Activities in Mazovia & Podlasie
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Exploring Biebrza National Park
With over 200km of water trails crisscrossing the length of the valley, the best way to explore the park is by boat. The principal water route flows from the town of Lipsk downstream along the Biebrza to the village of Wizna. This 140km stretch can be paddled at a leisurely pace in seven to nine days. Bivouac sites along the river allow for overnight stops and food is available in towns on the way. The visitors information centre in Osowiec-Twierdza can provide maps and information.
You can also hire a kayak for just a few hours or a day and cover part of the route; a handy two-hour stretch runs from Goniądz to Osowiec-Twierdza (kayaks can be rented from Goniądz' camping …
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Spas - Day of Transfiguration of the Saviour
Grabarka's biggest feast is the Spas (Day of Transfiguration of the Saviour) on 19 August. The ceremony begins the day before at 18:00 and continues with Masses and prayers throughout the night, culminating at 10:00 with the Great Liturgy, celebrated by the metropolitan of the Orthodox Church in Poland. Up to 50,000 people may come from all over the country to participate.
On the 18 August the surrounding forest turns into a car park and camping ground. Cars and tents fill every space between the trees. Despite this wave of modernity, the older, more traditional generation comes on foot without any camping gear and keeps watch all night. The light of the thin candles adds…
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National Championships in Scything Boggy Meadows for Nature
One of the most celebrated festivals in the park's calendar is the National Championships in Scything Boggy Meadows for Nature, held on the second weekend of September. Teams from all over the country turn up with scythes in hand, all eager to be the quickest to cut 100m of bog meadow. It's both a fun day out and ecologically sound - if the grass was left to grow, birds would have trouble nesting in the meadows.
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Kayaking & Boating
The most interesting area is the northwestern part of the park, where the watery labyrinth of channels is most extensive. The best way to get a taste of the marshland is by kayak or boat. Paddling through narrow, snaking channels and ponds with water so crystal clear you can see fish and plants to a depth of 2m is a highlight of a trip to the park.
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Kaylon
Kaylon, an agency that organises canoeing expeditions through the park from May to September. It charges 150zł per day for a guide, 26zł for kayak hire, 32zł for a three-person Canadian canoe and 1.40zł per km for transport.
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Birdwatching
The best time for bird-watching is either early morning or late afternoon, when water birds are most active.
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