Poland in Winter
Bison and birds in a winter landscape

Saturday 5 - Wednesday 9 February 2011 (5 days)
Saturday 4 - Wednesday 8 February 2012 (5 days)

We visit Poland at the best time to see its amazing range of mammals, when snow covers forests and the marshes are frozen. We can expect good views of Bison and Boar, some fine winter birding, and possibly the best chance of encountering wild Wolves anywhere in Europe!



North-eastern Poland boasts, in a nutshell, some of the wildest and most unspoilt forest and freshwater marshland habitats in Europe. We've been going for over a decade in spring, when life is at its most active, but does it all go quiet in winter? Not a bit of it! Footprints in the snow tell us that a Wolf has crossed the forest track here, following a herd of Red Deer. Above, a Rough-legged Buzzard soars, and is joined by a magnificent pair of White-tailed Eagle, making the raucous Nutcrackers go suddenly quiet, while an impressive bull Elk quietly passes between the trees. But of all the sights to offer on a winter tour to Poland, the biggest attraction - in more ways than one! - must surely be the immense European Bison , which forms large herds during the winter, and is much easier to see than in spring.

Winter wildlife watching here can be exciting and memorable, with potentially some of the best mammal-viewing in Europe, as well as a chance to experience wonderful winter landscapes.

Our tour will take us first to the primeval forest of Bialowieza, where herds of Bison browse in the snow, before finishing at the vast Biebrza Marshes, amidst a snow-covered landscape of small villages.

It will be cold, but (dare we say unlike the UK) Poland is very much geared up to cope with hard winter weather, and we can expect warm and comfortable accommodation, and the warmest of welcomes!

Accommodation
 Hotels with all rooms en suite. A limited number of single rooms are available.

Leaders: Local guide with accompanying guide from the UK if numbers warrant

Numbers: Max. 14 clients

Prices:

2011: £ 945
2012: £ 995

Single supps.:
2011: £ 95
2012: £ 95

Deposit: £ 300 per person

The price is per person and is fully inclusive of return scheduled flights London - Warsaw, accommodation, meals, ground transportation by minicoach, incidental tips, admissions and national park fees, and the services of the leaders.

The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to local drivers and guides, and other personal expenses.

For an ex-flight cost (Warsaw/Warsaw), please deduct £145 from the holiday cost.

Poland map

Outline Itinerary
Day 1We take a scheduled flight from London - Warsaw and drive to the Bialowieza Forest.
Day 2We visit the strictly protected part of the Bialowieza NP - the oldest reserve in Poland, created in 1921. Overnight Bialowieza
Day 3In the morning we look for Bison tracks and signs around the forest, and learn about European Bison ecology. In the afternoon we drive to the Biebrza National Park Overnight Biebrza
Day 4Today we visit the southern basin of Biebrza National Park. Animal tracking in the snow will reveal footprints left by different mammals. Weather permitting we'll go out in the evening to encounter the winter sounds of the forest and marshes. Overnight Biebrza
Day 5We drive back to Warsaw, and should have time to see something of the remarkable reconstructed old city centre before taking our return flight to London.

Click here for a full, printable itinerary