11 Day Poland Tour

• Day 1: 

  Arrive in Krakow
  Welcome to Poland, where over a thousand years of tumultuous history have forged one of Europe's most resilient cultures. Today we arrive in Krakow, a city that served as Poland's royal capital for over five centuries before Warsaw claimed the crown in 1596. Nearly 100 churches pierce the skyline of this enchanting medieval city, their spires rising above cobblestone squares that have witnessed coronations, invasions, and the quiet persistence of Polish identity through centuries of occupation.
  
  Tonight we gather with our fellow travellers for our first dinner together, settling into the old-world charm that has made Krakow one of Europe's most beloved destinations.
  
  Overnight in Krakow.

   

  Included Meal(s): Dinner, if required
• Day 2: 

  Krakow: City Walking Tour
  We begin atop Wawel Hill, where the Royal Castle commands sweeping views over the Vistula River. This limestone outcrop has witnessed Poland's most pivotal moments—from coronations to royal funerals, from Renaissance splendour to Nazi occupation. Our exploration unfolds largely on foot through Krakow's compact, well-preserved centre, where cobblestone streets connect architectural treasures within comfortable walking distances.
  
  Descending into the heart of the Old Town, we enter Europe's largest medieval market square—the magnificent Rynek Glowny, where merchants have traded for over 700 years. The haunting trumpet call echoes from St. Mary's Church towers above us, a tradition dating to the 13th century when a trumpeter's warning saved the city from Mongol invasion. Inside, we marvel at the Wit Stwosz altar, carved in 1489 by the master craftsman from Nuremberg—Poland's finest sculptural masterpiece.
  
  Our journey continues through cobblestone streets to Jagiellonian University, one of Europe's oldest institutions, where Copernicus once studied the stars that would revolutionize our understanding of the universe. We conclude in Kazimierz, the former Jewish Quarter that has transformed from medieval independent town to vibrant cultural district, where centuries of Jewish heritage blend with contemporary cafe culture.
  
  Overnight in Krakow.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 3: 

  Oskar Schindler Museum & Wieliczka Salt Mines
  This morning we visit the Oskar Schindler Factory Museum, where individual histories of Krakow's wartime inhabitants guide us through exhibits covering the war of 1939, everyday life under occupation, the fate of the Jews, and the city's underground resistance. The story of Oskar Schindler and his employees—made famous by Thomas Keneally's book and Steven Spielberg's film, shot almost entirely in Krakow—unfolds through archival documents, photos, radio recordings, and multimedia presentations.
  
  After a break for lunch featuring Polish specialties, we embark on a truly unique adventure: a descent into the Wieliczka Salt Mines. Prepare to journey 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) beneath the earth's surface, exploring a world sculpted entirely by salt. We wander through a labyrinth of salt-formed caves and grottoes, each with its own character and charm. A mesmerizing subterranean lake reflects the glow of mine lamps, while the most awe-inspiring sight awaits—a chapel adorned with intricate sculptures, all carved entirely from surrounding salt.
  
  The scale of this operation staggers the imagination: 11 levels of galleries stretching an incredible 300 kilometres (186 miles) in total. Over 700 years of continuous mining have yielded a staggering 20 million tonnes of rock salt. Local legend tells of Princess Kinga, a Hungarian princess whose lost ring was miraculously found within a block of salt mined here in the 13th century—said to be the very origin of the mines themselves.
  
  Because of the fullness of our day, and because past travellers indicated a desire for some independence while in Krakow, we include a light lunch instead of dinner today.
  
  Overnight in Krakow.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Day 4: 

  Krakow - Oswiecim (Auschwitz) - Czestochowa - Lodz
  Our journey takes a solemn turn as we arrive at Oswiecim and Birkenau, where preserved barracks and railway ramps bear witness to humanity's darkest chapter. Here, 1.5 million souls from 28 nations perished, their stories now preserved as an eternal reminder of the importance of tolerance and human dignity. Our guide shares personal testimonies that transform statistics into human faces, ensuring these voices are never forgotten.
  
  From this profound experience, we travel to Poland's spiritual heart—Czestochowa and the Jasna Gora Monastery. Within these sacred walls resides the Black Madonna, Poland's most venerated icon, believed painted by St. Luke himself and brought from Jerusalem in 1384. Pilgrims have journeyed here for centuries, drawn by the mysterious power of this darkened image that has survived Swedish invasions and Nazi occupation.
  
  Our day concludes in Lodz (pronounced "Wooj"), the city that rose from humble village to Europe's textile powerhouse in just one century. Once known as "the promised land" and "city of many cultures," this multicultural marvel welcomed Germans, Russians, and Jews who together wove the fabric of industrial prosperity. Tonight we discover how this diversity created one of Europe's most fascinating urban tapestries.
  
  Overnight in Lodz.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 5: 

  Lodz - Warsaw: City Tour
  Today we continue to Warsaw, a city that rises before us like a phoenix from ashes—refusing to surrender its soul to destruction. After being systematically razed during World War II, Warsaw's citizens embarked on one of history's most remarkable reconstruction projects, rebuilding their beloved Old Town brick by brick, using paintings and photographs as their guide. Today's UNESCO-protected historic centre stands as testimony to Polish determination and cultural pride.
  
  We begin along the elegant Royal Route, where kings once processed to their coronations, then dive into the meticulously restored Old Town. Castle Square pulses with life while the Uprising Monument honours the heroes of 1944. Crossing the Vistula River to the Praga district, we gain panoramic views of this resilient capital that has shed its Soviet-era persona to emerge as Central Europe's dynamic business hub.
  
  In the former Jewish Ghetto area, we visit the poignant Umschlagplatz memorial before exploring the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Through innovative multimedia exhibitions, we discover the thousand-year story of Poland's Jewish community—once Europe's largest—whose vibrant culture flourished here before the Holocaust forever changed this landscape.
  
  Overnight in Warsaw.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 6: 

  Warsaw Sightseeing - To Torun
  The morning begins at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, housed in a former tram power station where artifacts tell the story of the city's 1944 rebellion. Love letters, weapons, and personal belongings of the insurgents create an intimate portrait of ordinary citizens who chose extraordinary courage. These exhibits reveal how 200,000 Warsaw residents fought for freedom during 63 days that would define their city's character forever.
  
  Leaving Warsaw's complex history behind, we journey north to medieval Torun, a UNESCO World Heritage gem that time forgot to destroy. Nestled on the Vistula River's banks, this enchanting city miraculously escaped World War II bombing, preserving its Gothic architecture in pristine condition. The warm glow of red-brick buildings reflects centuries of Hanseatic League prosperity, when merchants from across Northern Europe gathered in these cobblestone squares.
  
  As evening approaches, Torun's outdoor cafes come alive with the aroma of local delicacies. The majestic St. Mary's Church towers above us, its bells calling across centuries of Polish history while we settle into the timeless rhythm of medieval life.
  
  Overnight in Torun.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 7: 

  Torun: Nicolaus Copernicus Museum - Gdansk
  We begin in the very house where Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473, the man who revolutionized our understanding of the universe. The museum's collection of rare astronomical instruments, ancient star charts, and original manuscripts reveals how this Polish genius challenged centuries of accepted wisdom. Standing in his birthplace, we appreciate how medieval Torun nurtured the mind that would prove Earth revolves around the Sun.
  
  The imposing 13th-century Town Hall dominates our morning explorations—one of Northern Europe's most magnificent civic buildings. Its Gothic towers have overseen seven centuries of commerce and culture, while surrounding streets preserve the medieval urban planning that made Torun a Hanseatic League powerhouse.
  
  Our journey continues to Gdansk, the "Maritime Pearl of Poland," where narrow, peaked-roof buildings create one of Europe's most photogenic skylines. This Baltic port city carries the weight of momentous history—World War II began with disputes over Gdansk's control, while decades later, Lech Walesa's Solidarity movement launched from its famous shipyards. Tonight we stroll the iconic Dluga Street, past Neptune's Fountain and into St. Mary's Church, one of the world's largest brick churches, as Baltic sea breezes carry stories of merchants, warriors, and revolutionaries.
  
  Overnight in Gdansk.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 8: 

  Gdansk Area Tour
  Gdansk's strategic Baltic position has made it one of Northern Europe's most coveted ports for centuries, a blessing that became a curse when competing powers tore the city apart. By 1945, the German population had fled and Polish settlers renamed the ruins "Gdansk," beginning the painstaking reconstruction we admire today. Though most buildings rose from rubble, master craftsmen ensured every Gothic detail matched the original splendour.
  
  We venture to nearby Oliwa Cathedral, where Cistercian monks first built their shrine in the 13th century. Fire destroyed and transformed this sacred space multiple times—the Gothic interior gave way to magnificent Baroque fixtures after a devastating 1577 blaze. The cathedral's crowning glory awaits: a massive organ with over 7,000 pipes, decorated with movable angels and painted stars. When constructed, this instrument was Europe's largest, and today its thunderous voice still rivals any concert hall.
  
  At the European Solidarity Centre, multimedia exhibits chronicle how electrician Lech Walesa sparked a movement that would topple communism across Eastern Europe. The story of Solidarity—from shipyard strikes to Nobel Peace Prizes—unfolds through personal testimonies and artifacts from this pivotal chapter in modern European history.
  
  The afternoon belongs to you in this "Amber Capital of the World," where shops display fossilized treasures from the Baltic's ancient forests. In order to maximize your free time in this fascinating place, we do not include dinner this evening.
  
  Overnight in Gdansk.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Day 9: 

  Gdansk - Malbork - Olsztyn
  Our morning begins with Europe's largest brick building—the magnificent Teutonic Knights Castle at Malbork. This 13th-century fortress stretches along the Nogat River like a medieval city unto itself, its towering walls and Gothic halls testament to the military might of the Crusading order. UNESCO protection ensures future generations will witness the architectural genius that once commanded the Baltic trade routes. Our two-hour guided tour reveals the massive scale of this complex, and afterwards we cross the footbridge for spectacular panoramic photographs of the entire structure.
  
  As we continue southeast, Poland's landscape transforms into the pristine beauty of the Masurian Lake District. Rolling hills give way to sparkling waters and dense forests that have remained largely unchanged since the Ice Age carved this terrain. Olsztyn emerges like a fairy tale town, its medieval walls encircling narrow cobblestone streets where Gothic churches and Renaissance townhouses create perfect architectural harmony.
  
  The fortified walls surrounding Olsztyn's old town whisper tales of Swedish invasions and Napoleonic campaigns, while cozy cafes and artisan shops invite us to experience the gentle rhythm of lake district life. Tonight we rest in this charming sanctuary where nature and history exist in perfect balance.
  
  Overnight in Olsztyn.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Day 10: 

  Olsztyn - Olsztynek - Warsaw
  Our final morning in the lake district begins with a walking tour through Olsztyn's medieval quarter, where we explore the Gothic cathedral and the castle where Nicolaus Copernicus once lived and worked as a canon and administrator. On the very walls of his chambers, you can still see the schematics he drew—astronomical calculations that helped him develop his revolutionary heliocentric theory, proving that Earth revolves around the Sun rather than the reverse.
  
  We then journey to the Museum of Folk Architecture in Olsztynek, one of Europe's oldest and most comprehensive open-air museums. Wooden houses, rustic barns, and historic windmills transported from across the region create a living timeline of traditional Polish life. These structures, saved from demolition and lovingly restored, preserve centuries of craftsmanship and cultural memory. We explore the interiors of beautifully restored farmhouses, where traditional furniture and household items reveal the daily rhythms of rural Polish families. The evangelical church, blacksmith workshop, and pottery stands demonstrate how entire communities once functioned as self-sufficient units.
  
  After lunch at the museum, we journey back through the Polish countryside toward Warsaw. Wooden windmills and thatched-roof villages dot the landscape like scenes from a living museum, reminders of a way of life that persists even as Poland embraces its European future. Tonight we return to the nation's dynamic capital carrying memories of traditions preserved and stories that span centuries.
  
  Overnight in Warsaw.
  
  Overnight in Warsaw.

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
• Day 11: 

  Departure
  Our Polish odyssey concludes as we bid farewell to Warsaw, or continue onwards to explore the Baltic States.
  
  From Krakow's royal spires to Gdansk's maritime heritage, from the depths of salt mines to the heights of castle towers, we've witnessed how Poland bridges East and West through centuries of resilience, creativity, and unwavering spirit.
  
  SZEROKIEJ DROGI! (Have a safe journey!)

   

  Included Meal(s): Breakfast

*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.