Shop 6, Wavecrest Centre, Da Gama Rd | Jeffreys Bay | South Africa | Email:
[email protected] www.seagulltours.co.za Tel: +27 [0] 42 296 0475 | Fax: +27 [0] 86 686 0009
POLAND FROM GDANSK TO WARSAW Day
1
14 August 2016
We meet at the O.R. Tambo International Airport to depart for Cracow. Airline to be advised.
Overnight
Aircraft
Day
15 Augustus 2016
2
with
dinner
Gdansk
On arrival in Gdansk we clear customs, collect our luggage and meet our guide. An amazing tour starts! We enjoy welcome dinner in the hotel.
Overnight
in hotel TBA
Day
16 August 2016
3
with dinner
Gdansk, Sopot, Gdynia
After breakfast we meet our local guide and depart for a guided tour of Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia. Gdansk is the maritime and amber capital of Poland, also known as the town of Lech Walesa whose solidarity movement overthrew communism. The town has a thousand years of history and used to be a jewel of the Hanseatic League. Conveniently situated at the mouth of River Wisla, on the main trade route, in the 14th and 15th centuries, the town of Gdansk grew to be one of the biggest and richest Baltic ports. The Old City has big buildings and burgher houses built in the style of the North European Renaissance by master-builders from Flanders and the Netherlands. The streets do not converge in the market place, but run down towards the River Motlawa and the old Gdansk harbour together with Dlugi Targ (Long Market) which plays the role of the city's main market.
We have time to have lunch (for your own account). We continue for Sopot, the most famous spa and seaside resort known for fantastic Art Nouveau eclectic villas from the 19th and 20th century. The Northern Baths are a good example of old spa buildings. One of the Sopot`s attractions is the longest wooden pier [512 m]. Sopot hosts a number of various events including sailing races, tennis tournaments, horse races and a worldwide famous International Song Festival organised in the greenery of the Forest Opera. Nearby, you can visit Oliwa Cathedral - worth recommending for its 18th century organ.
Overnight
in hotel TBA
with
Day
17 August 2016
Gdansk - Malbork - Bialowieza
4
DBB with dinner in the Old Town
After breakfast we check out and depart for Malbork. On arrival we visit one of Europe’s biggest Teutonic castles, registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It was the former seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. Taken by Poland in 1457, it became a residence of Polish kings. The stronghold consists of a group of 13th-15th century Gothic fortified edifices. It is now a museum and contains a gallery of medieval sculpture collection of 15th-17th century weapons, valuable collection of amber, ancient coins and medals. The most attractive chamber of the complex is a summer refectory. Later we continue for Bialowieza with lunch stop en route.
Overnight
in hotel TBA
on DBB basis
Day
18 August 2016
Bialowieza
5
We depart with our local guide on horse drawn coaches for visit of the UNESCO reserve where Europe’s only primeval forests can be observed. We have time for lunch before we visit the reserve of European Bison – Europe’s biggest mammal. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Overnight
in hotel TBA
DBB with dinner at a Russian style restaurant
Day
19August 2016
Bialowieza - Lublin - Zamosc
6
After breakfast we depart for Lublin. On arrival we meet our local guide and start a city tour including the local castle and Holly Trinity Chapel. We have time for lunch before we continue for Zamosc, one of the UNESCO sites in Poland. On arrival in Zamosc we check in to our hotel and have some free time before dinner in one of Zamosc Old Town restaurants.
Overnight
in hotel TBA
DBB with dinner at a Russian style restaurant
Day
20 August 2016
Zamosc - Krakow
7
We explore Zamosc, a town placed on the UNESCO list. Zamosc was founded in the 16th century on the trade route linking western and northern Europe with the Black Sea. Modelled on Italian theories of the “ideal city” and built by the architect Bernando Morando, a native of Padua, Zamosc is a perfect example of a late 16th century Renaissance town.
We have some time for lunch on our own before we depart for Krakow. On arrival in Krakow we join the rest of the Seagull group for dinner.
Overnight
Hotel TBA
on
Day
21 August 2016
Cracow – Wieliczka
8
DBB basis
After breakfast we start with our guided sightseeing of Cracow. For the Polish people, Cracow is a special city: the capital of kings, the place where kings were crowned and laid to rest. Today, Cracow is the key to understanding Poland and Poland’s place in Europe. Come and see the Old Town area within the Planty greenbelt - an excellently preserved medieval city. The vast Old Town Market Square is considered to be one of the largest town squares in Europe. The surroundings of the square have remained unchanged for almost 700 years and contain buildings of historic value such as St. Mary’s Church with the famous wooden altar, the Town Hall Tower, the Cloth Hall, the ”Wierzynek” restaurant. Every hour you can hear the bugle call to the four corners of the world from the tower of St. Mary’s Church. We visit the Wawel Cathedral which used to be the scene of coronations and is the eternal resting place of the kings of Poland. Wawel Hill is dominated by the Cathedral, the Castle and the defense towers. We enjoy lunch on our own after the city tour. In the afternoon we visit Wieliczka Salt Mine - one of the most ancient mines in the world. This is an amazing place, entered to the register of the world heritage of material culture by UNESCO. The tourist route open for visitors reaches 135 m under the surface. Along the route we admire numerous chambers with interesting interiors consisting of sculptures in salt carved by many generations of miners-sculptors. The most beautiful one is a chapel of St. Kinga with astonishing relief sculptures, salt alter and chandeliers made of salt crystals.
Overnight
Hotel TBA
on
Day
22 August 2016
Cracow – Zakopane with rafting – Cracow
9
DBB basis
A full day excursion to Zakopane awaits, one of the best known and most visited towns in Tatras Poland`s only Alpine mountains. Zakopane is regarded as the winter capital where most of the winter sports events are held. Every year the World Cup in Ski Jumping takes place on the "Wielka Krokiew" Ski Jump. The most beautiful panorama of the Tatras is seen from the Gubalowka hill, which is easily accessible by cable car. Zakopane has preserved its regional wooden architecture and highlander`s customs, cuisine and handicraft which are characteristic of the whole Podhale region. This afternoon is surely a highlight when we raft on the Dunajec River. A unique mountain range stretches north-east of the Tatras: the limestone rocks, the microclimate and the wide variety of flora and fauna, are the characteristic features of these mountains. The trip takes two or three hours, depending on the water level of the river. Shooting down the Dunajec River through the Pieniny Gorge on the highlanders' rafts, is believed to be one of the greatest attractions of Poland. While on a raft navigated by two highlander rafters, we admire one of the most beautiful river gorges in Europe.
Overnight
Hotel TBA
on
DBB basis
Day
10
23 August 2016
Cracow – Auschwitz – Warsaw
We check out after breakfast and continue to the Auschwitz Museum, the biggest concentration camp in Poland formed by Nazis in 1940 - the place known as the "death factory" where about 3 million prisoners were exterminated. This was part of a network of concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was the largest of the German concentration camps, consisting of Auschwitz I, Auschwitz II–Birkenau; Auschwitz III–Monowitz, also known as Buna–Monowitz and 45 satellite camps. In 1979 the concentration camp was listed a UNESCO World Culture and National Heritage Site. After the museum guided visit, we transfer to Warsaw where we enjoy dinner and check-in at the hotel in Warsaw.
Overnight Hotel TBA on DBB basis ________________________________________________________________________ Day
11
24 August 2016
Warsaw
After breakfast we enjoy a guided city tour of the Warsaw Old Town area - the oldest quarter of Warsaw which was totally destroyed during the Warsaw Uprising [1944]. This area was then perfectly reconstructed after the war. To realize how incredible it is, we visit the Warsaw History Museum located just at the Old Town Market Square and see the film "Warsaw Remains". In the afternoon we visit the Royal Castle that has been the royal residence since 1595, thereafter the seat of the Polish president. After the reconstruction it became a museum and the scene of the gala receptions. In front of the castle stands Warsaw`s oldest monument, the King Sigismund Column built in 1644. Tonight we enjoy a special treat: dinner with Polish folklore show before we transfer back to the hotel.
Overnight Hotel TBA on DBB basis ________________________________________________________________________ Day
12
25 August 2016
Warsaw - Johannesburg
After breakfast, we check out and depart to the airport for our flight back home.
________________________________________________________________________ Day 13
26 August 2016
Johannesburg
Arrive after an unforgetable holiday. BON VOYAGE
DEPARTURE DATE:
14 – 26 August 2016
COST Land arrangements
Euro1550.00 per person sharing Euro350.00 per person single
Airfare (international flights)
R5850.00 per person All prices based on 20 participants
INCLUDED Flights Accommodation Meals Travel Entrance fees Tour director
International air ticket from Johannesburg into Gdansk and out of Warsaw. 4 star hotels All meals as indicated on the itinerary Air-conditioned coach All entrance fees as per itinerary English speaking tour director and local guides
EXCLUDED Airport Tax Schengen Visa Insurance Gratuities
± R8 500.00 per person ± R850.00 per person done directly with the consulate You now only need one visa for all the countries ± R600.00 per person if under 70 Please ask us for the price if over 70 Your tour leader will collect Euro 100.00 per person and will handle tipping on your behalf. This makes it so much easier for you to enjoy your holiday
Items of personal nature
GENERAL To guarantee a place on the tour, we request a R3 000.00 deposit per person and a completed booking form. Reservations will be on a first come first served basis. The balance of payment will be divided into two instalments – once the tour is fully booked the dates will be advised (final payment will not be later than two month prior to departure). Until final payment has been received by Seagull Tours, the price is subject to change due to currency fluctuations, price increases beyond the control of Seagull Tours, size of the group and flight schedule changes. Credit card payments are not accepted for group bookings, but may be accepted for flight costs. It is not the responsibility of Seagull Tours to find a travel companion and single supplements will apply if you cannot find one.
