Southern Adventure

Meet your guide and the rest of the group in the lobby at 6:00 PM  for a drive along the beautifully renovated Royal Route, passing historic monuments and residences before stopping at Castle Square for a walk through Old Town.  We will stop at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of typical Polish dishes served with the famous Polish vodka,  “Zubrowka."  

Overnight in Warsaw. (D)

Today you will be introduced to the highlights of Warsaw.  Our morning sightseeing includes a visit to Old Town and its impressive Royal Castle, the seat of the kings of Poland.  Old Town was beautifully restored after World War II.  On May 3rd In 1791, the Constitution was proclaimed at this castle, making it the 2nd oldest constitution in the world, after the US Constitution.  We will visit the Canaletto Room with 23 of his paintings, the Magnificent Knight’s Hall housing six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli, the Throne Room and the Marble Room which has 22 portraits of Polish kings, and the most impressive of all the chambers in the castle, the Ballroom.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Old Town before we continue our drive past the National Opera House and Town Hall to the former Warsaw Ghetto.  We will visit the famous Wedel chocolate factory for a taste of their delicious hot chocolate at the “Wedel Old Fashioned Shop." 

This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical journey through Frederic Chopin’s world famous compositions at a piano recital. 

Overnight in Warsaw. (B, L)

Today we depart for Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, one of the most popular vacation resorts in Poland.  We will stop in Czestochowa for lunch and to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon. 

We arrive in Zakopane in the evening. This beautiful resort town is located in the valley between Gubalowka and Giewont, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane used to be a small mountain village but became a favorite artist’s retreat at the beginning of the 20th century.

Overnight in Zakopane. (B, L)

After breakfast, we will explore Zakopane.  The town is known for its beautiful wooden architecture style, called Zakopianski Style, copied in other parts of Poland. The Jaszczurowka Chapel is another good example of the wooden architecture style. We will also visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, built by the people of Zakopane in appreciation of the Lady of Fatima for saving the Pope after an assassination attempt.  From the top of the Gubalowka* Mountain, you will get a great view of the Tatra Mountains. Here you can also find souvenirs of local arts and crafts of the Highlanders (Gorale) in the local shops. 

Lunch on your own and some free time to explore the town.  Dinner tonight is served at a typical Highlanders’ Inn with a folkloric music and dance show.

Overnight in Zakopane.  (B, D)

*Funicular to Gubalowka Mountain (subject to confirmation on spot; service depends on the weather and funicular technical conditions)

After breakfast, take a spectacular rafting trip on the Dunajec River* in Pieniny National Park.

In the afternoon, we leave for the medieval city of Krakow.  Dinner upon arrival at the hotel.  Important note: * Dunajec Raft Trip (subject to confirmation on spot; service depends on the weather and level of the rive 

Overnight in Krakow. (B, D)

* Dunajec Raft Trip (subject to confirmation on spot; service depends on the weather and level of the river

The morning sightseeing tour will feature Wawel the Royal Castle, home to three dynasties of Poland’s monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless art, valuable period furniture and rare ancient objects. The collection of monumental 16th century tapestries is matchless. You will also visit Wawel Cathedral, the place of the cult of St. Stanislaw and of St. Jadwiga, Queen of Poland. This 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.

Walk to Old Town with its restored Main Square of magnificent houses and palaces. There, you will stop at St. Mary’s Basilica to see the magnificent wooden altar by Wit Stwosz. In the middle of the square is Cloth Hall built before 1349, but renovated in the 16th century with many shopping stalls inside. Following the tour have a short break for coffee and cake at the famous Krakow cafeteria.

The afternoon is at leisure. Tonight’s dinner will be served at a local restaurant in Old Town.  

Overnight in Krakow. (B, D) 

This morning we leave for Auschwitz, the former Nazi Extermination Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is a museum today and a silent witness to the human tragedy.

On our way back to Krakow we stop in Wadowice, John Paul II' birthplace.  After lunch at a local restaurant, we will visit his childhood home.  From the window of his bedroom, he could see a clock with the sign “Time flies, eternity awaits."

In the Basilica of Wadowice, where Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II, was baptized there is a  special plaque commemorating this fact as well as a stone font where the Pope prayed during His first pilgrimage to Poland in 1979.

You will have some free time after we return to Krakow in the afternoon.  

Overnight in Krakow. (B, L)

This morning visit to Czartoryski Museum that presents most valuable art collection in Poland, and one of the most valuable in Europe. “The Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci or the “Landscape with the Good Samaritan” by Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as many other masterpieces of not only painting, but also sculpture, crafts, military, applied arts are presented in the renovated interiors of the museum.

Time for lunch on your own and departure for Warsaw. On the way, we will stop in Lowicz, a typical Mazovian town famous for folk art: especially noteworthy are the colorful costumes and beautiful paper cut-outs. You will be invited for a home-hosted dinner 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 house. You will have time to talk about their day to day life and have your dessert in a beautiful garden. After dinner, we continue your drive to Warsaw.  

Overnight in Warsaw. (B, D)

After breakfast, optional transfer to the airport for your departure flight. (B)