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Day-by-day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive Krakow
Day 2 - Krakow arrival and sightseeing
We arrive in Krakow, the jewel in Poland's crown, in the early
afternoon, meet our tour leader and coach in time to begin our
explorations of this beautiful city, accompanied by a local guide. Three
districts, immaculately preserved, form the captivating historic center,
nestling within the ring of green boulevards – the mercantile Old Town,
Jewish Kazimierz and royal Wawel, the cradle of Polish history.We visit
all three, by coach and on foot, from the spectacular
Mariacki Church on Rynek Glowny, Europe's largest and loveliest town
square, to the royal cathedral and castle apartments on Wawel Hill. We
will check in to our lovely, centrally located hotel for dinner and an
early night.
Dinner and overnight Krakow.
Day 3 - Auschwitz Memorial
A somber excursion is scheduled today to Auschwitz-Birkenau, one
of the most infamous and shameful names in European history. This former
Nazi concentration and extermination camp, just over an hour outside
Krakow, is now preserved as a museum and memorial to the victims of the
Holocaust. The visit is grim, vivid and comprehensive. Its importance
goes without saying. We return to Krakow in the mid afternoon via a
brief stop at the former factory in Podgorze where Oskar Schindler saved
the lives of so many of his Jewish employees.
Dinner and overnight
Krakow.
Day
4 - Wieliczka Salt Mines, Czartoryski Museum
No trip to Krakow is complete without
visiting the unique and extraordinary World Heritage Site of the
Wieliczka Salt Mine. This is our destination this morning, deep
underground, a magical synthesis of the man-made and the natural. The
highlight is the unforgettable sight of St. Kinga's Chapel, carved
entirely out of salt. Finally, on our return to the city this afternoon,
we take a look inside the fascinating Czartoryski Museum, Krakow's
finest, a lovely, eclectic private collection which counts among its
treasures a rare masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci himself. We return to
the district of Kazimierz this evening for a special dinner in a Jewish
restaurant to the rousing accompaniment of a little Kletzmer music.
Dinner and overnight Krakow.
Day
5 - Train to Prague, Swan Lake
An early morning start today.
Transfer to the train station. We will take the 7am train and travel
through the Polish and Czech country side, arriving in Prague at 2pm. On
arrival we transfer to our hotel in Prague, Europe's most beautiful
capital city. Our tour leader will take us on a short exploration of the
city before an early dinner followed by a special treat - a performance
of Tchaikovsky's ballet masterpiece Swan Lake at Prague's magnificent
National Theater.
Dinner and overnight Prague.
Day
6 - Prague Castle and Walking Tour
We will we meet our local guide and begin our full day of sightseeing at
the incomparable Prague Castle, dominating the city, the center of Czech
power for over 1,000 years. The castle is huge, a town within a town.
Among its splendid courtyards we can admire the breathtaking gothic
interior of St. Vitus' Cathedral, the renaissance grandeur of the
Vladislav Hall and the charming, picturesque houses of Golden Lane.
Above all, we can revel in the unrivaled views down on to the red, tiled
rooftops of Prague below. Sightseeing continues with a guided walking
tour through Prague's historic inner districts. From the delightful
streets and squares of the Mala Strana at the foot of Prague Castle, we
cross the Vltava River by the world-famous Charles Bridge, an open-air
museum of sculpture in its own right and the very symbol of the city.
Our walk ends in Old Town Square, whose superb churches, medieval town
hall, imposing mansions and much-loved astronomical clock create a
magical ensemble at the heart of Prague.
Dinner and overnight
Prague.
Day 7 - Jewish Ghetto, Municipal House
We spend this morning exploring the evocative and fascinating district
of Josefov. This is Prague's old Jewish Ghetto, whose atmospheric
cemetery and jumble of synagogues stand miraculously intact. It is a
uniquely moving testament to the once thriving Jewish culture of central
Europe. Finally we have one more treasure to discover today on a guided
tour of one of Prague finest architectural delights, the Art Nouveau
jewel of the Municipal House. Afterwards we have time to relax, to do a
little shopping before a farewell dinner in one of Prague’s delightful
restaurants.
Dinner and overnight Prague.
Day
8
Depart Prague
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