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Poland Escorted Tour
POLAND HIGHLIGHTS
TOUR
2012
11 days/10 nights
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GUARANTEED DEPARTURES
in 2012 on the following dates:
May 19-29, Jun 07-17, Jul 21-31, Aug 04-14,
Aug 25-Sep 04, Sep
08-18, Sep 22- Oct 02, Oct 06-16
TOUR ITINERARY - 2012
DAY 1. Saturday ● WARSAW (Welcome dinner)
After arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in
the heart of the city. The afternoon is free. At 6:00PM, meet
your guide and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby. Drive
along the beautifully renovated Royal Route with its historical
monuments and residences. Stop at Castle Square for a short walk
through Old Town, and then join us for welcome dinner at a local
restaurant. Your meal will include typical Polish dishes and
famous Polish vodka, “Zubrowka”.
DAY 2 Sunday ● WARSAW (Breakfast, Lunch)
This morning, we introduce you to the highlights of Warsaw. A
half-day sightseeing tour includes Old Town, beautifully rebuilt
after World War II, with the impressive Royal Castle, seat of
the kings of Poland. Here the Constitution of May 3rd was
proclaimed in 1791, the second oldest constitution, after the US
Constitution, in the world. You will admire some of its 300
rooms and see the Canaletto Room with 23 of his paintings, the
Throne Room, the magnificent Knight’s Hall with six large
paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli, the Marble room with its 22
portraits of Polish kings and the largest and most impressive of
all the castle’s chambers, the Ballroom. After lunch served at a
local restaurant in Old Town, we continue our tour with a drive
to the area of the former Warsaw Ghetto. En route, you will see
the building of the National Opera House and Town Hall. During
your tour of Warsaw we invite you to the famous Warsaw café, “U
Bliklego”, to taste a typical Warsaw pastry called “paczek”.
This evening you will take an unforgettable musical journey
through the world
famous compositions of our greatest composer, Frederic Chopin,
at a piano recital. A glass of sparkling wine will be served
during intermission.
DAY 3 Monday ● WARSAW – CZESTOCHOWA – AUSCHWITZ – ZAKOPANE
(Breakfast, Lunch)
After breakfast, we depart for Zakopane – one of the most
popular vacation resorts in the Tatra Mountains. En route, we
stop in Czestochowa to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the
Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon. Lunch will be
served a local restaurant in Czestochowa. Before we reach
Zakopane, we drive to Auschwitz to visit the Martyrdom Museum of
the former Nazi concentration camp, the infamous factory of
death. In the evening we arrive in Zakopane beautifully situated
at the foot of the Tatra Mountains, in the valley between
Gubalowka and Giewont. It is the most popular resort in Poland
and one of the most beautiful places in all of Poland, owing to
its picturesque location. Once, a small mountain village,
Zakopane became a fashionable artist’s retreat at the beginning
of the 20th century.
DAY 4 Tuesday ● ZAKOPANE – KRAKOW (Breakfast, Dinner)
In the morning, you will have a sightseeing tour of Zakopane,
whose wooden architecture blends with the natural landscapes and
it is copied in other parts of Poland and is known as
Zakopianski Style. You will visit the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a
great example of the wooden architecture in Zakopane, and the
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, which was built
by the people of Zakopane to thank the Lady of Fatima for saving
the Pope after an attempt on His life. Admire the breathtaking
views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka Mountain and shop
for souvenirs of arts and crafts of the Highlanders (Gorale) in
the local shops. After lunch on your own you will have a free
time. Before we continue on to Krakow, take a spectacular
rafting trip on the Dunajec River in Pieniny National Park.
Tonight’s dinner will be served at a local restaurant in
Krakow’s Old Town Market Square.
DAY 5 Wednesday ● KRAKOW – AUSCHWITZ – KRAKOW (Breakfast,
Dinner)
The morning sightseeing tour will feature Wawel, the Royal
Castle, home to three dynasties of Poland’s monarchs. Its
stately halls and exquisite chambers are filled with priceless
art, valuable period furniture and rare ancient objects. The
collection of monumental 16th century tapestries is matchless.
You will also visit the Wawel Cathedral, the place of the cult
of St. Stanislaw and St. Jadwiga, Queen of Poland. Its 18
chapels are true architectural masterpieces. The giant bell,
Zygmunt from 1520 ranks with the world’s largest. This is the
place where Polish kings were crowned and buried.
Following a short break for coffee and cake at the famous Krakow
café drive to Old Town with its restored Main Square of
magnificent houses and palaces, There, you stop at St. Mary's
Basilica where to see the magnificent wooden altar by Wit Stwosz.
In the middle of the square is Cloth Hall built before 1349, but
renovated in the 16th century with many shopping stalls inside.
After lunch drive to Auschwitz to visit the Maryrdom Museum of
the former Nazi concentration camp, the infamous factory of
death. In the afternoon time to explore the city on your own and
time for shopping.
DAY 6 Thursday ● KRAKOW – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW (Breakfast,
Lunch)
Morning on your own. Afternoon drive to the Wieliczka Salt Mine,
an unforgettable tourist attraction with underground chambers,
grottoes, and chapels carved from salt. Dinner with a folkloric
show will be served at a local restaurant in Wieliczka, before
we drive back to Krakow.
DAY 7 Friday ● KRAKOW – TORUN (Breakfast, Lunch)
Morning departure for Torun. Lunch at a local restaurant upon
arrival. Afterwards, sightseeing tour of Torun including
highlights of the city. Torun is the birthplace of Nicolaus
Copernicus and considered one of the most magnificent historic
cities of Poland. Its Old Town has been included in UNESCO's
list for its impressive 13th century Town Hall, superb churches
and historic streets preserving Torun's past glory. A visit to
the Copernicus Museum is included in your itinerary.
DAY 8 Saturday ● TORUN - GDANSK (Breakfast, Lunch)
Departure to Gdansk. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon time
for orientation walk through the city.
DAY 9 Sunday ● GDANSK – GDYNIA - SOPOT - GDANSK
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Today, we tour Gdansk in depth. We start from the Upland Gate -
a fragment of the city's former fortifications and one of its
main gates. Just behind it, we pass by a baked brick
construction consisting of the Prison Tower and the Torture
House- relics of the 15th century Gothic defense walls. The
Golden Gate, situated next to the Prison Tower, opens onto Long
Market- a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with
late Renaissance and Baroque facades. A real feast for the
eyes!!! it is here that the richest burghers of Gdansk once
lived. Next, we come upon the Main Town and the Artus Court- a
building used for Hanseatic League meetings. It is renowned as
the most beautiful court among all of Europe's Hanseatic cities.
Just behind it stands the tower of St. Mary's Basilica, a part
of the most precious and largest red-brick Gothic church in
Gdansk. On our way back we pass by Mariacka Street, with its
gabled terraced houses and elegant boutiques. From here we drive
to Gdynia, youngest of the tri-city complex which also includes
Sopot. Here we will visit Oliwa Cathedral famous for
one-of-a-kind pipe organ, to enjoy a concert. After lunch at a
local restaurant, we continue our drive to Sopot. the famous and
fashionable seaside resort. Here you can still see the oldest
and longest wooden pier in Europe. The balance of the day is
free and give you time for shopping Baltic arts and crafts,
including unique amber jewelry and trinkets.
DAY 10 Monday ● GDANSK - MALBORK - WARSAW (Breakfast,
Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast, we return to Warsaw. En route, we stop at the
Teutonic Knights castle in Malbork. It is the largest brick
building in Europe and one of Poland's greatest tourist
attaction. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Departure
to Warsaw. A farewell dinner will be served at a local
restaurant in Warsaw this evening.
DAY 11 Tuesday ● WARSAW (Breakfast)
After breakfast this morning, we transfer you to the airport for
the return flight home.
Prices
€ 1398 per person in twin/double room
€ 361 per single supplement
*Children less than 7 years old- we offer 25% discount from
the rate per person in dbl/twin room.
* Hotels do not have standard triple rooms. For families,
we may provide twin bedded room with extra bed (usually it is a
roller bed or sofa that is okay for a child less than 7 years
old.
Tour Features:
• Airport transfers
• Selected class hotels,
rooms with private facilities
• English-speaking tour
escort assistance
• Obligatory local guides
• Private air-conditioned
motor coach/minibus/car (depending on the group size)
• Meals as per itinerary:
breakfast daily, 7 x lunch served at local restaurants,
4 x dinner (including one dinner with folkloric show in
Wieliczka)
• Cake & coffee/tea at
famous Warsaw cafeteria
• Cake & coffee/tea at
famous Krakow cafeteria
• Sightseeing tours as
per itinerary
• Entrance fees:
Warsaw –
Royal Castle
Czestochowa – Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black
Madonna Shrine
Oswiecim/Auschwitz
Zakopane – cable car to Gubalowka Hill and a rafting
trip on the Dunajec River
Krakow – Royal Castle and Cathedral on the Wawel
Hill, St. Mary’s Church
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Torun – Copernicus Museum
Gdansk – organ concert in the Oliwa Cathedral
Malbork – Malbork Castle
• Chopin concert with a
glass of sparkling wine
• Luggage handling at
hotels (one piece per person)
• Hotel charges and taxes
Hotels:
3 nights at 4-star hotel in Warsaw / Novotel Centrum or
similar
1 night at 3-star hotel in Zakopane / Nosalowy Dwor or similar
3 nights at 4-star hotel in Krakow / Novotel Bronowice or
similar
1 night at 3-star hotel in Torun/ Mercure Helios or similar
2 nights at 4-star hotel in Gdansk / Scandic Hotel or similar
Pre & Post tour transportation:
Private car (max 2 persons) private transfer airport-hotel or vice
versa 38 EUROS per car
Private minibus (max. 6 persons) private transfer airport-hotel or
vice versa 100 EUROS per car.
Extra nights at Novotel Centrum hotel or similar in Warsaw 4*:
58 Euros per person per night based on double/twin occupancy.
108 Euros per person per night based on single occupancy.
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