Warsaw – Czestochowa – Zakopane – Krakow - Auschwitz – Lowicz – Torun  – Gdansk – Gdynia - Sopot - Warsaw

Land only: $ 2399 USD  ($ 2975 CAD) per person in dbl room land only. 
Single room $ 2997 USD  ($ 3725 CAD)

Starting in Warsaw:
May 11, Jun 8, Jul 13, Aug 17, Sep 7, Oct 5, 2024

INCLUDED SERVICES:

• Transportation within Poland by air-conditioned motorcoach / mini-bus (depending on group size)
• English speaking tour escort assistance throughout
• English speaking local guides where required
• Sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
• Meals: breakfast daily at hotel & 6 lunches, 2 dinners
• Hotels: All rooms with private bath or shower, based on two person sharing a room.
• A limited number of single rooms are available at a supplement. 
  We reserve the right to substitute hotels of similar category, when and if necessary. 

 

YOUR HOTELS:

• 3 nights at Novotel Warszawa Centrum or similar
• 1 night at Bachleda Kasprowy in Zakopane or similar
• 3 nights at Novotel Krakow City West in Krakow or similar
• 1 night at Mercure Torun Centrum in Torun or similar
• 2 nights at Sadova in Gdansk or similar

 

DAY 1 – SATURDAY - WARSAW  (WELCOME DINNER)

Arrive Warsaw and transfer to hotel. Transfer from airport to hotel is not included but can be arranged at an additional cost on request.  Meet your guide and the rest of the group at 6 pm in the hotel lobby. Drive along the beautiful Royal Route with its historical monuments and residences. Stop at the Castle Square for a short walk through the Old Town, and then join us for our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Your meal will include typical Polish dishes and the famous Polish vodka, “Zubrowka”.

DAY 2 – SUNDAY - WARSAW  (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

This morning we introduce you to the highlights of Warsaw. A half-day sightseeing tour includes the Old Town, beautifully rebuilt after World War II, with the impressive Royal Castle, seat of the kings of Poland. Here the Constitution of May 3rd was proclaimed in 1791, the second oldest constitution, after the US Constitution, in the world. Walk through the Market Square full of finest restaurants, gift shops and galleries. Pass the Barbican, at Krasinski Square stop by the Monument of Warsaw’s Uprising. We then drive to see the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, Warsaw’s Grand Opera and National Theatre House, and the Ghetto Memorial. Lunch will be served at the local restaurant.  In the late afternoon you will take an unforgettable musical journey through the world famous compositions of our greatest composer, Frederic Chopin, at a piano recital.

DAY 3 - MONDAY  -  WARSAW – CZESTOCHOWA – ZAKOPANE   (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast, we depart for Zakopane – one of the most popular vacation resorts in the Tatra Mountains. Enroute we stop in Czestochowa to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the evening we arrive in Zakopane, beautifully situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, in the valley between Gubalowka and Giewont mountains. It is the most popular resort in Poland and one of the most beautiful places in all of Poland, owing to its picturesque location. Once, a small mountain village, Zakopane became a fashionable artist’s retreat at the beginning of the 20th century.

DAY 4 - TUESDAY -  ZAKOPANE –  DUNAJEC RIVER RAFTING - KRAKOW   (BREAKFAST, DINNER)

In the morning you will have a sightseeing tour of Zakopane, whose wooden architecture blends with the natural landscapes and it is copied in other parts of Poland - known as Zakopianski Style. You will visit the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a great example of the wooden architecture in Zakopane, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, which was built by the people of Zakopane to thank the Lady of Fatima for saving the Pope after an attempt on His life.  Admire the breathtaking views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka* Mountain and then free time  for lunch and to shop for souvenirs of arts and crafts of the Highlanders (Gorale) in the local shops.  We meet and continue on to Krakow. Enroute we take a spectacular rafting trip on the Dunajec River** in Pieniny National Park. Tonight’s dinner will be served upon arrival at the hotel.

Important note:
*Funicular to Gubalowka Mountain (subject to confirm on spot; service depends on the weather and funicular technical conditions)
**Dunajec Raft Trip (subject to confirm on spot; service depends on the weather and the level of the river)

DAY 5 - WEDNESDAY - KRAKOW – AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU – KRAKOW   (BREAKFAST, LIGHT LUNCH)

In the morning we drive to Auschwitz-Birkenau, to visit the Martyrdom Museum of the former Nazi concentration camp.  After our visit we return to Krakow for lunch at a local restaurant.  In the afternoon we visit Kazimierz – Jewish Quarter of Krakow, that was established in 1335 by great Polish King Casimir the Greatest, who appreciated Jewish talents and usefulness for developing the country. Surrounded by defensive walls with its own Town Hall, soon the district became one of the European centres of Jewish religion, learning and culture. Today, the world of narrow streets and lines, small architectural buildings and sacral places show us an extraordinary trace of co-existence of Jewish and Polish communities.  Evening and dinner on your own.

DAY 6 - THURSDAY - KRAKOW (OPTIONAL WIELICZKA) (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

The morning sightseeing tour will feature Wawel Hill with its impressive Royal Castle and Wawel Royal Cathedral - the place of the cult of St. Stanislaw and St. Jadwiga, Queen of Poland.  Its 18 chapels are true architectural masterpieces. The giant bell, Zygmunt from 1520 ranks with the world’s largest. This is the place, where Polish kings were crowned and buried. Continue the tour with the walk to the Old Town with its restored Main Square of magnificent houses and palaces. There, you stop at St. Mary’s Basilica, to see the magnificent wooden altar by Wit Stwosz. In the middle of the square is the Cloth Hall built before 1349, but renovated in the 16th century with many shopping stalls inside. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and the rest of the day is at leisure ,  or we can arrange an optional ($) tour to Wieliczka Salt Mine.

DAY 7 - FRIDAY - KRAKOW – LOWICZ – TORUN     (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast, we leave for Torun. On the way we will stop in Lowicz, a typical Mazovian town famous for folk art: colorful costumes and beautiful paper cut-outs. You will be invited for a home-hosted lunch by a local family, whose charming cottage is located at the foot of the former Lowicz Castle. You will be welcomed in a typical Polish way, with bread & salt, and enjoy your meal served by the young married couple in their lovely home. You will have time to talk about their day to day life and have your dessert in a beautiful garden. We continue to Torun, where the balance of the day is at your leisure.

DAY 8 – SATURDAY -   TORUN – GDANSK       (BREAKFAST)

In the morning we see the highlights of Torun. It is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus and considered one of the most magnificent historic cities of Poland. Its Old Town has been included in UNESCO’s list for its impressive 13th century Town Hall, superb churches and historic streets preserving Torun’s past glory. A visit to Copernicus Museum. Free time for lunch on your own and then we drive to Gdansk. Upon arrival, we take a brief walk through the Old Town.

DAY 9 - SUNDAY -  GDANSK    (BREAKFAST)

Today we tour Gdansk in depth. We start from the Upland Gate - a fragment of the city's former fortifications and one of its main gates. Just behind it, we pass by a baked-brick construction consisting of the Prison Tower and the Torture House - relics of the 15th century Gothic defense walls. The Golden Gate, situated next to the Prison Tower, opens onto Long Market - a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades. A real feast for the eyes!!! It is here that the richest burghers of Gdansk once lived. Next, we come upon the Main Town and the Artus Court - a building used for Hanseatic League meetings. It is renowned as the most beautiful court among all of Europe’s Hanseatic cities. Just behind it stands the tower of St. Mary's Basilica, a part of the most precious and largest red-brick Gothic churches in Gdansk. On our way back we pass by Mariacka Street, with its gabled terraced houses and elegant boutiques. The balance of the day is free to give you time for shopping Baltic arts and crafts, including unique amber jewelry.

DAY 10 - MONDAY - GDANSK – GDYNIA – SOPOT – OLIWA – WARSAW    (BREAKFAST, LUNCH)

After breakfast we drive to Gdynia, youngest of the tri-city complex, which also includes Sopot the famous and fashionable seaside resort. In Sopot you will see the oldest and longest wooden pier in Europe. We will also visit Oliwa Cathedral famous for one-of-a-kind pipe organ, to enjoy a concert.   Lunch at a local restaurant and in the afternoon we drive to Warsaw.

DAY 11 – TUESDAY - WARSAW           (BREAKFAST)

Buffet breakfast ends your tour.   Transfer to airport not included but can be arranged at an additional cost on request.

 

Airport transfers are optional – pricing upon request.
**  itinerary is subject to minor changes that may be required due to unforeseen circumstances & restrictions **

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B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner