Cycling route
To Green Velo and Bachmaty Reservoir
From the doorstep to the nearest water. Flat roads, Orthodox churches along the way and a swim at the finish.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Route lines are based on OSM data; on the ground, follow the trail markings.
The first day in Podlasie is best begun with a bike and wind in your face. From Klejniki you ride to Czyże, where you pick up the red signs of the Hajnówka–Piaski trail, and head south through villages where time runs slower: Zbucz, Krywiatycze, Stary Kornin. At every crossroads stands a cross, at every village an Orthodox church. In Dubicze Cerkiewne you reach Green Velo, and Bachmaty Reservoir waits in the pine forest.
The route step by step
Klejniki
Set off from the red door. Pump and water in your panniers.
Czyże
After approx. 7 km you join the red Hajnówka–Piaski trail and head south, towards Dubicze Cerkiewne.
Zbucz, Krywiatycze, Stary Kornin
A string of quiet villages with wooden houses. The terrain is flat but open, so the wind can make itself felt.
Dubicze Cerkiewne
Orthodox church, shop and Green Velo. Time for an ice cream.
Bachmaty Reservoir
A beach in the forest and a well-earned swim. The reservoir is on Green Velo. Return the same way or along the red trail via Kleszczele (longer).
Practicalities
Surface
asphalt, short stretches of gravel
Best time
May–September
Start / Finish
Klejniki → Bachmaty Reservoir
Frequently asked questions
Is the route suitable for children?
Yes, for children who ride on their own on low-traffic roads. One way it is approx. 30 km, so with younger children it is better to drive to Czyże or Dubicze.
See also
By bike from Hajnówka to the European bison
A Forest classic: 20 km along a forest trail from the station in Hajnówka to the European Bison Show Reserve.
20 km1.5–2 hrs one wayeasyThe Land of Open Shutters loop
From Klejniki through Narew, Trześcianka, Soce and Puchły and back. The prettiest villages of Podlasie in one day.
56 km4–5 hrs with stopsmoderateAround Narewka: Siemianówka and Masiewo
A loop from Narewka to Siemianówka Reservoir and back along the edge of the Forest via Masiewo. Birds, water and woods.
37 km3–3.5 hrsmoderate
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Your base: Klejniki
Every route in this guide starts within an hour of our house. After a day out, a tiled stove, a kitchen with a wood-fired range and silence are waiting for you.