Polish Explorer – Warsaw, Zakopane, Kraków & The Tatras Mountains

Itinerary

• Day 1

  Local departure by coach or Door-to-Door service, then travel overnight through Germany.

• Day 2

  Arrive in Warsaw in Poland for a two-night stay.

  Meals - Dinner

• Day 3 - Warsaw

  Today we travel into the centre of Warsaw for free time. Although the beginnings of Warsaw go as far back as the 12th and 13th century, the city was forced to completely rebuild after its near-total destruction during World War 2. The symbol of the capital’s rebirth was an unprecedented post-war re-creation of the Old Town, which in 1980 was put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

  To introduce you to the sights, why not join our optional guided sightseeing tour. You will see the Royal Route, with its aristocratic residences, statues and historic churches before visiting the Old Town, the Castle Square the Barbican, and such historical sites as the Ghetto Memorial, the Chopin Monument and the Belvedere Palace. Our local guide will provide an informative commentary, and reveal many of the stories behind the buildings and personalities that have shaped the often-tragic history of this fascinating city. The remainder of the day is at leisure in this remarkable city. Explore the streets of the Old Town with atmospheric alleys, squares and cosy cafés.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 4

  We leave Warsaw today and head south passing the cities of Piotrkow-Trybunalski and Kraków. We arrive at our hotel in Zakopane where we stay for the next four nights.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 5 - Auschwitz

  Spend a day at leisure in Zakopane, or why not join our poignant optional excursion to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Complex. A site of great importance to the Holocaust story, Auschwitz will forever be seen as the centre of a vast plan to exterminate a whole race of people. Rudolph Hess was given the assignment of expanding the camp to accommodate 30,000 prisoners. In this process, he built an annex that would hold 100,000 prisoners of war. As the prisoners arrived, approximately 25 percent were then and there determined to be 'fit for work' and allowed to live a bit longer. The great majority of Jews, however, who were deported to Auschwitz – men, women and children – were immediately sent to their deaths in the gas chambers of Auschwitz II-Birkenau. When the SS realised that the end of the war was near, they attempted to remove all evidence of the atrocities committed there. They dismantled the gas chambers, crematoriums and other buildings. They burned documents and evacuated all the prisoners who could walk to the interior of Germany. The number of victims was approximately one million, only 667 prisoners escaped; 270 were recaptured and executed. Those who were not evacuated were liberated by the Red Army on January 27, 1945. Auschwitz is the largest of the Nazi Concentration Camps, and is preserved in order so that mankind never forgets the atrocities committed here. This remains a hugely emotional experience.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 6 - Kraków

  Today our included excursion takes us to Kraków. As the ancient capital of Poland, Kraków was the royal residence for centuries. It was also the only major city in the country to escape major damage during World War 2. Kraków’s assembly of monuments are listed by UNESCO as one of the world's twelve most significant historic sites.

  Why not join our optional guided tour to introduce you to the sights of the Old Town, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe and deserving of its place among the most beautiful in the world. The square is the focal point of the city and is divided by the imposing Gothic style Cloth Hall. After the sightseeing tour there will be time at leisure to explore all at your own pace. Perhaps walk up Wawel Hill to the Royal Cathedral, one of Poland’s greatest buildings, and the burial place of over 40 Polish Kings.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 7 - Free Time or Morskie Oko

  Today, our optional excursion takes us to Morskie Oko Lake, the largest and best-known lake in the Polish Tatras , regarded as one of the most beautiful. Accompanied by our guide, we start our excursion with a scenic drive through the breathtaking mountain scenery to Palenica Bialczanska. From here, we take a horse and carriage ride through this beautiful area to Polana Wlosienica. We then continue by foot for approximately 1 mile to Morskie Oko Lake, where there will be ample free time to explore at your leisure. Please note: This excursion may not be suitable for passengers with walking difficulties.

  Meals - Breakfast, Dinner

• Day 8

  We leave Zakopane and begin our journey home travelling overnight through Germany.

  Meals - Breakfast

• Day 9

  Return home.

Accommodation

You will stay for two nights at the brand new 4-star Vienna House Mokotow Warsaw. You will then stay for four nights at the 3-star Hotel Sabala, in Zakopane.