Magic of Poland

Cultural tour of Poland

Get an exciting taste of the historically rich state of Poland. In 7 days, we cover the main and major attractions of Poland lying between Warsaw and Krakow. Discover the picturesque capital of Warsaw, stroll through the famous hill resort of Zakopane and take in the country’s many castles, art pieces and architectural marvels. Our tour includes visits to 4 World Heritage Sites such as Krakow, Auschwitz, Warsaw and the incredible Wieliczka Salt Mine. This journey can easily be combined with our other small group cultural tours through Eastern Europe including Moldova and Romania.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites covered in this tour
1. Auschwitz-Birkenau 2. Historic Centre of Warsaw
3. Historic Centre of Krakow 4. Weliczka Salt Mines
Tour Information
Duration : 07 days
Minimum : 02 persons
Average : 25 persons
Price (From) : US$ 1395
International air not included
Day 01: Arrive Warsaw
(D)
Day 02: Warsaw
(B, L)
Day 03: Warsaw/Czestochowa/Zakopane (Drive)
(B, L)
Day 04: Zakopane/Krakow (Drive)
(B, D)
Day 05: Krakow/Auschwitz/Krakow (Drive)
(B, L)
Day 06: Krakow/Wieliczka/Krakow (Drive)
(B, D)
Day 07: Depart Krakow
(B)
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Day 01: Arrive Warsaw

Upon arrival at Warsaw Airport we are met and transferred to our hotel. Check in time at the hotel is from 1500 hrs. At 6:00 PM, we meet our guide and group members the in the hotel lobby. We then are driven along the beautifully renovated Royal Route with its historical monuments and beautiful residences. We stop at Castle Square for a short walk through Old Town to at a local restaurant. Our welcome dinner will include typical Polish dishes and famous Polish vodka, “Zubrowka”.

Overnight: Novotel Warszawa Centrum, Warsaw (2 nights) (D)

Day 02: Warsaw

Royal Castle in Warsaw

This morning we discover the highlights of Warsaw. Our half-day sightseeing tour includes the Historic Centre of Warsaw*, meticulously rebuilt after World War II, including the impressive Royal Castle, the seat of the kings of Poland. Here the Constitution of May 3rd was proclaimed in 1791, becoming the second oldest constitution in the world. We get to admire some of the castles 300 rooms, including the Canaletto Room featuring 23 paintings; the Throne Room; the magnificent Knight’s Hall with six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli; the Marble room featuring 22 portraits of Polish kings and the largest and most impressive of all the castle’s chambers, the Ballroom. Afterwards we get have lunch at a local restaurant. We then continue our tour with a drive to the area of the former Warsaw Ghetto. En route, we see the building of the National Opera House and Town Hall.  During our tour of Warsaw, we experience the famous Warsaw chocolate factory “Wedel”, tasting a delicious hot chocolate at the Wedel Old Fashioned Shop.  In the evening, we take an unforgettable musical journey through the world- famous compositions of Poland’s greatest composer, Frederic Chopin, at a piano recital. (B, L)

Day 03: Warsaw/Czestochowa/Zakopane (Drive)

After breakfast, we depart for Zakopane – one of the most popular vacation resorts in the Tatra Mountains. En route, we stop in Czestochowa to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon. Our lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Czestochowa. We arrive in the evening in Zakopane, a town beautifully situated at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Its picturesque location makes it one of the most popular resorts in the country. Once a small mountain village, Zakopane became a fashionable artist’s retreat at the beginning of the 20th century.

Overnight: Mercure Kasprowy, Zakopane (1 night) (B, L)

Day 04: Zakopane/Krakow (Drive)

In the morning, we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Zakopane. This city’s wooden architecture, known as the Zakopianski style, blends seamlessly with the natural landscape and has inspired buildings across Poland. We visit the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a great example of the wooden architecture in Zakopane, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, which was built by the people of Zakopane to thank the Lady of Fatima for saving the Pope after an attempt on his life. Admire the breathtaking views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka Mountain (subject to weather conditions) and shop for arts and crafts created by the Highlanders (Gorale) in the local shops. After a lunch on our own, we continue to Krakow. En route, we take a spectacular rafting trip on the Dunajec River (subject to weather & river conditions) in Pieniny National Park. We then continue to Krakow, where upon arrival dinner will be served at our hotel.

Overnight: Novotel Krakow City West, Krakow (3 nights) (B, D)

Day 05:Krakow/Auschwitz/Krakow (Drive)

The Main Market Square in Krakow, Old Town, Poland

Our morning sightseeing tour of the Historic Centre of Krakow* will feature the Wawel, the Royal Castle, home to three dynasties of Polish monarchs. Its stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless art, valuable period furniture and rare ancient objects, such as a collection of monumental 16th century tapestries. Next we visit the Wawel Cathedral, featuring 18 chapels - the place where Polish kings were crowned and buried. which are true architectural masterpieces. Following our visit, of Wawel, we drive to the Old Town, featuring its restored Main Square of magnificent houses and palaces. Here we 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. After lunch, we drive to Auschwitz *, the Nazi Concentration and Extermination Camp. The fortified walls, barbed wire, platforms, barracks, gallows, gas chambers and cremation ovens bear silent witness to the conditions within which the Nazi genocide took place. Auschwitz-Birkenau, was the largest concentration camp of the Third Reich. According to historical investigations, 1.5 million people, among them a great number of Jews, were systematically starved, tortured and murdered in this camp from 1940 to -1945, a symbol of humanity's cruelty to its fellow human beings. (B, L)

Day 06: Krakow/Wieliczka/Krakow (Drive)

We enjoy a free morning in Krakow to enjoy this historical town on our own. In the afternoon we sample the food in the famous Krakow cafeteria, before driving to the Wieliczka Salt Mine* (subject to lift functioning). The deposit of rock salt in Wieliczka has been mined since the 13th century. This major industrial undertaking had royal status and is the oldest of its type in Europe. The Wieliczka Royal Salt Mines illustrate the historic stages of the development of mining techniques in Europe from the 13th to the 20th centuries; featuring; hundreds of kilometers of galleries with works of art, underground chapels and statues sculpted in the salt, making for a fascinating pilgrimage into the past. Dinner with a folkloric show will be served at a local restaurant in Wieliczka, before we return to Krakow. (B, D)

Day 07: Depart Krakow

After breakfast this morning, we are transferred to the airport for our flight home. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. or we might wish to join one of Bestway’s other European cultural tours. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

We accept payments in US$, CA$ as well as in other convertible currencies like EUR, AUD and GBP. Tour prices have been costed in US$. CA$ price shown below is an indicative amount reached at by using the conversion rate at the time of web posting and will be applicable if there is no change in the conversion rate. Should the currency conversion rate change, the US$ pricing will prevail. Bestway Tours & Safaris offers a conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please click here

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Notes

This tour is not part of our small group journeys.

Inclusions


Tour Price Includes
  • Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes
  • 12 Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
  • All sightseeing and transfers by private transportation
  • Services of local English speaking guides
  • Services of a through English speaking tour escort
  • Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary
  • Cake with coffee/tea at famous Warsaw and Krakow cafeteria
  • Chopin concert in Warsaw
Not Included
  • Any airfares
  • Insurance/visas
  • Tips/gratuities

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and average tour size of 25 participants.
Also please note that this is NOT part of our small group tours.

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.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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