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Bisons & Raptors – Poland

Winter photography tour of 6 days in the heart of the Białowieża Forest, in search of European bison, birds of prey and the large mammals of Nordic nature.

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Bisons & Raptors – Poland

Days

From January 25th to 30th 2027

Max participants

10 participants

Price

 500,00

2090€

4 Spots Left

Destination

Explore the ancient Białowieża Forest, one of the most iconic and wild places in Europe, on a winter photographic journey dedicated to the fauna of the North. Some of the most fascinating species of the continent live here: the European bison, symbol of the region; the wolf, the most elusive predator in the forest; the’elk, the largest deer in Europe; raccoon dog, the fox and the very rare Eurasian lynx.

Biodiversity is also extraordinary in terms of birdlife. In winter it is possible to observe large birds of prey such as the’white-tailed sea eagle, thegolden eagle, thegoshawk, the buzzard, as well as woodpeckers, tits, and numerous passerines. Winter conditions offer soft colors, perfect lighting for nature photography, and, in some years, the chance to encounter snow-covered landscapes that add a magical touch to the images.

Thanks to professional lodges and targeted safaris, you will have an authentic and intense photographic experience, accompanied by an expert photographer and specialized local guides.

Dates and participants

Duration

6 Days and 5 Nights

Dates

From January 25th to 30th 2027

Number of participants

10 participants

Activity details

Overnight stay and meals

5 nights in a double room in Białowieża National Park

breakfast lunch dinner

Photographic activities

Difficulty

🟢 Easy

Preparation and equipment

No long hikes or other challenging physical activities are planned

Modality

Safari – Shed – Itinerant

Costs and Tour leader

Tour leader

Michael Lovera

Starting from

2090€

Payment

€500 deposit upon registration and balance 60 days before departure

Learn more about your experience

The trip consists of six days of intensive photography in the wildest area of Białowieża National Park. We will operate in groups of 4 participants, to ensure adequate space, silence, and the best possible quality in each session. Thanks to our guides' authorizations, we will also have access to areas where wildlife roams freely away from tourist trails, increasing the chances of observing bison, moose, deer, wolves and a rich variety of birds.

The hide sessions allow you to experience close contact with large birds of prey and perhaps some mammals. The hides are warm up, equipped with professional photographic glasses, comfortable seats and a small separate room with basic but functional bathroom, thus ensuring privacy even during the longest days.

During the tour, a professional photographer will curate the program and sessions to maximize your experience. During your free evening hours, you'll have full technical and creative support from the tour leader, giving you the opportunity to share ideas every day.

Photographic Activities

The tour includes four days entirely dedicated to photography, with full-day sessions alternating between birds of prey hides and winter safaris in search of bison and the forest's most elusive fauna.
Activities are organized on a rotating basis in groups of four photographers. Each day is designed to maximize the winter light, which remains soft from the first to the last hour of the day.

Cabana sessions offer the opportunity to observe white-tailed sea eagles, buzzards, goshawks, woodpeckers, and small passerines from close range and in complete safety. The safari sessions instead cross grasslands, clearings, and areas constantly monitored by local guides, where they move bison, moose, deer, roe deer, foxes and, occasionally, wolves. The presence of the European lynx It is documented in the area, but sightings are extremely rare; however, it remains part of the fauna that animates these forests.

Winter days, with soft light and cold atmospheres, offer ideal aesthetic inspiration for nature photography, with the occasional possibility of light snowfall depending on the seasonal conditions.

Hotel

We will stay in large double rooms with separate beds, equipped with private bathroom, heating and Wi-Fi. The rooms are very spacious and comfortable even for those traveling with a lot of equipment. single room It is available upon request with a supplement.

The breakfasts and lunches will be prepared by the hotel to ensure maximum freedom during the full day sessions. dinners will be served in a local restaurant, within walking distance of the property.
All dietary requirements, allergies, intolerances, special diets, vegetarian or vegan, can be accommodated without any problem, but must be communicated at the time of registration.

Detailed plan

Find out how the days will unfold and which activities make up the experience

Day 1 – Arrival in Poland and Transfer to the forest

Arrival at Warsaw Chopin Airport by 12:00 and private transfer to Białowieża.

The journey will slowly take us from urban areas to rural areas and finally to the edge of the primary forest. After settling into our rooms, a traditional Polish dinner will allow us to get to know each other and discuss the following days' activities.

Day 2 – Bison Safari: In Search of Europe's Giant

The first day on the field is dedicated to the European bison. We'll set out in 4x4 vehicles before dawn to reach the areas where the herds spend the early morning hours. The cold, delicate winter light highlights the large mammals and the landscape. During the day, we'll explore prairies, open forests, and clearings. We might also encounter deer, roe deer, moose, and, with a bit of luck, wolf tracks.

Activities will alternate between car trips and short walks to get closer to the animals spotted.

NB – Activities will be rotated between small groups: the order of sessions may therefore vary for each participant, but everyone will have exactly the same experiences by the end of the tour.

Day 3 – Forest Hide: Birds of Prey and Forest Wildlife

Today we will enter in the professional huts before dawn, remaining inside them until after sunset to take advantage of every available moment. The silence of the forest will allow us to observe birds of prey such as Goshawks and Buzzards at close range. The stations are heated and equipped with photographic glass.
During the day it is also possible to observe woodpeckers, tits, squirrels and, in rare cases, foxes or martens. The lodge has a simple but private bathroom, located in a small separate room.

The guide will accompany you to within a few meters of the hut, making access easy for anyone.

 

Day 4 – Second day dedicated to bison

The fourth day will again be dedicated to the research of European bison, This time in a different part of the forest than the previous day. We'll set off in the morning, when wildlife is most active, and travel in 4x4 vehicles along forest roads and areas monitored by local guides.

The goal is to explore diverse environments to maximize photographic opportunities: open prairies, interior clearings, and transition zones between forest and fields. Depending on seasonal conditions, bison can be found in small groups or in larger herds.
In addition to the bison we will also be able to observe deer, roe deer, foxes and, sometimes, signs of the passage of wolves or moose.

The day will proceed by following the animals' movements and the guides' directions, always maintaining a respectful approach and avoiding invasive approaches. There are no challenging hikes planned: all observations will be made from permitted vantage points, with stops in areas that offer the best combination of light, distance, and safety.

Day 5 – Day at the birds of prey shelter

The fifth day will be entirely dedicated to a session in professional shed, designed for photography birds of prey and more. We will enter before dawn, so as to be completely ready for the arrival of the first animals, and we will remain inside the hut until after sunset.

The station is heated, equipped with photographic glass and of a small separate bathroom, simple but useful to ensure privacy during your stay.
The activity takes place in complete autonomy and tranquility, without moving or disturbing the wildlife.

During the day we will be able to observe species such as white-tailed sea eagles, goshawks and various peaks and passerines typical of the area. Raptor activity can vary depending on weather conditions and the season; therefore, the session requires patience, attention, and a willingness to make the most of the moments when the animals approach.

The cabin offers optimal conditions for photography: filtered light, natural backgrounds, and manageable distances, allowing you to focus on technique and composition. At the end of the day, we'll head out after sunset, completing the last photo session of the trip.

Day 6 – Breakfast and return

After a well-deserved rest we will meet again for a breakfast all together, one last shared moment before leaving the forest.
We'll calmly collect our bags and prepare to leave Białowieża, bidding farewell to this remote corner of nature that hosted us for an intense week.

The transfer will take us back to Warsaw, where we'll conclude the tour and say goodbye after our shared experience. The WhatsApp group we created for the trip will remain active, so we can continue sharing images, moments, and the photographic results that will arrive in the following days.

Note on task rotation

To ensure adequate space, silence and the best photographic quality, all tour activities are carried out in small groups which rotate between huts and safaris.
This system allows each participant to experience the same sessions in the best possible conditions.

Because of this rotation, the order of the days indicated in the program may vary: some groups will start from the huts, others from the safaris, or they will alternate in different ways.
However, the content of the tour remains the same for everyone: each participant will perform exactly the same activities, just in a different order.

In other words, the published daily program represents the general structure of the trip, but the internal organization of the groups may lead to inverting or swapping the days for logistical reasons.

Flight information:

To participate in the tour you must be at’Warsaw Chopin Airport by 12:00 on January 25 and book the return flight after 4:00 PM on January 30th.
You have complete freedom to choose your airline and schedule, as long as they fall within this window. If you prefer to arrive earlier or depart later, there are several hotels near the airport, a convenient solution if needed.

After registration you can count on the our dedicated assistance also for finding and choosing the most suitable flights, so you can organize your trip easily and without worries.

Tour leader. Find out who will accompany you on the tour

Michael Lovera

Born in Cuneo in 2001, I live in close contact with the Western Alps, where my passion for nature was born. With a degree in electrical engineering, I find serenity and satisfaction only when immersed in the woods, backpack on my back and camera in hand. Starting with passerines, today I photograph every form of life, from the smallest insect to the largest mammal. In my images, I seek light, clarity, and detail, to enhance every nuance. After years spent in my mountains, I began traveling abroad, driven by curiosity and a deep connection to nature photography.

What's included

5 nights in a double room
A forest hide session for birds of prey and mammals
A grassland hideout session for sea eagles and mammals
Two forest safari activities
All dinners at the restaurant
All breakfasts and packed lunches
All ground transfers
Assistance from a local guide
Assistance in Italian language
English language support

What is not included

Flights
Single Room Supplement (€250)
Cancellation insurance

The places you will see during the trip

Discover all the places and views that you can admire during this trip. All the material shown here comes from our trips

Frequent questions

Signing up is very simple: click on “Book Now”, enter your details and pay the deposit of €500.
The system will immediately send you a confirmation email.
The final balance will be requested according to the conditions reported at the top of the page, normally 60 days before departure.

The tour includes various photographic contexts, from huts to safaris in the prairies and forest clearings. For best results, we recommend using reflex, mirrorless or bridge with optics from 300 mm and up, ideals between 300 and 500 mm for photography from a hide. For itinerant activities, slightly shorter focal lengths may be useful, such as 200–400 mm. You can also use teleconverter.

In the sheds it is important to have the tripod head, since all the structures are equipped with dedicated bases. Alternatively, a bean bag as a support.
After registering, you will receive a complete and personalized list of recommended equipment.

For the sessions in the huts it is not necessary to wear technical clothing, since the environments are warm up and guarantee a good level of comfort throughout the day. However, it is recommended to comfortable, layered clothing, so as to easily adapt to changes in internal temperature.

During outdoor activities, however, conditions can be cold or changeable. For this reason, we recommend: waterproof boots, winter trousers, warm jacket, hat And gloves suitable for winter weather.
After registering, you'll receive a detailed list with all the specific instructions for best planning your days in Białowieża National Park.

It is necessary to be at the’Warsaw Chopin Airport by 12:00 on January 25 and choose a return flight after 4:00 PM on January 30th.
You can fly with any airline, and if you prefer to arrive earlier or depart later, there are numerous hotels near the airport for an extra night's accommodation.
After registration, our team will provide you with personalized assistance even in the choice of flights.

By booking by paying the deposit to the organizers you accept the following clauses:

1. Since this is a pre-registration, the organizer will endeavor to promptly communicate any possible change in the price of the tour, characterized by cost fluctuations. An annual price fluctuation of around 5% is highly likely if booking is made more than one year in advance. in relation to potential changes in prices of ground services (for example changes influenced by fluctuating costs of electricity, fuel and more).
2.⁠ ⁠The price of the entire workshop will be paid via the payment methods offered by the organizer, such as bank transfer, PayPal, credit card or cash according to the procedures and deadlines established by the organizers, taking charge of the transaction costs.
3.⁠ ⁠⁠In the event that the tour does not take place due to the organiser, the entire amount paid will be refunded.
4.⁠ ⁠In case of cancellation for personal reasons of any kind and in any case not dependent on the organizer, the deposit and any other registration fees will be retained as a reimbursement of expenses.
5. In case of cancellation for personal reasons within 60 days of departure, the entire balance of the tour will be required.

By registering, paying the deposit and sending your personal data you again accept clauses 1,2,3,4,5.

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Bisons & Raptors – Poland

2090€

4 Spots Left