Discovering Poland

Duration: Available - March to October of 2024

Location: Poland

Price: $3,800 Estimated

Details

Many have asked when we would return to the Baltic Sea. This 12 day tour, arranged through Collette Vacations, offers some of the best coverage of history and culture. Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Torun and Gdansk are just a part of this awesome itinerary.

Rates are estimated at $3,800 double and include airfare, transfers and the complete tour.
12 days 15 Meals : 10 Breakfasts and 5 Dinners

Itinerary

Day1

Overnight Flight
Your journey through Poland begins with an overnight flight.

Day2

Warsaw, Poland – Tour Begins
Welcome to Warsaw! Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a welcome dinner.

Day3

Warsaw
Embrace the moving history of Warsaw, a city reborn after WWII, as you embark on a locally-guided tour. Your journey through this capital city includes stops at what remains
of the Warsaw Ghetto, the monument and Wilanow Palace. The afternoon is free to relax or explore independently.

Day4

Warsaw – Czestochowa – Krakow
Travel south to Krakow, a charming old world city famous for its well-preserved town center. En route, stop in Czestochowa, the spiritual capital of Poland, where each year over 5 million pilgrims journey to pay their respects to the famous Black Madonna. Housed in the Jasna Gora monastery, you journey inside for an up-close look at this miraculous image. Arriving in Krakow, enjoy some free time. This evening, you are introduced to traditional Polish culture during a folklore show and dinner, complete with wine and beer.

Day5

Krakow
This morning, your tour with a local expert includes visits to the Market Square, St. Mary’s Church and the university. You will also visit Wawel Castle and explore this former residence of Polish kings. The rest of your day is at leisure. Perhaps you’ll stroll the quaint side streets of Krakow’s famous old town, have coffee in one of the largest squares in Europe or walk along the river for views of the new sections of the city. You may also visit the Schindler Museum or join your fellow travelers on an optional excursion.

Day6

Krakow – Auschwitz – Wroclaw
A local expert guides you through the former concentration camp of Auschwitz. Learn the history of the prison and many of the hardships that occurred within those walls. Later this afternoon you arrive in the ancient city of Wroclaw. Tonight, join your traveling companions for some locally-brewed beer and a traditional “home-style” dinner at a local restaurant.

Day7

Wroclaw
A morning tour of Wroclaw brings you up-close and personal to this large and ethnically diverse city. It could be the only location where you can find a Stare Miasto (Old Town) with a Synagogue, a Lutheran church, a Roman Catholic church and an Eastern Orthodox church standing near each other. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day8

Wroclaw – Torun
Today you travel to the town of Torun, a UNESCO World Heritage site and birthplace of the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. Torun remains one of the best preserved medieval towns in all of Europe and is one of the “Seven Wonders of Poland.” This evening, join a local resident for a walking tour of this unspoiled town, including a stop at Copernicus’s house. Next, you step back into history while baking and sampling your very own gingerbread according to a 500-year-old recipe.

Day9

Torun – Marienburg Castle – Gdansk
Travel to the seaside city and port of Gdansk. En route, stop in the town of Malbork, home to Marienburg Fortress, the largest castle in the world. A guided tour of this 700-year-old structure introduces you to the world of the Knights of the Teutonic Order. Upon your arrival in Gdansk, join a local expert for an introduction to this strategic and historic city. Visit City Hall, St. Mary’s Church and the Polish post office where Polish militia defended against one of the first German attacks of WWII. Later, visit the Gdansk Shipyard, site of the creation of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement in 1980 that helped liberate Poland from Soviet rule.

Day10

Gdansk
Today is yours to relax or explore the city independently. You may choose to join an optional excursion outside the city that includes a visit to a working hay farm, the opportunity to make your own Polish ceramics, lunch with a local family and a carriage ride through the forest to a stunningly beautiful lake.

Day11

Gdansk – Warsaw
Your journey through Poland comes full circle with your return to Warsaw. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating a fantastic journey through Poland.

Day12

Warsaw – Tour Ends
Flight back home