TRIP ITINERARY
Trip to Poland in August 2010
Day 1, Friday, July 30th
Overnight flight: USA – Warsaw
Day 2, Saturday, July 31st
Warsaw
Your arrival at Warsaw airport, where you are welcomed by our guide. Transfer to a centrally located hotel. Afternoon half-day city tour of Warsaw Old Town, with a welcome dinner at regional restaurant at the Old Town in Warsaw. An overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 3, Sunday, August 1st
Warsaw – Gniezno – Poznan
Breakfast. Next, second part of guided tour of Warsaw including The Royal Route and “Lazienki” – the Royal Park. You will see also places like the former Jewish ghetto, the Monument to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Early that afternoon departure to Poznan, with a break in Gniezno – the first capital of Poland. Dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in Poznan.
Day 4, Monday, August 2nd
Poznan
Breakfast, and a half-day guided city tour including the Old Town Market Square and its Old Town Hall. Walk to Ostrow Tumski - the oldest part of Poznan, with reconstructed gothic cathedral built in 10th century, Bishop’s Palace, the 16th century Lubranskich Academy and gothic Church of the Sacred Virgin Mary. Afternoon for your private arrangements in Poznan (visiting relatives, graves, churches – make arrangements prior to the trip). Dinner and overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 5, Tuesday, August 3rd
Poznan – Wroclaw
Breakfast and departure to Wroclaw. Guided tour of Wroclaw: the Old Town Square, Gothic Town Hall, complex of medieval architecture on Ostrow Tumski Island with gothic Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the University. Later that day check-in at a hotel, dinner at a restaurant at the Old Town. An overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 6, Wednesday, August 4th
Wroclaw - Czestochowa
Breakfast, Departure to Czestochowa, guided tour of Jasna Gora - Czestochowa monastery the most important place for Polish Catholicism. The tour includes the Paulinian’s Hill, the Treasury and the Chapel with the famous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Check in at a hotel in Czestochowa. Dinner and optional visit at Jasna Gora to participate in a wonderful “Apel Jasnogorski”. An overnight at a hotel.
Day 7, Thursday, August 5th
Czestochowa - Krakow
Breakfast, morning Mass and next departure to Krakow. Guided tour of Cracow: the Main Market Square the place where some legends and many historic events are closely linked, St. Mary’s Basilica and historical trade pavilions of the Cloth Hall, the Royal Route, Collegium Maius, Wawel Hill with its impressive, renaissance Royal Castle and Cathedral (the seat of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla before he became Pope John Paul II). Dinner at a regional restaurant with a live music and an overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 8, Friday, August 6th
Wieliczka – Auschwitz
Breakfast, visit to Wieliczka Salt Mine – one of the famous UNESCO World Heritage places. Afternoon, departure to Oswiecim. Guided visit the former Nazi concentration camp Auchwitz-Birkenau, where St Maxymilian Kolbe and St Edith died. Dinner and an overnight at a hotel in Krakow.
Day 9, Saturday, August 7th
Krakow – Wadowice – Zakopane
Breakfast and Next transfer to Wadowice – the birthplace of John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla). Visit his former home and parish church. Transfer to Zakopane and guided half-day tour of the region. Your tour includes the wooden church at Jaszczurowka, sightseeing tour of the town including funicular ride up Gubalowka mountain, from where you can admire a full panorama of the Tatra mountains, followed by a visit to the regional market. Dinner in a regional restaurant with live folk music, overnight stay at a hotel in Zakopane.
Day 10, Sunday, August 8th
Zakopane – Niedzica
Breakfast and whole day tour to Pieniny range mountains including raft trip through Pieniny Mountains on Dunajec Gorge, stops in Niedzica to admire picturesque castle with gothic and renaissance parts. Afternoon return drive to Zakopane. Dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 11, Monday, August 9th
Krakow – Sandomierz – Lublin
We travel to the town of Sandomierz, a fine example of renaissance architecture. The visit includes a walk through the streets of the Old Town, a visit to the castle and finishes at St. Jacob's Church and Dominican Monastery. We then drive to Lublin for dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel.
Day 12, Tuesday, August 10th
Lublin – Kozlowka – Kazimierz Dolny - Lukow
After breakfast we drive to the town of Kozlówka to visit of the famous Polish "Museum of Socialism" with its gallery of the art of socialist realism. We'll continue on to Kazimierz Dolny with a visit to its picturesque old town on the River Vistula, known as a place especially cherished by artists, and a panoramic tour of the town. Then we continue to Lukow for an overnight.
Day 13, Wednesday, August 11th
Lukow
Experience a day of “every-day” life in Poland. Take a Polish train ride, shop at a small city market, have a Polish-style cookout, spend a night out.
Day 14, Thursday, August 12th
Lukow – Warsaw – USA
After a Polish home-style breakfast, transfer to an airport in Warsaw for your return flight.