Off the beaten track Polish villages

#9 don't count on being rescued. But given your itinerary, and the fact you have a car, there is no need to worry. Mazury and the Bieszczady are popular holiday regions, so loads of accommodation is available, especially easy if you have wheels.

Yes, as # 10 said. But even if you get stuck in not touristy region sleeping the car should be safe and there always will be nice petrol station. Also you can drive to main roads and should find a motel if you're deperate

Wanderingboy,

the specific thing about Beskid Niski (and Bieszczady further to the east) is that it was much more densely populated before WW II than now. In most Beskid Niski valleys there were populous villages inhabited by Lemko people (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemkos). After WW II the area has been ethnically cleansed by the Communist government of Poland (Operation Vistula in 1947 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wis%C5%82a), leaving most of it virtually empty. Some Lemkos came back after 1956, some areas have been settled by Polish settlers, but there are still several formerly populous villages consisting now of just a couple of houses - or even places where only a village cemetery or an old church survived.

In addition to that Beskid Niski has also a lot of WW I Austrian military cemeteries (traces of heavy fighting between Austrians and Russians in 1915) - some renovated, but several are slowly disappearing in the forests.

You won't notice many traces of WW I or Operation Vistula if you drive along main roads, but when you turn into back roads in side valleys close to the Slovak border the landscape changes much.

As regards accomodation - probably the poorer and more faraway seems the place, the more chances of getting 'rescued' in the way you describe. However, you'd better count on accomodation catering to backpackers and trekkers - you should find a pension or private rooms for hire within a small driving distance almost everywhere in Beskid Niski.

Meczko:

Thanks a lot for the information. I have been reading up on the area you have mentioned, and now I am certain I will be spending a fair bit of time in the area (thank you for the links as well...I genuinely look forward to reading more). Based on your comment, I googled Operation Vistula and was shocked to learn of that event. You have definitely added a lot of historical context to my trip. Much appreciated.
And, thanks for answering the accommodation question - it was the answer I was indeed hoping for. That puts my mind at ease. In Armenia, in addition to paying for my keep I chopped wood and cleared dishes. And slept in the kitchen/living room/dining room with four other family members. My friends don't understand the attraction, but I am sure others do. I find it kind of humbling to be allowed into the family home, and treat it with an abundance of respect.

Thanks again for taking the time to enlighten me. I look forward to sending an update when I return.

Sincerely,
Mark.

Wonderingboy,
I will give a bit more info about Mazury. It used to be german prussia and there is a lot war history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masuria

It has a lot to do with operation vistula as ukrainians were moved here.

Apart from many villages and hundreds of lakes you can see first of all famous bankers were hitler had his headquaters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfsschanze
Even you if you are not much into war, it is amazing.
And my top destination is Mamerki with huge and very hight bunkers for german submarines, they tried to buil the channel from here to the see to repair submarines Masurian canal in Mamerki. It was never finished but still is 55 km long with more than 100 metres difference in level of water
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/Poland/East/Warminsko-Mazurskie/Mamerki/photo894779.htm
you can walk there and do some extreme sports on the ropes if you want.

It is all around to towns Ketrzyn and Wegorzewo
http://www.ketrzyn.com.pl/ketrzyn/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=82&Itemid=145

http://stara.wegorzewo.pl/prezentacje.php?stat=4&l=gb

there is also a monastery http://www.ketrzyn.com.pl/ketrzyn/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=722&Itemid=145

Please make sure to right about your trip here after you come back.

Oh, one more thing - about accomodation.
I love this region and go there often. My local friends run there a small wolne pokoje in the middle of nowhere. It is like hundred years old agricultural house by the lake (cheap) in the village of 6 houses in forest. They are masurians and very friendly people.
http://mazury.info.pl/harsz/
I think you might like it.

We even made there our wedding :)) (and we are from Warsaw)
http://www.honeymoonstory.net/photos-from-monika-%26-michal,the-wedding,go,x21,p4,uid1.html

Well, it seems that both Przybo and myself are marketing our parts of Poland :-)

I live in Krakow, southern Poland (or Galicia, as former Austrian part is also known). From Warsaw, Mazury are a more obvious choice.... I think both destinations can be equally interesting, even if very different. Read as much information on the web as you can and decide :-)

You seem to be looking for some "extremes" like in Armenia or Georgia :) Hehe... this is Poland. And this country's much more "western" fortunately :) . But some regions may be similar ;) I really recommend my Bieszczady :D . I live nearby and every weekend here is wonderful :) Enjoy !

Yes, that's all true. I know Beskid and Bieszczady as well and together with Mazury I guess you should like it. The distances between are not that huge. It would be one day of driving from Mazury to Beskid or Bieszczady (a little more than 500km) and a lot on the way to see (so you could make it a couple of days)
Enjoy

Przybo, Thanks for the additional homework! Much appreciated. And a house in the middle of nowhere in a village with 6 houses. Now THAT is what I am looking for. Hmmm, perhaps I could also get married there :)

Misie - You are so right...but I am starting to run out of places in E. Europe that offer such an experience! I will also be spending 9 days in Belarus. Looking forward to contrasting the two countries - I assume the differences are really vast.

Meczko/Przybo- I will be doing Beskid, Biesz and then up to Mazury - then into Belarus.. Thanks to you and the others for helping me narrow my route in a very large, diverse and interesting country. I must admit, I am really looking forward to this trip now. I hope the beer is as good as the the Polish people on Thorntree!

Mark.