Text by Alison Hope

Poland really is a country of diverse landscapes, with mile after mile of sandy beaches in the north, rugged mountains in the south, and large patches of unspoilt forest and lakeland. What better way to explore this diverse and fascinating country than on a bike? After all, as most bikers would agree, you get much closer to your surroundings on a motorbike than you would on any other form of transport.

If the thought of a long and tiring ride through the motorways of Western Europe is what is putting you off touring Poland, how about flying to Poland, and then hiring a bike when you arrive? Cameron Motorcycle Tours in Bielsko-Biała is run by two enthusiastic bikers who will rent out anything from an Aprilia Pegaso 650, ideal for a beginner or intermediate rider, to a Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. They will even hire out the protective Gortex or leathers, though as it tends to be motorbike enthusiasts who are attracted to touring Poland by bike, most arrive with their own protective clothing.

While exploring Poland by motorbike is just as straightforward as it would be in any other part of Europe, there are some distinct advantages of doing it as part of a group tour. If a tour is led by experienced riders who know the roads well, they should be able to make the riders in the group aware of some of the best roads to ride on as well, and give tips on dealing with some of the more challenging roads. Best of all, they should know all the best places to stop – whether it be a quick lunch en route, or a more leisurely feast at the end of the day. Ah yes, the end of the day, when riders are feeling weary – that’s when the support van that comes in handy. Bartosz Pietrzyk, who arranges guided motorbike tours around Central and Eastern Europe, including a 15 day tour of Poland, explains, “the support van carries everything, including luggage, making a long tour much more comfortable, and taking the stress out of having to pack everything onto the back of the bike. The support van also doubles up as a taxi at night, transporting the bikers from the bars and restaurants back to their hotels”.

Another advantage of going on a guided tour as part of a group is the friends that you make – fellow biking enthusiasts. As Pietrzyk explains, “You might not be able to persuade your friends from home to come and join you on a two-week tour, however you might not feel like going it alone. On our tours, you’ll meet fellow enthusiasts, and hopefully bond with them during evening meals and nights out, when you’re not in the saddle”.

Bielsko-Biała makes a good place to start a motorbike tour of Poland. Not only is it easy to reach from Kraków and Katowice airports, it is also in the heart of the Silesian Mountains, just one of the many awe-inspiring landscapes that Poland has to offer. Pietrzyk adds, “Bielsko-Biała is a good place for our riders to start off. The town is very pleasant and there are some comfortable hotels there. Most importantly of all, it is a good place for the riders to become familiar with the bikes that they are going to be riding during the tour – and they can even hang out at some of the popular biker haunts in the town”.

Setting off from Bielsko-Biała, the Cameron tour around Poland heads to Kraków, one of the most beautiful cities in Poland, with numerous historic sites and also a lively nightlife, and also the first stop on the tour. Hotel accommodation is carefully selected by the tour guides, and there is often a choice of places to stay at each stop. For bikers who enjoy comfortable surroundings, there is often a good selection of five-star hotels and spa hotels to choose from.

The tour then continues through the Ojcowski National Park, which is thick with ancient oak trees, and then onwards through the Błędów Desert – the largest inland desert in Europe, and definitely a photo opportunity. It almost seems impossible, yet leaving the desert landscape behind, the tour travels onwards through mountains, to the popular ski resort of Zakopane and the picturesque spa town of Krynica. That’s the great thing about Poland – so many diverse landscapes in one country. Speaking as a biker, Pietrzyk agrees, “the scenic back roads, the unspoilt countryside, the unique climate – what more could a biker ask for?”, he asks.

From the mountains to the lakes, as the tour pushes on, leaving the breath-taking scenery of the Tatra Mountains behind, and heading North, towards the Białowieski National Park – keep an eye out for the region’s locals… the wild bison. Pietrzyk points out “you really won’t find anywhere as calm this anywhere else in Europe”. Continuing further, the tour takes in Mazury, the region of a thousand lakes, where the landscape changes yet again.

The tour heads further North. Don’t be alarmed when the tour guides tell you to “go to hell”, as they are of course referring to the Hel, the peninsula resort on the Baltic coast, which makes a great place to take a break, sit in the sand, and enjoy a hearty portion of fish and chips in the sunshine before carrying on for another 22 kilometers to the port of Gdańsk. A city that is packed full of significant historic sights, including the Lenin Shipyards, where the Solidarity movement was born, Gdańsk is well worth exploring before hopping back in the saddle and heading on towards Toruń, a true gem of a city, with gothic architecture and a charming market square.

After almost two weeks on the road, the tour group makes its final stop in Częstochowa – a significant sight for the catholic faith - before returning to the starting point in Bielsko-Biała. Having bonded with some new biker friends, and with a camera full of photographs and most importantly, some unforgettable memories of riding through unique landscapes, it is time to head home.
 

Further Information

The Cameron tour of Poland is a 14 day tour which includes the hire of a well-maintained motorbike and helmet, insurance, accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels (or equivalent), evening meals, as well as the support of an English-speaking tour guide and a support vehicle. Prices start from € 3, 900 (approx. GB£ 3, 400). For further information, visit www.bikers-tours.pl

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