930 Irwin Street, Suite 222, San Rafael, CA 94901 Phone: 415-381-5861 888-367-6147 inquire@originalworld.com www.originalworld.com CST Permit #2057026-40 Treasures of Poland May 18-June 3 and September 14-30, 2019 May Tour Precedes our Albania & Romania Tours September Tour Follows our Baltic States Immersion Tour May 18/Sept 14 Day 1: Arrival Warsaw You will be met at the airport by our representative and transferred to the hotel. May 19/Sept 15 Day 2: Warsaw / Enjoy an independent leisurely morning to recuperate from the flight. We ll depart at 10 am to Lazienki Palace and Park, one of the most beautiful parks in the center of Warsaw. Once a hunting ground, in 18 th century it was turned into an English-style park with formal gardens, and Neoclassical Lazienki Palace was built on the lake. There is also the Orangerie, Myslewicki Palace, Astronomical Observatory, Belvedere Palace and Greek-style amphitheater to be visited. One of the most important features is the Frederic Chopin monument, where Chopin concerts are held every Sunday May through September, starting at 12 noon. We will go first to the open-air concert grounds so we can get good seats and enjoy this special treat. For more info on the history of the concerts read http://www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl/en/wydarzenia/koncerty-chopinowskie-2 Afterwards, we ll have a walk around the park to see Lazienki Palace and the other marvelous places and sites. The walks are on paved pathways. There are lovely spots to take a rest and appreciate the beauty.
Enjoy a fabulous early dinner of Polish cuisine at the beautiful Bagatela Restaurant near the park. May 20/Sept 16 Day 3 Warszawa / Warszawa is an attractive city with a rich cultural life and many historical monuments as well as an array of museums and galleries offering cultural, artistic and historical insights to visitors. Although ransacked by invading armies on many occasions, the city has always risen, phoenix-like from the ashes. It is a city with a fascinating history, nowadays full of charm and action, where the past meets the future in harmony. Almost all of the city has been reconstructed from the original plans and other documentary evidence (such as photos and paintings) to a remarkable degree of authenticity. The breathtakingly successful rebuilding of the Old Town was rewarded in 1980, when the entire complex earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage site. We will meet our guide in the hotel lobby at 9 am and drive along the elegant Royal Route with its historical monuments and residences. We arrive at Castle Square where we tour the Royal Castle and then have a walk through the charming Old Town painstakingly rebuilt from scratch after the WW II. We pass through Market Square and continue to St. John s Cathedral. There will be a break for lunch in Old Town at about 1 pm (pay direct). There are so many wonderful outdoor restaurants to select from, your guide can suggest one with the best Polish cuisine. The next stops are the observation deck of the huge socialist Palace of Culture, and one of the newest and most interesting historical museums in Poland, the Warsaw Uprising Museum. The day culminates with a welcome dinner at a traditional restaurant. Your meal will include typical Polish dishes and famous Polish vodka, Zubrowka. On the way back to the hotel we pause to pay respects at the former Jewish Ghetto monuments followed by a drive past the imposing Grand Theatre and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. May 21/Sept 17 Day 4: Warsaw-Czestochowa-Kraków / We depart our hotel at 9 am this morning. The road to Krakow, Poland s unique, medieval, open-air museum, leads us past Czestochowa, site of Jasna Gora and the Black Madonna, venerated as Poland s holiest icon. It is a 3-hour drive to reach Czestochowa and we shall tour here for about 2 hours. You can have a lunch at a local restaurant in Czestochowa (pay direct). Afterwards, continue the drive to Kraków (approx 2 hours). You will arrive at about 4:30-5 pm. Dinner on your own (pay direct). May 22/Sept 18 Day 5: Kraków / Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe whose ancient Old Town with its medieval layout has been listed as a class O historic monument. This morning we shall explore the sights of the city of Krakow on a walking tour with our guide. Ensconced in the very heart of the city is the Market Square, the biggest medieval square in Europe, which is the heart of Kraków s cultural, social and trading life, as it has been for centuries.
Standing in the middle of the Market Square is the yellow Sukiennice cloth hall where you will find stalls just as you would have in the 13th Century. Nowadays they sell souvenirs, including works of folk art and amber jewelry. In the gothic St. Mary s church, you will see the biggest and one of the most beautiful medieval alters in all of Europe, the work of Veit Stoss. Next to the Old Town is the UNESCO-listed Wawel Royal Castle the seat of Poland s rulers and kings. It stands on top of a hill overlooking the Vistula, which has been altered on many occasions over the centuries, thereby creating a medley of styles: Romance, Gothic and Renaissance, it boasts one of the most priceless collections of ornamental Arras tapestries in the world the great Renaissance Gobelin tapestries. This afternoon and evening is at leisure. Enjoy wandering about independently. There may be some cultural programs you can optionally attend. Your guide will let you know what may be happening. We cannot know so far in advance. May 23/Sept 19 Day 6: Kraków / This morning we depart at 10 am to tour Kazimierz - the former Jewish district with 7 synagogues and Schindler s Factory the Museum Historyczne Miasta (Historical Museum of Kraków housed in a 17 th century Renaissance palace); and a Christian part with 4 churches. We drive about 10 minutes to a parking place near Kazimierz where we get into an open-air motorized cart for a driving overview tour passing by some of the notable historic synagogues, the Corpus Christi Basilica, the Baroque Rock Church, and Plac Nowy (New Square) on the way to the Schindler Museum. In 1939 Oscar Schindler obtained an enamelware factory in Kraków, which employed around 1,750 workers, of whom a thousand were Jews at the factory's peak in 1944. His Abwehr connections helped Schindler to protect his Jewish workers from deportation and death in the concentration camps. After years of preparation, the Oskar Schindler Enameled Goods Factory (its full name) re-opened to the public as a world-class museum in 2010. The story of Oskar Schindler and his employees is one which has been well-known since Steven Spielberg's film Schindler s List (which was shot almost entirely in Kraków) brought it to audiences across the world in 1993, and while that story is now covered in detail on the original site where many events took place, the museum casts the city of Kraków in the main role of its permanent exhibition titled, Kraków During Nazi Occupation 1939-1945. Individual histories of Kraków s wartime inhabitants guide visitors through the exhibit which covers the war of 1939, everyday life under occupation, the fate of the Jews, the city s underground resistance and more, using vast archival documents, photos, radio and film recordings, period artefacts and dynamic multimedia installations. Other exhibits change regularly, while a separate section of the original factory is reserved for film screenings, lectures and other cultural events, and another large part of the factory hosts MOCAK - Kraków's excellent contemporary art museum which opened in 2011. We ll end at Market Square and the Town hall, where we get out of the cart and you have some time to discover the city on your own. Kazimierz is full of charming sites, pubs and restaurants where a lot of Cracovians spend leisure time. We ll meet back at Market Square at 4 pm for the return to the hotel. If you wish to stay longer, there is an easy tram with a stop right in front of our hotel. May 24/Sept 20 Day 7: Krakow Wieliczka Zakopane / We depart at 8:15 am driving just (15km/30min outside of Karków to the amazing Wieliczka Salt Mines. We are booked on the 9:25 tour of the medieval galleries and halls, a magnificent cathedral and lakes- all hewn in rock and salt deposits.
The world famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, whose beginnings date back to the Middle Ages was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The mine is an astonishing labyrinth of underground galleries and chambers close to 300 km in length. The public can visit a 3,5km section lying at a depth of between 64m and 135 m which winds through numerous chambers, lakes, chapels featuring salt-sculpted figurines, bas reliefs and chandeliers. The Chapel of St. Kinga is especially beautiful, and, thanks to its dimensions, is perhaps more deserving of being called an underground salt church. The touring will take approx 3 hours. Please note on the tour you will be walking down 300 km/800 steps of winding corridors, at a fairly brisk pace to keep up with the guide. The way up is by lift. If you do not feel you are able to do this, there is an alternate tour that takes you down fewer levels by lift (extra cost). Please bring warm clothing. The temperature is between 55-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Photographing requires a permit, which can be purchased at the counter. We have a quick casual lunch on the grounds of Wieliczka (pay direct). Afterwards, we drive approx 2 hours to Zakopane, high in the Tatra Mountains the most famous mountain resort in Poland and considered its winter capital. Zakopane town retains a charming ambiance and its stunning scenic surroundings, located in the Tatrzanski National Park in the heart of the magnificent Tatra Mountains, offer numerous strolls, hiking and cycling opportunities in the surrounding valleys and peaks. Zakopane is also well known for its unique wooden architecture, style of decoration and tasty regional dishes. After check in, enjoy an independent walk along Krupówki, a charming pedestrian street lined with restaurants, pubs and souvenir stands offering wooden sculptures, wool sweaters, folk handicrafts and of course delicious highland cheese oscypek. Take in the captivating views of the Tatras that stretches from Gubalowka Mountain. Dinner tonight at Karczma Czarri Jar, a beautiful typical Highlanders Inn close to our hotel. They often, but not always, have a folkloric show (pending availability). http://czarcijar.pl/ May 25/Sept 21 Day 8: Zakopane- Oświęcim (Auschwitz-Birkenau) / This morning we start at 9 am with a visit to the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a great example of 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. Next, we go to the Old Cemetery, Kościeliska Street - a complex of wooden buildings typical of the Podhale region, which originated in XIX century. A cable car ride to the top of Gubalowka hill offers a
breathtaking view. Enjoy an independent walk around and have some lunch at one of the restaurants (pay direct). We shall depart at about 2 pm and drive 2.5 hours to Oświęcim, where the site of Auschwitz-Birkenau is located. Transfer to your hotel. This evening is meant to be rest-full as the tour tomorrow requires freshness of spirit as well as physically. Dinner at the hotel restaurant (pay direct), perhaps a massage; and early to bed. There are not any decent restaurants in town. May 26/Sept 22 Day 9: Oświęcim Wroclaw/ We depart after breakfast and drive 3 km to the entrance of Auschwitz. We are booked on the 9 am guided tour of the Auschwitz and Birkenau sites, where millions lost their lives in the crematoria during the Holocaust. You will join an English speaking guided group tour for an in-depth tour lasting about three and a half to four hours. The care and organization of the tour and the knowledge of the guides is impressive. After the tour, we stop for a casual lunch (pay direct) and then set out for western Poland and the marvelous medieval city of Wroclaw, the capital of the Lower Silesia province. Known as "Venice of the North," it is one of the oldest cities in Poland with a beautiful location along the Odra River. It is approximately 3.5 hours drive to Wroclaw, a gem of Gothic-Renaissance architecture. Wroclaw, once described as "the holy blossom of Europe" or Venice of the north, has in the past belonged to Poles, Czechs, Austrians, Hungarians and Germans. The mixture of many different religions and cultures has contributed a lot to the city. Situated on the banks of the Odra River and cut through by its numerous tributaries and canals, it is an exceptional city of 12 islands and 112 bridges. You are reminded of the early medieval times in Ostrów Tumski, where one of the most beautiful sacral architecture buildings in Europe has been preserved. Wroclaw Town hall is considered one of the most splendid Gothic buildings in central Europe. On arrival at approx 6 pm, check-in to the hotel, just across the street from the entrance to the old town. You can walk into old town enjoy strolling and discovering a restaurant to your liking for dinner. There are so many wonderful restaurants around the main square and down all the side streets. Or, if you are feeling tired from the long day, have dinner in the lovely hotel restaurant. (pay direct). May 27/Sept 23 Day 10: Wroclaw / We depart at 9 am this morning and walk with our guide, about 2 blocks, into the old town. Wroclaw, the island city, has 127 bridges, 14 islands and is the capital of Lower Silesia. Our walking tour will include the most precious monuments in Wroclaw including the Old Town Square Market, Ostrów Tumski- the oldest part with its numerous Gothic Churches and many picturesque Renaissance and Baroque tenements houses, the University with its ornate Baroque Aula Leopolidina constructed in 18 th century with paintings, sculpture and gold plated stuccos. At about 12:15, our guide will walk with you to the Panorama Raclawicka museum for your scheduled 30 minute tour (starts at 1230 pm). Panorama Raclawicka is a single painting arranged along the interior walls of a rotunda as one unbroken circle and viewed from an elevated central balcony. The picture represents the battle of Raclawice, fought on April 4th, 1794 between the Polish insurrectionist army led by Tadeusz Kosciuszko, and Russian troops. The tour is conducted by the museum docent.
Afterwards, some free time to browse shops and enjoy lunch in Wroclaw where there are so many excellent options (pay direct). Walk back to the hotel as you wish. This evening at leisure. May 28/Sept 24 Day 11: Wroclaw-Poznan / We ll depart at 9 am and drive 3 hours to the historic city of Poznan. After hotel check-in we will go into the old town for lunch (pay direct) and then a walking tour. The first settlement here can be traced back to the early 9th century. The first ruler of Poland, Mieszko I, who baptized the country, founded his church right here. The most interesting part of the Old Town is the famous clock on the Renaissance Town Hall where you can see two metal rams butting their horns 12 times every day at noon. After the tour, a visit to the Poznan Brewery, famous for its beer called Lech. One beer is included in the entrance fee. Transfer to hotel. Evening at leisure. May 29/Sept 25 Day 12: Poznan Torun / We depart at 9 am, driving 3 hours to Torun. After hotel check-in we will go into the old town for lunch (pay direct) and then a walking tour of Torun, the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who stopped the Sun and moved the Earth! Its Old Town has been included in the UNESCO list. The layout of the town s market square and adjacent streets has remained unchanged for 700 years. One of its peculiarities is the Leaning Tower built at the end of the 13th and the beginning of the 14th centuries, which is inclined at an angle just like the famous Leaning Tower of Piza. During the tour we visit the Copernicus Museum (a house with artefacts from Copernicus life) and also the Regional Museum in the Old Town Hall (Ratusz Hall), one of the oldest and largest museums of Poland. This 14th-century red-brick Gothic building, dotted with 365 windows and crowned with four pinnacles, is one of the most captivating Town Halls in the country. The renaissance turrets were added later. The museum has an impressive collection of stained glass, gingerbread molds and other crafts through the ages, and paintings of former prominent residents. This evening enjoy strolling about the beautiful old town, the entrance of which is a mere few metres from the hotel. Don t forget to try the famous gingerbread (Pierniki), for sale at many street vendor carts as well as bakeries. May 30/Sept 26 Day 13: Torun Gdańsk / We ll depart at 9:30 am for Gdańsk (180 km/approx. 2.5 hrs). On arrival, we ll check into the hotel and then walk a half a block to the entrance of Old town. We ll stop at one of the charming terrace cafes for lunch (pay direct) and then begin our 2.5-hour walking tour. The Tri Cities, composed of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot, are one of the country s biggest industrial, academic and cultural centers. The biggest of the three is Gdansk, whose history stretches back more than 1.000 years and which is without doubt the most charming city in Northern Poland and one of the most
beautiful anywhere in Europe. It offers an extraordinary abundance of historic buildings and monuments as well as the specific atmosphere of a port city and memorable lessons from history. We visit the city centre taking in the fascinating historic landmarks of Gdansk dating from its time as a member of the sea-trading corporation of European cities known as The Hanseatic League. We will visit the Gothic Town Hall with its splendid interiors, Artus Court one of the most spectacular and decorative mansions built in 1481 and used for Hanseatic League meetings, and St. Mary s basilica the largest gothic church in Poland with quite an impressive interior of paintings, sculptures and crystal chandeliers located on Mariacka Street, with its gabled terraced houses and elegant boutiques. Additional highlights of our tour include the Upland Gate - a fragment of the city's former fortifications and one of its main gates, the Prison Tower and the Torture House - relics of the 15th century Gothic defense walls, the Golden Gate, Long Market - a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades, Neptune fountain, the symbol of Gdansk and the Old Crane a unique example of medieval vertical transportation machines, which nowadays is a symbol of the city. The tour will culminate at approx 430-5 pm. Enjoy exploring this marvelous old town on your own and return to the hotel as you wish. May 31/Sept 27 Day 14: Torun Gdańsk / This morning we depart at 9 am for a short drive to Gdynia, youngest of the tri-city complex, and see old Gdansk`s old Oliwa district with its impressive Oliwa Cathedral whose famed baroque organs are used for concerts during the summer season. We may have the opportunity to listen to a concert played on the Rococo organ (not guaranteed). We can admire old vessels and ships moored alongside the wharf. We continue our drive to Sopot, the famous and fashionable seaside resort where you can see the oldest and longest wooden pier in Europe. We invite you to a relaxing stroll along the pier, from which you can enjoy a beautiful view of the bay of Gdansk and the Tri City coastline. There are many cafes along the main street heading towards the sea. We ll have an hour free for you to select a spot for lunch, coffees, delicious ice cream and shopping if you desire. We will return to Gdansk by 3 pm and the rest of the afternoon is independent to continue your personal exploration of this fascinating and gorgeous town. There are often local musicians playing excellent traditional music at various spots in Old Town. Optional Activity (pay direct): embark on an excursion by ferry to Westerplatte Peninsula, where the Second World War began on 1 September 1939, the Monument of Solidarity the movement which united 10 million of Poles 1/3 in the 80's in their fight against communistic regime. This tour does involve walking about 15-20 minutes on an easy level paved path, to see the monuments. There are two companies selling tickets on the waterfront just before entering the gate closest to our hotel. One of the companies is called the pirate ship; it has regular departures almost every hour (approx US$10). The round trip is approx 1.5 hours if you do not get off to do the walking tour. It s a pleasant cruise passing shipyards along the way, tour guides tell about the sights; snacks and drinks available on board. If you do the walk, you can catch he next ship back to Gdansk. If you want to do this, buy your ticket the day prior as the boats do fill up/sell out.
Jun 1/Sept 28 Day 15: Gdansk Malbork Ryn or Karnity / Today, an excursion to visit the Teutonic Knights Castle in Malbork - one of the largest Gothic fortresses in Europe and a superb example of medieval defensive architecture built by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th-15th Centuries. An audio guide is included and you can walk through the complex at your own pace. Lunch at the restaurant on the castle grounds. (pay direct) Afterwards, we will travel to either Ryn or Karnity (depending on the availability of accommodation as both places are limited. In both places we will stay in a beautifully restored castle and enjoy a foray off the beaten track into countryside of Poland rich with heritage and history. Drive approximately 2 hours to Ryn, a town of about 3,000 inhabitants in the very heart of the Great Mazurian Lakes district between two lakes, the Olow and the Rynskie. The history of Ryn goes back to 1377, when the Teutonic Knights erected a fortress on the former site of a Prussian fortification. The Teutonic Knight s fortress had a square layout with towers on the corners and was supposed to defend the knights against the Lithuanians. Soon a settlement appeared close to the edifice, the first mention of which can be found in documents from 1405. OR Drive 1.5 hours to Karnity, first mentioned in written documents in 1349. Initially a monastic grange was located here and bestowed upon Hanson von Schonaich for his service in the Teutonic army. After 1815 the grange was sold to the family of Baron von Albedyhll from Riga. The family remained owners until the 1920 s. The former manor house burned down during the Polish-Swedish wars around 1635. The present Neogothic Palace, set over Karnickie Lake, was erected in 1865. The palace and its park are one of the most enchanting examples of Romantic architecture. Since 1995 the palace complex and park have been owned by a private company, which turned it into a year-round hotel. On arrival, check in and a brief tour of the castle. Evening at leisure. Jun 2/Sept 29 Day 16: Ryn or Karnity - Zelazowa Wola - Warszawa / We depart by 9 am for a 3.5-hour drive to Zelazowa Wola, a village 53 km west of Warsaw the birthplace of great Polish composer Frederic Chopin. On arrival we stop for lunch (pay direct) before visiting the museum. The museum presents some original furniture and other personal items but also serves as a concert hall during summer. On the way back to Warsaw we will have a pleasant stop at the beautiful Arkadia Park in the village of Nieborow. Return to Warsaw, one hour drive. Evening at leisure. Jun 3/Sept 30 Day 17: Warszawa / Transfer to Warsaw airport for your departure flight. MAY PRICE: $4000 per person based on min 4 people. Single Room Supplement: $TBA SEPT PRICE TBA
Includes: Accommodations Based on Availability 3 nights Warsaw: Polonia Palace hotel 5* http://www.poloniapalace.com/default-en.html 3 night Krakow: Europejski Hotel http://www.he.pl/en/ 1 night Zakopane: Czarny Potok hotel http://www.hotelczarnypotok.pl/ 1 night Oświęcim: Hotel Galicja, 3 km to Auschwitz, http://www.hotelgalicja.com.pl/en 2 nights Wroclaw: Europeum hotel http://en.europeum.pl/ 1 night Poznan: Hotel Rzymski: https://www.hotelrzymski.pl/en/ I night Torun at the Bulwar hotel http://www.hotelbulwar.pl/ 2 nights Gdansk at the Kobza Haus hotel http://www.kobza.pl 1 night Ryn: (both are restored castle hotels) Hotel Zamek Ryn http://www.zamekryn.pl/ OR: Karnity Castle http://www.karnity.pl/en/ 1 night Warsaw: Polonia Palace hotel 5* http://www.poloniapalace.com/default-en.html Buffet breakfast daily at the hotels. Airport arrival/departure transfers on the tour dates (extra cost for different dates) Transport by ac mini van Renault Traffic Long: 7/8 seat 6 people; 6 seat for 4 people Touring according to the itinerary Accompanying guide min group size 6; or guide/driver if 2-5 people Local guides where required Guided group tour of Auschwitz Birkenau Guided group tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine Audio guides at Castle Malbork Entrances to sites listed in the itinerary Bottled water in vehicle during drives, one litre per person per day Local taxes Lunches & Dinners: We have not included in the tour price since our group is very small and this allows you more freedom and flexibility. Most lunches will be stops in the middle of a tour or en-route to the next destination. For dinner, in most places, it is easy to find very nice typical restaurants in Old Towns near the hotel. We have selected a couple that the guide will take you to: in Warsaw near Lazienki Palace on day 2 and Zakopane Highlander Restaurant on day 7. All lunches and dinners are paid for by you directly to the restaurant. Ask for separate bills. We will go together but pay directly, to following: Warsaw typical restaurant in Old Town, and in Zakopane Highlander Restaurant with folkloric show if available. Does Not Include: international air ticket, trip cancellation/travel insurance, tips to drivers and guides, tips to hotel porters, the lift down & camera fees in Wieliczka salts mines, horse-driven carts, lunches, dinners, alcoholic drinks, personal expenses such as telephone calls, laundry.