Discover Poland's natural beauty
At New Poland we consider our country’s natural environment one of its strongest asset and strive to showcase it in our programmes. Natural areas are always included in our typical tours. We also propose more specialised programmes focused on nature, for example for bird watchers, kayaking or cycling enthusiasts, or horseback riders.
The Baltic: an unspoilt coastline
The Polish Baltic coast runs for over 500 kilometers. Unlike the heavily developed coastlines od Southern Europe, it has remained mostly unspoilt. One will find here dunes and cliffs, small islands, lakes and lagoons; and wide beaches, usually separated from civilisation by a band of coniferous forest running along the coast. During Summer, pleasant but not excessive temperatures are ideal for sunbathing or strolling along the beach. With a little luck you can still find pieces of amber in the sand; if not, many artisans offer jewelry and art objects made of the „gold of the Baltic”. The Woliński and Słowiński national parks protect, respectively, the island of Wolin in the estuary of the Oder and the spectacular moving sand dunes in the eastern part of the coast of Poland.
Mazuria: the country of a thousand lakes
In the spectacular country of a thousand lakes (with the actual number closer to three thousand) it’s all about the beauty of the aquatic landscape. Not only the lakes, the largest of which exceed one hundred square kilometers and the longest approach thirty kilometers, ponds and swamps, but also the many waterways – rivers and canals – which connect the lakes to form a gigantic network. Mazuria is an ideal playground for sailing, kayaking and fishing fans. One of such aquatic networks forms the Wigry Lake Natural Park, with the characteristic small lakes in the middle of the forest and peat bogs. The multitude of forests, hills and meadows, habitat of many species, offer to all the Mazurian lakes the perfect setting.
The East: forests, rivers and swamps
Eastern Poland is rich with large wooded areas and treasures of nature, protected by four natural parks. The largest of the four and one of the oldest in Europe (founded in 1932) extends over the famous Białowieża virgin forest, the habitat of the last European bison. Another remarkable natural area is the meandering Biebrza River and its swamps. Not to be missed by fans of photography and bird watching – more than 200 species of birds can be spotted here. The Narew Valley, sometimes called the „Polish Amazon” because of its meanders, with its reedbeds and peat bogs, offers beautiful landscapes – which one should preferably admire during a canoeing trip. Finally, the Polesie National Park also extends over an area of swamps and small lakes, with vegetation similar to that of the tundra.
Mazovia: a vast central plain
The center of the country is occupied by a vast plain crossed by the Vistula, the largest Polish river. The flat landscape of Mazovia, however, is far from monotonous, often covered by forests and cut by several large rivers and numerous smaller watercourses. There is always a forest on the horizon and along a path, in the middle of the fields, characteristic sihouettes of weeping willows… These trees are not only emblematic of the region but also have a symbolic meaning: whilst folklore made them the devil’s home, Christian mithology associated them with rebirth, and Chopin’s monument in Warsaw’s Łazienki park – with the national composer’s romantic music. Another characteristic image of Mazovia: a nest of storks perched on a tree or on the roof of a farm.
Bieszczady: Far East in the highlands
At the extreme south-east of Poland, the low mountain range of Bieszczady allows the visitor to escape the hustle and bustle of civilisation. Human presence is rare here and it is easy to find oneself alone in the face of nature. The gently sloping grassy hills are easily accessible for the casual hiker and the magnificent panoramic views at the top offer a great reward for the effort. The place is perfect for hiking, horse riding and cross-country cycling. On the way old wooden churches can be seen and wolf, bear or other animal tracks can be found. The Bieszczady are a paradise for lovers of active relaxation, hiking, horse riding and cycling but also sailing, hang-gliding or cross-country skiing in winter… The Bieszczady National Park, which occupies the upper part of the range, is covered mostly by a beech forest and is home to many protected species.
Tatras: alpine views in the Carpathians
The Tatras in the southernmost part of Poland are the only range of the Carpathian Mountains where alpine-type landscape can be found. The Tatras, which extend from both sides of the border between Poland and Slovakia, group together more than twenty peaks exceeding 2500 meters of altitude. The Tatrzański National Park protects the Tatras on the Polish side (with an equivalent on the Slovak side). Shaped by glacial erosion, the Tatras’ granitic rocks have formed many ridges and needles, and the massif abounds in peaks, steep summits and ravines. Picturesque lakes are another vestige of glaciation. Embedded in a green and blue valley, Morskie Oko, the most famous among them, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
