Poland: The Pearls of Pomerania
and the Great Mazurian Lakes

September 2012

$TBD per person, double occupancy (land only)

Interested? Let us know: travel@patandmikestravel.com

Itinerary (download the Poland trip brochure)

Day 1: Depart the US

Day 2: Arrive Warsaw. You will be transferred to a cozy hotel and receive a welcome dinner. After dinner there will be time to visit Warsaw by night and take a leisurely stroll of the Old City. 

Day 3: Our three-hour tour will introduce you to the history of the city and the process of rebuilding it after World War II. You will also visit one of the top must-see attractions—The Warsaw Uprising Museum.

Day 4: Today, we'll travel to Zelazowla Wola, the home of Frederik Chopin. Here, we will visit the Chopin Museum and his restored home, and also take a walk in the beautiful garden park surrounding the home. We will have lunch and a nice rest stop before continuing to Torun. In the magical city of Nicolaus Copernicus, you will be enchanted by the original medieval architecture. There will be free time to purchase some souvenirs or taste the world famous Gingerbread. Then we'll drive to our accommodation at the Teutonic Knight's Castle in Golub-Dobrzyn.

Day 5: This morning we will visit the biggest Gothic Castle in Europe—the splendid Malbork Castle. The castle is a supreme example of a medieval brick castle, and since the 14th century it was the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. After lunch, we'll head to our lodgings in the Jan III Sobieski Castle in Rzucewo. The Castle is located in a park, next to the small, private beach on the Baltic Sea.

Day 6: Today we'll ride along the Baltic coastline to discover its secrets. You’ll also see something unique in all of Europe—the Slovinski National Park. You will also see the reconstruction of the Slovinian (a small Pomeranian ethnic group) village in Kluki, which consists of seven farms, storage and a fisherman's hut. Today you’ll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy spectacular landscapes. 

Day 7: It's off to to Gdansk, a legendary Hanseatic City. You will be guided through the Gdansk shipyard where workers, led by Lech Walesa, fought for their rights and the freedom of all Poles in the 1980s. In the "capital of amber" you will discover all the secrets of this precious stone in the jeweler's workshop. Later, you will taste the traditional Kashubian dishes in a charming restaurant in the city center.

Day 8: After breakfast, we will head to Sopot, the renowned seaside resort on the Baltic Sea, with the longest pier in Poland. You will enjoy the water tram ride to Hel. Located on the tip of the Hel Peninsula some 33 kilometers from the Polish mainland, the small town of Hel serves primarily as a yacht marina. You will have the chance to see the old timber-framed fishing houses and examples of naval armaments exhibited throughout the town.

Day 9: Today we'll head toward the Center of Folk Architecture in Szymbark. You’ll love its many attractions. You will cross the threshold of a house standing upside down, and sit at the longest table in the world made of one piece of wood. You will see the largest piano in the world and enjoy a local beer in a brewery. In the evening you will relax and have dinner in our castle hotel.

Day 10: We will travel to the Mazurian Lake District, where we will take a boat ride through the Elblag Canal. We will ride across dry land on rail mounted trolleys, which are unique in the world as a monument of hydro-engineering art. Then we'll head to the Mazury Region, with its landscapes of unparalleled beauty. To make you feel like real kings or queens, we will stay at a top-ranked hotel--the Ryn Castle.

Day 11: After breakfast, we will be travel back to Warsaw. On the way, we’ll stop to listen to an organ concert in the most beautiful Baroque Church in Poland, Saint Lipka. We’ll also visit the Wolf's Lair (Adolf's Hitler's World War II military headquarters), where the mystery of the famous attempt on Hitler's life, depicted in the recent movie Valkyrie with Tom Cruise, will be revealed to you. Our farewell dinner will be enjoyed in our hotel in Warsaw where we can relax and share memories of our special time together.

Day 12: If you are returning to the United States, you’ll be transported to the airport for your return flight. For those extending their trip over the weekend, you’ll be transported to a centrally located hotel with service to the airport. You will be provided with recommendations for places to visit that are not on this itinerary.

Included:

• An excellent English-speaking guide
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day (except arrival day, which is dinner only)
• Accommodations as listed in the itinerary, with private bathroom
• All sightseeing with entrance fees as outlined in the itinerary
• All ground transportation including airport pickup and return        

Questions? Contact travel@patandmikestravel.com