DAY 1 – WARSAW
Arrival to Warsaw, the capital of Poland; meeting with the guide at the Frederic Chopin airport; transfer to the hotel; time to refresh; welcome dinner.

DAY 2 – WARSAW
Warsaw city sightseeing: transfer to the Lazienki Royal Park with the Palace on the Water and the Island Theatre; from there route leads through Warsaw City with skyscrapers and monumental architecture from communism time,
then the Grand Theatre and Opera House, Jablonowski Palace, Tomb of Unknown Soldier and Saski Park, Town Hall, Umschlagplatz and the Monument of Heroes of Ghetto; transfer to the Old Town (UNESCO Heritage); visit to the Royal Castle and the cathedral, Market Square, and defensive walls with barbican; further walk to the New Town: The Krasinski Palace, Palace of Justice and Monument of Warsaw Uprising; dinner.

DAY 3 – WARSAW – TORUN – MALBORK
Transfer to Torun, the best example of medieval gothic town (UNESCO Heritage) and birthplace of great Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who made a crucial discovery that the Earth is not the centre of universe; walk along the Old Town, visit to the Copernicus House and the Cathedral with a bell tower offering a splendid view over the city; optional visit to a gingerbread factory and time for a souvenir hunt; further transfer to Malbork; dinner.

DAY 4 – MALBORK – TRICITY (GDANSK – SOPOT – GDYNIA) – MALBORK

Morning departure for Gdansk; transfer to Westerplatte Peninsula guarding an entrance to the Gdansk harbour, a place where the WW II began, and the Polish Military Transit Depot was fighting against 13 times more
numerous German enemy; continue to the Gdansk Shipyard, the birthplace of Solidarity movement and stop by the Monument to Fallen Ship Workers (a homage to dockyard workers who died in December 1970) and a famous gate to the shipyard; Guided Gdansk Old Town Sightseeing – visit to the Europe’s biggest gothic brick church of St Mary, picturesque Dluga Street, Golden Gate, the Town Hall, Neptune fountain, the Arthur’s Court, the Green Gate overlooking Motlawa River, Old Crane; optional visit to the Arthur’s Court museum and the Amber Chamber for an amber polishing demonstration; free time for lunch and souvenir hunt; transfer to Oliwa Park with cathedral – the longest Cisterians church in the world, participation in unique organ concert; transfer to Gdynia harbor for a quick photo shot; transfer to Sopot, walk around the famous resort and along the longest wooden pier in Europe, elegant dinner in the fancy restaurant located at the end of the pier; evening transfer to Malbork.

DAY 5 – MALBORK – GIERLOZ – SUWALKI

Guided tour in Malbork Castle – the medieval capital of the Teutonic Order Knights in Eastern Europe and the biggest red brick gothic castle in the world (UNESCO Heritage); transfer to Gierloz; stop in Swieta Lipka in Jesuit monastery; drive to Gierloz; guided sightseeing of Wolfschanze – the Headquarter of Hitler on the Eastern front during the II WW; transfer through picturesque Masuria Region famous for its lakes and green forests to Suwalki; dinner.

DAY 6 – SUWALKI – KAUNAS (LITHUANIA) – TRAKAI – VILNIUS

Morning departure via Lithuanian border to Kaunas; short sightseeing of the city, visit to the Vytautas Church, dedicated to Virgin Mary, and walk along Freedom Avenue (Laisves Aleja), which is believed to be the longest pedestrian walkway in Europe; transfer to Trakai, the ancient capital of Lithuania and visit to the famous insular Trakai Castle – an excellent example of Gothic architecture; further drive to Vilnius; dinner

DAY 7 – VILNIUS
Vilnius City sightseeing, including Gates of Dawn, famous Gediminas castle, the Cathedral, charming St Anna Church, Vilnius University, and its inner yards – one of the oldest and most famous establishments of higher education in Eastern and Central Europe, which was founded in 1579 , the Hill of 3 crosses; afternoon to your leisure; dinner in a local restaurant.

DAY 8 – VILNIUS – SIAULALI – RUNDALE (LATVIA) – RIGA
Morning departure to Riga (Latvia); on the way visit to the most saint place in Lithuania – the Hill of Crosses, the national pilgrimage center with a huge number and variety of crosses brought by Christian pilgrims from all over the
world; entering the Latvia country; stop in Rundale Palace, one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia, built in XVIII century as a summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland, designed by the Italian architect B.F. Rastrelli, the main architect of Saint Petersburg these times; arrival to Riga; dinner.

DAY 9 – RIGA
Riga is famous for its architecture from 19th century and its Art Nouveau style (UNESCO). The city’s pearl of art is the Blackheads House, a striking gothic building with a Dutch renaissance façade. We would see also the Dome Cathedral (the largest place of worship in the Baltics), Freedom Monument and Powder Tower. Afternoon at your disposal or optional tour to the Latvian seaside resort – Jurmala, located 15 km from Riga: dinner.

DAY 10 – RIGA – SIGULDA – TARTU (ESTONIA) – TALLINN

Morning transfer to Sigulda to see the ruins of the castles of Sigulda, Cesis and Turaida, visit to Turaida’s museum – home of numerous statues and sculptures spread in a park. Transfer to Tartu, the oldest town in Estonia already
mentioned in XI century. Walk around the historic centre: university, town hall, ruins of the cathedral, bridges of Angel and Devil. Evening arrival to Tallinn. Dinner.

DAY 11 – TALLINN

Tallinn city sightseeing: Toompea Castle, city walls with Kiek in de Kok – 45m, six-storey cannon tower from 15th century, Dome Church, the oldest church in Estonia founded in 1219. In the Town Hall Square we would see town hall and a famous pharmacy (one of the oldest continuosly running pharmacies in Europe since 1422). Afternoon free to your leisure or an optional tour to baroque Kadriorg Palace. Farewell dinner.

 

DIA 12 – TALLINN– HELSINKI (FINLAND)

Morning ferry to Helsinki; Helsinki city sightseeing – the historical centre, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House; stops in the park with the Sibelius Monument and, when
possible, at the Temppeliaukio Church (church in the rock). Transfer to the airport. Departure.

END OF OUR SERVICES

 PACKAGE INCLUDE:

• Transfer to/from the airport
• Transportation during the trip
• 11 nights in double rooms: 11 nights in hotels (2 in Warsaw, 2 in Malbork, 1 in Suwalki, 2 in Vilnus, 2 in Riga, 2 in Tallin)
• 11 x Half Board (breakfast and dinner): the first meal is a dinner on the day of arrival, the last meal is a breakfast on the day of departure
• English speaking guide
• All fees and entrances

Day 1, Warsaw

Arrival in Warsaw. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Warsaw.

Day 2, Warsaw

Warsaw City Tour allows us to immerse ourselves in and observe the many contrasts of the Polish capital city. The tour starts with a walk around the Lazienki Royal Park. Here we will see the famous monument dedicated to Frederic Chopin, the Palace on the Water, and the Theater on the Island. We will continue with transfer to the Old Town (UNESCO) and a short walk around the Old Town: from the Royal Castle, passing next to the Saint John Cathedral, the Market Square and the barbacane to the New Town. We will continue to the Krasinski Palace, the Supreme Court building. Our itinerary will continue with the Grand Theatre and the National Opera, the Jablonowscy Palace, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Saxon Garden. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 3, Warsaw – Treblinka – Warsaw

During the excursion we will see the old Jewish part of the city, we will visit the synagogue and the Kirkut Jewish cemetery. We will also see other places related to the history and tradition of Polish Jews, including the area of the former ghetto that was completely destroyed during the Second World War and the monuments that commemorate the martyrdom of the Jews in the times of the Holocaust. Visit POLIN Museum that present the history of Polish Jews through centuries, that is considered to be one of the best museums in Europe. In the afternoon: Excursion to Treblinka (4h) to see the museum in the former concentration and extermination camp built by the Germans in the Polish lands during the second world war. In just 16 months when the camp in Treblinka was in operation, it is estimated that almost 800,000 people were killed in its gas chambers, which makes it the second largest Nazi death camp apart from Auschwitz. Return to Warsaw. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 4, Warsaw – Lodz – Warsaw

Morning train transfer to Lodz – one of the biggest Polish cities. During your visit you would find traces of the four cultures: Polish, Jewish, German and Russian that coexisted there and became one. Furthermore, you would admire modernist and industrial arquitecture. Thanks to its numerous factories, Lodz was also called the „Polish Manchester”. During the route you would see the Old Town and the industrial complex of Poznanski family, the famous Manufaktura. Visit to the museum of the Poznanski Factory, one of the richest Jews in the city of its time. In the end, you would discover Piotrkowska Street, the most popular walkway full of shops, pubs, restaurants, and sculptures that commemorate famous inhabitants of Lodz. Finally, we will visit the sites related to the Jewish heritage of Lodz, the cemetery, and the remains of the ghetto. Lodz is also a birthplace of famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein and the famous architect Daniel Libeskind, author of master plan of the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and designer of One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). Return to Warsaw. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 5, Warsaw – Lublin

Morning train transfer to Lublin, the largest city in southeastern Poland, with a long history and very interesting historical buildings. In was here where the Lublin Union was signed in 1569 – a pact that sealed the constitutional union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania creating a free republic associated with a single Parliament, an elected king, a currency, and ethnic and religious tolerance. The Lublin sites stand out as physical reminders of an important milestone in the development of the principles of European democracy, four centuries
before the EU was created. During the walk through the beautiful old town, we will discover many interesting monuments to finish next to the castle. Lublin is one of the Polish cities where the Hebrew culture could develop freely over the centuries, so first Jewish settlers came over already in XV century. Flourishing Hebrew sciences caused the city to be called the Jerusalem of the Polish Kingdom, and even the Jewish Oxford as it was here when in the 16th century, the first Hebrew books and prayer books were published. The Jewish legacy of Lublin could be seen in the castle and old town area as well as in the old University of Wise Men (Jesziwas Chachmej Lublin), in which the old assembly hall is preserved, that formerly operated as a synagogue. Overnight in Lublin.

Day 6, Lublin – Majdanek – Lezajsk – Krakow

In the morning visit to the museum in Majdanek, an extermination camp built by Nazi Germany, in German-occupied Poland 4 km from the city of Lublin, near the border with Ukraine. This proximity meant that the Germans did not have time to destroy the field in retreat, so it is preserved as it was at the time of World War II. Transfer from Lublin to Lezajsk where there is a tomb of Rabbi Elimelech Weissblum of Lezajsk (Lizhensk) a Polish rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. Further transfer to Krakow. Overnight in Krakow.

Day 7, Krakow

Krakow is the cultural capital of Poland with Old Town listed as UNESCO Heritage. During the tour you will see Barbican and defensive walls with Florian’s Gate, the Main Market Square with Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Church, and Town Hall Tower. We would proceed to the Jagiellonian University, pass by Archbishop Palace (where John Paul II used to live) as well as St Andrew’s Church and St Peter and Paul’s Church to reach the Wawel Hill. During the walk we will taste “obwarzanek” (bagel) a typical Krakow pastry, that was brought by Jewish population to North America and right now is extremely popular mostly in New York and Montreal areas. In the afternoon we will explore Krakow Kazimierz (Jewish District) known from Schindler’s List. Kazimierz used to be a separate town close to medieval city of Krakow. It was mostly populated by Jewish community. Throughout years it became Krakow’s district, but the abundance of markets, synagogues and kirkuts (Jewish cemeteries) shaped character of this part of town. As Kazimierz depicts the history of Polish Jews, some shots of Steven Spielberg Schindler’s List were captured here. During this tour you would discover this charming part of Krakow with its monuments and complexed history. Visit to the museum “Oscar Schindler’s Factory” in Krakow included. During our trip, you will have the opportunity to learn about history, monuments, and impressive culture in a part of Krakow still little known to tourists. Overnight in Krakow.

Day 8, Krakow – Oswiecim (Auschwitz) – Wieliczka – Krakow

Transfer to Oswiecim. Visit the museum of Auschwitz – Birkenau (UNESCO), the famous concentration camp and extermination, a symbol of terror, genocide, and holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim (Auschwitz in German) which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the World War II. A visit to concentration and extermination camp museum might help you to comprehend what incomprehensible.

Transfer to Wieliczka the most beautiful and the oldest operating salt mine in the world (UNESCO Heritage). From over 700 years it was a source of Polish fortune and a physical fundament of culture. Today Wieliczka is the most willingly visited Polish tourist object with magnificent chapels, charming underground lakes and original tools and equipment. During this tour you could see a number of excavated chambers on 3 levels adorned with beautiful sculptures made of salt as well as a salt museum. Transfer to Krakow. Overnight in Krakow

Day 9, Krakow
Transfer to the airport in Krakow

Program Highlights:

1. Visit places related to Jewish heritage in Poland in Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow, Lezajsk, Lublin.
2. Find out more about Polish Jews that get popularity in the world like Arthur Rubinstein, Wladyslaw Szpilman (his story is the base of the Polanski’s movie “The Pianist”), Ludwik Zamenhof (creator of the international language Esperanto) or Helena Rubinstein (the creator of the cosmetics brand), Elimelech Weisblum of Lizhensk one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement or famous architect Daniel Libeskind.
3. Visit UNESCO Heritage Sites in Warsaw, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Krakow, Wieliczka.
4. Pay tribute to the victims of WW2 in death camps in Treblinka, Auschwitz and Majdanek.
5. Discover the Polish origin of “obwarzanek” (bagel) a typical Krakow pastry, that was brought by Jewish population to North America and right now is extremely popular mostly in New York and Montreal areas.
6. Visit POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews considered to be one of the best museums in Europe, that was awarded European Museum of The Year 2016 winning against 49 candidates from 24 countries.
7. Visit to the museum “Oscar Schindler’s Factory” in Krakow that present the life in Krakow before and during WW2.

Package includes:

• 8 nights in DBL/TWIN rooms in centrally located hotels:
  • 4 nights in Warsaw
  • 1 night in Lublin
  • 3 nights in Krakow
• 8 x buffet breakfast in all hotels
• Degustation of “obwarzanek” (bagel) a typical Krakow pastry
• Transfer from / to airport
• Transportation during a tour by train and private car / minivan
• All excursions as per the itinerary
• Local English-speaking guides
  • Warsaw
  • Lublin
  • Krakow
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau
  • Wieliczka
• Entrances to:
  • POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
  • Treblinka concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Factory Museum in Lodz
  • Majdanek concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Museum “Oscar Schindler’s Factory”
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine

Price excludes:

• Meals (except breakfast)

DAY 1 – WARSAW

Arrival to Warsaw; welcome dinner. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 2 – WARSAW

Explore Warsaw, the Polish capital, and its main sights. Stroll through the manicured greens of Lazienki Royal Park with its monument of the famous composer Frédéric Chopin, Island Amphitheatre, and the neoclassical Palace on the Water. Transfer to the old Jewish quarter and see the remnants of the former Jewish Ghetto and Holocaust memorials like Umschlagplatz and the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. In the Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage Site, walk along the cobbled streets from the Royal Castle past St John’s Cathedral through the Market

Square and Barbican to the New Town, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. Continue onto the Saxon Gardens and Pilsudski Square, the site of John Paul’s II celebrated mass during his first pilgrimage to Poland, when he spoke the famous words: “May the Holy Spirit descend and renew the face of the Earth, this Earth..” – a message which became true after the fall of communism in Poland. Overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 3 –   WARSAW – NIEPOKALANOW – LICHEN  

Transfer from Warsaw to Niepokalanow, a Franciscan catholic community founded by Friar Maximilian Kolbe in 1927. Visit the Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe – a great promotor of consecration and entrustment to Mary, who was later canonized as a martyr-saint for sacrificing his life in a Nazi death camp in Auschwitz for a fellow prisoner. Continue the journey towards Lichen Stary. Visit the shrine to the Virgin of Lichen with its famous Way of the Cross (Golgotha), the monument to Pope John Paul II and the shrine blessed by the Pope – the biggest one

in Europe, the seventh biggest in Europe and the eleventh biggest in the world. Enjoy a stroll with your local guide around the sanctuary. Overnight in Lichen.

 

DAY 4 – LICHEN – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW

In the morning transfer to Czestochowa, home to the most important Polish shrine of Virgin Mary which attracts millions of pilgrims each year and was also visited by Pope John Paul II. Visit the monastery of Jasna Gora with the famous altar of the Black Madonna, the monument to the parents of the Pope and the inscription on the door in his honor. We continue our journey towards Krakow. Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 5 – KRAKOW – LAGIEWNIKI

Krakow, the former royal capital, fully deserves its position on the first ever published UNESCO World Heritage List. The city has  many links  to John  Paul II who lived here  in his  youth and  later was appointed  the bishop  and 

Metropolitan of Krakow. Visit the Wawel Hill with the XIV century cathedral and the Wawel Royal Castle with an arcaded courtyard – the former seat of Polish kings. Our tour continues through the Market Square in the Old Town with its iconic landmarks such as Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Church, and Town Hall Tower. Continue onto the medieval fortifications of Barbican with Florian’s Gate. In the afternoon visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki blessed by John Paul II. Although it is the newest sanctuary in Krakow it attracts thousands of pilgrims due to the relics of St Faustina buried here. Visit the monastery where St Faustina Kowalska lived and the basilica with the famous image of Merciful Jesus. Free time to attend a mass at the shrine. Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 6 – KRAKOW – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – WADOWICE – WROCLAW

Transfer to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO), a unique sanctuary of 42 picturesque chapels scattered around the surrounding hills of Beskidy Mountains, resembling the landscape of the Holy Land. Kalwaria’s chapels symbolize the perfect union of the worldly with the spiritual and religious values. Transfer to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Visit Karol Wojtyla’s childhood home and the basilica where was baptized. Continue the journey towards Wroclaw. Overnight in Wroclaw.

DAY 7 – WROCLAW – SWIDNICA – WROCLAW

Explore Wroclaw – a City of a Hundred Bridges. Its rich history and medieval atmosphere attract millions of tourists every year. Start at the main entrance of the XIII century Cathedral of St John the Baptist located on the Ostrow Tumski  

island – the oldest part of Wroclaw. Crossing the Tumski bridge we arrive in the Old Town with a cathedral and Wroclaw University, famous for its representative baroque lecture hall Aula Leopoldina. The next highlight on our route is the Centennial Hall (UNESCO). Transfer to Swidnica and visit the Evangelical Church of Peace (UNESCO) – built from wood, straw, clay, and sand in XVII century. Overnight in Wroclaw.

DAY 8 – WROCLAW – CZERMNA – PRAGUE

Transfer to Czermna where we will visit the Chapel of Skulls, one in its kind place in Poland and one of only three similar chapels in Europe. It’s a mass grave of the victims of the Thirty-Year War and the Silesian Wars as well as of famines and cholera epidemics. Every bone in the chapel is authentic and the skulls of those who created the chapel were placed in its the centre, on the altar. Transfer to Prague. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Prague.

DAY 9 – PRAGUE

Explore Prague, described as “the golden city”. Transfer to the Prague Castle, the ancient seat of the kings, now housing the Presidential Palace and various museums. Visit the Royal Castle and St Vito’s Cathedral with the funeral chapel of St Wenceslas – the patron saint of Czech Republic. Stroll around Hradcany Hill and its remarkable baroque cloister of Loreto, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Golden Street. Crossing Charles Bridge, we continue our walk along the Royal Route until the Old Town with the Market Square and the Town Hall Tower, to end on St Wenceslas Square. Overnight in Prague.

 

DAY 10 – PRAGUE – SVATA HORA – CESKY KRUMLOV

Transfer to Svata Hora – the oldest and most important pilgrimage site of Marian devotion in Czech Republic. Then transfer to Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO Heritage), and stroll through the medieval town located on the banks of Vltava  

river. Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.

DAY 11 – CESKY KRUMLOV – MARIAZELL – VIENNA

Transfer to Mariazell, one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Marian devotion in Europe, famous for the ‘silent candles’ situated in the side chapel. Each one symbolizes a central-European country which was ruled by the Soviet  

Union. The candles were lit for the first time in May 1990 when the last of the countries were liberated from the communist rule. Transfer to Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.

DAY 12 – VIENNA

In the morning visit the city of Vienna: stroll along Ring Strasse, Vienna’s main boulevard known for such magnificent buildings as the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, the State Opera House, the Parliament, the Burgtheatre, the Town Hall and the Votive Church. A short walk will take in the most beautiful parts of the city centre: museum district (Museums quartier), Hofburg – winter-residence of the Habsburgs, Kärtner Strasse (shopping street) and the Stephan’s Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Vienna.

DAY 13 – VIENNA – ESZTERGOM – BUDAPEST

Transfer to Esztergom, called the “Hungarian Vatican”. Visit the biggest and the most important basilica in Hungary with the largest collection of church dowry in the country. In the afternoon transfer to Budapest. Overnight in Budapest.

DAY 14 – BUDAPEST

Visit the Hungarian capital – Budapest. Start in the district of Pest along the Andrassi Avenue to see the Opera House and the Heroes Square. Filled with statues of the most famous Hungarian kings and dukes, it commemorates a 1000-year anniversary of the city. Continue our walk through Deak Square, see St Stephen’s Basilica and the impressive neo-gothic House of Parliament. Visit Buda, the ancient capital of Hungary, to see the Fisherman’s Bastion from where you can enjoy the beautiful panorama. Stop at St Matthias Church. Overnight in Budapest.

DAY 15 – BUDAPEST – ZAGREB

Transfer to Zagreb – the capital of Croatia. Visit the Upper Town with its gothic cathedral, the beautiful and ornate St Catherine’s church and the impressive St Mark’s church with its famous color-tiled roof. Continue to the medieval Stone Gate and “Dolac” – an open-air market which is a must-see for all visitors. Take a scenic drive to the Lower Town with its colorful turn-of-the-century architecture. Its best example is the lovely building housing the Croatian National Theatre and Opera House. Overnight in Zagreb.

DAY 16 – ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – SPLIT

Transfer to Plitvice, one of the most famous national parks of Croatia (UNESCO). A visit to the Plitvice Lake National Park (entrance included) allows us to admire a beautiful landscape of 16 lakes located on different levels and connected with 92 waterfalls and cascades. In the afternoon transfer to Split. Overnight in Split.

DAY 17 – SPLIT

Explore Split, a charming city on the Adriatic Coast. Its historical old town with the III century Diocletian´s Palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore one of the worlds´s most impressive Roman monuments within the  

atmospheric old city walls and a maze of medieval stone streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops. Overnight in Split.

 

DAY 18 – SPLIT – MEDJUGORJE

Transfer to Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit one of the Christian worlds´s most famous monasteries with a local guide.  Walk up to the Apparition Hill where Virgin Mary appeared to the village children. Overnight in Medjugorje.

DAY 19 – MEDJUGORJE

Free day to pray in Medjugorje. Overnight in Medjugorje.

DAY 20 – MEDJUGORJE – MOSTAR – DUBROVNIK

In the morning transfer to charming Mostar (UNESCO) to see its famous bridge “Stari Most” (“Old Bridge”). This iconic XVI century structure was destroyed during the Bosnian War and meticulously reconstructed, preserving its original beauty. In the afternoon return to Croatia for a panoramic walking tour of the ancient town of Dubrovnik, surrounded by the shimmering waters of the Adriatic. We will see the most important examples of Medieval Art: Onofrio’s Fountain – the first landmark you will see immediately after walking through the grand Pile Gate, Franciscan, and Dominican Monasteries, Sponza Palace and Rector’s Palace and the baroque cathedral of Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

DAY 21 – DUBROVNIK

Transfer to the airport. Departure from Dubrovnik.

END OF OUR SERVICES

PACKAGE INCLUDE:

• Transfer to/from the airport
• Transportation during the trip
• 20 nights in double rooms: 20 nights in hotels (2 in Warsaw, 1 in Lichen, 2 in Krakow, 2 in Wroclaw, 2 in Prague, 1 in Cesky Krumlov, 2 in Vienna, 2 in Budapest, 1 in Zagreb, 2 in Split, 2 in Medjugorje, 1 in Dubrovnik)
• 20 x Half Board (breakfast and dinner): the first meal is a dinner on the day of arrival, the last meal is a breakfast on the day of departure
• English speaking guide

All fees and entrances

DAY 1 –   WARSAW

Arrival to Warsaw; Transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 2 – WARSAW

Warsaw bus sightseeing through the Royal Route, the Tomb of Unknown Soldier, and the Pilsudski Square, where during his first trip to Poland in 1979 John Paul II appealed to the crowd with his famous phrase: “Thy your Spirit come and change the outlook of land, This land”. Those days under communist rules no one believed it could ever be true, but 10 years later this wish fulfilled. Pilsudski Square was also a place of the funeral ceremony after his death; we continue the bus sightseeing passing Warsaw City with skyscrapers, Umschlagplatz and the Monument of Heroes of Ghetto – places commemorating the Warsaw Jewish in which our Pope prayed, then the Town Hall and a glimpse at the monumental architecture from communism time; walk around the Lazienki Royal Park with the Palace on the Water and the Island Theatre, open air Chopin’s concert (only summer); visit to the Royal Castle, walk around the Old Town (UNESCO Heritage) and the New Town: the Krasinski Palace, the Palace of Justice and the Monument of Warsaw Uprising; Overnight in Warsaw

DAY 3 – WARSAW – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW

Transfer to the south of Poland to Czestochowa – pilgrimage’s place of John Paul II and the most important Saint Mary Sanctuary in Poland with the inscription over a gate devoted to the Pope, visit to the church with Black Madonna and the Pope’s Parents Monument; ride through the white rocky complex of Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska adorned with castles situated on the top of those rocks dominating over valleys; transfer to Krakow; overnight in Krakow.

DAY 4 – KRAKOW – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW

Krakow sightseeing, the most famous place linked with a history and life of the Pope John Paul II: former student of Polish Philology and Theology, actor, young priest, university lecturer, bishop and finally Pope!!!; walk through the “Path of John Paul II”; visit to the Wawel Royal Castle with the Cathedral and Krakow Old Town (UNESCO Heritage): the Sukiennice cloth hall, St Mary church, defensive walls, and Barbican; free time. Overnight in Krakow.

Optional: In the afternoon leave for Wieliczka, a home to a unique, over 300m deep UNESCO Heritage listed Salt Mine, to explore its magnificent underground chapels, lakes and chambers carved from salt. Wieliczka is the oldest salt mine in the world still in operation. Return to Krakow.

DAY 5 – KRAKOW – AUSCHWITZ-BIRKENAU – WADOWICE – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – KRAKOW

Transfer to Auschwitz-Birkenau, visit the concentration and extermination camp museum (UNESCO Heritage); transfer to Wadowice – the Pope John Paul II birthplace; visit to the basilica and Pope’s museum; transfer to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO Heritage) – place where the special worshiper Karol Wojtyla from his childhood days started pilgrimages with his father, visit to the monastery with dozens of chapels spread around in a beautiful countryside scenery; transfer to Krakow; overnight in Krakow.

DAY 6 – KRAKOW

Krakow – transfer to the Convent of Mercy of God in Krakow – Lagiewniki consecrated by John Paul II and dedicated to Mercy of God; time for holly mass; time to discover the charm of the city by night. Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 7 – KRAKOW

Transfer to the airport.

END OF OUR SERVICES

PACKAGE INCLUDE:

• Transfer to/from the airport
• Transportation during the trip
• 6 nights in hotels in double rooms (2 in Warsaw, 4 in Krakow)
• Breakfast 
• English speaking guide
• All fees and entrances

DAY 1 – WARSAW

Arrival to Warsaw; welcome dinner. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 2 – WARSAW

Explore Warsaw, the Polish capital, and its main sights. Stroll through the manicured greens of Lazienki Royal Park with its monument of the famous composer Frédéric Chopin, Island Amphitheatre, and the neoclassical Palace on the Water. Transfer to the old Jewish quarter and see the remnants of the former Jewish Ghetto and Holocaust memorials like Umschlagplatz and the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes. In the Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage Site, walk along the cobbled streets from the Royal Castle past St John’s Cathedral through the Market

Square and Barbican to the New Town, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. Continue onto the Saxon Gardens and Pilsudski Square, the site of John Paul’s II celebrated mass during his first pilgrimage to Poland, when he spoke the famous words: “May the Holy Spirit descend and renew the face of the Earth, this Earth..” – a message which became true after the fall of communism in Poland. Overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 3 –   WARSAW – NIEPOKALANOW – LICHEN  

Transfer from Warsaw to Niepokalanow, a Franciscan catholic community founded by Friar Maximilian Kolbe in 1927. Visit the Shrine of St Maximilian Kolbe – a great promotor of consecration and entrustment to Mary, who was later canonized as a martyr-saint for sacrificing his life in a Nazi death camp in Auschwitz for a fellow prisoner. Continue the journey towards Lichen Stary. Visit the shrine to the Virgin of Lichen with its famous Way of the Cross (Golgotha), the monument to Pope John Paul II and the shrine blessed by the Pope – the biggest one

in Europe, the seventh biggest in Europe and the eleventh biggest in the world. Enjoy a stroll with your local guide around the sanctuary. Overnight in Lichen.

DAY 4 – LICHEN – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW

 

In the morning transfer to Czestochowa, home to the most important Polish shrine of Virgin Mary which attracts millions of pilgrims each year and was also visited by Pope John Paul II. Visit the monastery of Jasna Gora with the famous altar of the Black Madonna, the monument to the parents of the Pope and the inscription on the door in his honor. We continue our journey towards Krakow. Overnight in Krakow.

 

DAY 5 – KRAKOW – LAGIEWNIKI

 

Krakow, the former royal capital, fully deserves its position on the first ever published UNESCO World Heritage List. The city has  many links  to John  Paul II who lived here  in his  youth and  later was appointed  the bishop  and 

Metropolitan of Krakow. Visit the Wawel Hill with the XIV century cathedral and the Wawel Royal Castle with an arcaded courtyard – the former seat of Polish kings. Our tour continues through the Market Square in the Old Town with its iconic landmarks such as Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Church, and Town Hall Tower. Continue onto the medieval fortifications of Barbican with Florian’s Gate. In the afternoon visit the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Lagiewniki blessed by John Paul II. Although it is the newest sanctuary in Krakow it attracts thousands of pilgrims due to the relics of St Faustina buried here. Visit the monastery where St Faustina Kowalska lived and the basilica with the famous image of Merciful Jesus. Free time to attend a mass at the shrine. Overnight in Krakow.

 

DAY 6 – KRAKOW – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – WADOWICE – WROCLAW

Transfer to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO), a unique sanctuary of 42 picturesque chapels scattered around the surrounding hills of Beskidy Mountains, resembling the landscape of the Holy Land. Kalwaria’s chapels symbolize the perfect union of the worldly with the spiritual and religious values. Transfer to Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Visit Karol Wojtyla’s childhood home and the basilica where was baptized. Continue the journey towards Wroclaw. Overnight in Wroclaw.

 

DAY 7 – WROCLAW – SWIDNICA – WROCLAW

 

Explore Wroclaw – a City of a Hundred Bridges. Its rich history and medieval atmosphere attract millions of tourists every year. Start at the main entrance of the XIII century Cathedral of St John the Baptist located on the Ostrow Tumski  

island – the oldest part of Wroclaw. Crossing the Tumski bridge we arrive in the Old Town with a cathedral and Wroclaw University, famous for its representative baroque lecture hall Aula Leopoldina. The next highlight on our route is the Centennial Hall (UNESCO). Transfer to Swidnica and visit the Evangelical Church of Peace (UNESCO) – built from wood, straw, clay, and sand in XVII century. Overnight in Wroclaw.

 

DAY 8 – WROCLAW – CZERMNA – PRAGUE

 

Transfer to Czermna where we will visit the Chapel of Skulls, one in its kind place in Poland and one of only three similar chapels in Europe. It’s a mass grave of the victims of the Thirty-Year War and the Silesian Wars as well as of famines and cholera epidemics. Every bone in the chapel is authentic and the skulls of those who created the chapel were placed in its the centre, on the altar. Transfer to Prague. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Prague.

 

DAY 9 – PRAGUE

 

Explore Prague, described as “the golden city”. Transfer to the Prague Castle, the ancient seat of the kings, now housing the Presidential Palace and various museums. Visit the Royal Castle and St Vito’s Cathedral with the funeral chapel of St Wenceslas – the patron saint of Czech Republic. Stroll around Hradcany Hill and its remarkable baroque cloister of Loreto, the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Golden Street. Crossing Charles Bridge, we continue our walk along the Royal Route until the Old Town with the Market Square and the Town Hall Tower, to end on St Wenceslas Square. Overnight in Prague.

 

DAY 10 – PRAGUE – SVATA HORA – CESKY KRUMLOV

 

Transfer to Svata Hora – the oldest and most important pilgrimage site of Marian devotion in Czech Republic. Then transfer to Cesky Krumlov (UNESCO Heritage), and stroll through the medieval town located on the banks of Vltava  

river. Overnight in Cesky Krumlov.

 

DAY 11 – CESKY KRUMLOV – MARIAZELL – VIENNA

 

Transfer to Mariazell, one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Marian devotion in Europe, famous for the ‘silent candles’ situated in the side chapel. Each one symbolizes a central-European country which was ruled by the Soviet  

Union. The candles were lit for the first time in May 1990 when the last of the countries were liberated from the communist rule. Transfer to Vienna. Overnight in Vienna.

 

DAY 12 – VIENNA

 

In the morning visit the city of Vienna: stroll along Ring Strasse, Vienna’s main boulevard known for such magnificent buildings as the Museums of Fine Arts and Natural History, the State Opera House, the Parliament, the Burgtheatre, the Town Hall and the Votive Church. A short walk will take in the most beautiful parts of the city centre: museum district (Museums quartier), Hofburg – winter-residence of the Habsburgs, Kärtner Strasse (shopping street) and the Stephan’s Cathedral. Afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Vienna.

 

DAY 13 – VIENNA – ESZTERGOM – BUDAPEST

Transfer to Esztergom, called the “Hungarian Vatican”. Visit the biggest and the most important basilica in Hungary with the largest collection of church dowry in the country. In the afternoon transfer to Budapest. Overnight in Budapest.

 

DAY 14 – BUDAPEST

Visit the Hungarian capital – Budapest. Start in the district of Pest along the Andrassi Avenue to see the Opera House and the Heroes Square. Filled with statues of the most famous Hungarian kings and dukes, it commemorates a 1000-year anniversary of the city. Continue our walk through Deak Square, see St Stephen’s Basilica and the impressive neo-gothic House of Parliament. Visit Buda, the ancient capital of Hungary, to see the Fisherman’s Bastion from where you can enjoy the beautiful panorama. Stop at St Matthias Church. Overnight in Budapest.

 

DAY 15 – BUDAPEST – ZAGREB

Transfer to Zagreb – the capital of Croatia. Visit the Upper Town with its gothic cathedral, the beautiful and ornate St Catherine’s church and the impressive St Mark’s church with its famous color-tiled roof. Continue to the medieval Stone Gate and “Dolac” – an open-air market which is a must-see for all visitors. Take a scenic drive to the Lower Town with its colorful turn-of-the-century architecture. Its best example is the lovely building housing the Croatian National Theatre and Opera House. Overnight in Zagreb.

 

DAY 16 – ZAGREB – PLITVICE LAKES – SPLIT

 

Transfer to Plitvice, one of the most famous national parks of Croatia (UNESCO). A visit to the Plitvice Lake National Park (entrance included) allows us to admire a beautiful landscape of 16 lakes located on different levels and connected with 92 waterfalls and cascades. In the afternoon transfer to Split. Overnight in Split.

DAY 17 – SPLIT

 

Explore Split, a charming city on the Adriatic Coast. Its historical old town with the III century Diocletian´s Palace was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore one of the worlds´s most impressive Roman monuments within the  

atmospheric old city walls and a maze of medieval stone streets filled with restaurants, cafes, and shops. Overnight in Split.

 

DAY 18 – SPLIT – MEDJUGORJE

 

Transfer to Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Visit one of the Christian worlds´s most famous monasteries with a local guide.  Walk up to the Apparition Hill where Virgin Mary appeared to the village children. Overnight in Medjugorje.

 

DAY 19 – MEDJUGORJE

 

Free day to pray in Medjugorje. Overnight in Medjugorje.

 

DAY 20 – MEDJUGORJE – MOSTAR – DUBROVNIK

 

In the morning transfer to charming Mostar (UNESCO) to see its famous bridge “Stari Most” (“Old Bridge”). This iconic XVI century structure was destroyed during the Bosnian War and meticulously reconstructed, preserving its original beauty. In the afternoon return to Croatia for a panoramic walking tour of the ancient town of Dubrovnik, surrounded by the shimmering waters of the Adriatic. We will see the most important examples of Medieval Art: Onofrio’s Fountain – the first landmark you will see immediately after walking through the grand Pile Gate, Franciscan, and Dominican Monasteries, Sponza Palace and Rector’s Palace and the baroque cathedral of Dubrovnik. Overnight in Dubrovnik.

 

DAY 21 – DUBROVNIK

 

Transfer to the airport. Departure from Dubrovnik.

 

END OF OUR SERVICES

PACKAGE INCLUDE:

• Transfer to/from the airport
• Transportation during the trip
• 20 nights in double rooms: 20 nights in hotels (2 in Warsaw, 1 in Lichen, 2 in Krakow, 2 in Wroclaw, 2 in Prague, 1 in Cesky Krumlov, 2 in Vienna, 2 in Budapest, 1 in Zagreb, 2 in Split, 2 in Medjugorje, 1 in Dubrovnik)
• 20 x Half Board (breakfast and dinner): the first meal is a dinner on the day of arrival, the last meal is a breakfast on the day of departure
• English speaking guide
• All fees and entrances
   

Day 1, Warsaw

Arrival in Warsaw. Transfer to the hotel and overnight in Warsaw.

Day 2, Warsaw

Warsaw City Tour allows us to immerse ourselves in and observe the many contrasts of the Polish capital city. The tour starts with a walk around the Lazienki Royal Park. Here we will see the famous monument dedicated to Frederic Chopin, the Palace on the Water, and the Theater on the Island. We will continue with transfer to the Old Town (UNESCO) and a short walk around the Old Town: from the Royal Castle, passing next to the Saint John Cathedral, the Market Square and the barbacane to the New Town. We will continue to the Krasinski Palace, the Supreme Court building. Our itinerary will continue with the Grand Theatre and the National Opera, the Jablonowscy Palace, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Saxon Garden. Overnight in Warsaw.

 

Day 3, Warsaw – Treblinka – Warsaw

During the excursion we will see the old Jewish part of the city, we will visit the synagogue and the Kirkut Jewish cemetery. We will also see other places related to the history and tradition of Polish Jews, including the area of the former ghetto that was completely destroyed during the Second World War and the monuments that commemorate the martyrdom of the Jews in the times of the Holocaust. Visit POLIN Museum that present the history of Polish Jews through centuries, that is considered to be one of the best museums in Europe. In the afternoon: Excursion to Treblinka (4h) to see the museum in the former concentration and extermination camp built by the Germans in the Polish lands during the second world war. In just 16 months when the camp in Treblinka was in operation, it is estimated that almost 800,000 people were killed in its gas chambers, which makes it the second largest Nazi death camp apart from Auschwitz. Return to Warsaw. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 4, Warsaw – Lodz – Warsaw

Morning train transfer to Lodz – one of the biggest Polish  cities. During your visit you would find traces of the four cultures: Polish, Jewish, German and Russian that coexisted there and became one. Furthermore, you would admire modernist and industrial arquitecture. Thanks to its numerous factories, Lodz was also called the „Polish Manchester”. During the route you would see the Old Town and the industrial complex of Poznanski family, the famous Manufaktura. Visit to the museum of the Poznanski Factory, one of the richest Jews in the city of its time. In the end, you would discover Piotrkowska Street, the most popular walkway full of shops, pubs, restaurants, and sculptures that commemorate famous inhabitants of Lodz. Finally, we will visit the sites related to the Jewish heritage of Lodz, the cemetery, and the remains of the ghetto. Lodz is also a birthplace of famous pianist Arthur Rubinstein and the famous architect Daniel Libeskind, author of master plan of the reconstruction of the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan and designer of One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower). Return to Warsaw. Overnight in Warsaw.

Day 5, Warsaw – Lublin

Morning train transfer to Lublin, the largest city in southeastern Poland, with a long history and very interesting historical buildings. In was here where the Lublin Union was signed in 1569 – a pact that sealed the constitutional union of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania creating a free republic associated with a single Parliament, an elected king, a currency, and ethnic and religious tolerance. The Lublin sites stand out as physical reminders of an important milestone in the development of the principles of European democracy, four  centuries

before the EU was created. During the walk through the beautiful old town, we will discover many interesting monuments to finish next to the castle. Lublin is one of the Polish cities where the Hebrew culture could develop freely over the centuries, so first Jewish settlers came over already in XV century. Flourishing Hebrew sciences caused the city to be called the Jerusalem of the Polish Kingdom, and even the Jewish Oxford as it was here when in the 16th century, the first Hebrew books and prayer books were published. The Jewish legacy of Lublin could be seen in the castle and old town area as well as in the old University of Wise Men (Jesziwas Chachmej Lublin), in which the old assembly hall is preserved, that formerly operated as a synagogue. Overnight in Lublin.

Day 6, Lublin – Majdanek – Lezajsk – Krakow

In the morning visit to the museum in Majdanek, an extermination camp built by Nazi Germany, in German-occupied Poland 4 km from the city of Lublin, near the border with Ukraine. This proximity meant that the Germans did not have time to destroy the field in retreat, so it is preserved as it was at the time of World War II. Transfer from Lublin to Lezajsk where there is a tomb of Rabbi Elimelech Weissblum of Lezajsk (Lizhensk) a Polish rabbi and one of the great founding Rebbes of the Hasidic movement. Further transfer to Krakow. Overnight in Krakow.

Day 7, Krakow

Krakow is the cultural capital of Poland with Old Town listed as UNESCO Heritage. During the tour you will see Barbican and defensive walls with Florian’s Gate, the Main Market Square with Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Church, and Town Hall Tower. We would proceed to the Jagiellonian University, pass by Archbishop Palace (where John Paul II used to live) as well as St Andrew’s Church and St Peter and Paul’s Church to reach the Wawel Hill. During the walk we will taste “obwarzanek” (bagel) a typical Krakow pastry, that was brought by Jewish population to North America and right now is extremely popular mostly in New York and Montreal areas. In the afternoon we will explore Krakow Kazimierz (Jewish District) known from Schindler’s List. Kazimierz used to be a separate town close to medieval city of Krakow. It was mostly populated by Jewish community. Throughout years it became Krakow’s district, but the abundance of markets, synagogues and kirkuts (Jewish cemeteries) shaped character of this part of town. As Kazimierz depicts the history of Polish Jews, some shots of Steven Spielberg Schindler’s List were captured here. During this tour you would discover this charming part of Krakow with its monuments and complexed history. Visit to the museum “Oscar Schindler’s Factory” in Krakow included. During our trip, you will have the opportunity to learn about history, monuments, and impressive culture in a part of Krakow still little known to tourists. Overnight in Krakow.

Day 8, Krakow – Oswiecim (Auschwitz) – Wieliczka – Krakow

Transfer to Oswiecim. Visit the museum of Auschwitz – Birkenau (UNESCO), the famous concentration camp and extermination, a symbol of terror, genocide, and holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim (Auschwitz in German) which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the World War II. A visit to concentration and extermination camp museum might help you to comprehend what incomprehensible.

 

Transfer to Wieliczka the most beautiful and the oldest operating salt mine in the world (UNESCO Heritage). From over 700 years it was a source of Polish fortune and a physical fundament of culture. Today Wieliczka is the most willingly visited Polish tourist object with magnificent chapels, charming underground lakes and original tools and equipment. During this tour you could see a number of excavated chambers on 3 levels adorned with beautiful sculptures made of salt as well as a salt museum. Transfer to Krakow. Overnight in Krakow

Day 9, Krakow

Transfer to the airport in Krakow

Package includes:

• 8 nights in DBL/TWIN rooms in centrally located hotels:
  • 4 nights in Warsaw
  • 1 night in Lublin
  • 3 nights in Krakow
• 8 x buffet breakfast in all hotels
• Degustation of “obwarzanek” (bagel) a typical Krakow pastry
• Transfer from / to airport
• Transportation during a tour by train and private car / minivan
• All excursions as per the itinerary
• Local English-speaking guides
  • Warsaw
  • Lublin
  • Krakow
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau
  • Wieliczka
• Entrances to:
  • POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews
  • Treblinka concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Factory Museum in Lodz
  • Majdanek concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Museum “Oscar Schindler’s Factory”
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration & extermination camp museum
  • Wieliczka Salt Mine

Price excludes:

• Meals (except breakfast)

DAY 1 –  WARSAW

Arrival to Warsaw, the capital of Poland; meeting with the guide at the Frederic Chopin airport; transfer to the hotel; time to refresh; welcome dinner.

DAY 2 – WARSAW

Warsaw city sightseeing: transfer to the Lazienki Royal Park with the Palace on the Water and the Island Theatre; from there route leads through  Warsaw City with skyscrapers and monumental architecture from communism time,

then the Grand Theatre and Opera House, Jablonowski Palace, Tomb of Unknown Soldier and Saski Park, Town Hall, Umschlagplatz and the Monument of Heroes of Ghetto; transfer to the Old Town (UNESCO Heritage); visit to the Royal Castle and the cathedral, Market Square, and defensive walls with barbican; further walk to the New Town: The Krasinski Palace, Palace of Justice and Monument of Warsaw Uprising; dinner.

DAY 3  – WARSAW – TORUN – MALBORK

Transfer to Torun, the best example of medieval gothic town (UNESCO Heritage) and birthplace of great Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who made a crucial discovery that the Earth is not the centre of universe; walk along the Old Town, visit to the Copernicus House and the Cathedral with a bell tower offering a splendid view over the city; optional visit to a gingerbread factory and time for a souvenir hunt; further transfer to Malbork; dinner.

DAY 4 – MALBORK – TRICITY (GDANSK – SOPOT – GDYNIA) – MALBORK

Morning departure for Gdansk;  transfer to Westerplatte Peninsula guarding an entrance to the Gdansk harbour, a place where the WW II began, and the Polish Military Transit Depot was fighting against 13 times more

numerous German enemy; continue to the Gdansk Shipyard, the birthplace of Solidarity movement and stop by the Monument to Fallen Ship Workers (a homage to dockyard workers who died in December 1970) and a famous gate to the shipyard; Guided Gdansk Old Town Sightseeing – visit to the Europe’s biggest gothic brick church of St Mary, picturesque Dluga Street, Golden Gate, the Town Hall, Neptune fountain, the Arthur’s Court, the Green Gate overlooking Motlawa River, Old Crane; optional visit to the Arthur’s Court museum and the Amber Chamber for an amber polishing demonstration; free time for lunch and souvenir hunt; transfer to Oliwa Park with cathedral – the longest Cisterians church in the world, participation in unique organ concert; transfer to Gdynia harbor for a quick photo shot; transfer to Sopot, walk around the famous resort and along the longest wooden pier in Europe, elegant dinner in the fancy restaurant located at the end of the pier; evening transfer to Malbork.

DAY 5 – MALBORK – GIERLOZ – SUWALKI

Guided tour in Malbork Castle – the medieval capital of the Teutonic Order Knights in Eastern Europe and the biggest red brick gothic castle in the world (UNESCO Heritage); transfer to Gierloz; stop in Swieta Lipka in Jesuit monastery; drive to Gierloz; guided sightseeing of Wolfschanze – the Headquarter of Hitler on the Eastern front during the II WW; transfer through picturesque Masuria Region famous for its lakes and green forests to Suwalki; dinner.

DAY 6 – SUWALKI – KAUNAS (LITHUANIA) – TRAKAI – VILNIUS

Morning departure via Lithuanian border to Kaunas; short sightseeing of the city, visit to the Vytautas Church, dedicated to Virgin Mary, and walk along Freedom Avenue (Laisves Aleja), which is believed to be the longest pedestrian walkway in Europe; transfer to Trakai, the ancient capital of Lithuania and visit to the famous insular Trakai Castle – an excellent example of Gothic architecture; further drive to Vilnius; dinner

DAY 7 – VILNIUS

Vilnius City sightseeing, including Gates of Dawn, famous Gediminas castle, the Cathedral, charming St Anna Church, Vilnius University, and its inner yards – one of the oldest and most famous establishments of higher education in Eastern and Central Europe, which was founded in 1579 , the Hill of 3 crosses; afternoon to your leisure; dinner in a local restaurant.

DAY 8 – VILNIUS – SIAULALI – RUNDALE (LATVIA) – RIGA

Morning departure to Riga (Latvia); on the way visit to the most saint place in Lithuania – the Hill of Crosses, the national pilgrimage center with a huge number and variety of crosses brought by Christian pilgrims from all over the

world; entering the Latvia country; stop in Rundale Palace, one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia, built in XVIII century as a summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland, designed by the Italian architect B.F. Rastrelli, the main architect of Saint Petersburg these times; arrival to Riga; dinner.

DAY 9 – RIGA

Riga is famous for its architecture from 19th century and its Art Nouveau style (UNESCO). The city’s pearl of art is the Blackheads House, a striking gothic building with a Dutch renaissance façade. We would see also the Dome Cathedral (the largest place of worship in the Baltics), Freedom Monument and Powder Tower. Afternoon at your disposal or optional tour to the Latvian seaside resort – Jurmala, located 15 km from Riga: dinner.

DAY 10 – RIGA – SIGULDA – TARTU (ESTONIA) – TALLINN

Morning transfer to Sigulda to see the ruins of the castles of Sigulda, Cesis and Turaida, visit to Turaida’s museum – home of numerous statues and sculptures spread in a park. Transfer to Tartu, the oldest town in Estonia already  

mentioned in XI century. Walk around the historic centre: university, town hall, ruins of the cathedral, bridges of Angel and Devil. Evening arrival to Tallinn. Dinner.

DAY 11 – TALLINN

 

Tallinn city sightseeing: Toompea Castle, city walls with Kiek in de Kok – 45m, six-storey cannon tower from 15th century, Dome Church, the oldest church in Estonia founded in 1219. In the Town Hall Square we would see town hall and a famous pharmacy (one of the oldest continuosly running pharmacies in Europe since 1422). Afternoon free to your leisure or an optional tour to baroque Kadriorg Palace. Farewell dinner.

 

DIA 12 – TALLINN– HELSINKI (FINLAND)

Morning ferry to Helsinki; Helsinki city sightseeing – the historical centre, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament buildings, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House; stops in the park with the Sibelius Monument and, when

 possible, at the Temppeliaukio Church (church in the rock). Transfer to the airport. Departure.

END OF OUR SERVICES

PACKAGE INCLUDE:

• Transfer to/from the airport
• Transportation during the trip
• 11 nights in double rooms: 11 nights in hotels (2 in Warsaw, 2 in Malbork, 1 in Suwalki, 2 in Vilnus, 2 in Riga, 2 in Tallin)
• 11 x Half Board (breakfast and dinner): the first meal is a dinner on the day of arrival, the last meal is a breakfast on the day of departure
• English speaking guide
• All fees and entrances