Day 1 – Let’s learn about old Galicia

On the first day, heading from Krakow towards Subcarpathia region, we will explore the western part of historic Galicia. We will start our adventure in the colourful, painted village of Zalipie. In the village, regardless of the season, you can enjoy the extraordinary views, delight your eyes and soul with fancifully composed bouquets of flowers that decorate everything that can be painted: houses, flat walls, utensils, napkins, clothes, cowsheds, wells, fences and even dog kennels. At the Painters’ House we will take part in a colourful workshop where we will learn how to paint decorative motifs according to the principles of folk aesthetics.

After lunch prepared by local housewives, we will visit colourful, multicultural Tarnow. Called ‘little Cracow’, it offers a real lesson in the history and ethnography of southern Poland. Colourful tenement houses, the remnants of the Jewish quarter and the Roma Museum are just some of the stops on our walk.

In the late afternoon we will stop at one of the vineyards of the Lesser Poland Wine Route for a tasting. The local climate – the warmest place in Poland – and the lie of the land provide ideal conditions for setting up vineyards. A glass of wine surrounded by vines with a story in the background will be the perfect relaxation after a first day full of history and folk traditions.

Overnight stay in Rzeszów or nearby.

Day 2 – Aristocratic Łańcut and multicultural Przemyśl

After a leisurely breakfast, we will head off to explore one of the pearls of the region, the magnificent palace and park complex in Łańcut. The former seat of the Lubomirski and Potocki families is one of the most beautiful magnate residences in Poland. The palace has preserved its complete interior furnishings, which is a great rarity compared to other aristocratic residences in Poland. The castle in Łańcut is an example of a magnate residence that, over the centuries, was transformed from a fortress guarding the south-eastern border of the Republic into a magnificent palace incomparable to European aristocratic residences. Once you have satiated your eyes with the riches of the palace, for balance we will take a short walk in the park surrounding the palace to enjoy this time an oasis of greenery and flowers. Afterwards, we have a short drive to Przemyśl.

After lunch, we set off to explore the city with a guide. The thousand-year-old city of Przemyśl boasts that, like Rome, it is situated on 7 hills. It is known as the city of Jozef Schwejk – the hero of the anti-war novel by Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek – forts, pipes and, for some time now, also bear figurines, which are the new symbol of the city. Modelled on the dwarves of Wrocław, they can be found all over the city and represent the history and monuments of Przemyśl in an amusing way. During the guided city tour, we will visit, among others, the Old Town Market Square, the Kazimierzowski Castle, the Archcathedral and the Clock Tower with the unique Museum of Bells and Pipes.

Dinner in the Old Town and overnight in Przemyśl.

Day 3 – In the magnate’s salons and in dark casemates

After breakfast, we will head to Krasiczyn, located near Przemyśl, where one of the most beautiful treasures of Renaissance-Mannerist architecture in Poland is located – the 17th century magnate’s residence, known as the Krasiczyn Castle. The building suffered greatly during the Second World War. The castle was ransacked by Soviet soldiers and most of its furnishings burnt down. Today, you can visit the beautifully restored castle with its chapel, towers, dungeons and picturesque park.

After the guided tour, we return to Przemyśl for a tasting lunch at one of the best restaurants in the region. Authentic dishes are created using local produce, taking into account the seasonality of fruit and vegetables and the principles of healthy eating.

In the afternoon, we will move from the magnate’s residence straight into the dark casemates….The Przemyśl Fortress, the third largest fortress in Europe, is being built in Przemyśl at the end of the 19th century. It consisted of three rings of fortifications, including an outer ring 45 km long. At the beginning of the First War, 130,000 soldiers were stationed within the fortress, 14,500 horses, over a thousand cannons and 4,000 wagons of rolling stock were kept. Most of the fortifications along with the facilities such as the military barracks, the former military hospital and the headquarters have survived to this day. The whole is picturesquely incorporated into the Subcarpathian hills. In the afternoon, we will visit a selected fort and learn about war stories, including those of the most famous spy of those times associated with the fortress – Alfred Redl.

Dinner at the hotel and overnight in Przemyśl.

Day 4 – Open-air museum and bicycle handcarriages

After breakfast we leave for Sanok, located in the valley of the San River and considered to be the gateway to the Bieszczady Mountains. Here we will visit the largest open-air museum in Poland – the Folk Architecture Museum. We will see, among others, a fully reconstructed Galician market square, Lemko wooden huts called “chyża”, several Orthodox churches and a nobleman’s manor house. We will learn about the material and spiritual culture of the various ethnic groups that inhabited the Carpathian Mountains in the past.

After lunch, we will go to a unique vantage point. Not far from Sanok are the picturesque ruins of Sobień Castle, a 13th-century fortress which hosted King Władysław Jagiełło himself. Today, the castle ruins offer an amazing panorama of the San River, and the area is a protected nature reserve. The San flows here slowly, lazily, but soon we will see from very close up a completely different face of this river – mountainous, rushing, dynamic.

The next stop is the small village of Uherce Mineralne, but it boasts quite an attraction – bicycle handcarriages. The handcarriages offer an unforgettable adventure on one of five charming routes. These unique vehicles, propelled by the muscular power of their passengers, resemble riding a bicycle, except that it happens on railway tracks. Each handcar allows four people to be active together. Pedalling, we can admire the wildlife and picturesque scenery of the Bieszczady Mountains up close. A mysterious ride through a railway tunnel also awaits us. The trek will allow us to experience the Bieszczady in a unique and unforgettable way.

At the end of the day we will visit one of the most famous Bieszczady breweries, ending with a delicious tasting and dinner.

In the evening we will arrive at our atmospheric agritourism for the night

Day 5 – On board the train and under sail

We will start today’s excursion with a visit to the charming Lemko Orthodox Church of St Michael the Archangel in Turzansk, perfectly integrated into the mountainous landscape on the border of the Bieszczady and Beskid Mountains. The church is on the Podkarpacie Wooden Architecture Route, but more importantly, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This is an unquestionable recommendation, and the church is absolutely worth a visit.

Another of the Bieszczady’s greatest attractions that we will get to know is the Bieszczady narrow-gauge railway. It is a treat for both lovers of railway tourism and seekers of unusual attractions. The Bieszczady Forest Railway is extremely popular due to the beautiful mountain scenery that can be admired during the ride. A ride on the forest railway in wooden carriages pulled by a steam locomotive is a real journey in time. For 2 hours you will be immersed in the magical world of Bieszczady nature, admiring it from the deck of this very train.

After the train ride, we will definitely get hungry! For lunch we will go to a charming tourist village – Cisna. Part of the village is part of the Bieszczady National Park.

Then we will head to the Bieszczady sea – Solina Lake, the largest artificial reservoir in Poland. For sailing enthusiasts, it is a true paradise. Before the wind blows in our sails, however, we will rise above the surface of the earth to admire unforgettable views from the deck of a glass gondola railway: the largest hydroelectric dam in Poland, Solina Lake and the green hills above the Solina. The route is not long, but it provides a lot of excitement. We will admire the sunset under the sails. At the end of the day we will have a wonderful, relaxing cruise on Solina Lake. After dinner in the harbour restaurant, we will return to our agritourism.

Day 6 – In the land of the wolf

Today it is worth having a solid breakfast, because a day full of strong impressions awaits us! First thing in the morning, we set off on an off-road vehicle trip into the Bieszczady wilderness. We will discover places you won’t read about in any guidebook – forgotten Boyko villages, old orchards, ruins of Orthodox churches, wild forest glades. We will cross mountain streams and inaccessible ravines. The route will be rocking with cars and there will be plenty of mud. Bring outfits that you won’t mind getting dirty! The off-road vehicles will be driven by professional instructors, but each participant will also have the opportunity to try their hand at driving an off-road vehicle.

After the first dose of adrenaline there will be a break for refreshment. On the banks of the river, by the campfire, we will regenerate and gain energy for the rest of the day. In the afternoon, we will discover the unknown face of the largest of the Bieszczady rivers – the San. We will see the most beautiful part of the river and discover it from a pontoon boat carried by the river current. It is a moment of tranquillity, away from human settlements, where the rhythm of life is dictated by wild nature.

At the end of our stay in the Subcarpathia region, we propose a dinner in the form of a Cossack feast in the area of our agrotourism. During the feast there will be no shortage of dancing to lively Slavic music, learning to sing old Cossack songs, sabre duels, historical quizzes and legends. Under a starry sky, singing old Polish songs, we will bid farewell to the Subcarpathia region.

Day 7 – In the capital of Polish glass

After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye to our picturesque agritourism and set off on our return journey. However, before we return to Kraków, we will reach the capital of Polish glass – Krosno. Here we will visit one of the 7 New Wonders of Poland according to National Geographic, i.e. the modern and interactive Glass Heritage Centre, presenting the city’s glass heritage and offering amazing glass-making demonstrations. After the tour, time for shopping for designer, handmade and painted glass products. Lunch in Krosno at a restaurant listed on the ‘Podkarpackie Flavours’ trail. Return to Krakow in the late afternoon.