Discover Hidden Europe

The Low Beskids; a historically unique region that presents the perfect opportunity for gravel rides

Beskid Niski, Poland & Slovakia 23rd - 27th May 2018

Start: Base location: Duration: Avg Distance: Avg Elevation: Difficulty: Kraków, Ropki 4 days riding / 4 nights 90km 1600m 3.5/5 Int. Airport

Gravelventures A gravel bike takes the meaning 'off the beaten track' to a whole new level, it allows us to explore futher and deeper than ever before. But finding the best places to ride can be tricky. We have been fascinated with the history of Beskid Niski for a long time and the gravel bike makes for the perfect machine to explore the remains of bygone settlements. Location

Beskid Niski lies to the south-east of Poland along the Timber, 'onion-domed' Orthodox churches, many border with Slovakia. The region has an interesting of which are now UNESCO protected, await your history and saw a significant population reduction in discovery in charming valleys. the 20th century. Due to the low population and abundance of forests the Remnants and remains of ancient settlements and region is the home to some impressive wildlife, from villages are nestled between mountains with tracks and deer, wolves, wildcat and bears to an array birds like trails often forgotten and uncared for. golden eagles.

FOLUSZ 95km BESKID NISKI 1,630m

WARM UP 35km KREMPNA 560m 90km POLAND 1,300m

SLOVAKIA

GÓRY CZERCHOWSKIE 94km 2,000m Gravelventure includes...

- Small groups of 6-8 riders - Kraków International Airport transfers - Four nights single & double occupancy accommodation - Four days of riding - Breakfast and evening meals - Ride guides with in-depth local knowledge - Ride photography - Routes designed around experiencing the local area - Ride nutrition and hydration provided by Chimpanzee - Wahoo GPS devices for test rides - Brooks saddles for test rides (special sale prices available) Gravelventure does not include...

- Flights

- Lunch and snacks

- Alcoholic drinks with meals

- Travel insurance

- Incidental expenses

- Genesis Bike hire; steel 'road plus' bike available upon advance request Itinerary

Day 01: Warm Up, 35km, 560m What to expect You will be collected from Kraków International Airport and You will be looked after from the moment of your transferred to our base in Ropki,. Transfer by mini-bus will take arrival to your departure. You will be based in a newly around 2 hours. renovated pension in the tiny settlement of Ropki; surrounded by the wilderness of forests just off the After settling at the mountain base, there will be the first oppor- Slovakian border. tunity to explore the area by bike. A short ride will help stretch the legs after the travelling and give you a taste of what is to Days will be filled with fully planned routes to come. experience the best of the region. Ride guides will be there to point out the highlights. Dinner will be served at the base. Natural nutrition and hydration from Chimpanzee will power you through the days as you explore one of the Day 02: Krempna, 90km, 1,300m wildest, unspoilt parts of Europe. The first day sees us heading east through the Magurski National Park and with it the numerous gravel roads through forests and river valleys.

We will ride through villages with Orthodox churches as well settlements that are no longer there; simply a memorial and the foundations of former buildings.

Dinner will be served at the base. Day 03: Folusz, 95km, 1,630m Partners The amount of elevation gradually increases as we climb higher To help make your Gravelventure an unforgettable into the mountains. The chance to ride the gravel roads at the experience we have teamed up with some of the best bottom of valleys and then up through forest fire roads to a cycling companies around. traditional mountain hut for refreshments. Genesis – If you don't want to bring your own bike, we Dinner will be served at the local village Wysowa Zdrój. can offer you the fantastic Genesis Fugio, their edition to the growing gravel bike market called 'road plus'. Day 04: Góry Czerchowskie, 94km, 2,000m Wahoo – Our ride guides and support vehicles use the The final day of the weekend will see us head south to Slovakia great tracking features of the Wahoo ELEMNT GPS with a climb to the peak of Čergovský Minčol with views across computer to know exactly where everyone is. We are the Carpathian Range as far as the High Tatra. also able to offer a unit for guests to test on a ride. Brooks – We have a range of Brooks C13 saddles for To celebrate the final night we will visit the picturesque Slovakian our guests to try on rides. We are also able to offer town of Bardejov for dinner and drinks. a discount to guests for any purchases made on the Brooks online shop. Day 05: Departure day Morgan Blue - Gravel riding can get mucky but we use Transfer back to Kraków International Airport in the morning the great cleaning products from Morgan Blue to make ready for individual travel arrangements. sure you have a nice clean bike to ride. Chimpanzee – Honest, all-natural, hydration and **Routes are subject to change and can be extended in length or shortened due nutrition made from real foods. Free of additives, to weather conditions as well as the ability of the group. With two ride leaders artificial sweeteners, trans fats, chemicals and GMO's. per group we also have the option to split groups depending on ability. Vegetarian and Vegan options are available. Rental Bikes

For the 2018 season Genesis introduced the Fugio, their contribution to the new and exciting road plus category. As soon as we saw it, we knew it would be perfect for Gravelventures. A bike that is capable of running with smaller 650b wheels with enough clearance to accept much larger tyres. The rental bike comes with Clement X'Plor MSO 50c rubber that will keep you comfortable on the roughest of terrain. Shimano 105 Hydraulic provides power delivery as well as stopping power in one great package. Accommodation & Food

Beskid Niski is a wild region of Poland and we have found the perfect accommodation right in the wilderness of Ropki. A large house accessible only by gravel road with a small river running next to it. Renovated to modern standard offering perfect outdoor and indoor areas to relax after a day in the saddle. Each guest will be provided with comfortable double occupancy en-suite bedroom (single available upon request) and bike storage. Buffet breakfasts will be served at the base along with dinner on Wednesday and Thursday. Two other evening meals will be planned in a local village and nearby town. Accommodation & Food includes...

- Secluded base in the wilderness of Ropki

- Double occupancy en-suite bedrooms

- Single occupancy upon request

- Buffet Breakfasts

- Two dinners served at the base

- Dinner in local village Wysowa-Zdrój

- Dinner in Slovakian town of Bardejov Join us on a Gravelventure

Contact [email protected]