Day 1: Arrival to Krakow Airport and transfer to the hotel. 

After a short refreshment we will visit the Old Town of Krakow with the biggest medieval Market Square in Europe (Rynek), the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) which is one of the city’s most recognizable icons. We will follow the Royal Route, starting from St. Florian’s Gate (Florianska). Then, we will reach St Mary’s Basilica (Mariacki) – one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in Krakow and hosting the largest gothic alter in the world. We will visit Collegium Maius – the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, established in 1364 by the king Casimir III the Great. We will see St. Adalbert’s church, the oldest one in Poland, located in the heart of the Market Square. During the whole tour we will be charmed by numerous legends blended with the rich history of the city. 

Welcome DINNER. You will taste regional Polish cuisine enjoying a traditional wooden interior, Polish folk music and waitresses dressed in traditional folklore outfits. All that guarantees an unforgettable authentic Polish experience.

Day 2: In the morning we will visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum (UNESCO). 

Auschwitz has become a symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim. The name of the city of Oswiecim was changed to Auschwitz, which became the name of the camp as well. Over the following years, the camp was expanded and consisted of three main parts: Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and Auschwitz III-Monowitz. In the years 1940-45 the Nazis killed there about 1.5 million people, mainly Jews. We will also listen to the story about Father Maximillian Maria Kolbe and see the cell where he was murdered by Nazis. 

Later we will visit Wadowice, hometown of St. John Paul II. We will have a tour of the house where he was born and lived  from 1920 until 1938. We will also visit the basilica where he was baptized and received the First Holy Communion. 

LUNCH is the main meal of the day. It is organized in the Medieval Mansion from the first part of the 19th century, famous for its elegant and stylish interiors.

On the way to Krakow, we will visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a UNESCO site, known as the replica of Calvary. It is a beautiful baroque pilgrimage site dear to Pope John Paul II. This cultural landscape with a Bernardine monastery and 44 chapels relating to the Passion of Jesus Christ and the life of the Virgin Mary create a sanctuary of a great spiritual significance and a popular pilgrimage site. 

 
Day 3: The whole day is dedicated to visit the biggest Marian Shrine in Poland.

We will have a guided tour of the magnificent 14th century Monastery of Jasna Gora, the home of the Black Madonna icon. The legend says that the icon was painted by Luke the Evangelist on a wooden plank from the table of the Holy Family. Every summer thousands of pilgrims make a walking pilgrimage to the footsteps of the miraculous image. Pols worship Black Madonna, as a Mother and the Queen of Poland. The nation is asking her intersession during a special prayer, every night at 21:00, which is called the Appeal from the Bright Hill (Apel Jasnogorski). We will participate in the Holy Mass in the Basilica. On the way to Krakow we will drive through the picturesque landscape white rocky limestone trail adorned with fortified castles and interesting rock formations.

St. John Paul II frequently visited Jasna Gora. During his first trip to Poland as a pope, in 1979, he visited also the shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa.  He said, “The call of a son of Poland to the Cathedral of St. Peter contains an evident and strong link with this holy place, with this Shrine of great hope:  Totus tuus (“I am all yours”), I had whispered in prayer so many times before this Image”.

On the way to Krakow, a unique traditional Polish DINNER in a very pleasant folk inn.

Day 4: In the morning we will have a guided tour of the Wawel Hill.

We will see the Renaissance-style Wawel Castle reconstructed between 1504 – 1535 with the historic interior houses and collection of treasures from the Polish monarchy. Then, we will visit the Wawel Cathedral which is more than 900 years old. It is the Polish national sanctuary and traditionally has served as coronation and burial site of the Polish monarchs. We will see its spectacular chapels, medieval tombs and numerous sarcophagi. The Cathedral holds relics of 11th century martyr, St. Stanislaw (patron of Krakow) and St. Jadwiga (Queen of Poland).

St. John Paul II, as Karol Wojtyla, the day after his ordination to the priesthood offered his first Mass as a priest in the Crypt of the Cathedral on 2 November 1946, and was ordained Kraków’s auxiliary bishop in the Cathedral on 28 September 1958.

Afternoon at leisure. Optional individual visit to the former Jewish district and Schindler’s Factory Museum.

Late afternoon we will visit Baltic Amber Gallery to discover another natural treasure of Poland. We will not only have a chance to admire the unique artworks, but also, we will be able to purchase some pieces for ourselves or beloved ones.

Another amazing DINNER in the heart of Krakow.

To complete the day in the cultural capital of Poland, we will enjoy the classical music concert in a baroque-style church in the heart of Krakow. 

Day 5: In the morning we will visit the Divine Mercy Shrine.

We will get to know St. Faustina’s spirituality presented by a nun from the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. We will participate in the Holy Mass in one of the beautiful chapels under the Basilica, which was built between 1999–2002. Three Popes have visited the shrine and millions of pilgrims from around the world continue to visit it every year. At 3 o’clock we will take part in the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

We will have free time for private prayers and to venerate the world-famous image of Merciful Jesus and the relics of Sister Faustina.

Late afternoon we will leave for Wieliczka, the oldest Salt Mines in Europe (UNESCO). The mine excavated salt from the 13th century until 2007, as one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines. It’s a unique salt maze, were beautifully decorated chapels, crucifixes and halls are carved out of salt and connected by two kilometers of passages. In 1978 Wieliczka Salt Mine was added to UNESCO´s 1st World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage. The chapel of St. Kinga is the biggest underground chapel in the world.

Dinner organized inside the Salt Mine… a truly unique experience!

Day 6: We will spend the whole day in Zakopane, a beautiful resort town nestled at the base of the Tatra Mountains.

Originally a 17th Century forestry settlement, Zakopane is now a sprawling town and a popular departure point for winter sports and summertime mountain climbing and hiking. Zakopane has also been a center for Polish intellectuals for the past century.

We will take a funicular car to the Gubalowka hill and get mesmerizing mountain views.

On the way we will visit a UNESCO village, Chocholow, the region’s only example of the well preserved traditional wooden architecture complex.

Then, we will go to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptowki which was built as a votive offering in gratitude for the sparing of the life of Pope John Paul II after his attempted assassination in 1981. The church was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in June 1997 during his pilgrimage to Poland.

Traditional highlander’s style local market, famous for wood craft, leather and other souvenir, will definitely be an attraction.

We will finish the day in the relaxing Thermal SPA.

After a long and exhausting day, we will enjoy a relaxing DINNER in the comfort of our hotel. 

Day 7: Morning at leisure (if time permits) and transfer to Krakow Airport.