Pieniny, Tatras & The BeskidsPoland & Slovakia

The south of Poland is a sea of mountain ranges and national parks and we have planned an eight-day Roadventure to take in the highlights.

Crossing from Poland to Slovakia and back the Roadventure will combine a mixture of A-B rides, testing loops and a short, but punchy 'recovery' ride on a planned rest day.

From remote timber cabins and secluded mountain top hotels to the lively town of Zakopane. We have put together a program that will include a visit to the Żywiec brewery and finish with a night in the medieval Unesco World heritage City; Kraków.

Fully supported rides with a service vehicle, trained mechanic and ride guides. All logistics will be taken care of by the Podia team, all you need to do is cycle to the next hotel.

Come and share in our passion for exploration.

Roadventures are fully supported cycling

adventures across Central Eastern Europe.

Day 01 44km 642m

You will be collected from Kraków airport and after a light meal transferred to the first mountain location, Niedzica, Poland. Once bikes have been prepared a short ride in the local area will help stretch the legs after the travelling. An evening meal will follow at the mountain base.

Day 2144km 2,200m

The first full day on the bike will include a memorable loop to take in some of our favourite places to ride in the Pieniny National park with the High Tatras as a backdrop. Dinner will be served in a special location where a metal sculptor has spent the last decade working on every detail of the restaurant's décor.

Day 3151km 2,770m

We will leave the mountain cabin and move around the High Tatra Mountains across to Slovakia to reach our hotel in Chopok at 1200m a.s.l. Coffee / lunch stop will be arranged. An evening meal will be served in the hotel.

Join us on a Roadventure

SLOVAKIA

POLAND

Pieniny Highlights144km2,200m

Niedzice - Trangoška151km2,700m

Trangoška - Zakopane136km2,170m

Zakopane - Żywiec200km2,390m

Żywiec - Kraków172km1,660m

Meet the Wall52km1,150m

Kraków

Zakopane

Trangoška

Niedzica

Roadventure includes...

- 7 nights accommodation (double occupancy)

- Breakfast and evening meals

- Kraków airport pickup/dropoff

- All logistics including transfer of luggage between hotels

- Exclusive & customised Podia jersey

- GPX files for use on bike computers

- Ride guides with in-depth local knowledge

- Ride support with mechanical assistance

- Ride photography

- Routes designed around experiencing the local area

- Ride nutrition and hydration provided by Chimpanzee

Riding

Fully planned routes with support vehicle, mechanic and ride guides with you at all times. Each day of riding will be tailored to the group. Ride nutrition and hydration provided by Chimpanzee.

There will be the opportunity to have a light lunch or coffee/cake stop during the riding days (not included in the price). These breaks will be in restaurants that we have pre-selected on each route.

A seven day route takes in all the best regions and paths of Poland and Slovakia. Terrain ranges from longer passes to shorter and stronger climbs. We will ride across Pieniny, Tatras and the Beskids.

Day 4136km 2,170m

After a night on top of a mountain, we will head for Zakopane, the sport capital of Poland, buzzing with social life. There will be a chance to visit the town in the afternoon / evening and sample traditional polish Vodka on Krupówki street.

Day 552km 1,150m

A shorter day in the saddle to give you a chance to recover from the exertions of the road and Zakopane. A shorter ride, but by no means easy. ‘The Wall’ in Gliczarów is well known to Polish cyclists and Fabian Cancellara alike who complained about it after it featured 4 times in a stage of the Tour de Pologne. We will finish the day in traditional mountain restaurant in the centre of Zakopane.

Day 6200km 2,390

From Zakopane we head to Żywiec in the Beskids on what will be the hardest day of the tour. A route that will include a climb next to the ‘Witches Mountain’ (Babia Góra) as well as the pres-idential holiday retreat. Once the ride is complete a visit to the local brewery of the world famous Żywiec beer will be arranged. An evening meal will follow on in the hotel.

Roadventure does not include...

- Flights

- Lunch and snacks

- Alcoholic drinks with meals

- Travel insurance

- Incidental expenses

- Bike hire

Riding

From 30-40 minute ascents, short and punchy climbs to rolling hills, the terrain of Małapolska has it all.

Cycling past historical sites and natural wonders is what adds to the richness of a ride. Like the source of the Wisła river that runs through the entire length of Poland, one of the oldest timber churches in the country or areas of key mountain battles during WW2. The sightseeing doesn’t end there, with a scenic route to Kraków, we pass through the land of valley’s north of the city.

For more inspiration on these rides see Podia New Roads articles; Valley of Kings, A Presidential Retreat and Border Patrol Ride.

Day 7172km 1,660m

The last day of riding will take us back up through the south of Poland to Kraków. A stop along the way at the well-known medieval town of artists (as well as the best cake and coffee in the area) Lanckorona, before looping north of Kraków to ride through the valleys of Ojców National Park to see the limestone rock formations and medieval palaces. We finish in Kraków with the opportunity to celebrate in a city known for it’s vibrant and youthful atmosphere.

Day 8

A chance to further explore Kraków city centre before departure.

Crew

The crew of four people will be looking after you on and off the bike. We will have two experienced ride leaders with in-depth knowledge of the area, a supporting vehicle with a trained mechanic. The fourth member will be taking care of all logistics and making sure everything is prepared when you arrive at the next location.

"Lost roads surrounded by beautiful landscapes, crossing picturesque villages with long, curved climbs!"

Philippe, Belgium

Accommodation & Food

We want Podia Roadventures to be as much about riding in new places as experiencing the country and local region.

With this in mind we have selected hotels that have something special about them, whether that is their location, atmosphere or luxury just at the right moment of the Roadventure.

We will visit a restaurant whose metal sculptor owner has spent decades creating a unique surrounding, the brewery of the most famous Polish beer company, Żywiec as well as the thriving capital of the mountains; Zakopane and the youthful exuberance of the UNESCO heritage city Kraków.

Suggested Hotels

Spiska Hut, NiedzicaA traditional 19th Century cabin renovated to a 3* chalet

Hotel Srdiecko, Chopok, SlovakiaA mountain top hotel with Spa facilities

Hotel Aries, ZakopaneA luxury hotel located in the heart of Zakopane

Hotel Żywiecki, ŻywiecA 4* hotel with Spa facilities

Golden Tulip, Kazimierz - KrakówA 4* hotel in the fashionable Jewish Quarter of Kraków, where the locals go to relax and socialise.

Join us on a Roadventure