Bialowieza Forest (Puszcza Białowieska)
The Wild Nature
Białowieża Forest is the Primeval Forest. It has survived in its natural state to this day. It’s on a border between Poland and Belarus and one of the last and largest remaining parts of immense primary forest. It is home to the largest population of the property’s iconic species, the European bison.
It’s on UNESCO World Heritage List. In 2016/2017 it was a serious problem of not justified logging and wood extraction in old-growth forest. The World Heritage Committee has made an official statement and urged the Polish State Party to stop activities which are against maintaining the continuity and integrity of protected zone (details here).
Here, human intervention should be kept to a minimum to let next generations cherish the pure nature.
Day 1
Transfer from Warsaw airport/railway station to your hotel.
Overnight in Warsaw.
Day 2
After the breakfast in the hotel you will be picked up by our guide for a private tour to Białowieża (it’s approx. 3,5h by car).
It’s recommended to visit Nature and Forest Museum before you enter the old-forest strictly protected zone. It’s just beginning of understanding the wilderness and its preservation. In a modern and innovative approach you will see the rich fauna and flora and the natural processes taking place in primeval forest.
Late afternoon we visit the Palace Park, designed in 19th century as the environment for the Tsar’s myslovian residence. Next we visit St. Nicolas Orthodox Church with unique iconostasis made of Chinese porcelain, where Tsar Nicholas II used to pray with his family.
The evening we spend on tasting one of the decent Eastern Polish cuisine with kartacze, aromatic meats with delicious tenderloin of wild boar, bliny, mushroom soup, fish, and local liquers (with famous Żubrówka).
Overnight in Białowieża/Hajnówka.
Day 3
We start our day early morning. Strictly Protected Area of the Forest is opened a half an hour before sunrise, and a half an hour after sunset. Depending on your choice we can have a tour of 3 or 6 hours. The tours can be arranged on foot, bike or by horse-drawn carriage. Tours are only possible with certified guides of Białowieża National Park.
The guide will walk you through the phenomenon of the environment, showing the secrets of plants, large and small wildlife unseen to the untrained eye. You will hear stories and description of species hardly found in other parts of Europe. You will experience an incredible spectacle of nature.
In the afternoon we go to European Bison Show Reserve. Animals live here in semi-natural conditions, in large enclosures where they can hide among grasses. Apart from bisons we might spot wolves, wild boars and deer.
Last evening we go to Tsar’s Restaurant, famous for entire area. It is located at the former station of Bialowieza Towarowa, build especially for arrival of Tsar Alexander III and Nicholas II. After being shut down from railway traffic, it was renovated and given a second life with stylish interiors from XIX century and delicious Polish and Russian meals.
Overnight in Białowieża/Hajnówka.
Day 4
After the breakfast you will be transferred to airport/railway station in Warsaw.
Please note - we arrive approx. 2 pm at Warsaw.
If you wish to extend your stay and do the other sightseeing tours in Poland, please let us know in your comments in get-a-quote form.
Please note, that at Poland for weekend you can always modify your trip. Let us help you to plan your tailor made program.
Price starting at $595*
Inclusions: accommodation in 3* hotel (incl. breakfast), private transfers, meals as mentioned, private local guide (English speaking) at your disposal during the whole trip;
Exclusions: international/domestic flights, visas (if necessary), travel insurance, meals not mentioned, entry fees to visited museums & objects, tips, personal expenses.
*The starting price is per person and based on two travellers sharing a room.
Upon inquiry a detailed quote will be provided.