Poland - diversity of culture and nature. Discover it with us!

NOSTALGIC DIVERSITY LANDcolorful trip through the Polish eastern borderland

This time we would like to propose to you an exotic expedition to the Polish "Wide East", an excursion along the eastern border of our country, during which you will see that 21st century does not mean the same thing everywhere...

You will find yourself unexpectedly in an incredible crucible of different ethnic groups, religions and cultures. You will forget about all the blessings of civilization and about the time which is still going on. Here the time is still marked by the seasons of the year and its lapse is known thanks to the changing of colours in surrounding nature and leaves which are falling down from the trees...

People live here as if it were still many years ago having their life simple but full of dignity. An old folk proverb "Guest in house, God in house" is truer here than anywhere else. Citizens of the east border will invite you into their homes and offer you fresh bread (which is still baked in many places by their own in traditional stoves) and will hear all the stories about your life and your country with a real interest. But don't expect them to be jealous! They will listen to you exactly in the way you were listening to somebody talking about outer space - with the consciousness that somewhere in the world there are wonderful countries and places where it is possible to have a better life, but, on the other hand, those marvelous places are so far away that it is not worth thinking about it.Especially, that there are so many things which are going on exactly at this moment: a new baby was born in a neighbours home, there will be a weeding in the village soon, one has to sow and peel potatoes...

While following the Polish east borderland trail with us, you can use the itinerary which we prepared for you below (the whole thing or only the parts that interest you) or you can choose your own places that you would like to visit because they are part of your identity, personal history, you have heard about them or you simply want to visit something different than all other people.. It will be a real pleasure for us to prepare your individual schedule according to your wishes and expectations. We will take you wherever you desire to go!

Our suggestion of the Polish East Borderland Trail excursion (12 days)

Day 1. Warsaw - Suwalki

This day we will meet at the Warsaw airport and directly from there we will go to Suwalki - a small city in the northeast part of Poland which has a symbolical name. It comes from the Lithuanian word - susivilkai and means a long tramp. After making all of the accommodations in the hotel (one of only a few on our trail), we will go for a short walk through the city centre to see its classical monuments and to eat a tasty dinner in a regional restaurant, talking at the same time about our plans for the next few days.

Day 2. Suwalki - Punsk - Wigry (Wigry National Park) - Augustow

We will start our meeting with the east borderland of Poland by visiting Punsk - a city in which still lives Lithuanian minority and where you can see a very interesting ethnographic museum of Lithuanian history and culture. Then we will travel through the Wigry National Park, known thanks to its well preserved post glacial lakes and profusion of bird species, to the small, 17 century Cameldolite church situated in the middle of a picturesque island. At the end of the day we will also visit a city of Augustow which lies in the heart of a wild, primeval forest and in which we will find a well-deserved rest for this night.

Day 3. Augustow - Goniadz (Biebrza National Park) - Tykocin - Bialystok

This day we would like to propose to you a stroll along some nature paths of the Biebrza National Park which is the biggest swamp area in central Europe and the natural mainstay of thousands of aquatic and water fowl bird species. In the afternoon we will visit Tykocin - a small and beautiful city with the monuments of the Jewish culture from before the Second World War and later we will travel to Bialystok - a historical capital of the Podlasie region and a place of a peaceful coexistence of many different influences and cultures.

Day 4. Bialystok - Hajnowka - Bialowieza National Park

In the morning we want to invite you to take a short walk through Bialystok city centre where you can see a beautiful palace of the Braniccy family with a big park around it, some interesting orthodox churches and the impressive monument in the place of an old Jewish synagogue which is now another sign of a big Jewish community in this part of Poland. After lunch in the famous milk bar from the communist time, we will go to the Bialowieza National Park. There we will stop in Hajnowka to visit the biggest orthodox church in Poland and later we will go farther to Bialowieza. After the accommodation, we would like to propose to you a very nice walk through the most beautiful places of the park with the local guide and a special regional supper by the fire.

Day 5. Bialowieza - Grabarka - Drohiczyn - Radzyn Podlaski

During this day you can see a real orthodox sanctuary built many years ago on the saint hill called Grabarka. Then, we would like to present to you Drohiczyn, a little town beautifully situated on the high bank of the Bug river. There are monuments of a few religions there - catholic, orthodox and Jewish one. At the end of the day we will find ourselves in Radzyn Podlaski where we will have an opportunity to visit a 17th century palace together with its big garden. And to rest a little bit after five days of our trip and before all of the adventures and challenges which are still ahead...

Day 6. Radzyn Podlaski - Lubartow - Kozlowka - Lublin

Today we will stop for a while in Lubartow where it is good to see an old palace of the Sanguszko family and after that we will go straight to Kozlowka to visit a good applied art and interiors museum in the old palace of the Zamoyscy family. Then we will visit the Socialist Times Museum in which you can see some exhibits connected with the socialist history of Poland, as well as many sculptures, pictures, propagandist books and posters from that time. Let us invite you in the evening for a short stroll through the city centre of Lublin which is a city with a unique atmosphere and very good regional cuisine. Of course we will try all the typical dishes this night!

Day 7. Lublin - Zamsc - Zwierzyniec (Roztoczanski Park Narodowy)

Let's start today with a visit of a beautiful renaissance city of Zamosc known because of a great value of its monuments - "Padwa of North". Besides the famous Great Market, we will see here also some elements of previous borderland - an old synagogue which now houses a library, an old orthodox church, houses which belonged in the past to Armenian families... In the afternoon we will travel further and we will stop this time in a small city of Zwierzyniec which is situated in the middle of the Roztocze National Park. Its wide sections will not only be a great tourism attraction for us, but also our shelter for the night. What about eating a traditional supper in a wooden forester's lodge in the middle of a wild, natural forest? Can you imagine something better?

Day 8. Zwierzyniec - Lezajsk - Jaroslaw - Przemysl

In the morning we will go to Lezajsk to see a baroque Bernardine church equipped with enormous, richly decorated organs and a tomb of a famous Jewish thinker, Elimelech. Next, we would like to present you some renaissance monuments of Jaroslaw and, at the end of the day, to visit catholic and orthodox churches of Przemysl which is a really impressive, multicultural city close to the Ukrainian border.

Day 9. Przemysl - Sanok - Lesko - Ustrzyki Gorne

Today we will start with a visit to the Museum of Folk Architecture in Sanok, which is the biggest open air museum in our country. Next, we will go to Lesko to see some interesting monuments of Jewish culture including an old, 16th century synagogue and monumental cemetery. Finally we will travel towards Ustrzyki Gorne - a small and isolated village in the heart of Bieszczady National Park.

Day 10. Ustrzyki Gorne (Bieszczady National Park)

This day we would like to take you to the walking trail in the most beautiful and the wildest Polish mountains - Bieszczady. Our climbing will not be hard but, without any doubts, very charming thanks to the wild nature around, outstanding landscapes and views and incredible stillness of this place. It is enough for you to have good shoes, comfortable clothes and your camera to be happy here. In reward for your hard work during this tramp we would like to propose to you having a traditional dinner in a wooden shelter house and the special tea in a Highlander style which is usually served by its hospitable owners.

Day 11. Ustrzyki Gorne - Jaslo - Tarnow - Krakow

It is nearly the end of our exotic expedition... Today we are going towards Krakow having only a short break in Jaslo, where we would like to show you an original Folk Art Museum and to invite you to a good lunch and another stop in Tarnow, where it is worth seeing the cathedral and some Jewish monuments. In the evening, allow us to take you on the last walk through the Old City of Krakow which is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Poland and an outstanding city of historical monuments, alive with culture and extraordinary people. If you still feel like having some more adventures and knowing Krakow's artistic atmosphere better, we can propose to you a night walk through the most interesting pubs and clubs of the city.

Day 12. Krakow

Unfortunately, the plan for today is only to go to the airport and to say good bye (we hope only for a short period of time) to Poland. Of course, if you do not want to leave, we can always start our trip from the very beginning or just take you to visit other interesting places of our country. You are always welcome!!