ITINERARY : TOUR IHO7: Warsaw & Krakow, Poland : Chopin to Schindler's List
Fridays from April 22 to October 21, 2011

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Stay-a-while: Two Stopovers
Warsaw: 2 days &  3 nights 
Krakow: 3 days & 4 nights
Travel: 1 day


Having been subjugated by its powerful neighbours  for centuries, Poland has once again emerged since 1989 as an independent nation. It has experienced a brutal history, especially during World War II when millions of its citizens were murdered including almost its entire large Jewish population. But now many of its cities are emerging as rapidly developing cosmopolitan centres welcoming growing numbers of visitors. This holiday features two of Poland’s major cities – Warsaw and Krakow, one is today’s capital and the other was the former capital. Warsaw was almost entirely destroyed in World War II with some 80% of its buildings totally destroyed. Today much of the city has been meticulously restored and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As a visitor you will sense the locals’ pride in their rich heritage.
On the other hand Krakow was hardly damaged at all during the War and its treasures are the original. To visit both cities will complete the picture of Poland in its rapid growth and its strength in remembering the sad emotions of its past.

Departures: Arrival in Warsaw – Fridays


DAY 1: Arrival in Warsaw. Meet, greet and transfer to your central city hotel; free time. Welcome dinner.
Evening: Diner. Meals: Dinner

 

DAY 2: Your guide will meet you for a City Tour to get acquainted with the city. You will visit the Old Town with its Market Square now completely restored after being reduced to rubble in World War II; St John’s Cathedral; and the Royal Castle; Zygmunt Column in honour of King Zygmunt III Wasa; the National Museum; and Zelazowa Wola, the birthplace of Chopin. There will be a stop for lunch followed by a free afternoon to explore the shops. Tonight you will attend a Chopin Recital. Evening: Chopin Recital. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

DAY 3: Today will again focus on the city of Warsaw as you follow the Royal Route from Castle Square to Lazienki Park and Wilanow Palace (the Palace on Water). This is the area of grand mansions, churches and monasteries, as well as being one of the busiest shopping streets in Europe. Lunch at a local restaurant. This afternoon you see a darker side of Warsaw’s history with a visit to the Jewish Ghetto and Cultural sights – the site of the Ghetto uprising and the monument to the victims; the Path to Remembrance, the Jewish History Museum and the Nozyk Synagogue. Evening: Free.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

 

DAY 4: Warsaw to Krakow: Check out of your hotel after breakfast and board our transport to travel to Krakow. This is a full day traveling south across the Polish countryside. The first stop is at Czestochowa to visit the Yasna Gora Monastery  to see the “miraculous” painting of the Black Madonna. Just a short distance outside Krakow is your next stop to visit Oswiecin (better known to the world as Auschwitz-Birkenau) the former concentration camp. Your guide will walk with you through some of the somber parts of the camp before going on to the tower of Birkenau to view the largest Nazi camp. (For those travellers who do not wish to visit this sight there will be an alternate stop for coffee and a rest while the groups visits the centre).  There will be a short break before continuing your journey to Krakow where you will check in to your hotel. Evening: Free.
Meals: Breakfast

 

 

DAY 5: Today you begin your visit to Krakow also listed by UNESCO as one of the world’s 12 historic sites.  Your guide will take you on a City Tour which will include visits to the Old Market Square, St Mary’s Cathedral and of course Wawel Hill with its Cathedral and Castle. There will be a stop for lunch. In the afternoon your guide will take you to visit the city’s Jewish heritage in the historical centre of Kazimierz. You will see a number of sites that were used in "Schindler’s List”. Also on the program is to visit the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Cemetery. Tonight you will enjoy a Galician Folklore Dinner at the Ariel Restaurant – a three-course meal with traditional Jewish folk songs. Transfers are included.
Evening: Dinner and entertainment.
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

 

 

 




 

DAY 6: This is a scheduled free day for you to rest, shop, explore at your leisure. Perhaps some may wish to visit the sites associated with the life of Pope John-Paul II? Evening: A classical performance at the opera, ballet or symphony.
Meals: Breakfast

 




DAY 7: Today there is a morning visit to the Czartoryski Collection whose masterpieces include Leonardo da Vinci’s “Lady with an Ermine” and Rembrandt’s “Landscape with the Good Samaritan”.  Time for a leisurely lunch before this afternoon’s unusual excursion. You will be taken to the “ salt mines”. This is a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, also UNESCO Heritage listed in 1978.  There are over 2.5km of underground galleries and chapels carved out of salt. You have a choice of walking down 400 steps  or taking the lift. In any case all tourists will come to the surface by lift.  You will return to your hotel by about 7.30pm. Evening: Free.
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 8: After breakfast and your hotel check-out , your transfer will drive you to the airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast

 

Prices: from $3,955 per person twin share

Single: from $5,072

 

 

Features of this Holiday

Six days, 7 nights in Poland
Two full days, 3 nights in Warsaw
One day travelling Warsaw to Krakow
Three full days, 4 nights in Krakow
One Classical Performance in Krakow
Chopin Recital
Galician Folklore Dinner & Performance in Krakow
Optional visit to Auschwitz
Visits to Jewish Heritage Sites
Built in personal times for you