Warsaw - Pultusk – Kiermusy - Bialystok - Kruszyniany – Korycin - Bialowieza –Krzesk – Lublin - Rzeszow – Lancut – Sanok – Zakopane – Dunajec River Rafting - Wadowice – Auschwitz – Wieliczka – Krakow

Land only :  $ 2399 USD  ( $ 2759 CAD )
Per person in dbl room land only.  Single room  $ 2889 USD  ( $ 3249 CAD )

Starting in Warsaw on July 16, 2015 – 1 date only !

INCLUDED SERVICES:

• Airport transfer in Warsaw and Krakow
• English speaking tour escort assistance
• English speaking local guides
• Private air conditioned motorcoach
• Meals as per itinerary: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
• Sightseeing & entrance fees as per itinerary
• Hotels as listed
  

YOUR HOTELS:

• WARSAW 2 NIGHTS AT SOFITEL VICTORIA or similar
• KIERMUSY 2 NIGHTS AT DWOREK NAD LAKAMI or similar
• BIALOWIEZA 1 NIGHT AT BEST WESTERN ZUBROWKA or similar
• LUBLIN 1 NIGHT AT GRAND LUBLINIANKA or similar
• RZESZOW 2 NIGHTS AT BRISTOL or similar
• ZAKOPANE 2 NIGHTS AT SABALA or similar
• KRAKOW 3 NIGHTS AT NOVOTEL CENTRUM or similar
  

 

THU, JUL 16 WARSAW ( Welcome Dinner )

Arrive Warsaw and transfer to the hotel.
Time to relax or go for a stroll, our hotel is beautifully situated across from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and steps from Krakowskie Przedmiescie, one of the most beautiful streets in Warsaw. A short stroll will take you past the Presidential Palace, the main campus of the Warsaw University, Church of the Holy Cross, and to the Castle Square. In the evening we meet for dinner. Welcome dinner will be at a local restaurant with live entertainment. Overnight in Warsaw.

FRI, JUL 17 WARSAW ( B, L )

Morning sightseeing of Warsaw including: Royal Route, Lazienki Park, Chopin monument, the Ghetto Memorial, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Old Town Square: Castle Square, St. John’s Church, and the Barbican. Lunch near the Old Town Square. Rest of the afternoon enjoy free time for shopping or to explore on your own. In the evening you can take a stroll by the Vistula River to enjoy a spectacular Sound & Light show at the Multi-Media Fountain Park. Overnight in Warsaw.

SAT, JUL 18 WARSAW – PULTUSK – KIERMUSY ( B, L, D )

After breakfast we leave Warsaw and travel north to our first stop which is Pultusk, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland. The town has existed since at least the 10th century
and was a very important centre of trade and commerce in the Middle Ages. The Castle was originally built around 1405 and rebuilt in the 16th century by famous Italian architects. It is now know as Dom Polonii, with restaurants and a hotel which is under the ownership of the “Association of Polish Community” (“Wspólnota Polska”). Enjoy the traditional Polish hospitality at the Castle’s restaurant where we will taste a selection of local homemade specialties. After lunch we continue to the “Manor above the Meadow” in Kiermusy where you will be transported to a different time. The pace here is laid back and away from the hectic city life.
Dinner at the Manor’s Inn will be a feast of treats prepared in an old Polish style typical to the region.
Overnight at Kiermusy.

SUN, JUL 19 KIERMUSY - BIALYSTOK - KRUSZYNIANY – KORYCIN –KIERMUSY ( B, L, D )

After breakfast we tour the region and visit the highlights of Bialystok as well as the nearby village
of Pentowo which was declared a ”European Stork Village” in 2001. We continue and travel further east for a truly unique experience when we visit a Tatar settlement in the small village of Kruszyniany just 3 kms from the Belarussian border. The name “Tatar” originally referred to one of the Mongolian tribes known as early as the 5th century. The founder of this settlement was Vytautas, the Grand Duke of Lithuania. It was during his reign, between 1392-1430 that the largest groups of Tatars settled in the area. Our visit will be highlighted by a cooking demonstion followed by a lunch featuring authentic Tatar specialties. In the early evening we drive to Korycin for a bon-fire dinner hosted by a local family at their Inn. Overnight at Kiermusy.

MON, JUL 20 KIERMUSY – BIALOWIEZA ( B, D )

Today we leave Kiermusy and drive east to the Bialowieza National Park. This unique primeval forest, which sits on the border of Poland and Belarus, joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. A visit to the Bison Show Reserve will give you a glimpse of other species such as the Tarpan horse. You cannot visit Bialowieza and not try the renowned “Zubrowka" Bison Grass Vodka, so tonight before dinner you will get the oppportunity! Overnight in Bialowieza.

TUE, JUL 21 BIALOWIEZA – KRZESK – LUBLIN ( B, L )

After breakfast we depart towards Krzesk. Here tucked away on 17 acres of farmland is the the small historic Krzesk distillery which produces the premium Chopin Vodka. We will have a tour of the distillery with an introduction to how the vodka is produced. Each bottle of Chopin Vodka contains only three ingredients: the highest quality naturally grown potato, rye or wheat , yeast, and purified artesian well water. No additives.
After our lunch and vodka tasting we continue our drive to Lublin. Check-in to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, the hotel is located steps to the pedestrian area and shopping. Overnight at the Grand Lublinianka Hotel.

WED, JUL 22 LUBLIN – RZESZOW ( B, D )

After breakfast we will join our guide for a walking tour of Lublin. Since our hotel is in the very heart of the town, it is a short stroll to the Old Town, where you will see the Rynek (Market Square), Trinity Cathedral, the Krakow Gate and then on to the Castle.
In the early afternoon we depart for Rzeszow for dinner and overnight.

THU, JUL 23 RZESZOW – LANCUT – RZESZOW ( B, L )

In the morning we will take a short drive to Lancut Castle, one of the most beautiful aristocratic residences in Poland. Now a Museum, it’s last private owner was Count Alfred Potocki. The Museum is famous for its unique collection of horse-drawn carriages. After our visit we will enjoy lunch at the castle restaurant before returning to Rzeszow for a after walking tour of the Old Town. Overnight in Rzeszow.

FRI, JUL 24 RZESZOW – SANOK – ZAKOPANE ( B, D )

After breakfast we head south to Sanok where we will visit Poland’s largest open air Museum. There are about 100 traditional buildings here providing insight into the cultural heritage and mix of the ethnic groups which inhabited this Polish-Ukrainian borderland. Continue to Zakopane for dinner at a typical highlander inn with folklore. Enroute to dinner we will stop to visit a woodcarver working at his shop and see a display of his handicrafts. Overnight in Zakopane.

SAT, JUL 25 ZAKOPANE – DUNAJEC RIVER RAFTING – ZAKOPANE ( B, L / D )

Today we will discover Zakopane. Morning sightseeing of this lively resort town including cable-car (funicular) ride to the top of Gubalowka Mountain for a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Free time to wander the market place where you can find local specialties such as artistic leather works, wood carvings, and local cheeses. In the afternoon we take a short drive for today’s adventure - a rafting ride on the Dunajec River through the Pieniny mountain range. This is definitely not “white water “ rafting but a very leisurely and scenic 2 hour ride on a highlander wooden raft winding through the mountains and meandering back and forth across the Slovak border. After our ride we will have a late lunch at a local Inn. Return to Zakopane and enjoy the evening at your leisure. Overnight in Zakopane.

SUN, JUL 26 ZAKOPANE – WADOWICE – AUSCHWITZ – KRAKOW ( B, L )

This morning we leave Zakopane and travel north again. Our first stop will be Wadowice, home of our beloved Pope John Paul II. During your free time enjoy a “kremowka”, a tasty cake and John Paul’s favorite, at one of the local cafes. We then continue to Auschwitz to visit the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp and a UNESCO Heritage site since 1979. Now, a Museum it is a symbol of humanity’s cruelty to its fellow human beings. Lunch on the outskirts of Auschwitz. Continue to Krakow for overnight.

MON, JUL 27 KRAKOW ( B, D )

After breakfast we will meet in the lobby for half day sightseeing tour of Krakow with our local guide including: The Royal Wawel Hill, the Royal Route and the Old Town area with the Old Town Market Square, the Cloth Hall, the Barbican, St. Mary's Church with 15th century Witt Stwosz Altar inside, and Florianska Gate. We end our tour at the Market Square where you can spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure shopping in and around the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) or exploring what is beneath the Market Square by visiting the unique Krakow Underground Musem. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Krakow.

TUE, JUL 28 KRAKOW – WIELICZKA SALT MINES – KRAKOW ( B, D )

This morning we will take a short drive to the outskirts of Krakow to visit the oldest salt mine in Europe which has been operating since the 13th century and is a UNESCO Treasure. Our tour of the mine will take approximately 2 ½ hours. After the visit we will return to Krakow to enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own ( time for last minute shopping !). Tonight’s farewell dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight in Krakow.

WED, JUL 29 KRAKOW – END OF TOUR ( B )

After breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight home.

 

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B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner