Poland The Soul of Poland 1 - Itinerary
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Day 1: Warsaw's Old Town On your arrival in Warsaw, a Sights and Soul Travels' representative will meet you at the airport at your flight arrival time for your private transfer to the stylish Hotel Bristol in Warsaw's New Town. After checking into the hotel and some rest, we'll meet the rest of the group in the afternoon for an introductory guided walk of Warsaw's Old Town. We'll visit the Barbican, the Castle Square, St. John's Cathedral, the Royal Castle, the Old Town Market Square and we'll stop at the Warsaw City Museum. In the evening, we'll relax over the welcome dinner, in an elegant restaurant in Warsaw's Old Town, as we get to know each other and enjoy an informal discussion about Warsaw's history and present. Day 2: Warsaw Rising 44 Museum - Lazienki Palace on the Water - Chopin Concert Today, we'll continue learning about the history of Poland, starting with a visit to the Warsaw Rising 44 Museum, honoring the tragic heroism of the people of Warsaw in resistance to the Nazi occupiers during World War II. Then, we'll continue to the baroque masterpiece of the Lazienki Palace on the Water, the former summer home of King Stanislaw August Poniatowski and the Lazienki Gardens, once a hunting ground of the Ujazdow Castle. We'll stroll through the beautifully kept gardens, enjoy an elegant lunch inside the palace, and we'll top the experience with a Chopin music concert held in the Rose Garden (weather permitting) and featuring some of the world's finest Chopin pianists. The evening today will be free to enjoy the city according to your personal interests. Day 3: Jewish Warsaw After breakfast, we'll set out to further explore the city of Warsaw and its history. We'll start with a guided tour of the remains of the pre-war Jewish life in Warsaw and the Warsaw Jewish Ghetto which will allow us to gain first-hand insights into the most tragic period in Warsaw's history: the years of German occupation during WWII. After lunch at an intimate cafe, we'll continue with a tour of one of the city's most renowned museums: the Polin Museum of the History of the Polish Jews, a fascinating journey through the many centuries of Jewish influence on Polish culture, history, cuisine, and mindset. This is a truly memorable, transformative, and thought-provoking experience that will stay with you for a long time. Day 4: Wilanow and Palace of Science and Culture Today, we'll venture outside of the city and visit the royal palace of Wilanow (Villa Nova) which offers a priceless testimony to the splendor of Poland and is one of the most important monuments to Polish culture. After a guided tour of the palace and the gardens which will focus on the symbolism of the palace architecture and the garden's design, we'll return to the city, stopping in its very center to ascend to the top of the controversial Palace of Science and Culture (a gift from Stalin) for a panoramic view of the city and reflection on our experience of Warsaw. In the evening, we'll celebrate our time in Warsaw with dinner at one of its fine gourmet restaurants. Day 5: Flight to Krakow and Krakow's Old Town In the morning, we'll leave Warsaw and take a short flight to Krakow, Poland's most celebrated city. After some time to rest, we'll meet in the afternoon for an introductory walk through the Day 6: Jewish Krakow Today will be devoted to the rich Jewish heritage which defined the city's culture and history over the millennia. We'll start with a visit to the Schindler's Factory Museum which will provide us with insights and further understanding of the events of World War II in Krakow. Afterwards, we'll take a guided walk though the historic Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz, with its synagogues, quaint squares and rich cultural history. The experience will be highlighted with an authentic, private Klezmer music concert held at one of Kazimierz's synagogues, and we'll end the day at the elegant Rubenstein Restaurant, featuring traditional Jewish specialties. Day 7: The Wawel Castle - Czartoryski Museum Today, we'll further explore Krakow to gain new insights into Polish history. We'll start with a leisurely guided walk along the Royal Route to arrive at the Royal Day 8: Pieniny National Park - River Rafting - Bonfire Dinner This morning, we'll leave Krakow and travel to the serene Pieniny National Park, where we'll take a relaxing river rafting cruise in the Dunajec River Gorge, amid the dramatic scenery and towering limestone cliffs. In the afternoon, we'll tour the Renaissance Castle in Niedzica, one of the many borderland castles ruled by powerful overlords, and this one connected with the mystery of the Inca treasures. After returning to Krakow, we'll stop at a private home and enjoy a traditional Polish gathering, cooking dinner over a raging bonfire. Day 9: Ojcow National Park - Pieskowa Skała Castle - Cooking Class Today, we'll set out from Krakow to explore the Ojcow National Park with its amazing Renaissance Pieskowa Skala Castle, surrounded by an elaborate defensive system: the Eagles’ Nest Trail. Built by King Kazimierz the Great (the same king who welcomed the Jews into Krakow, and after whom the Jewish quarters, Kazimierz is named), the trail will allow us to take an easy hike in the spectacular area surrounding the castle. For over 700 years, the castle experienced many changes, so it is a time capsule of Polish and European history and architecture. After returning to the city, we'll get to appreciate the intricacies of Polish cuisine during a cooking class featuring Polish culinary specialties such as hunters' stew and pierogi. Day 10: Wieliczka Salt Mine - Nowa Huta - Kosciuszko Mound This morning, we'll travel to Wieliczka Salt Mine and visit the underground chambers, labyrinths, and chapels carved in salt and decorated with salt crystals chandeliers, and salt sculptures. After returning to the city, we'll take a driving tour of the communist-era neighborhood of Nowa Huta, with insightful commentary on communism's historical implications. We'll continue to the Kosciuszko Mound, the newest (dating from the 19th century) of Krakow burial mounds that have been built in the city since prehistoric times. In the evening, we'll attend the farewell banquet at one of the city's most renowned restaurants, followed by a romantic, night-time carriage ride around the city. Day 11: Departures or the Optional Auschwitz Holocaust Memorial Tour Depending on your flight departure time, you may have some time in the morning for more individual exploration of Krakow, and we will have arranged for your private transfer to the airport according to your flight departure time. If you have opted to extend your tour, please find here the details for the Auschwitz Holocaust Memorial Tour.
History of Poland | Art and Architecture | Warsaw | Warsaw Uprising 1944 | Warsaw Ghetto Uprising 1943 | Wilanow Palace and Garden | Warsaw Books & Movies | Lady with En Ermine | Krakow | Wawel's Dragon | Wieliczka | Nowa Huta | Pieniny Mountains | Shopping | Cuisine | Trivia | Books & Movies |