Through the Masuria - MS CLASSIC LADY

Individual arrival in Warsaw or Nikolaiken. Bus transfer (included) from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport at 3:00 p.m., from Warsaw Central Station “Warszawa-Centralna” at 4:00 p.m. Embarkation from 5:00 p.m.

After breakfast, there will be a tour briefing and bike distribution. In the morning, you will take an exploratory tour of Nikolaiken. The small town is considered the most beautiful and popular vacation resort in Masuria. From the market square, you can see Nikolaiken's heraldic animal, the legendary “Stinthengst,” which lies chained in the water under a bridge. In the afternoon, you will head to Lake Lucknain. This small lake, located in the Masurian Biosphere Reserve, is a breeding ground for many rare water birds and is especially known for its large flocks of mute swans. From a vantage point, you can enjoy the view of this bird paradise in an untouched natural landscape.

In the morning, you will take a short bike ride to the ferry station in Wierzba and continue your journey by bike on the other side. In nearby Popiellnen, you will visit a biological station that was set up to breed the prehistoric Tarpan horse. The animals are released into the wild on the surrounding peninsula, so with a little luck you may spot a small herd in the sparse forests. The journey to Kamien takes you through Wejsuny [Weissuhnen], an old East Prussian village with a pretty church in the Order style and beautiful old wooden houses, some of which are over 100 years old. Passing 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.

The day begins with a boat trip towards the Rhine [Ryn]. You then cycle to the former sheep farm and on to the Wolf's Lair, where the remains of the former Führer headquarters are located. During a guided tour, you will see, among other things, the memorial stone commemorating Count von Stauffenberg and the resistance fighters of 20 July 1944. If you wish, you can take an individual detour (plus 17 km) to Rastenburg [Ketrzyn]. Worth seeing are the Ordensburg and the fortified church of St. George, which houses a painting from the school of Lukas Cranach. Through meadows, fields and lonely villages, the route continues to Wilkasy, where the MS CLASSIC LADY awaits you again.

The bike tour starts in the morning and leads via Gizycko to Lake Goldapgar. First, you will take a tour of Gizycko, the water sports centre of Masuria, and see a hand-operated swing bridge that is still in use and is a rare technical monument. The tour continues to the church built according to the plans of the court architect Schinkel, where German-language services are now held again. Near Gizycko, you will visit the Boyen Fortress from the mid-19th century, which was built on an area of 100 hectares between Lake Löwentin and Lake Mauersee. The journey continues to Lake Goldapgar, then around the lake and via Possessern to Wilkasy and back to the ship.

Today begins with an atmospheric boat trip on the beautiful ‘Five Lakes Route’ to Szymonka. The first stop on the cycle tour is Rhein with its 14th-century castle. The castle was redesigned in the Baroque style and served as a prison for a time. Today it houses a sophisticated hotel. In the inner courtyard, you can see a glass-covered knight's tomb with grave goods. The tour then continues to Zondern. In a 200-year-old farmhouse, the Dickti family has set up a local history museum with many old household appliances and typical Masurian furniture. The barn next door houses old agricultural tools and machinery. After visiting the museum, the route leads along the Talter Gewässer to Nikolaiken and the landing stage of the MS CLASSIC LADY.

After a short boat trip, the cycling stage begins in Kamien and leads via Eckertsdorf to Kruttinnen. In Eckertsdorf [Wojnowo], the Russian Orthodox monastery of the Philippones is located in the midst of a beautiful natural landscape. The so-called Old Believers settled here in 1825. Their houses and the wooden church with its golden onion dome are reminders of the Russian heritage of these religious refugees. The extensive forest area of the Johannisburg Heath is criss-crossed by a crystal-clear river rich in fish and crayfish. A punting trip on the Kruttinna is considered the highlight of any trip to Masuria. Let your soul unwind as your boat glides almost silently through the crystal-clear, fish-filled water. The starting point is the village of Kruttinnen, where you can buy Masurian handicrafts, souvenirs and arts and crafts, among other things. A stop at a restaurant with a terrace directly on the river, where freshly caught fish is served, is particularly appealing. Via Galkowo with the Gut Ferenstein riding stable and the forester's lodge, which now houses a nostalgic restaurant, the cycle tour leads back to the landing stage in Nikolaiken.

Disembarkation after breakfast by 9:30 a.m. and individual journey home. Bus transfer to Warsaw can be booked in advance.