Poland hiking vacation

Planet

This week long walking vacation in Poland takes you beyond the known tourist destination of Krakow and deep into rural Poland and its National Parks. Traveling overland and on foot. We travel in small groups of 12 to 16, to help minimise the disturbance to the natural environment that our visit may cause, using only one vehicle and traveling on foot emits less fuel than other tours.

Our Tour Leaders and local guides are trained in how to actively promote responsible tourism and brief our groups on how they can minimise their own impacts, actively encouraging clients to carry all waste with them from the trails and to use the recycling bins found on the streets of Krakow. We walk on dedicated well maintained and signed mountain footpaths, ensuring that we keep to the paths as to not disturb the fauna along the sides and minimise erosion.

As a travel company we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key, and so all staff, Tour Leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage.

People

Throughout this trip there are opportunities to experience the traditions of Poland and learn about the everyday lives of the more rural communities. In the UNESCO protected Dunajec Gorge we take a wooden traditional boat across the Dunajec River - these rafts seat approximately eight people at one time, operated by ferrymen dressed in local folk attire, which helps to support the economy and the local people in this area.

We stay in the mountain town of Zakopane, characterised by its folk culture and 'Zakopane Style' of timber architecture inspired by the surrounding mountains. The market at Zakopane is a great place to find locally made hand produced crafts which helps to support the local crafts people.
Here we eat in local restaurants and enjoy a traditional meal accompanied with live music and throughout the trip there is the opportunity to try local food such as some delicious Polish dumplings 'Pierogi'.

As a company we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of the UK travel industry body AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.