LOCATION
Białowieża Forest
DURATION
5 days, 4 nights
GROUP SIZE
2-8 people
PRICE
4800 PLN
ACTIVITIES
Hikes, Talks
START/END
Warsaw
TRANSPORT
SUV/Minibus
DATES
See below
Tour reveals how an old growth forest works
Focused on hot topics in conservation: old-growth forests, large carnivores and beavers
Immerse yourself in the natural and cultural history of the area
On a cross between a wildlife tour and a seminar
Hike into the best-preserved fragments of the world heritage site
Guided by local scientists who reveal the forest’s secrets
Four nights in the wood where nature rules
We reveal how an old-growth forest works
Hats off to Polish kings. They saved Europe’s Amazon from extinction. It’s thanks to them we have a primeval forest to explore, replete with bison, bogs and ancient trees. It’s thanks to them we have an open-air laboratory to study how works a European old-growth forest.
It’s the perfect place for exploring pristine nature on our 5-day guided tour. Read on to find out why.
A forest that excites
If you’ve ever wondered how Europe looked before man tamed it, this is it. Millenia ago a dense primordial forest veiled the continent. Its hallmarks were old trees, dead wood, meandering rivers and wild beasts. Think Jurassic Park from coast to coast, but with bears, bison and aurochs instead of dinosaurs. Over time, this forest was cleared to make way for towns and farms. Meanwhile, the woods of Białowieża were protected by royalty.
The forest survived as a private hunting reserve protecting bison and their habitat. It’s now the last forest of its kind left in lowland Europe. In most forests, humans dominate the landscape – destroying beaver dams, hunting wolves and planting pine trees. In an old-growth forest, it is wild plants and animals that shape the landscape, not man.
In a way, visiting Białowieża Forest is like time travel. Here you can tread in the steps of royalty and magnificent beasts long lost elsewhere. You can hear wolves howl and deer bugle under the canopy of trees that saw Polish kings hunt long ago. If you’ve ever wished to walk an ancient wood while hearing how it works, this tour could be for you.
A forest that inspires
The forest’s survival is one of history’s gifts to European conservation. Here bison pasture, beaver meadows, and wolf territories survive alongside farmers’ fields and villagers’ gardens.
But its survival was far from certain. In the 20th century, the turbulence of empire and war broke the forest’s historical system of protection. Half Białowieża Forest’s area was transformed into plantation and natural secondary growth.
Luckily the other half survived as old-growth. On tour we will explore forest of both natural and anthropogenic origin to show how old-growth differs from the anthropogenic landscapes elsewhere in Europe.
Logging in the forest has now ceased. In time, the areas transformed by forestry over the 20th century will become old-growth once again. The tour will examine these natural rewilding experiments, showing how quickly forest damaged by loggers can return to nature.
A forest that informs
As an open-air laboratory, the forest teaches how an old-growth forest works. Here scientists can study how species interact with one another in a landscape unoppressed by humans. This reveals ecological mysteries impossible to unravel in western Europe, where such ecosystems are long gone.
But till now, this knowledge has all too often remained locked away in scientific journals: the forest sometimes described as Europe’s Serengeti, remains largely a mystery outside Poland. Few English books or documentaries tell the forest’s story. We want to help change that. Here comes the tour’s plan.
Don’t expect a bison safari or photography tour
Most tour packages fail to surpass the superficial. They take people for walks. They describe what is seen. They park guests in hides to wait for animals to appear. We aim to do something different.
As scientists who study this magical wood, we aim to share the cutting edge of European ecological research. We will reveal science’s secrets while exploring woods where few people ever go.
Expect a cross between a traditional wildlife tour and a seminar. We will focus on three hot topics in conservation: natural forest ecology, large carnivores, and beavers. We will cover the hallmarks of an old-growth forest and how it differs from managed forests. We will explore how large carnivores shape populations of their prey. And we will see how the beaver, nature’s engineer, rewilds river valleys.
But no story of Białowieża would be complete without knowing a little of the past. Hence, we will also immerse ourselves in the history of the region. We will learn about the families of ‘beaters’ who guarded the forest for centuries on behalf of royalty. We will cover the world’s first large carnivore reintroduction (of the bear, 1930s), alongside the successful reintroduction of the bison (1940s). We will then look to the future to reveal how 21st century geopolitics poses new threats to the forest – border walls and frontier militarisation.
Don’t worry, the tour isn’t only about sharing scientific knowledge. It’s as much about imbibing the wild scenes around you. Expect plenty of walks around primeval forest untouched by forestry or civilisation. We will wake up at dawn to witness the noble bison out at pasture, grazing to the call of the wryneck.
Summing up
We invite you to join us in Europe’s last primeval forest. We will take you on a journey through a forest of our forefathers. You will see how woods at home differ from a natural forest. We will share how keystone species, such as the wolf and beaver shape old-growth systems. All the while, you will be guided by scientists who study this enchanted wood for a living. Return home with knowledge that could help to repair and rebuild your local ecosystems.
Sign up using the form below or message us with any questions.
A 5-day tour costs 4800 PLN (⁓€1150; no additional fees/taxes). A 25% deposit is required to confirm a booking. For a single room, please add 100 PLN per night (subject to availability).
Tour gallery
Itinerary
The daily plan entails a blend of talks and trips into the forest. Talks will involve slide shows (max 2-3 hours daily). Trips will involve hikes into the forest, aiming for well-preserved old-growth woodland (4-5 hours daily). We will try out common research techniques, such as camera trapping, animal tracking and bat detecting.
Don’t fear being overworked. This is a holiday, after all. The tour schedule is flexible, and we’ll be free to take spontaneous detours should guests wish. For instance, we can follow wolf tracks off-piste (don’t worry, it’s safe to do so). Expect plenty chats over tea and coffee. Evenings can be spent recapping the day’s experience in cafes. On the final day expect a gathering by a bonfire under the stars.
Guiding, transport, accommodation and food is all prearranged. We’ll meet at the airport and transfer you to Białowieża, travelling in a comfortable SUV or minibus. You’ll stay in a family run guest house, taste regional cuisine and be chauffeured around for the duration of your stay. We aim for you to spend your time in the wilderness care-free.
Depending on the weather, the schedule below may change around. But rest assured all the points will be completed during the tour.
- 1pm Pick up from Warsaw (airport or city centre).
- Transfer to Białowieża (200 km, ⁓ 4 hours).
- Check in to guest house.
- Dinner.
- Talk: Introduction to tour and area (1-2 hours).
- Trip (if light allows): A short meadow or forest walk. Hear wolves howling (if we’re lucky ;).
- Optional dawn walk to search for bison
- Breakfast
- Talk: ‘What makes a natural woodland?’
- Trip: A 4-5 hour walk around old-growth forest.
- Dinner
- Talk and discussion: Recap of the day’s experience
- Option for guests to meet in café for drinks.
- Optional bison safari at dawn
- Breakfast
- Talk: ‘Wolves bears and lynx: their ecological impacts and conservation management’
- Trip: A 3-5 hour walk around forest comprising the core-area of a wolf pack’s territory.
- Dinner
- Talk and discussion: Recap of the day’s experience
- Option for guests to meet in café for drinks
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
- Breakfast
- Talk: Beavers and their impacts.
- Trip: 3-5 hours in a variety of beaver habitats – old-growth forest, agricultural areas and abandoned farmlands.
- Talk: How to use our knowledge of natural forest ecology to repair ecosystems elsewhere.
- Dinner: Bonfire and/or BBQ.
- After food, we have the opportunity to relax by the bonfire and do a short bat survey.
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
- Breakfast at guest house.
- Drive back to Warsaw. Lunch in restaurant on the way.
- Tour around Warsaw Old town (1-2h).
- Lunch in traditional Polish restaurant.
- Drop off at airport by 4pm or at hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
What our guests say
Geopolitics – You may have safety concerns about travelling so close to the EU’s eastern border. But worry not. The Polish-Belarusian border is without military threat, although migrants still cross fairly regularly. As such, you should expect to see police, army and border guards during your stay. In our view, the elevated presence of security services makes the forest even safer than usual. Indeed, the British Foreign Office travel advice makes no mention of safety issues in this part of Poland.
In any case, on the first day, you will be briefed regarding health and safety issues. That includes what to do if you meet a wild animal or border guard when out in the field.
Lodging – We will spend four nights at a local family run guest house, such as Wiśniowy Sad or Gawra (their websites are available online for your viewing), or locales of a similar standard.
Food and drink – Three hearty meals will be provided daily, either by the accommodation venue, catering or a local cafe. Vegetarians should be well catered for. Vegans and people with other special diets may have difficulties and should consider bringing/purchasing extra food items.
Airport transfer & transport – We’ll meet at the airport and transfer you to Białowieża. For the duration of your stay we’ll be travelling in a comfortable SUV or minibus.
Fitness – You will manage fine with average fitness. Expect to walk 5-10 km daily over flat and easy landscape. We will only take you through boggy beaver meadows if you wish to see them.
Travel insurance – all tour guests must take out personal travel and medical insurance, preferably from the time of booking. This should cover costs of cancellation by you, lost baggage, medical care and repatriation.
Our tour operator licence – we are a registered tour operator with the Podlaskie Provincial Government as per Polish and EU law. In the very unlikely event of our insolvency, the provincial authorities and our tour operator insurance will guarantee the refund of your money.
Money protection – if for any reason we have to cancel your booking, such as illness of guide or insufficient numbers of booked participants, you’ll be eligible for a full refund. Please see our terms and conditions page for more details.
We use only well-known established payment gateways (such as PayU, Stripe, Wise) or bank transfers to take payments. At no point are we privy to your card details.
Packing list – After booking you’ll receive a detailed packing list. This will mainly entail normal items for expedition/adventure holidays, including outdoor clothes relevant to the season, camera, water bottle etc.
Day 1 – Białowieża Primeval Forest
- Tour plan
- Health and safety concerns.
- Why is Białowieża Forest so special?
- History of the forest. Why did Białowieża Forest survive as all other primeval forests fell?
- Just how natural is Białowieża Forest? How the 20th century’s traumatic history shaped the forest. How commercial forest management degrades old-growth forests.
- Introduction to the forest’s ecology (tree and animal communities).
- Bison and (failed) bear reintroduction to Białowieża Forest.
- The story of the bison. Its history, conservation and conflict management.
- The impact of border militarisation on the forest.
Day 2 – Old growth forests
- How do old growth forests differ from managed woods? What are their features?
- How dead and fallen trees provide habitat to rare species and promote forest regeneration?
- The role of fire, disease and other large-scale disturbances on forest ecosystems.
- How are tree communities changing with climate change?
- Natural vs regulated rivers, and their importance for forest conservation.
- Herbivore browsing regimes- how bison and deer shape forest stand structure.
Thematic field trip: A 4-5 hour walk around old-growth forest. We will observe the hallmarks of a natural woodland while walking through the three main forest types in Białowieża Forest (deciduous, coniferous and bog forest). As old-growth and plantation often grow adjacent to each other, we will be able to contrast tree stands of natural and anthropogenic origin. We’ll see big trees, dead trees and fallen trees, all largely absent from commercial forests.
Depending on availability of guest guide, we will examine herbivore browsing sites to better understand how ungulates shape forest stand structure.
Day 3 – Large carnivores: Wolves, lynx and bears
- Large carnivores in Białowieża Forest: basics and current status.
- How do large carnivores shape prey populations? The effects of direct predation on prey numbers and the impact of the landscape of fear on prey behaviour.
- Wolf cascading impacts: how wolves shape tree regeneration in Białowieża Forest.
- Mitigating large carnivore conflicts.
- Tracking wolves and lynx.
- Large carnivore monitoring with camera traps.
Thematic field trip: A 3-5 hour walk around forest comprising the core-area of a wolf pack’s territory. We will search for signs of large carnivore activity: their territory marks and footprints. We’ll see examples of coarse woody debris that interacts with wolves to shape herbivore behaviour. We’ll visit camera traps mounted in the forest and check for records of large carnivores.
Day 4 – Beavers
- Beaver basics, history and current status.
- Their reintroduction across Europe.
- Their ecological impacts: engineering, flooding, digging, tree felling.
- How beavers reengineered Białowieża Forest’s river valleys. The potential for them to rewild the area’s regulated rivers.
- Beaver conflicts with humans.
- Do predators like wolves shape beaver occurrence and ecological impacts?
Thematic field trip: A 3-5 hour walk around river valleys in different landscapes: rivers in old-growth forest, rivers in mowed valleys, and rivers in farmlands. We’ll visit camera traps mounted in the forest and check for records of beavers. We’ll visit beaver ponds and meadows to see how beavers increase habitat diversity and reset succession.
- How to use our knowledge of natural forest ecology, from Białowieża in particular, to repair degraded ecosystems elsewhere.
- Guiding.
- Any entry fees.
- Food/drink. Three meals a day.
- Binoculars (up to 5 pairs available).
- Airport transfer (1 for all guests per trip)
- Visit to the national park’s strict reserve, the most pristine part of the forest.
- Travel to/from Poland.
- Alcoholic drinks.
- Personal travel/health insurance.
- Items of a personal nature.
Your guide will be Dr Tom Diserens, an ecologist who has lived in and studied Białowieża Forest for the past 8 years.
His PhD completed in 2023 focused on how wolves shape the populations of their prey and competitors. He has recently embarked on a new project studying the impacts of wolves and humans on beaver. His work in this special forest has taught him many lessons about nature he wishes to share with you.
Half Polish, half British, he grew up a few miles away from Snowdonia in Wales. You be aware that the spectacular landscape of Wales is denuded of trees and resembles a green desert – you would be hard pressed to see any wild animal greater than a squirrel there.
After moving to Białowieża, Tom was struck by how normal it is for wolves, bison and moose to canter even through gardens. This wildlife was once common across the whole of Europe. As such, he realised Białowieża Forest can teach those who wish to rebuild ecosystems elsewhere.
During the tour, 1-2 guest guides, also local scientists, will be invited to spend an afternoon with you.
Tour Dates
You can also request a private tour on a custom date using the form below.
Bookings and enquiries