Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Poland. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure that what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
TRAVEL TO WARSAW, POLAND: This tour begins and ends in Warsaw, Poland.
WINGS and Frosch Travel would be happy to assist with your travel arrangements. If you would like assistance, please contact Mario Fronda and his team at 646-490-3494 or [email protected] and identify yourself as a WINGS client. When contacting Frosch, please have details ready, such as your name as it appears on your passport, passport details, mileage and pre-check numbers, and departure and arrival details (as suggested in the Tour Confirmation message). Please note a ticketing fee applies for this service.
ENTERING AND LEAVING POLAND: A passport valid for at least three months after the conclusion of your stay and with at least two blank pages for entry stamps. Visas are not required for US or British citizens for stays of under 90 days. Citizens of other countries should contact their nearest Polish consulates or embassies for the rules applicable to them.
It is a good idea to take a photocopy of your passport and air ticket with you when traveling abroad. Copies can prove invaluable in helping you get replacements if your originals are lost or stolen. You should pack the photocopies separately from the originals.
COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can review the U.S. Department of State Country Specific Travel Information here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html. Review foreign travel advice from the UK government here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and travel advice and advisories from the Government of Canada here: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.
PACE OF THE TOUR: This is a fairly relaxed tour. Breakfast will be between 6.00 and 7.30am, allowing us plenty of time to arrive at the prime spots soon afterwards. Lunch will usually consist of either a picnic in a scenic area or a casual sit-down at a local restaurant. We will return to the hotel in time to freshen up for dinner.
Virtually all the walking is fairly easy on good paths, trails or boardwalks. Most of the birdwatching is done within a short distance of our vehicle. At a few locations, several flights of stairs may need to be climbed to reach the top of birding towers, and at least one hotel may require climbing a flight of stairs to reach the rooms. Depending on the success we have in the first days of the tour looking for Aquatic Warbler, we may decide to take a 3.5-mile round walk to the species’ core habitat in the centre of the marsh. This walk will be along a level, solid track.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all travellers be up to date on routine vaccinations. These include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.
CLIMATE: Temperatures will typically range from 15°C (about 60°F) in the morning to a maximum of 25°C (75°F) at midday, although it can be (or feel…) colder if overcast and windy, and warmer temperatures are likewise possible. The average rainfall in Poland in May is 110mm (4.5 in), and thundery downpours are possible.
ACCOMMODATION: Our hotel in the Biebrza Marshesis the located in the small town of Grajewo, a short drive from the centre of the Biebrza National Park. Our hotel in Bialowieza Forest is located in the heart of the forest, in the small village of Bialowieza.
Amenities: Wifi is available in both hotels but may not be available in every bedroom. Laundry service should be available but will be confirmed upon arrival.
FOOD: Polish cuisine is often simple and rustic, with dumplings, pickled produce and soups forming the staple of many meals. Options for dining are limited in the areas we’ll be in, but our leader will aim to ensure there is a varied choice of food available. Vegetarian options should be available though may be limited in their variety.
TRANSPORTATION: Our transportation will be by mini-bus driven by the leader. The leader will be aware of seating arrangements, making sure all participants may have an equal opportunity for more desired seat, although the small group size should – depending on the seating configuration of the vehicle we are allocated – allow all participants to take a window seat.
SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. While in the field or traveling, use of a smokeless alternative such as nicotine gum is requested. Please do not smoke at short stops while traveling. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group and leave ample time between smoking and getting back into the vehicle. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If any lodge, accommodation or location where the group is staying or is gathered has a more restrictive smoking policy than WINGS’ policy, the more restrictive policy will prevail. The leader reserves the right to modify this policy if the situation warrants it.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF WINGS TOURS: Please take a moment to read the Terms and Conditions on the ‘About Our Tours’ segment of the WINGS website, it contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
FINAL INFORMATION: Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Updated: 25 September 2023