Fall in love with Poland and its splendors as you found the golden nugget of exciting journeys. The main word to describe Poland is rebirth, rebirth, rebirth. Always torn by great powers but always reborn, bustling with life, Poland will share with you its rich culture, its historical landmarks, its vibrant towns, its charming postglacial lakes, its magnificent palaces and its bustling city squares. You will start with Cracow, the former capital of Poland of which life revolves around the huge Market Square. Then Warsaw, the current capital entirely reconstructed after the Second War. Whatever the odds, Poles never give up! Gorgeous nature will also challenge you in the Olsltyn, capital of the breathtaking Masurian lake district. Do not get lost in the wild or it will swallow you for good! And last but not least, Gdansk, lovely former Hanseatic city and feverish capital of Polish resistance under communism. Explore Poland, Poland, the country that will strike your heart!
Day 1
Tuesday: Arrival in Krakow
Arrival in Krakow, optional transfer to Hotel Novotel Krakow Centrum**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.
Day 2
Wednesday: Krakow
For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls and Wawel with the Wawel Castle and the Wawel Cathedral. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.
Day 3
Thursday: Krakow - Warsaw
We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, where we visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna. Through the flat low-laying plain of Central Poland we reach Warsaw in the early afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Mercure Warsaw Centrum**** or similar.
Day 4
Friday: Warsaw
Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town. The morning sightseeing tour includes the Royal Route and the Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square and the Barbican. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Dawne Smaki.
Day 5
Saturday: Warsaw - Olsztyn
We continue through the well forested North Poland into the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland. The afternoon excursion of the Masurian Lakeland takes us to the town of Gizycko, surrounded to all sides by the lakes, further to the beautiful Baroque church in Swieta Lipka and to picture- postcard town Mragowo. Finally we reach Olsztyn where we check-in at Hotel Przystan****, or similar.
Day 6
Sunday: Olsztyn - Gdansk
Leaving the Masurian Lakeland behind us we travel further North. Our first stop is at Elblag, a town with a bitter-sweet past and a seemingly bright future. After a short visit of the Old Town with the red bricked St. Nicolas Cathedral we continue to pay a visit to Malbork Castle – a massive fortress founded by the Teutonic knights in the 13th century and beautifully sat on the banks of the sluggish Nogat River. From Malbork we reach Gdansk in just one hour and upon arrival we check in at Hotel Mercure Gdansk**** or similar.
Day 7
Monday: Gdansk
Like a mini-state all to itself, Gdansk has a unique feel, cultured, wealthy and cosmopolitan, that sets it apart from all other cities in Poland. During morning old town walking tour we see Dlugi Targ, or Long Market, St. Mary’s Church, St. Bridget’s Church, Artus Court and Gdansk Town Hall. In the afternoon is offered an optional tour of the so-called Tri-City – a conurbation uniting Gdansk with the lively coastal towns of Sopot and Gdynia. The tour along the 35 km gulf of Gdansk includes a visit to the famous pier in Sopot and a lovely organ concert at the Oliwa Church. In the evening is offered an optional farewell dinner at the prestigious Restaurant Pod Lososiem.
Day 8
Tuesday: Gdansk Departure
Optional transfer to the airport.
