Masuria: bike & boat, guided tour

Masuria by bike and boat

Be looking forward to the wonderful landscape of the Masuria, to culture expressed in old dam constructions dating back from the time of the orders and impressive manors. You will discover idyllic farmhouses, picturesque seaports and pure nature! After an eventful biking day you are invited to enjoy the atmosphere of the evening still by the water, now on board. Should you prefer to spend one day not on your bike but on board, you can stay on deck and enjoy the richness of the landscape from there.

MS Classic Lady

The MS CLASSIC LADY is a cozy and comfortable passenger ship has been cruising the Masurian Lake District between Lötzen and Lower Lake since 2003. In the light-flooded panorama restaurant you can enjoy culinary delicacies and on the sun deck the calming atmosphere of the Masurian water landscape. The outside cabins of the MS CLASSIC LADY are approx. 11 square meters and have double beds or single beds side by side or separately, folding table, wardrobe, safe and their own sanitary area with shower / toilet as well as heating and electricity connections with 220 volts. There are 4 double cabins on the upper deck (windows can be opened completely) and 16 double cabins on the main deck (windows can be opened to a third). Bed linen, hair dryer and towels are provided.

1. day Arriving in Masuria

Please plan your arrival so that you are at Frederic Chopin Airport in the arrival hall Terminal 1 by 3 PM or by 4 PM at the Warsaw Central Station in the main hall. You will be met by the tour guide and taken to the transfer bus to Masuria. For those who arrive by car, paid parking spaces are available in Masuria (reservation required, payable on site).

2. day Nikolaiken - lake Lucknain - Nikolaiken, approx. 20 km

After breakfast the tour discussion and bike handover takes place. In the morning you go on a tour of discovery through Nikolaiken, a beautiful small town and popular holiday resort. From the market square you have a great view of Nikolaiken's heraldic animal, the legendary “Stinthengst”, who lies chained under a bridge in the water. In the afternoon we go to Lake Lucknainer, which is located in the Masurian Biosphere Reserve. The small lake is a breeding area for many rare water birds and especially known for the large flocks of mute swans. You can enjoy the view of this bird paradise in an untouched natural landscape from a vantage point.

3. day Nikolaiken - Poiellno - Wejsuny - Kamien - Nikolaiken, approx. 35 km

In the morning you take a short bike ride to the ferry station in Wierzba and continue on the other side by bike. You will visit a biological station in the nearby Popiellnen, which was set up for the back-breeding of the primeval Tarpan horse. The animals are released into the wild on the surrounding peninsula, so that with a bit of luck you will discover a small herd in the light forests. The journey to Kamien leads via Wejsuny [Weissuhnen], an old, East Prussian village with a pretty church in the style of the order and beautiful, old wooden houses. Past the Guzianka lock, you continue your bike tour around Lake Beldahn to Kamien, where the MS CLASSIC LADY is already waiting for you. A boat trip to Nikolaiken rounds off the day.

4. day Nikolaiken - Ryn - Wolfsschanze - Wilkasy, approx. 50 km

The day begins with a boat trip to the Ryn. Then you cycle to the former sheep farm and on to Wolfsschanze, where the remains of the former Führer headquarters are. During a tour you may see a. the memorial stone that commemorates Count von Stauffenberg and the resistance fighters of July 20, 1944. An individual detour (plus 17 km) to Rastenburg [Ketrzyn] is possible. The Ordensburg and the fortified church of St. Georg, in which a picture from Lukas Cranach's school is housed, are worth seeing. You go through meadows, fields and lonely villages to Wilkasy, where the MS CLASSIC LADY awaits you again.

5. day Wilkasy - Lötzen - lake Goldapgar - Wilkasy, approx. 54 km

The bike tour starts in the morning and leads via Lötzen [Gizycko] to Lake Goldapgar. First you take a tour of Lötzen, the water sports center of Masuria and you will see a hand-operated swing bridge. This is still in operation and is a rare technical monument. We continue to the church, built according to plans by court architect Schinkel, in which German-language services are now taking place again. In Lötzen you can visit the Boyen Fortress from the middle of the 19th century, which was built on an area of ​​100 hectares between the Löwentinsee and the Mauersee. The journey continues to Lake Goldapgar, then around the lake and via Possessern to Wilkasy back to the ship.

6. day Wilkasy - Ryn - Zondern - Nikolaiken, approx. 42 km

Today begins with an atmospheric boat trip on the beautiful "Five Lakes Route" to Szymonka. The first stop on the bike tour is Ryn with its 14th century Ordensburg, which is now a hotel. The castle was redesigned in the baroque style and served as a prison for a while. In the inner courtyard you can see a glass-covered knight's grave with gifts. Then the tour continues to Zondern. In a 200-year-old farmhouse, the Dickti family has set up a local museum with lots of old household appliances, typical Masurian furniture and a barn with old agricultural equipment and machines. After visiting the museum, the path leads along the Talter waters to Nikolaiken and the landing stage for the MS CLASSIC LADY.

7. day Nikolaiken - Eckertsdorf - Kruttinnen - Nikolaiken, approx. 43 km

After a short boat trip, the bike stage begins in Kamien and leads via Eckertsdorf to Kruttinnen. In Eckertsdorf [Wojnowo], in the midst of a beautiful natural landscape, lies the Russian Orthodox monastery of the Philippons. The so-called Old Believers settled here in 1825. Their houses and the wooden church with its golden onion dome point to the Russian heritage of the religious refugees. The extensive wooded area of ​​the Johannisburger Heide is crossed by a crystal clear river that is rich in fish and crabs. The punt trip on the Kruttinna is the highlight of every trip to Masuria. Let your mind wander while your boat glides almost silently through the crystal clear water rich in fish. The starting point is the village of Kruttinnen, where you can find Masurian handicrafts, souvenirs and handicrafts can also be bought. A stop in a restaurant with a terrace directly on the river, where freshly caught fish is served, is particularly attractive. Via Galkowo with the Gut Ferenstein riding stables and the forester's house, which now houses a nostalgic restaurant, the bike tour leads back to the Kamien pier. Enjoy the trip over the Beldhansee to Nikolaiken from your box seat on the sun deck.

8. day Departure from Warsaw

Transfer to Warsaw (arrival Warszawa Centralna approx. 11.45 AM, arrival airport approx. 12.20 PM).

Please note:

The captain must reserve the right to change the course of the route and the mooring points due to weather-related reasons and depending on the water level in the canals.

Worth knowing about the bike and boat trip in Masuria

Below you will find specific information about cycling in Masuria. If you have any further questions about this trip, just call us: Tel: 0049 - (0)6421 - 886890.

Arrival by car, plane or train

Arrival by car:
Arrival until 6 p.m. to the pier of the MS Classic Lady. On site there is a paid parking space for the duration of the trip (55.00 € payable locally)

Flight arrival:
By flight to Warsaw-Frederic Chopin, from where the bus transfer starts at 3:00 p.m. You will be picked up at the airport in the arrivals hall at the meeting point, exit 2. A DNV employee will be waiting for you from around 2:45 p.m. with a “Masuren-Transfer” sign. The shuttle runs via the main station "Warszawa Centralna" and via Warsaw's old town to Masuria. Arrive at the ship in Nikolaiken around 8:45 p.m. The bus transfer must be booked in advance.

Arrival by train:
By train to "Warszawa Centralna". You will be picked up at the main station in the ground-level main hall of the station from around 3:30 p.m. When the train arrives, please go up the stairs to the mezzanine floor and go up one floor again to the main hall. Our employee will be waiting for you In the area of ​​cash desks 1 + 2 with a sign "Masuren-Transfer". At 4:00 p.m., the transfer with the Masurian shuttle via Warsaw's old town to Masuria takes place. Arrival at the ship in Nikolaiken around 8:45 p.m. The Bus transfer must be booked in advance.

All information on transfer times is subject to change, as unforeseen traffic jams or obstructions can lead to delays.

Parking conditions

A parking space for the entire duration of the trip must be registered in advance.
Costs: € 55.00 per week / per parking space, payable on site.

Luggage

Please note that the storage space in the cabin is limited. It is advisable to put your luggage in a sports bag or something similar instead of a sturdy suitcase. bring on board.

Condition of the bike paths

The moderately difficult routes lead through mostly gently undulating to hilly terrain with a few major inclines on partly sandy field, forest and meadow paths, as well as on asphalt roads with little traffic. A little more traffic has to be expected on some shorter stages.

The tour, with a total length of around 260 km, requires a certain level of fitness and cycling experience with different trail conditions. Less experienced cyclists can also skip a section and stay on the ship.

Rental bike

There are unisex bikes with 7-speed gear hub, coaster brake and saddlebag or a limited number of 8-speed electric bikes are available by prior arrangement. The rental price of € 85.00 or € 175.00 is payable on site.

Private bikes

You are also welcome to bring your own bike on this trip. Please note that you can only take your own bike on the transfer bus from Warsaw to Masuria and back on request. Advance registration is essential, payment on site.

Deck plan MS Classic Lady

Double cabin

Meals

The day starts with a hearty breakfast buffet. In the evening you will find on board a typical menu or a rustic barbecue on land. Along the cycle route there are inexpensive lunch opportunities.

Important instructions

The minimum number of participants is 15 people. If this is not achieved, the trip can be canceled up to four weeks before the start of the trip. You need a valid identity card or passport for this trip. This trip is not wheelchair accessible.

Extra costs that are not included in the tour price

Arrival and departure to Warsaw, tips and personal expenses, travel insurance and parking on site. The costs for rental bikes and taking your own bike on the transfer bus from Warsaw to Masuria also have to be paid on site.
A fuel surcharge, which may apply due to the sharp rise in fuel prices, is not included in the cruise price and must be paid in cash on arrival on board the ship. We will inform you of the amount of the surcharge, if any, in the travel documents approx. 3-4 weeks before arrival.

7 days hotline service

If the bicycle chain is torn, floods make the onward journey impossible or other unpleasant surprises await you: we are available for you 7 days a week and we can help you as soon as possible.

Passport and visa requirements, health regulations

For EU citizens, there are no special passport or visa requirements and no health formalities to be considered for this trip.

Corona travel information:
Before booking your trip, please inform yourself about the measures in place to contain the Corona pandemic.

An up-to-date overview of applicable measures and travel and safety advice regarding Covid-19 for all countries in the EU and Switzerland can be found here:
https://reopen.europa.eu/en/

You can also find more information on our website at:
Corona virus and holiday planning

Travel insurance

The tour price already includes the statutory insolvency insurance. In addition, we recommend that you take out travel cancellation insurance upon receipt of your travel confirmation in order to protect yourself against financial disadvantages in the event of travel cancellation, interruption of travel, illness or accident.

Mikolajki

Lying directly on the Great Masurian Lakes, the petite town of Mikolajki is a popular holiday and water sports resort, rightly dubbed “the Pearl of the Masuria”. Well-known as host to numerous summertime regattas, it attracts thousands of sailing enthusiasts every year. Another magnet for tourists and visitors is the annual Festival of Sailors’ Songs, featuring the finest performances of shanties.

Mikolajki

Wolf's Lair, Kętrzyn

In the forest between the lakes Siercze and Moj 9 km east of Ketrzyn is the complex of bunkers, which during World War II was the headquarters of the armed forces high command and Hitler’s headquarters. Commander of the Third Reich stayed here for over 900 days.

Wolf's Lair

Boyen Fortress, Gizycko

The Boyen Fortress was built between 1844 and 1856 to protect the kingdom’s border with Russia, and was named after the then Prussian minister of war, General Hermann von Boyen. Since the frontier ran north−south along the 90km string of lakes, the stronghold was strategically placed in the middle, on the isthmus near Giżycko, situated by the lake to the west of the town centre.

Boyen Fortress,  Gizycko

Boyen Fortress,  Gizycko

Castle, Ryn

Thankfully not affected by mass tourism, even during the peak season, the enchanting town of Ryn stands as an oasis of peace and rest in the Land of the Great Masurian Lakes. The atmosphere here is very different from that of most other places in the region - more refined and quieter. Tourists head to Ryn mainly to visit the castle, originally built in the 14th century and later reconstructed in English Neo-Gothic style. The majestic Teutonic castle in Ryn, formerly ‘Rhein’, can be seen from far away, long before arriving in the town. It houses the Regional Museum and boasts precious and well known collections that total more than 700 artefacts relating to ethnography, geology, archaeology, art and militaria.

Castle, Ryn

Popielno, Peninsula of wild horses

Within the Nature Park Mazury (55,000 hectares) runs south of Mikolajki, needed a small car ferry (summer only 11:00 to 18:00), on the Beldany lake Zoological Research Center of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Since 1955, the descendants of the Waldtarpane / Koniks be here on a former country estate, beavers, bison and wild horses bred and wild. While beaver and bison are no longer threatened today is the main attraction that many tourists visited annually 1,600-hectare outdoor enclosure of Konik. After the extinction of the Tarpan in the wild, late 18th century, the last surviving in a game park animals were given away to farmers.

Popielno, Peninsula of wild horses

Wojnowo, monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God

Russian Old Believers established the village of Wojnowo in the first half of XIX century. In 1654 they split off from the Russian Orthodox Church rejecting reforms introduced by Patriarch Nikon. Those reforms concerned Church customs, hymn and liturgical books. Old Believers have been so called because they have practised their old customs. Eventually, following different understanding of religious matters, they separated into two main groups: one of them having clergy and another rejecting them. The Old Believers without clergy had lived in Suwałki and Sejny region in the Kingdom of Poland moved and settled in the Land of East Prussia and later on another group coming from Central Russia joined them. Together they established a few villages, Wojnowo being one of them. Government of Prussia named it officially Eckersdorf, but the name Wojnowo was chosen by the village’s owner Sidor Borysov.

The settlers built a wooden chapel – a prayer house and a monastery, dedicated to the Saviour and the Holy Trinity. The monastery prospered during leadership of a young Old Believer Paul, known later as Paul of Prussia. He founded the first Slavonic typography in the town of Pisz.

Wojnowo, monastery of the Dormition of the Mother of God