Poland Off The Beaten Path

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Gdansk

   Gdansk has a rich and volatile history, due mostly to its position at the mouth of the Vistula River on the Baltic Sea. That has been bad news for the city’s inhabitants throughout history, but today it’s good news for visitors. With its rare blend of historic architectural styles from varied cultures, Gdansk offers reminders of Polish, Prussian, and Napoleonic rulers. While some of the city recalls Poland, other parts will remind you of Amsterdam and other port cities from the north of Europe. You’ll have a great time exploring all the various corners of the city on foot, but there’s much more to do here than just look at interesting buildings. Old Town and Westplatte are two areas you won’t want to miss. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Long Market, where you can find many local arts and crafts. And outside of the city, Malbork Castle is one of the most popular day trips. History will come alive for you here as you explore the different tours and museums on the castle grounds. Or you could go a little farther afield with a tri-city day trip including visits to Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia, all of which have a unique charm that’s even more impressive when compared with the other nearby cities.

   Upon your arrival to Gdansk Airport, you will be picked up and taken to your accommodation in Gdansk. The journey should take about 30 minutes.

   

   Walk the Royal Way

   Follow in the footsteps of kings by taking the Royal Way through the center of the city, from the Green Gate to the Golden Gate. This route will take you down Ulica Dluga and Dlugi Targ, the "Long Lane" and "Long Market," along which many of the city's landmarks are arranged. It offers the most direct way to get to know and fall in love with Gdansk.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Gdansk

   

   Gdansk Private Walking Tour

   Gdansk is an ideal city for walking tours, because most of the most notable sites are close to one another. You'll be led by an experienced local guide who will entertain you with stories from the colorful past of Gdansk. Let your curiosity run wild as you stroll along the city streets and come to a new appreciation of this destination. In a short period of time you'll get a complete picture of the city. This tour best way to get to know the character, history and atmosphere of Gdansk, a unique city with a spirit all its own.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 2 hours 30 minutes

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Elblag Canal Group Tour with Private Transportation

   Travel in a way like no other. The tour starts at the village of Buczyniec where you'll enjoy a cruise down the Elblag Canal, including uphill portions via ingenious inclined planes. After around 2 hours spent on the unique boat you'll have free time at the historic port town of Elblag.
   

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 6 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

3. Day 3 Traveling to Torun by Private Transfer / Arrival in Torun

   

   Today you will trade the coast for beautiful Torun, getting picked up at your hotel and taken to your accommodations in Torun. The drive takes two hours, but en route you'll make a non-guided stop at the charming, off-the-beaten path city of Grudziadz, famous for its brick architecture and long riverside granaries. Please note that this is a non guided transfer.

   One of Poland's oldest cities, Torun was once also one of the largest, as evidenced by its plentiful Brick Gothic, Baroque, and Mannerist architecture. Fortunately, Torun escaped World War II intact, so everything in its center is original, down to Nicolaus Copernicus' birthplace. Torun's beautifully preserved, UNESCO-listed Old Town (with its massive cathedral) is the main reason to visit. Take your time exploring the center, its medieval Gothic buildings, walls, and towers (one of which is leaning) will reward you. Be sure to check out Torun's famed, elaborate gingerbread (which naturally has its own museum, where you can learn to bake it). The city isn't just known as "The Gingerbread City" due to its characteristic red brick architecture!

   Your driver will take you to your accommodations in Torun.

   

   Stroll the Medieval Old Town

   Experience the feeling of going back to the 14th century by wandering through the UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site that is Torun's Old Town. See the fascinating gothic Town Hall building and take some time to visit its museum, home to an extensive collection of gothic art, ancient crafts, and Polish paintings. From the top of its 130-foot tower, you can take in a dazzling panorama of the city, and the Vistula river beyond.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

4. Day 4 Traveling to Mikolajki by Private Transfer / Arrival in Mikolajki

   

   Torun Private Walking Tour

   Explore magical Torun, a showplace of Northern Gothic architecture, and the birthplace of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. Your knowledgeable guide will show you not only the most important monuments, but also share with you many interesting details which will make your experience much more valuable.
   

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   You will be leaving Torun behind and heading to the Masurian Lake District. Our driver will pick you up from your accommodations in Torun and take you to Mikolajki. The drive will take less than 4 hours but we will arrange for the driver to stop in Olsztyn - the city with a beautiful Old Town and a Castle which has still not been discovered by many tourists. Please note that this is a non-guided transfer.

   Mikolajki is located near Poland's largest lake, deep within the Masurian Lake District, a harmonious mix of forests and thousands of lakes connected by a series of canals. Not surprisingly, the town itself is located on a lake by the same name, and features plenty of restaurants and cafes that follow the water. Mikolajki itself is cute, and has served as a resort town for generations, but its main draw are the endless lakes around, which can easily be explored by rental boat or kayak or even by following the lakeside paths and promenades.

   Upon your arrival to Mikolajki, our driver will take you to your accommodation.

5. Day 5 Your First Full Day in Mikolajki

   

   Private Motorboat Cruise on a Great Masurian Lake Trail

   Magical Mikolajki attracts crowds of tourists every summer. It's a great starting point for the voyages on the nearby lakes, and for the exploration of the scenic area. This gripping cruise presents a great opportunity to enjoy a motorboat sail, while admiring the picturesque Masuria region from a unique point of view.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 7 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

6. Day 6 Traveling to Bialowieza by Private Transfer / Arrival in Bialowieza

   

   It's time to head to primeval Bialowieza and its wild bison! Our driver will pick you up from your accommodations in Bialowieza and take you there. En route, you'll make a small detour to visit the charming lakeside town of Augustow, to enjoy a stroll and coffee on your own. Please note that this is a non guided transfer.
   

   Built around a royal hunting lodge, the village of Bialowieza sits in the heart of the Bialowieza Forest, on Poland's border with Belarus. This is Europe's last primeval, untamed forest, straddling the Polish-Belarusian border. Home to large herds of Europe's largest animal, the European bison, this UNESCO-listed forest also hid Soviet and Polish partisan bands during World War II. Locals take protection seriously, and visits to the most primeval portion are limited to scientific expeditions, and guided tours of up to 10 people led by official guides.

   Your driver will take you to your cozy accommodation in Bialowieza National Park.

7. Day 7 Your First Full Day in Bialowieza

   

   Bialowieza: a Touch of the Wild

   Commonly known as Europe's "last untouched wilderness," the Bialowieza Forest is the continent's largest remaining primeval forest, and is still home to bison. At dawn, you'll visit Europe's land animal, the forest's bison, tracking them with a local expert, for a face to face meeting! After lunch, you'll enjoy more trekking and stories about the forest's past, from Czarist reserve to partisan lair to Poland's first national park. In the evening, you'll enjoy a delicious local dinner in the region's most prestigious restaurant, housed in the railroad station Czar Nicholas II built for himself, and restored to its full imperial glory. Amid this wooden architecture, you'll enjoy gourmet Polish and Russian cuisine, and can spend your evening by the fireplace of a manor home.

   • Activity Level : Strenuous
   • Duration : 12h

   Included in your vacation package price

8. Day 8 Traveling to Kazimierz Dolny by Private Transfer / Arrival in Kazimierz Dolny

   

   Today you will be picked up by our driver from your accommodations in Bialowieza and taken south to Kazimierz Dolny. The journey will take about 4 hours and on the way, you will make a short stop in Siematycze to see the beautiful lake and the monastery in Grabarka. Please note that this is a non-guided transfer.

   A thriving trade town during the Renaissance, Kazimierz Dolny stopped growing during the 17th century, which helped keep its charming Old Town intact and looking like it hasn't been touched in more than 400 years (even if the castle has been in ruins for nearly 500 years). Today, Kazimierz Dolny is a popular destination for Polish travelers, drawn to its film festival, architecture, and artist's colony. By World War II, Jews formed nearly half of the town's population, including many of its artists.

   Your driver will take you to your accommodations in Kazimierz Dolny.

   

   A Vibrant Center

   Like any Polish town worth its salt, Kazimierz Dolny has a vibrant Old Town Square, surrounded by charming historic architecture. The town's center in every way, the square has cafes, restaurants, small shops, and a central place in the local folklore. Enjoy a leisurely stroll, stop for coffee, ice cream, or dinner, and watch the world go by.
   

9. Day 9 Your First Full Day in Kazimierz Dolny

   

   Kazimierz Dolny Private Walking Tour

   Acquaint yourself with this enchanting little town on the private tour. You'll visit all the important sights, from the 16th century parish church to Renaissance townhouses, to Medieval castle ruins. This tour also covers the Jewish Quarter, and a bakery famed for its rooster-shaped "kogut" bread.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 2 hours 30 minutes

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   The Little Krakow

   Lublin's Old Town, full of charm with its narrow cobblestone streets, traditional architecture, and historic mansions, is sometimes referred to as the "Little Krakow." It even has its own hilltop castle, although this Neo-Gothic fortress has its own unique aesthetic. Although the city wasn't spared WWII's destruction or darkness (Majdanek Concentration Camp is located on its outskirts), the Old Town survived largely intact, and has since been impressively restored. It's a day trip that shouldn't be missed!

   Suggestion to explore on your own

10. Day 10 Traveling to Warsaw by Private Transfer / Arrival in Warsaw

    

    It's time to trade tiny Kazimierz Dolny for the Polish capital! A driver will pick you up from your accommodations and take you to Warsaw. The non-stop journey takes a little over two hours, but en route, you'll stop at the ruins of the Gothic castle at Czersk, which you'll explore on your own. Please note that this is a non guided transfer.

    Warsaw, the capital of Poland and its largest city, has bounced back from the devastation of World War II, reconstructing the historic center, and earning UNESCO World Heritage status in the process. This is a bustling metropolis with a charm that’s distinct from other cities in Poland. Here you’ll find art museums and theaters galore, with lively performances and exhibitions throughout the year, as well as frequent festivals of all sorts. The culinary scene here is top-notch, with several well-respected restaurants offering classics of Polish cuisine and modern masterpieces from European gastronomy. Warsaw has distinct neighborhoods that are perfect for exploring on foot, but it’s also fun to get an appreciation for the size of the city by being chauffeured. You can explore different layers of Warsaw’s history, from World War II to its Jewish heritage and communist past. You’ll definitely want to sample the local cuisine while you explore the city, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to do so, from street stalls to fine dining. When you’re ready to go farther afield, the region surrounding Warsaw offers gorgeous lakes, castles and other notable cities and villages. There is no shortage of ways to enjoy your time in this vibrant city.

    Welcome to Warsaw! Our driver will take you to your centrally located accommodation.

11. Day 11 Departure Day

    Based on your flight time, we'll arrange for a transfer from your accommodations to Warsaw's main airport.