Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Wednesday, 2 Aug 2017: Arrive Warsaw; Walking Tour; Welcome Dinner (D)
Schedule your arrival no later than 12:00PM and take local transportation to the hotel. The tour will begin at the hotel in the lobby at 2:00pm with our Welcome Meeting, followed immediately by a walking tour of Warsaw to introduce you to the city, its history, culture and cuisine. At the conclusion of the walking tour the remainder of the afternoon is yours to relax or explore a bit before our Welcome Dinner, at the incredible Michelin-recommended restaurant, Ale Gloria, specializing in Polish cuisine. Overnight Warsaw - 3 nights
Thursday, 3 Aug 2017: Polish Cooking Class; Warsaw Uprising Museum; Free Time (B,L)
Our leisurely morning begins with a cooking class--with an opportunity to either watch or participate--instructed by a local Warsaw chef. Following the class is a delicious lunch sampling our own creations. This afternoon, we tour the Warsaw Uprising Museum, one of the most visited places in Warsaw. It opened on the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of fighting in the city and is a tribute to Warsaw’s residents who fought and died in 1944. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is yours. Relax in world-class spas or perhaps so a bit of shopping. There will be plenty of suggestions for dinner options this evening from your Local Host.
Friday, 4 Aug 2017: Royal Bath Park; WU Library Rooftop Garden Tour (B,L,D)
Today begins with an excursion to the 17th-century Baroque Royal Baths Park, the largest palace-garden complex in Warsaw built for Prince Stanislaw Herakliusz Lubomirski. During the summer, visitors can enjoy live Chopin concerts at the park and take scenic gondola rides. For lunch, we have authentic Polish food at the rustic and homey Restaurant Stary Dom. Afterward, we'll take in the superb panorama of Warsaw during an interesting tour of Warsaw University Library Rooftop Garden, one of the largest rooftop gardens in Europe. Tonight we'll dine at the elegant restaurant Rozana. It’s a special place in Warsaw, a two-floor pre-war villa, where we’ll enjoy a superb multi-course Polish dinner in a relaxing atmosphere by soothing candle light and gentle piano music. Smacznego! (in English: Enjoy!)
Saturday, 5 Aug 2017: Warsaw to Krakow via Train; Afternoon Free Time (B,D)
After breakfast we transfer to the Warsaw Central Train Station for a three-hour train ride to Krakow. After checking into our hotel, simply relax or go exploring for the rest of the afternoon. This evening we have dinner at local steak restaurant owned by famous Krakow chef. Overnight Krakow - 1 night
Sunday, 6 Aug 2017: Travel to Zapopane in Tatra Mountains; Agro-tourism Farm Visit (B,L,D)
Following breakfast and checkout we depart for Zakopane, our home in the mountainous region of Poland for the next four days. En route, we'll stop for a sumptuous lunch at an agro-tourist farm, Lesniczowka u Zieby, in the village of Dolina Chocholowska, where we sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea – which includes vodka. After settling into our hotel, relax in the pool or spa, or go for a leisurely walk. This evening we gather for a festive dinner at the hotel restaurant to dine on local specialties. Overnight Zakopane - 4 nights
Monday, 7 Aug 2017: Cooking Class; Tour of Zakopane (B,L)
Today we attend a cooking class in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region. While the menu is up to the instructor we may learn the secrets of preparing the all-time regional favorite of moskole--potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Zakopane will acquaint us with this lovely town. Later we ride a cable car up Gubalowka Hill for the panoramic view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. There will be plenty of suggestions for dinner options this evening from your Local Host.
Tuesday, 8 Aug 2017: River Float Excursion; Tour of UNESCO Timber Church (B,L,D)
This morning we travel to the village of Sromowce-Wyzne to begin our trip on a wooden raft through the Dunajec River Gorge. It is one of the best-known attractions of this region and suitable for everyone. The daily raft trips have been organized by gorale (highlanders) since the early 19th century. After lunch, we travel to the village of Debno Podhalanskie to visit a UNESCO-listed timber church with unique interior paintings and precious Gothic sculptures from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Later this afternoon, there is free time to relax with a spa treatment or simply stroll down Krupowki street. To celebrate our second day in beautiful Lesser Poland, we dine at Gazdowka u Zajaca restaurant in Dolina Chocholowska, which offers regional specialties and folk entertainment.
Wednesday, 9 Aug 2017: Highland Cooking Class; UNESCO Timber Architecture Route (B,L)
Today, we travel to another village in the Podhale region to cook with local highlander women. Using traditional recipes we may prepare kwasnica goralsko, highlander sauerkraut soup, and other regional specialties, as part of our lunch. Once again, everyone has the option to watch or participate in the meal preparation. On our drive through the Podhale region we will make short stops along the UNESCO Timber Architecture Route, visiting wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores and Chocholow and Witow villages. Upon return to Zapopane the remainder of the day and evening is at leisure. There will be plenty of suggestions for dinner options this evening from your Local Host.
Thursday, 10 Aug 2017: Krakow City Tour (B,L,D)
After an early breakfast, we return to Krakow. On our drive back we visit Bacowka, a small mountain shepherd hut where smoked sheep cheese (oscypek) is made in the traditional way by highlanders. Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland and Poland’s third largest city, escaped the devastation that obliterated other Polish cities during World War II. It’s perfectly preserved medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is on the itinerary for this afternoon's guided walking tour of the city. We visit Market Square, the largest medieval town square in Europe, the 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and Kazimierz, the former Jewish district. Later, we may also venture to a fresh food market, called Stary Kleparz, and witness a centuries-old tradition. Locals and visitors shop in an unforgettable atmosphere for fresh, traditional Polish food products. Enjoy free time before we dine on traditional Krakow cuisine at Biala Roza restaurant where chef Lukasz Cichy uses top-quality regional products to create modern arrangements of flavors of the past. Overnight Krakow - 2 nights
Friday, 11 Aug 2017: Wieliczka UNESCO Salt Mine Tour; Pierogi Festival (B,L,D)
This morning we head out of Krakow to tour the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a virtual underground city with galleries, lakes, chapels and murals – all carved from salt – and a UNESCO World Heritage site. We return to Krakow and lunch at the Pierogi Festival with pierogi tasting, local beer and live entertainment. Afterward, enjoy the sights and shops of Krakow. Krakow offers a wonderful choice of art, crafts and souvenirs. We recommend Cepelia store, which has a great selection of quality Polish folk handicrafts. To cap off this wonderful trip, our Farewell Dinner will be at Wesele restaurant, serving old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square.
Saturday, 12 Aug 2017: Return Home from Krakow (B)
Sadly, our time together has come to an end. Depart at your convenience. Based on your departure time, WTT will organize travelers into small groups so you can ride-share to the airport if you wish.