Tour program
DAY 1st – WARSAW CITY TOUR
Your arrival to the Warsaw airport, transfer by our driver to the hotel in Warsaw. Later on you meet our tour leader at the hotel lobby in the early afternoon. Next, you will start the city tour of Warsaw. This city, the capital of Poland was totally destroyed in WW II and then rebuilt. You will see the Old Town, Lazienki Park (with its Frederic Chopin monument and the Palace on the Water), the Warsaw Uprising Monument and the Royal Castle. After this, a welcome dinner at a restaurant in the Old Town. (D)
DAY 2nd – WARSAW – MASURIA LAKES – KRASICKI CASTLE – WOLF’S LAIR
Once you have eaten your breakfast, we start our journey North – to Masuria – called the The Region of Thousand Lakes. After a 4,5 hour drive, we will come to the Wolf”s Lair – one of the Hitlers headquarters during WW II, for a guided tour with local specialist. Next ride to Lidzbark Warminski – a small town located in the Masuria and Warmia regions to check in at a hotel housed in a XIV century renovated castle. You have got free time here for relaxation and to enjoy some castle activities like swimming at the castle pool, having a sauna, bowling, biking (paid extra). Later that evening, a dinner at the castle restaurant is in order. We will be staying the night in the castle chambers. (B,D)
DAY 3rd – ELBLAG CANAL – MALBORK – GDANSK
Following an early breakfast, we go directly to Buczyniec, where we start a unique 2 hour cruise along the Elblag Canal. The Canal is considered one of the new seven Poland tourist wonders. It was built in the 19th c. and renovated again but a few years ago. From here, we will go to Malbork to see the medieval fortress of Teutonic Knights – the greatest castle in Poland. The Malbork Castle, a 15th c. powerful stronghold of the Teutonic Knights, is one of the best examples of medieval fortifications in Europe. After our tour, We are off to nearby Gdansk to check in at a hotel and have dinner. (B,D)
DAY 4th – GDANSK – SOPOT
Here, we breakfast, and, next, we begin a sightseeing tour of the maritime center of Poland. This is the historical port town of Gdansk and the birthplace and home of Solidarity; Here, we see the Basilica, the Neptune Monument, Zuraw Gdanski, the harbor, and we visit Westerplatte – where World War Two began. In the Gothic Cathedral in Oliwa, you can listen to a concert featuring a baroque pipe organ. Later that day, we visit Sopot, a health resort with the longest wooden pier in Europe. Here, we have time for a relaxing walk along the Baltic seaside. Dinner is on your own today, and you will return to Gdansk to stay overnight at your hotel. (B)
DAY 5th – GDANSK – TORUN
After breakfast, we check out and depart for Torun. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland, and is picturesquely located on both banks of the Vistula River. After check-in at a local hotel, we start a guided tour of the beautiful Old Town – with its City hall, cathedral and the renovated Nicolas Kopernik’s Museum. We then dine and stay overnight in Torun. (B,D)
DAY 6th – TORUN – GNIEZNO – POZNAN
Once breakfast is over, we drive to Gniezno – the historic capital of Poland. On our way, we stop in Biskupin to visit one of the oldest archeological sites in Poland – an open-air museum nowadays. During our tour, you will see a fully reconstructed settlement dated from 750 B.C. Next, we continue to Gniezno and visit the Cathedral with our local guide. We then proceed to Poznan for check-in and dinner. Here, we stay overnight at a hotel. (B, D)
DAY 7th – POZNAN – CITY TOUR – CZESTOCHOWA
Following our breakfast, we begin a guided tour of the city. Among many famous places we are going to see are the impressive Town Hall and the countrys oldest cathedral with the tombs of the first of Polands rulers. In the afternoon, we will start our trip to Czestochowa. Here, you can celebrate evening mass at the Black Madonna Monastery in Czestochowa. Dinner is on your own today, but we stay overnight at a hotel. (B)
DAY 8th – JASNA GORA MONASTERY IN CZESTOCHOWA – AUSCHWITZ – BIRKENAU
A morning visit to the famous Black Lady – the Queen of Poland is the first event on the agenda. In our visit to Czestochowa, one of the Pauline Fathers will guide you around Jasna Gora Monastery – famous for the miraculous icon of Black Madonna, the Queen of Poland. We will leave Czestochowa, however, before noon to start our drive to Oswiecim to check-in at hotel. Next your visit Auschwitz-Birkenau – the Nazi German Concentration/Death Camp, now a martyrdom museum. After a guided tour, return ride to your hotel for diner and stay overnight. (B,D)
DAY 9th – WADOWICE – DUNAJEC RAFTING – NIEDZICA CASTLE – ZAKOPANE
Following breakfast, we depart for the Pieniny mountains. On our way, we will stop in Wadowice – John Paul IIs hometown, to visit the Basilica where he was baptized and the Museum located at his family home. Our guide will also invite you, here, to taste the famous cream cakes of the Pope. Next, we will continue our journey to Pieniny National Park, to experience the famous Dunajec River rafting piloted by Uplander raftsmen. You will certainly enjoy the riverside view of the two beautiful castles of Niedzica and Czorsztyn, before you enter the deep gorge, and be surrounded by white limestone walls. We will arrive in Zakopane in the evening and book into our hotel for the night. Here, we will also have dinner. (B,D)
DAY 10th – ZAKOPANE CITY TOUR – TATRA VALLEYS
After breakfast, we begin a mornings city tour of Polands winter capital, where we will see some examples of the unique 19th and early 20th century wooden architecture of the Zakopane region. A cable car ride up to Mount Gubalowka is next on the agenda. From the top, we will be awestruck by the panoramic view of the Tatra Mountains. The afternoon is a time to relax, to visit local shops and perhaps buy hand-made, art-craft products. For those interested, a 2 h guided walk can be enjoyed – to one of valleys of the Tatra National Park. Dinner is in a regional restaurant with live music. We will stay overnight in Zakopane. (B,D)
DAY 11th – ZAKOPANE – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW
We will leave Zakopane in the morning to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine (14 C degrees only – so wear something suitable!). This 800 year old salt mine is the oldest one in Europe. We will walk through an underground rock-salt fantasy world and be astounded by the splendid St. Kinga’s Chapel with its hewn salt sculptures and relicts, as well as by the corridors housing the original medieval mining equipment, the post excavation chambers, as well as the subterranean salt lakes. Just after this tour we will got to Krakow to check in at your hotel. An afternoon of relaxation and private walks. We suggest a visit to the Museum located in the Undregrounds of the Old Town Market Square, presenting the hostory of Krakow in a very interesting way (entry must be booked in advance). Dinner is on your own today, and we stay overnight at a hotel. (B)
DAY 12th – KRAKOW CITY TOUR – OSCAR SCHINDLER FACTORY MUSEUM
Following a leisurely breakfast, we begin our tour of Krakow. As the city was not destroyed during the World War II, Krakow is a treasure house of architecture and art, some being around since the 10th century. Our walking tour will start with Wawel Hill, where we will visit the Royal Castle and the Coronation Cathedral – the burial place of kings and famous men of letters, science and statescraft. In the Royal Chambers, you can discover a priceless collection of Flemish tapestries. Todays walking tour also includes the Old Town that is still surrounded by its defensive walls, the Barbican, the Market Square dominated by St. Mary’s Church with the famous 15th c. linden wood altar, then the Cloth Hall housing a multitude of souvenir shops. Next, a time for one hour visit to the Schindler Factory Museum. Afternoon is a time to relax, to taste privately Krakows unique Old Town atmosphere or to visit Kazimierz – the former Jewish district. Finally, there is a farewell dinner, and we rest over night at our hotel. (B,D)
DAY 13th – RETURN FLIGHT or TOUR EXTENSION – ZALIPIE – SANDOMIERZ
Following breakfast, we check-out of our hotel and if your tour ends, you will be transferred by our driver to Krakow airport, or if it continues, we depart with our guide-driver. On that day, we will go to Sandomierz, in Central Poland. On our way, a stop is made in Zalipie – famous as a painted village. Here, you will visit a small museum located in an old house colorfully painted inside and outside with traditional decorative patterns. The local guide, a village inhabitant, will tell you more about local traditions, and describe Zalipie – “painted village”, as it was hundred years ago. Next, you will follow the Vistula river valley to Sandomierz. Here, we check-in at a hotel and enjoy an afternoon tour of a city that is a fine example of Renaissance architecture. The visit includes a walk through the streets of the Old Town, a visit to the castle and the chance to experience the Underground Tourist Route. Dinner follows, as does an overnight stay at the hotel. (B,D)
DAY 14th – KAZIMIERZ DOLNY – WARSAW
After we check-out from our hotel, we drive to nearby Kazimierz Dolny, a picturesque old town on the River Vistula – the city of artists. Here, we enjoy a panoramic tour with a local guide, including a visit to the Old Town, the Goldsmith Museum and the Franciscan Monastery (famous for its picturesque views of the Vistula). A one hour tourist cruise along the Vistula river will end your tour of Kazimierz Dolny region. Later that afternoon, we drive the two hours to Warsaw and check-in at our hotel. Our farewell dinner will be at one of Warsaws finest restaurants. (B,D)
DAY 15th – RETURN FLIGHT FROM WARSAW
After checking-out from our hotel, you will be transferred by our driver to the Warsaw airport for your flight home.
Notices:
We can organize that tour on private request on different tour date, even for 2 person group. Send your request by email: grzegorz.b@excitingpoland.com
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