For
centuries Poland has played a vital role in the growth
of European culture. Its contribution is evident in
individuals like Frederic Chopin, Nicolaus Copernicus,
Karol Szymanowski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jan Matejko,
Pope John Paul II etc. Poland is simultaneously host
to 13 UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sites –
and in this tour, The Heritage That Is Poland, we visit
8 of the most important sites.
Day 01: Saturday - Arrival in Warsaw
Upon arrival in the historical city of Warsaw, we are
warmly received and transferred to our hotel. Rest of
the day at leisure. Warsaw is a delightful city with
friendly people and this is a good opportunity to browse
the Old Town with its beautiful architecture. This evening
the group gathers at the hotel restaurant for a welcome
dinner of delicious Polish cuisine.
Overnight: Hotel Radisson SAS, Warsaw (1 night)
Day 02: Sunday - Warsaw / Tricity
Morning tour starts with an exploration of the Warsaw
Old Town. We explore this World Heritage Site with its
majestic Market Square, St. John's Cathedral, Barbican
and Castle Square with King Sigismund Waza Column. We
then drive along the Royal Route: Krakowskie Przedmies´cie,
Nowy S´wiat and Aleje Ujazdowskie, with its numerous
churches (Holy Cross Church where Chopin's heart is
kept in the pillar), monuments, historic buildings and
palaces - many of them now housing embassies and ministries.
Walking through Lazienki Park with its famous Palace
on the Water we see one of the last 18th century court
theatres in Europe in Old Orangery, Chopin's monument
and the Belvedere Palace. Later in the afternoon we
drive to Tricity (Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia)
Overnight: Hotel Scandic, Gdansk (2 nights)
(B, D)
Day
03: Monday – Gdansk / Gdynia
Gdansk was once known as Danzig – a name etched
deep in European history. It is a major harbor, first
German, then Hanseatic, Polish, Prussian, Free City
and finally Polish. Desired by many, the city was often
fought over. Indeed, it was in the nearby Westerplatte
that heard the first shots fired in 1939 leading to
World War II. Late in the 1970s the city’s Lenin
Shipyard saw the birth of the Solidarity Trade Union
that made Lech Walesa a household name and began the
process of transformation across the entire region.
Gdansk has not forgotten its history. The lovingly restored
buildings of the Old Town and waterfront provide picturesque
and interesting surroundings. The Gdansk area is as
varied and eternally fascinating as the sea that brought
its fame and fortune. We have time to take a stroll,
dine or shop for the city’s famous amber jewelry.
We will also have a sightseeing tour of Gdynia and the
harbour. (B, D)
Day 04: Tuesday - Malbork / Torun / Poznan (drive)
A short scenic drive gets us to Malbork where the largest
Teutonic castle in Europe is located. Malbork (Marienburg)
was seat of Teutonic Order Grand Master of the 13th
C and an outstanding example of a medieval defensive
construction. The fortification consists of three parts:
Lower Castle (armory, chapel, Gothic houses), Middle
Castle (guest apartments, hospital, knights' chamber,
Grand Master's apartments) and High Castle (treasury,
sleeping rooms, refectory, convent room). We see the
unique Gothic ornaments and smart traps, which Teutonic
brothers created to “get rid of” inconvenient
guests and members. Another unique site of medieval
heritage is the town Centre of Torun . Torun is one
of the most magnificent historic cities in Poland besides
being the birthplace of Copernicus, the well-known Polish
astronomer. Its Old Town has been included in the UNESCO
list thanks to the most impressive 13th century Town
Hall, superb churches and streets uncovering Torun’s
past glory. After touring Torun we continue to Poznan.
Overnight: Hotel Andersia, Poznan (1 night)
(B, D)
Day 05: Wednesday – Poznan / Wroclaw (drive)
This morning, after a short visit to Poznan’s
old Market Square and downtown, we continue to Wroclaw.
Here we tour Ostrow Tumski – the oldest part of
Wroclaw including the Old Town Centre and the famous
Aula Leopoldina at the University of Wroclaw.
Overnight: Hotel Scandic, Wroclaw (1 night)
(B, D)
Day
06: Thursday – Wroclaw / Czestochowa / Auschwitz
/ Krakow (drive)
Another day into history, as we drive to Czestochowa
- one of the most important sites in the Christian world
and often referred to as the Religious Capital of Poland.
Millions of pilgrims from all over the world come here
every year to pray at the miraculous Black Madonna Shrine.
Historians date the shrine to the 14th century; however
legend has it that it was painted by Saint Luke on a
piece of wood from the table used by Virgin Mary in
Nazareth. Now the famous icon is a part of the Baroque
altar. The altar is opened twice a day with organ music
accompaniment. The painting is covered with precious
decoration, forming royal gowns for Virgin Mary and
her Child. Later today we depart, to visit the former
Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz . A grim reminder
of Nazi terror and holocaust, the "death factory"
now Museum of Martyrdom consists of brick barracks filled
with hair, shoes, glasses and other belongings of victims.
Close to Auschwitz,in Birkenau we see hectares of wooden
barracks and gas chambers. Later we continue for the
beautiful city of Kraków.
Overnight: Hotel Kossak, Krakow (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day 07: Friday - Krakow
We begin our tour today with Krakow Old Town and Florianska
Gate, built around 1300. Today the area resembles an
open-air art gallery, with numerous paintings and watercolors
displayed for sale by local artists. Housed in the 13th
century Cloth Hall is the largest collection of Polish
paintings. Saint Mary's Church, dating back
to 1221, is an interesting piece of Gothic, Renaissance
and Baroque architecture. Collegium Maius with Gothic
arcades, expanded in Renaissance style, was home to
Jagiellonian University, the second oldest university
in Central Europe. The Czartoryski Museum collection
contains two of the most precious paintings in Poland:
"Lady with an Ermine" by Leonardo da Vinci
and "Good Samaritan" by Rembrandt. We continue
to see another of Poland’s World Heritage Sites,
the Wawel Castle. This Gothic royal castle was built
on the remains of the 10th century settlement and extended
in Renaissance style in the 16th century. Magnificent
Renaissance interiors contain numerous paintings, furniture
and national memorabilia. Collection of famous "Wawel
Tapestries" designed and made in Flandre, especially
for Wawel interiors, is truly unique. In the afternoon
we visit the historical and interesting Wieliczka Salt
Mine is a unique world-class attraction, included in
the UNESCO "Human Heritage" List. According
to legend the salt resources were brought here from
Hungary by the “Blessed Kinga”, who married
a Pole and dropped a ring down the Hungarian salt mine
shaft to say "farewell" to her homeland. Salt
reserves were soon discovered in Wieliczka. When excavation
started, Kinga's ring was found in the first salt lump.
A tour of the Mine includes beautiful chapels sculpted
in salt - at a depth of 250m below ground level.
(B, D)
Day 08: Saturday – Krakow / departure
We end our Heritage of Poland journey by taking a transfer
to the airport or the railways station for our departure
journey. From here we can join the other tours that
Bestway Tours is offering in the region. Optional transfer
to Warsaw by train available at an additional cost of
US$ 95 per person which includes transfer from hotel
to station at Krakow. (B)
Departure
Dates
2010
English Speaking Departures
Jun 19, Jul 03, 17 & 31, Aug 07, 14, 21 &
28, Sep 11
Inclusions
Tour
Price Includes
Tour
Price Does Not Include
Accommodation
as mentioned or similar
International
airfare & Airport taxes
Meals
as mentioned (B=Breakfast,
D=Dinner)
Visa
fees & Insurance
All
transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary
Tips
& Gratuities
Services
of local English speaking guides and escort
Entrance fees to all sites and museums
Tour
Price
We
accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA
$ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for
clients outside North America).
Bestway
Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection.
Once full payment has been received, and no modification
has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour
that rate.
Estimated
International Airfare - International
airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada
- West Coast
N/A
USA
- West Coast
US
$ 1400
Canada
- East Coast
N/A
USA
- East Coast
US
$ 1000
Participants
This
tour operates on a minimum of 02 and maximum of
16 participants.
Note
Customised
Itinerary
If you would like to have a tour on dates other
than the above ones or with a customised itinerary,
please contact us and we will be happy to work out
an exclusive program for you.
Foreign Language Departures
Please contact us for information on French,
German,
Italian and Spanish
speaking departures.
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com
or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of
U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.
THE
HERITGE OF POLAND
Day
03: Monday – Gdansk / Gdynia 
back
to 1221, is an interesting piece of Gothic, Renaissance
and Baroque architecture. Collegium Maius with Gothic
arcades, expanded in Renaissance style, was home to
Jagiellonian University, the second oldest university
in Central Europe. The Czartoryski Museum collection
contains two of the most precious paintings in Poland:
"Lady with an Ermine" by Leonardo da Vinci
and "Good Samaritan" by Rembrandt. We continue
to see another of Poland’s World Heritage Sites,
the Wawel Castle. This Gothic royal castle was built
on the remains of the 10th century settlement and extended
in Renaissance style in the 16th century. Magnificent
Renaissance interiors contain numerous paintings, furniture
and national memorabilia. Collection of famous "Wawel
Tapestries" designed and made in Flandre, especially
for Wawel interiors, is truly unique. In the afternoon
we visit the historical and interesting Wieliczka Salt
Mine is a unique world-class attraction, included in
the UNESCO "Human Heritage" List. According
to legend the salt resources were brought here from
Hungary by the “Blessed Kinga”, who married
a Pole and dropped a ring down the Hungarian salt mine
shaft to say "farewell" to her homeland. Salt
reserves were soon discovered in Wieliczka. When excavation
started, Kinga's ring was found in the first salt lump.
A tour of the Mine includes beautiful chapels sculpted
in salt - at a depth of 250m below ground level.
(B, D) 
