GEMS OF THE EAST

12 Nights / 13 Days

2N Warsaw / 2N Gizycko / 1N Bialystok / 2N Lublin / 2N Rzeszow / 3N Krakow

ITINERARY

DAY 01: ARRIVAL DAY

You will arrive at Warsaw Airport. Check in to your hotel. Meet your tour guide in the lobby. Afterwards continue by a welcome dinner. (D)

Overnight at in Warsaw.

DAY 02: WARSAW TOUR

After breakfast, you will go on a city tour of Warsaw – the Old Town, the area of the former Jewish ghetto; the living city centre and the stylish Royal Route connected with the Lazienki Royal Gardens and its Palace on the Water, the former residence of the Polish King Stanislaw August Poniatowski. Afternoon, you will visit the Polish Vodka Museum. The tour ends with tasting of three types of vodka at a local restaurant. Evening, you will have a Polish Dinner in one of the best restaurants and an exclusive piano concert with a music of Frederic Chopin. (B,D)

Overnight in Warsaw.

DAY 03: GREAT MASURIAN LAKES

After breakfast, you will be travelling to Mansuria. The first attraction of the trip will be a stop at the Krutynia river to enjoy a traditional boat trip through one of the most spectacular nature landscapes in Poland. Afternoon, you will arrive to Gizycko, the biggest yacht harbor in Masurian area. During free time you can take a look a former Prussian Boyen Fortress, Water Tower, the unusual swing bridge and charming historic houses. Evening dinner included. (B,D)

Overnight in Gizycko

DAY 04: GIERLOZ & SWIETA LIPKA

After breakfast, your tour will start in the heart of the Masurian forests where was Adolf Hitler’s first Eastern Front military headquarters in World War II. Afternoon, you will visit Swieta Lipka, known from the Sanctuary of St. Mary, an important pilgrimage shrine, a masterpiece of Baroque architecture. Evening at leisure. (B)

Overnight in Gizycko.

DAY 05: BIEBRZA NATIONAL PARK, TYKOCIN & BIALYSTOK

After breakfast, you will travel through Biebrza National Park famous for the largest area of marshes in Central Europe. Then you will go to Tykocin, a charming small city being one of the largest Jewish communities in Poland. The major point of the visit is XVII century synagogue and majestic Baroque church of the Holy Trinity. Afternoon, you will arrive to Bialystok, the biggest city in the north-eastern Poland. You will go on a short city tour, the Branicki Palace, The Polish Versaille, the main square with Town Hall, Orthodox Church of St Nicholas and Church of St Roch, Monument of Poland’s Regained Independence. Check in at your hotel in Bialystok. Evening at leisure. (B)

Overnight in Bialystok.

DAY 06: BIALOWIEZA

After breakfast, you will depart Bialowieza National Park, famous for its unique virgin forest and European bison. During a half-day tour you will see a forest museum with many precious scientific collections and the European Bison Show Reserve, where you will admire these big mammals and other wild animals like a wolf and lynx. Afternoon, you will drive to Lublin for dinner and overnight stay. (B,D)

Overnight in Lublin

DAY 07: LUBLIN – THE CITY OF INSPIRATIONS

After breakfast, you will go on a city sightseeing tour of Lublin Old Town: Castle Hill with the Lublin Castle, Grodzka Gate, Dominican Church, Market Square with the Crown Tribunal, the Cathedral with its Acoustic Sacristy Chamber and Treasury, 14th century Krakow Gate and New Town Hall. Afternoon & Evening will be at leisure. (B)

Overnight in Lublin

DAY 08: KOZLOWKA PALACE

After breakfast, you will departure from Lublin to Rzeszow, you will visit a beautifully preserved Palace of the celebrated Polish aristocratic family of Zamoyski. Late afternoon your will arrive to Rzeszow. Evening will be at leisure. (B)

Overnight in Rzeszow.

DAY 09: RZESZOW & LANCUT

After breakfast, you will go on a city tour of Rzeszow. During the walking tour you will visit the Old City with Main Market and Town Hall, Gothic Church of St. Stanislaw and Wojciech and remains of the Old Castle of Ligez family. After you will see 17th century Old Town Synagogue and New Town Synagogue, both reconstructed after World War 2. Afternoon, you will travel to Lancut to visit the Castle Museum – another aristocratic palace. The tour will finish in Lancut Distillery Museum with a tasting of their delicious liquors. Evening you will return to Rzeszow. (B)

Overnight in Rzeszow.

DAY 10: ZALIPIE, BOBOWA & LIPNICA MUROWANA

After breakfast, you will leave for Krakow, on the way you will visit the Painted Village of Zalipie – a charming community. Afternoon, you will Go to Bobowa to see wooden architecture of typical shtetl (a pre-WW2 Jewish settlement, synagogue, Jewish cemetery) and Lipnica Murowana with its 15th century wooden church of St. Leonard – UNESCO site. Evening you will arrive in Krakow. (B)

Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 11: MAGIC KRAKOW

After breakfast, you will go on a city tour of Krakow. The world’s biggest wooden altar, a walking tour of the legendary Royal Wawel Hill, covering the Royal Cathedral and the Belfry. Afternoon & Evening time will be at leisure. (B)

Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 12: CULINARY KRAKOW

After breakfast, visit the centrally-located Underground Museum to explore the medieval history of the city. Afternoon, free time or excursion to a Polish winery to taste Polish wines. Evening,a horse-drawn carriage ride around the old town after which you are invited to farewell dinner in an excellent local restaurant combined with pierogi (filled dumplings) workshop. (B,D)

Overnight in Krakow.

DAY 13: DEPARTURE DAY

After breakfast, independent transfers to the airport in Krakow for your flight back home. (B)

INFORMATION

INCLUSIONS:

• 12 overnights in 4 / 5 star accommodation as per itinerary (subject to availability) at the time of booking or similar.
• Includes 12 Breakfasts, 5 3xcourse dinners meals as per itinerary (B= breakfast, D= Dinners).
• English-speaking tour escort assistance
• Transport (air-conditioned high-class motor coach)
• Experienced driver
• Parking fees
• Professional English-speaking escort guide while on tou
• City tours of Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, Zakopane and Wroclaw with licensed guides
• Sightseeing of Gniezno, Malbork Castle, the Jasna Gora Monastery, Wawel Castle, Our Lady’s Church, Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, Wieliczka Salt Mines, Swidnica Peace Church, the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising.
• Entrance to private Chopin piano concert
• Cruise on the Ostroda-Elblag Canal
• Organ concert in Gdansk-Oliwa
• Cable car to Mt. Gubalowka
• Horse carriage ride and highlander show in Zakopane
• City taxes in Krakow and Zakopane
• Information booklet
• Tour organization and travel documents

HIGHLIGHTS:

• City tours of Warsaw, Bialystok, Lublin, Rzeszow and Krakow with licensed guides.
• Sightseeing of Wolf’s Lair, Swieta Lipka, Tykocin, Branicki Palace, Underground Lublin, Kozlowka palace, palace and distillery museum in Lancut, Zalipie, Bobowa, Lipnica Murowana, Church of the Virgin Mary, Wawel hill and Krakow Underground Museum.
• Private visit with vodka tasting in Polish Vodka Museum
• Entrance to private Chopin piano concert
• Boat trip on the Krutynia river.
• Half-day tour in Bialowieza National Park including forest museum and Bison Show Reserve.
• Tasting in Polish winery on the outskirts of Krakow

COST: On Request

EXCLUSIONS:

• All flights, excess baggage fees, airport departure taxes and other relevant taxes
• Inoculations and personal insurance.
• All airport transfers.
• Optional tours and services.
• All meals and drinks not specified in inclusions
• Drinks, tips, laundry, bottled drinking water and other personal expenses
• Medical, Travel and Baggage Insurance
• Holiday Surcharge
• Porter-age at airport and hotels
• Items of a personal nature (i.e. internet, curio, laundry, beverages, etc.) unless specifically quoted for above
• Passport and Visa fees
• International Airfare
• Anything not specifically quoted in the inclusions
• Park entrances fees unless otherwise specified
• GST extra as applicable

NOTES:

• All prices are correct at the time of printing and subject to availability.
• All prices are subject to change without notice. Though care has been taken to put appropriate prices, our suppliers may increase their price depending on the availability and season. We therefore request you to allow for changes to occur before the confirmation of the final price. We will inform you about the increase or decrease in prices at the time of booking.
• No reservations have been made and accommodation is subject to availability. In case of non-availability, alternate accommodation will be recommended.
• All outdoor activities are weather permitting.
• Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles. Comfort stops will be made en route.
• All distances and travelling times are approximate.
• Peak Season Surcharge may be applicable during Xmas, New Year or during any special events.
• Terms & Conditions Apply.
• All Payments to be made in INR, USD or EUR as per rate of exchange at the time of booking.
• Any payments automatically mean adherence to the terms & conditions and our statute.