Woven Stories of Podlasie Folk Excursion

Woven Stories of Podlasie Folk Excursion
29th August - 7th September 2026

Discover magical Podlasie, its unique folklore and history while visiting local museums. Learn folk crafts straight from artists, who have been passing them through generations. Experience unique harvest customs and celebrations.

Folka is excited to invite you to join our Woven Stories of Podlasie Folk Excursion. 

During eight days you will experience unique traditional crafts, wander through enchanted folk interiors, explore wooden architecture, taste delicious local food and enjoy unspoiled, calming nature. It will be such a memorable experience. Not to be missed!

Podlasie is such a beautiful and unique region in the northeastern part of Poland. Known for its untouched wilderness, vast wetlands and many forests, like the Białowieża Forest, the only preserved primeval forest in the whole of Europe. 

Podlasie, shaped by historical influences, various ethnic groups has an interesting, multicultural identity. 

Together, we’ll discover its various folk traditions and customs woven together. 

It will be the longest folk excursion so far as there is so much to experience. 

Travel Plan: 

We’ll meet in Warsaw on Saturday the 29th August at midday to visit the Ethnographic Museum together. Then, we’ll head towards Podlasie in the afternoon. 

You will discover the unique “Kraina Otwartych Okiennic” (The Land of Open Shutters) - named after local villages with distinctive colourful wooden cottages. Each cottage is wonderful, windows are adorned with intricate shutters, walls with various ornaments - birds, hearts, flowers. The uniqueness of this “land” is difficult to describe. You need to experience this in real life.  

You will also step inside a traditional wooden cottage during our visits to wonderful open air museums, where you learn about local history, traditions, and how people used to live. Interiors are so mesmerising, filled with handcrafted furniture, embroidered cushions, hand woven blankets and the most important Święty Kąt (Saint Corner) with a painting or statue of Virgin Mary or a different saint decorated with paper flowers or white embroidered cloth. Walls can be simply painted in white or hand painted in flowers, decorated with embroidered “makatka” with a pająk paper chandelier attached to the ceiling.

Podlasie is also called the “Land of Weft and Warp”. Double warp is one of the oldest, ancient weaving techniques. This old tradition is still celebrated only in Podlasie region in Poland. We will visit local weavers’ workshops to see how they are woven. Each textile is so intricate and the varieties of scenes are incredible. Folk customs, celebrations, and rural landscapes with animals are the most popular ones. Each artist weaves their own stories. You will discover this visiting their inspiring studios with handmade looms and textiles in the making. 

We'll also stop by wooden colourful orthodox churches and by shrines and crosses. They are unique in Podlasie as they are wrapped with linen, embroidered cloth. 

What is important, you will visit local artists in their homes. Anna will show us her unique hand embroidery, Tadeusz his wooden birds he spots in a forest and artist Dionizy his unique sculptures made out of various pieces of wood. Also, we’ll visit Krystyna’s, a multitalented artist and her house is filled with treasures. It is always such a memorable experience to learn a craft straight from the artists and listen to their stories.

The time we’ll visit Podlasie is also important as Dożynki (Harvest) is still celebrated. Dożynki it's one of the oldest and most important customs, connected with Slavic pagan cults of nature, plants and agriculture. We will join the harvest celebrations. Local artists dressed in traditional costumes will bring their spectacular harvest wreaths to take part in a procession. 

In the meantime, we will also connect with surrounding wild nature. We might even meet the most famous and majestic local resident on the way - the European bison. Fingers crossed.  

We will come back to Warsaw on Monday the 7th September in the morning.

Podlasie is really such a magical region and I am very happy I can take you there this year! 

* Please note: A detailed trip itinerary will be emailed after signing up for the trip * 

Travel details:

When: 29th August - 7th September  2026

Cost: Introductory offer £1950

Price includes:

Accommodation                                                                                                                   Breakfasts                                                                                                                                    Transport                                                                                                                                  Workshops                                                                                                                                    Museum tickets

Price does not include:

Flights to/from Warsaw                                                                                                            Lunches and dinners (Dinner in Poland costs approx £10-£15)

PAYMENT IN TWO INSTALMENTS IS AVAILABLE. Please get in touch info@folka.co

Accommodation:

We will be staying in lovely hotels. Rooms are single. Breakfast is included in the price.

Transport:

We’ll be travelling in a comfortable minibus with a private driver. Our group will consist of a maximum of 7 people.

PLEASE NOTE:

There might be some changes in an itinerary.

You need to arrive in Warsaw at 11am on Saturday the 30th August at the latest to be able to join us at the Ethnographic Museum. 

There are 2 airports in Warsaw. Chopin airport is in the centre and Modlin airport is approx 1 hour away. We can help you to arrange a pick up from the airport.

You can come to Warsaw earlier and stay overnight if you prefer. We will help you to find a hotel.

CANCELLATION POLICY: 

As the Woven Stories of Podlasie Folk Excursion is happening soon we are unable to offer a refund once you confirmed and paid for the trip. We'll do our best to find a new participant.