THE HERITGE OF POLAND
A cultural tour of Poland

For centuries Poland has played a vital role in the growth of European culture. Its contribution is evident in individuals like Frederic Chopin, Nicolaus Copernicus, Karol Szymanowski, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jan Matejko, Pope John Paul II etc. Poland is simultaneously host to 13 UNESCO recognized World Heritage Sites – and in this tour, The Heritage That Is Poland, we visit 8 of the most important sites.

Day 01: Saturday - Arrival in Warsaw
Upon arrival in the historical city of Warsaw, we are warmly received and transferred to our hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Warsaw is a delightful city with friendly people and this is a good opportunity to browse the Old Town with its beautiful architecture. This evening the group gathers at the hotel restaurant for a welcome dinner of delicious Polish cuisine.
Overnight: Novotel Centrum, Warsaw (1 night) (D)

Day 02: Sunday - Warsaw / Tricity
Morning tour starts with an exploration of the Warsaw Old Town. We explore this World Heritage Site with its majestic Market Square, St. John's Cathedral, Barbican and Castle Square with King Sigismund Waza Column. We then drive along the Royal Route: Krakowskie Przedmies´cie, Nowy S´wiat and Aleje Ujazdowskie, with its numerous churches (Holy Cross Church where Chopin's heart is kept in the pillar), monuments, historic buildings and palaces - many of them now housing embassies and ministries. Walking through Lazienki Park with its famous Palace on the Water we see one of the last 18th century court theatres in Europe in Old Orangery, Chopin's monument and the Belvedere Palace. Later in the afternoon we drive to Tricity (Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia)
Overnight: Hotel Mercure Hevelius, Gdansk (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 03: Monday – Gdansk / Gdynia
Gdansk was once known as Danzig – a name etched deep in European history. It is a major harbor, first German, then Hanseatic, Polish, Prussian, Free City and finally Polish. Desired by many, the city was often fought over. Indeed, it was in the nearby Westerplatte that heard the first shots fired in 1939 leading to World War II. Late in the 1970s the city’s Lenin Shipyard saw the birth of the Solidarity Trade Union that made Lech Walesa a household name and began the process of transformation across the entire region. Gdansk has not forgotten its history. The lovingly restored buildings of the Old Town and waterfront provide picturesque and interesting surroundings. The Gdansk area is as varied and eternally fascinating as the sea that brought its fame and fortune. We have time to take a stroll, dine or shop for the city’s famous amber jewelry. We will also have a sightseeing tour of Gdynia and the harbour. (B, D)

Day 04: Tuesday - Malbork / Torun / Poznan (drive)
A short scenic drive gets us to Malbork where the largest Teutonic castle in Europe is located. Malbork (Marienburg) was seat of Teutonic Order Grand Master of the 13th C and an outstanding example of a medieval defensive construction. The fortification consists of three parts: Lower Castle (armory, chapel, Gothic houses), Middle Castle (guest apartments, hospital, knights' chamber, Grand Master's apartments) and High Castle (treasury, sleeping rooms, refectory, convent room). We see the unique Gothic ornaments and smart traps, which Teutonic brothers created to “get rid of” inconvenient guests and members. Another unique site of medieval heritage is the town Centre of Torun . Torun is one of the most magnificent historic cities in Poland besides being the birthplace of Copernicus, the well-known Polish astronomer. Its Old Town has been included in the UNESCO list thanks to the most impressive 13th century Town Hall, superb churches and streets uncovering Torun’s past glory. After touring Torun we continue to Poznan.
Overnight: Novotel Centrum, Poznan (1 night) (B, D)

Day 05: Wednesday – Poznan / Wroclaw (drive)
This morning, after a short visit to Poznan’s old Market Square and downtown, we continue to Wroclaw. Here we tour Ostrow Tumski – the oldest part of Wroclaw including the Old Town Centre and the famous Aula Leopoldina at the University of Wroclaw.
Overnight: Hotel Sofitel, Wroclaw (1 night) (B, D)

Day 06: Thursday – Wroclaw / Czestochowa / Auschwitz / Krakow (drive)
Another day into history, as we drive to Czestochowa - one of the most important sites in the Christian world and often referred to as the Religious Capital of Poland. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world come here every year to pray at the miraculous Black Madonna Shrine. Historians date the shrine to the 14th century; however legend has it that it was painted by Saint Luke on a piece of wood from the table used by Virgin Mary in Nazareth. Now the famous icon is a part of the Baroque altar. The altar is opened twice a day with organ music accompaniment. The painting is covered with precious decoration, forming royal gowns for Virgin Mary and her Child. Later today we depart, to visit the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz . A grim reminder of Nazi terror and holocaust, the "death factory" now Museum of Martyrdom consists of brick barracks filled with hair, shoes, glasses and other belongings of victims. Close to Auschwitz,in Birkenau we see hectares of wooden barracks and gas chambers. Later we continue for the beautiful city of Kraków.
Overnight: Novotel Centrum, Krakow (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 07: Friday - Krakow
We begin our tour today with Krakow Old Town and Florianska Gate, built around 1300. Today the area resembles an open-air art gallery, with numerous paintings and watercolors displayed for sale by local artists. Housed in the 13th century Cloth Hall is the largest collection of Polish paintings. Saint Mary's Church, datingback to 1221, is an interesting piece of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Collegium Maius with Gothic arcades, expanded in Renaissance style, was home to Jagiellonian University, the second oldest university in Central Europe. The Czartoryski Museum collection contains two of the most precious paintings in Poland: "Lady with an Ermine" by Leonardo da Vinci and "Good Samaritan" by Rembrandt. We continue to see another of Poland’s World Heritage Sites, the Wawel Castle. This Gothic royal castle was built on the remains of the 10th century settlement and extended in Renaissance style in the 16th century. Magnificent Renaissance interiors contain numerous paintings, furniture and national memorabilia. Collection of famous "Wawel Tapestries" designed and made in Flandre, especially for Wawel interiors, is truly unique. In the afternoon we visit the historical and interesting Wieliczka Salt Mine is a unique world-class attraction, included in the UNESCO "Human Heritage" List. According to legend the salt resources were brought here from Hungary by the “Blessed Kinga”, who married a Pole and dropped a ring down the Hungarian salt mine shaft to say "farewell" to her homeland. Salt reserves were soon discovered in Wieliczka. When excavation started, Kinga's ring was found in the first salt lump. A tour of the Mine includes beautiful chapels sculpted in salt - at a depth of 250m below ground level. (B, D)

Day 08: Saturday – Krakow / departure
We end our Heritage of Poland journey by taking a transfer to the airport or the railways station for our departure journey. From here we can join the other tours that Bestway Tours is offering in the region. Optional transfer to Warsaw by train available at an additional cost of US$ 95 per person which includes transfer from hotel to station at Krakow. (B)

Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures May 19, Jul 07, 14 & 28, Aug 04, 11, 18 & 25, Sep 08
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar International airfare & Airport taxes Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast, D=Dinner) Visa fees & Insurance All transfers and sightseeing as per the itinerary Tips & Gratuities Services of local English speaking guides and escort   Entrance fees to all sites and museums
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 1465 US $ 395 Note: This tour is also offered on a private basis at $ 4175 per person min 2 persons.
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1300 USA - West Coast US $ 1100 Canada - East Coast US $ 1100 USA - East Coast US $ 900
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and average group size of 16 participants and is not part of our small group travel..
Note
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.