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Essence of Poland
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Highlights:
Poland is one of the largest countries to emerge from the former Soviet Union. It offers a wide variety of scenery from beaches to mountains, from ancient monasteries to chic cafés. For many years it was occupied by its neighbors either Germany or Russia and suffered the destruction of many of its cities during World War II.
Despite those burdens it has emerged as a democratic powerhouse in Eastern Europe, given the world a beloved Pope and rebuilt its cities to capture its romantic past but raised its abundant youthful population to focus on the future. Consider this suggested itinerary as an introduction to the history and culture of Poland, especially suited for those of Polish ancestry.
Poland is one of the largest countries to emerge from the former Soviet Union. It offers a wide variety of scenery from beaches to mountains, from ancient monasteries to chic cafés. For many years it was occupied by its neighbors either Germany or Russia and suffered the destruction of many of its cities during World War II.
Despite those burdens it has emerged as a democratic powerhouse in Eastern Europe, given the world a beloved Pope and rebuilt its cities to capture its romantic past but raised its abundant youthful population to focus on the future. Consider this suggested itinerary as an introduction to the history and culture of Poland, especially suited for those of Polish ancestry.
SKU:
Explore: Poland
Customizable Itinerary - 11 Days (from $3,465 per person)
Day 1: Depart USA
Today you would leave the USA on an overnight flight to Warsaw the Capital of Poland
Day 2: Arrival in Poland
Upon arrival in Warsaw you will be met and escorted to your boutique hotel which resides in an 18th Century Palace in the Old Town of Warsaw. You have the rest of the day to explore the area around the hotel. You may also take advantage of their indoor pool or a treatment at the spa. In the evening have dinner at the hotel’s Le Rotisserie Restaurant which, in the warmer months, offers the option of dining in the courtyard. Dinner
Day 3: Introduction to Warsaw
Warsaw is the commercial centre of Poland with high rise buildings much like any other major city. It is also a city of parks and palaces and it is these areas where your guide and your driver will take you today. Your first visit will be to Lazienki Park which was originally a hunting palace converted into an English-style park with Lazienki Palace built on an island in the park’s lake. Other sites will include the Orangery, the Observatory and the Belvedere Palace. You will then head for Wilanow Palace and Park which served as the summer residence of the Royal family. It has now been transformed into an art museum which you will visit before having lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you will visit the royal Palace which, like much of Warsaw was destroyed intentionally in World War II. It has now been rebuilt and is close to the history museum where you can watch a documentary which shows you pre-war Warsaw then the destruction that took place between 1939 and 1945. Fortunately you have also had the chance to see the rebuilt city. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Rebellion and Music
In the morning you will get a privately guided tour of the area where the Warsaw Ghetto was created during the war and the site of the Warsaw uprising. After your tour your guide will take you to out of the city to the small village of Zelazowa Wola which is the birthplace and home of the noted composer Fredrik Chopin. After a visit to the museum you return to the city where after dinner you have the opportunity to attend a performance of Chopin’s music at one of the palaces Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: City of a Hundred Bridges
Today you will take a scenic drive into Lower Silesia and the city of Wroclaw. Because of its location, Wroclaw’s history is closely bound up with European history in general and the fate of the Hapsburgs, Prussia and Germany. The city’s uniqueness lies in its canals, local tributaries if the River Odra, and more than 100 bridges which have earned the name “the Polish Venice”. You arrive in the old town of and your boutique hotel. In the evening you dine at one of the restaurants in old town. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6: Exploring Wroclaw and its Surroundings
Start your day with a visit to Ostrow Tumski Island which was supposedly the first fortified settlement in Poland. Across the river in Baroque university whose Auditorium is a masterpiece of decorative art. The city hall and old market square form the heart of the city and the splendid facades of former burgher houses make the whole area an interesting architectural attraction. After lunch you head out to Ksiaz Castle which was built in the 13th Century and is the best preserved castle in Silesia. During World War II it was partially transformed into a bomb-proof bunker for Hitler. In the evening enjoy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Natural Wonders
Today you will head into the countryside to visit the Stolowe Mountain National Park whose most interesting labyrinths can be found in the Szczeliniec Wielka Reserve and the Bledne Skalki rocks which occupy more 250 acres of the park. Visit the ski and hiking resort of Karpacz for lunch before heading back to Wroclaw Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Auschwitz and Krakow
In the morning you will head for the “Jewel of Polish Culture”, the city of Krakow. You will stop at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum of Martyrdom and experience one of the most memorable lessons of modern European history. You will see a film showing the camp’s liberation, the flower-strewn Death Wall, national memorials, the railway line and ramp the remains of hundreds of barracks, all of which form a moving testimony to the number of lives lost as a result of Nazi atrocities across occupied Europe. After this moving experience continue on to your hotel in Krakow Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Exploring Krakow
Today your private guide will take you through the history of Krakow. Having escaped destruction during World War II the city has retained its charming medieval heritage. The core of the city is Market square, the largest in Europe. Here you will find Cloth Hall built in the 13th Century with its collection of paintings. St. Mary’s Church is justly famous for its altar carved by Veit Stoss. At noon exactly, you will hear the Krakow Hejnal (bugle call) played by a fireman trumpeter from the gothic window in the tower of the church. The city is also home to the Jagiellonian University founded in 1364. You will have lunch in a garden restaurant in old town before continuing your exploration. The Royal route leads along Grodzka Street up to Wawel Hill from which you can overlook the Vistula River. Wawel Castle houses on of the largest collection of tapestries in Europe. South of Wawel Hill lies the Kazimierz district which was the centre of Jewish Culture pre-World War II. It was the site of Oskar Schindler’s factory and Szeroka Street where much of “Schindler’s list” was filmed Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: “As Remarkable as the Pyramids, and More Useful”
In the morning you will meet your guide for a visit to the most famous attraction of the Krakow area. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Europe’s oldest operational salt mine. Your three mile walking adventure starts by a descent of 200 feet underground where your guide will escort you through rooms, passages and great chambers down to a depth of 400 feet. Major curiosities include the underground lake with its stunning colors and the beautiful St Kinga’s chapel a remarkable underground “cathedral” where every feature has been carved out of salt. There’s even an underground post office made out of salt as well. After the tour you return to Krakow where you have the afternoon to explore on your own. In the evening join the youthful inhabitants of the city for a night out in old town Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to the USA Breakfast
Today you would leave the USA on an overnight flight to Warsaw the Capital of Poland
Day 2: Arrival in Poland
Upon arrival in Warsaw you will be met and escorted to your boutique hotel which resides in an 18th Century Palace in the Old Town of Warsaw. You have the rest of the day to explore the area around the hotel. You may also take advantage of their indoor pool or a treatment at the spa. In the evening have dinner at the hotel’s Le Rotisserie Restaurant which, in the warmer months, offers the option of dining in the courtyard. Dinner
Day 3: Introduction to Warsaw
Warsaw is the commercial centre of Poland with high rise buildings much like any other major city. It is also a city of parks and palaces and it is these areas where your guide and your driver will take you today. Your first visit will be to Lazienki Park which was originally a hunting palace converted into an English-style park with Lazienki Palace built on an island in the park’s lake. Other sites will include the Orangery, the Observatory and the Belvedere Palace. You will then head for Wilanow Palace and Park which served as the summer residence of the Royal family. It has now been transformed into an art museum which you will visit before having lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you will visit the royal Palace which, like much of Warsaw was destroyed intentionally in World War II. It has now been rebuilt and is close to the history museum where you can watch a documentary which shows you pre-war Warsaw then the destruction that took place between 1939 and 1945. Fortunately you have also had the chance to see the rebuilt city. Breakfast and Lunch
Day 4: Rebellion and Music
In the morning you will get a privately guided tour of the area where the Warsaw Ghetto was created during the war and the site of the Warsaw uprising. After your tour your guide will take you to out of the city to the small village of Zelazowa Wola which is the birthplace and home of the noted composer Fredrik Chopin. After a visit to the museum you return to the city where after dinner you have the opportunity to attend a performance of Chopin’s music at one of the palaces Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: City of a Hundred Bridges
Today you will take a scenic drive into Lower Silesia and the city of Wroclaw. Because of its location, Wroclaw’s history is closely bound up with European history in general and the fate of the Hapsburgs, Prussia and Germany. The city’s uniqueness lies in its canals, local tributaries if the River Odra, and more than 100 bridges which have earned the name “the Polish Venice”. You arrive in the old town of and your boutique hotel. In the evening you dine at one of the restaurants in old town. Breakfast and Dinner
Day 6: Exploring Wroclaw and its Surroundings
Start your day with a visit to Ostrow Tumski Island which was supposedly the first fortified settlement in Poland. Across the river in Baroque university whose Auditorium is a masterpiece of decorative art. The city hall and old market square form the heart of the city and the splendid facades of former burgher houses make the whole area an interesting architectural attraction. After lunch you head out to Ksiaz Castle which was built in the 13th Century and is the best preserved castle in Silesia. During World War II it was partially transformed into a bomb-proof bunker for Hitler. In the evening enjoy dinner at one of our favorite restaurants Breakfast and Dinner
Day 7: Natural Wonders
Today you will head into the countryside to visit the Stolowe Mountain National Park whose most interesting labyrinths can be found in the Szczeliniec Wielka Reserve and the Bledne Skalki rocks which occupy more 250 acres of the park. Visit the ski and hiking resort of Karpacz for lunch before heading back to Wroclaw Breakfast and Lunch
Day 8: Auschwitz and Krakow
In the morning you will head for the “Jewel of Polish Culture”, the city of Krakow. You will stop at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum of Martyrdom and experience one of the most memorable lessons of modern European history. You will see a film showing the camp’s liberation, the flower-strewn Death Wall, national memorials, the railway line and ramp the remains of hundreds of barracks, all of which form a moving testimony to the number of lives lost as a result of Nazi atrocities across occupied Europe. After this moving experience continue on to your hotel in Krakow Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: Exploring Krakow
Today your private guide will take you through the history of Krakow. Having escaped destruction during World War II the city has retained its charming medieval heritage. The core of the city is Market square, the largest in Europe. Here you will find Cloth Hall built in the 13th Century with its collection of paintings. St. Mary’s Church is justly famous for its altar carved by Veit Stoss. At noon exactly, you will hear the Krakow Hejnal (bugle call) played by a fireman trumpeter from the gothic window in the tower of the church. The city is also home to the Jagiellonian University founded in 1364. You will have lunch in a garden restaurant in old town before continuing your exploration. The Royal route leads along Grodzka Street up to Wawel Hill from which you can overlook the Vistula River. Wawel Castle houses on of the largest collection of tapestries in Europe. South of Wawel Hill lies the Kazimierz district which was the centre of Jewish Culture pre-World War II. It was the site of Oskar Schindler’s factory and Szeroka Street where much of “Schindler’s list” was filmed Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: “As Remarkable as the Pyramids, and More Useful”
In the morning you will meet your guide for a visit to the most famous attraction of the Krakow area. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Europe’s oldest operational salt mine. Your three mile walking adventure starts by a descent of 200 feet underground where your guide will escort you through rooms, passages and great chambers down to a depth of 400 feet. Major curiosities include the underground lake with its stunning colors and the beautiful St Kinga’s chapel a remarkable underground “cathedral” where every feature has been carved out of salt. There’s even an underground post office made out of salt as well. After the tour you return to Krakow where you have the afternoon to explore on your own. In the evening join the youthful inhabitants of the city for a night out in old town Breakfast and Dinner
Day 11: Return to USA
In the morning you will be transferred to the airport for a flight back to the USA Breakfast