The Great Masurian Lakes

7 Days / 6 Nights / £649

The Polish 'Lakes District', or the Great Masurian Lakes, is one of renowned beauty and tourists flock here during the summer months. It's a beautiful landscape of gently rolling hills, countless cool lakes, rustic farmhouses, quiet villages, and swathes of tranquil forest. Poland's largest lake is located here and as a result it is a hub for yachts people, canoeists, and of course cyclists!

In addition to the natural wonders, we explore the vestiges of Teutonic legacy, medieval fortifications, and the infamous "Wolf's Lair" - Hitler's main headquarters and also where he was very nearly assassinated.

Dates 2011: July 03rd - 09th

Day 1
Warsaw to Krutyn/Mragowo ~ 35kms

Warsaw is our starting point for a week of relaxing and stimulating cycling. After checking into your hotel close to the Old Town we'll meet for dinner and then go on a guided tour and see exceptional examples of Rococo, Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architecture. Feel free to follow up our evening walk with an after dinner digestif of vodka and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Poland's enchanting capital.

We leave the bustling metropolis of Warsaw behind and 200 kms later arrive in a little hamlet named Krutyn where we hop on our bikes and take in the fresh air, remarkable wildlife, and superb scenery of the 1000+ Masurian Lakes. We learn about the 19th century palace built in neo-Renaissance style and visit the chapel. Sedately navigating our way along the lakeside cycling paths, the early Teutonic hamlet of Mragowo comes into view where we feast on the local cuisine and then spend the night in local accommodation.

Day 2
Mragowo to Ketrzyn ~ 40kms

Following breakfast, Mragowo fades from view as we set our sights north and wind our way through the multitude of meandering inlets and lakes. An easy flat 20kms later we arrive at Swieta Lipka and gaze in awe at the beautiful baroque church with its ornate nave and altar. We then continue our journey to visit the enormous Reszel Castle. 15kms more and we arrive in Ketrzyn in time to wander around its maze of medieval alleys before a hearty dinner and a sound sleep.

Day 3
Ketrzyn & Gierloz Environs ~ 50kms

Ketrzyn is a 14th century Teutonic town which like most towns in this region has a Prussian and Polish history. We will discover more about this history in the 14th century castle that houses the local museum and upon visting the Gothic St George's Church.

A few kilometers East of here there is a tiny hamlet called Gierloz where you shall marvel at the eerie sight of 18 hectares of a partially destroyed complex. The weight of history here is staggering as it served as Hitler's headquarters during WWII - he stayed here from 1941-1944. The bunkers are 8 feet thick in places and designed to blend in with the surrounding vegetation. In this gruesome place, it is easy to speculate what might've happened had the assassination attempt on Hitler been successful here.

Day 4
Ketrzyn to Gizycko ~ 40kms

We leave Ketrzyn in the morning and continue our tour through idyllic and pristine stretches of forest interspersed with numerous lakes. The scenery is breathtaking and the cycling is superb as we twist and turn through this unspoiled wilderness. The forests here in the 'green lungs' of Poland are rich in blackberries, raspberries, wild strawberries and mushrooms. There are also many black storks, eagles and snipes, and if you keep your eyes peeled you may even see an auroch, lynx, elk, stag, wolf, fox or wild boar!

Gizycko is situated between two large lakes and close to the Prussian Boyen Fortress is the perfect place to unwind over a delicious dinner while watching the sun set over the stillness of the sapphire blue surface.

Day 5
Gizycko to Mikolajki ~ 50kms

After being lulled to sleep by the lapping of the water at the lake's edge we wake to the sounds of the local birds beginning their day. Mikolajki is waiting for us so we jump on our bikes and turn our handlebars south for the next 50kms of rivers, lakes, marshes and wildlife. We pass through a multitude of villages where it seems as though time has stood still. Arriving in Mikolajki, the center of the Masurian Lakes, we are greeted by the sights, sounds, and smells of a bustling fishing town. Spend the late afternoon unwinding on the promenade while watching the colours change with the setting sun and the approaching dusk.

Day 6
Mikolajki & Luknajno Lake ~ 45kms

After a breakfast fit for a King, or Queen, we spend the day exploring Mikolajki, Popielno, and the Luknajno Lake. It is such a scenic town with a sense of style and it's easy to wile away the hours on its picturesque and lively waterfront. But we're here to cycle!

A short ride will see us arrive at the Luknajno Reserve where Europe's largest community of wild swans live. Around 2000 of them nest here in April and May and then spend a lazy summer here.

We also visit the hamlet of Popielno where the polish Academy of Science breeds various species of animals. If you keep an eye out you may see a 'tarpan' which is the cousin of the now extinct wild horse.

Day 7
Mikolajki to Warsaw

What a week! We've discovered the very best natural and monumental attractions that the land of 3000 lakes has to offer. The lakes and its inhabitants have left you with an indelible impression of its historical, cultural, and natural significance. And as we leave Mikolajki marina we are already starting to remember our journey with fondness. The Masurian lakes effects you like that.

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