pilgrimage shrine), to the town of Nowy Targ, the main town of the Gorale mountain people. We spend the night in a stylish hotel located on the green outskirts of the town.
Overnight in Nowy Targ.
Day 4: Nowy Targ - Niedzica (27 miles/44 km)
Today we head south and follow the course of the Bialka, a third mountain river flowing into the Dunajec and see its impressive gorge near Nowa Biala. On the way we can also take a look at one of Poland's oldest wooden churches at Debno, built around 1500, which has an impressive painted interior. We are now in the Spisz region, an area with a rich history and a remarkable folk culture. Until 1918 this area was part of Hungary, and for many centuries it was home to several ethnic groups: Gorale and Ruthenians lived in the villages, Germans in the towns and the Hungarian nobility in the castles. Following the bank of the reservoir, we reach one of these castles at Niedzica and spend the night in a nearby hotel.
Overnight in Niedzica.
Day 5: Niedzica - Szcawinca (24 miles/40 km)
This is the most spectacular day of the tour. We follow the river through Sromowce, a village once famous for the flocks of geese that used to be bred here. Soon, at about midday, we cross the border into Slovakia on the newly built bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. After cycling to the village of Cerveny Klastor (Red Monastery), above which rise the three peaks of Trzy Korony (Three Crowns), the highest point in the Pieniny range, we have a meal and visit the local museum. We then cycle along the "Pieniny Way", a narrow ledge open only to walkers and cyclists, carved out of breathtaking limestone cliffs that run the entire length of the Dunajec Gorge. Unlike the tourists on wooden rafts being steered down the river by Gorale we can stop at any time to take photographs or even to bathe in the river. Also very beautiful is the gorge of the Lesnicky Potok, a stream which flows into the Dunajec from the Slovakian side, passing through the sleepy village of Lesnica. You can do a little shopping here before it's time to head back into Poland. The little spa town of Szczawnica is a pleasant surprise, with its cycle-friendly separate lanes for cyclists. In the afternoon we ride along the elegant promenade in the valley of the Grajcarek and explore the paths in the upper and lower spa gardens.
Overnight in Szczawnica.
Day 6: Szczawnica - Rytro (34 miles/55 km)
The stretch today leads us through what is known as the "green Dunajec Gorge", where the river passes between two ranges of the Beskids. Although there are no limestone cliff walls here, the slopes with their beech woods are still very impressive. We soon leave the main road, crossing the river on a suspension bridge to the right bank and making our way between the paths among the farms of the village of Tylmanowa with glimpses of the old barns, granaries and hen-houses though open doors. We stop for lunch at a guesthouse in Lacko, known for its strong slivovitz, a plum brandy. It is also possible to halt alongside fruit gardens on the valley slopes. At Golkowice we leave the Dunajec and ride to Rytro, an old feudal village at the foot of castle ruins. On our last evening we have a dinner with grilled trout fresh from the river.
Overnight in Rytro.
Day 7: Rytro - Krakow (34 miles/55 km)
After breakfast we take a 10 km ride through the Poprad Valley to Stary Sacz. The morning is spent exploring this historic little town, one of the most beautiful in southern Poland, cycling through the maze of narrow streets for a feel of the atmosphere of past times. Then we continue (by bus) to the neighbouring town of Nowy Sacz, which still has something of the Habsburg Empire about it. The neo-gothic town hall in the attractive market square dates from that period and the streets are lined with well-restored art nouveau houses. From Nowy Sacz we return to Krakow (bus journey about 1.5 - 2 hours). Our accommodation for the last night is in the same hotel as on the first night, but we will spend the rest of the day in the quiet Kazimierz district, once the Jewish quarter of the city. An evening of Klezmer music brings the tour to a close.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 8: Krakow Departure
After breakfast your journey ends. If you wish, you can book an extension.
Saturdays: May 19 through September 8, 2012
Saturdays: May 19 through September 8, 2012
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Category A: 4x 4-star hotels; 3x 3-star hotels
Category B: 5x 3-star hotels; 2x 2-star hotels
Category A: 4x 4-star hotels; 3x 3-star hotels
Category B: 5x 3-star hotels; 2x 2-star hotels
The bikes available are 21-speed derailleur gear hybrid touring bikes with a light aluminum frame. The tires are high quality Schwalb Land Cruisers. Another feature is comfortable, suspended gel-saddles. The bikes are equipped with saddle bags.
The bikes available are 21-speed derailleur gear hybrid touring bikes with a light aluminum frame. The tires are high quality Schwalb Land Cruisers. Another feature is comfortable, suspended gel-saddles. The bikes are equipped with saddle bags.
The entire tour is either flat or gently undulating terrain. The route runs on unexited, fixed roads and paths without difficult ascents. Day 6 has two slightly longer climbs (about 492 feet/150 m height differential).
This tour is rated Moderate and is for cyclists in good physical condition.
The entire tour is either flat or gently undulating terrain. The route runs on unexited, fixed roads and paths without difficult ascents. Day 6 has two slightly longer climbs (about 492 feet/150 m height differential).
This tour is rated Moderate and is for cyclists in good physical condition.
Tour start and end
Nearest airports: Krakow, Poland
Nearest train station: Krakow, Poland
Tour start and end
Nearest airports: Krakow, Poland
Nearest train station: Krakow, Poland
Despite a history full of conflict and struggle, Poland has preserved a land and culture of unbelievable beauty. From castles to cathedrals, medieval walls to arguably one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, historic sites abound throughout the country. The people of Poland are known for their hospitality and warmth, blending tradition and modern advances into the unique art, food, and culture that visitors return for time and again. The country has traditionally been a haven for academics and artists, all contributing to a cultural wealth in the arts and sciences.
Poland boasts a large and varied topography including mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, sea, and desert. Baltic beaches are a popular summertime destination for watersports, and the Polish mountains are ideal for hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. With twenty-three national parks, Poland places an emphasis on securing its national beauty.
Despite a history full of conflict and struggle, Poland has preserved a land and culture of unbelievable beauty. From castles to cathedrals, medieval walls to arguably one of the world’s oldest shopping malls, historic sites abound throughout the country. The people of Poland are known for their hospitality and warmth, blending tradition and modern advances into the unique art, food, and culture that visitors return for time and again. The country has traditionally been a haven for academics and artists, all contributing to a cultural wealth in the arts and sciences.
Poland boasts a large and varied topography including mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, sea, and desert. Baltic beaches are a popular summertime destination for watersports, and the Polish mountains are ideal for hiking, skiing, and mountain biking. With twenty-three national parks, Poland places an emphasis on securing its national beauty.
This is your chance to enjoy some of the most picturesque and spectacular parts of Poland, nearby Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine and Belarus by bike. These are areas that are only now beginning to be discovered by tourists. And for those preferring to hike there are well-marked trails and charming mountain huts ready for visitors.
Allow us to introduce you to the best of our cycling tours. We have been organizing active tours for the last twenty years and look forward with our team of enthusiastic staff to making your holiday a memorable one.
Our company started as Polish "Bird Service" in 1990 in Bialystok (NE-Poland) and has gained good reputation as organizer of nature study tours. We still offer a range of tours for birdwatchers and nature lovers, published on the webpage www.birding.pl
In 2000 we moved our office to the heart of historic Cracow and started to offer a range of cycle tours in southern Poland. As state borders are now easy to pass, we also organize cycling events in the nearby Slowakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. We offer ground arrangement for renowned tour companies. Each year clients from a number of countries around the world (mainly Germany, UK, Belgium, USA, even Japan) book our tours directly.
This is your chance to enjoy some of the most picturesque and spectacular parts of Poland, nearby Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine and Belarus by bike. These are areas that are only now beginning to be discovered by tourists. And for those preferring to hike there are well-marked trails and charming mountain huts ready for visitors.
Allow us to introduce you to the best of our cycling tours. We have been organizing active tours for the last twenty years and look forward with our team of enthusiastic staff to making your holiday a memorable one.
Our company started as Polish "Bird Service" in 1990 in Bialystok (NE-Poland) and has gained good reputation as organizer of nature study tours. We still offer a range of tours for birdwatchers and nature lovers, published on the webpage www.birding.pl
In 2000 we moved our office to the heart of historic Cracow and started to offer a range of cycle tours in southern Poland. As state borders are now easy to pass, we also organize cycling events in the nearby Slowakia, Czech Republic and Hungary. We offer ground arrangement for renowned tour companies. Each year clients from a number of countries around the world (mainly Germany, UK, Belgium, USA, even Japan) book our tours directly.
Information coming soon.
Information coming soon.
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Gold Corporate Member
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