cracow, poland, guided mini-tour of 4 days

CRACOW / Poland
5 days / 4 nights

Here's a city and region to visit before it gets over-run, over-priced and over-touristy, like its near neighbours Prague.

Cracow (Krakow) is one of central and eastern Europe's most attractive and historic cities, thankfully surviving the German and Red Army onslaughts that decimated so many of Europe's ancient towns and cities during World War II. It is the ancient royal and cultural epicentre of Poland, sitting on the banks of the Vistula river. This city of Pope John Paul and Oskar Schindler is a mediaeval feast of cathedrals, castles and towers, a maze of narrow cobbled streets and tree-lined squares boasting Vienna style cafes, bars and interesting shopping. Its fourteen universities, dating from the 1300s, give the city an unrivalled intellectual and cultural atmosphere with music, exploding

from every street corner, basement, cellar and church. And, in a restored and renovated Jewish quarter, one discovers the great cultural heritage that gave so many eastern cities and towns their special feel.

Cracow also provides the ideal base for local explorations into the Polish countryside, discovering ancient castles, primordial forests and timeless village life. Then there's the incredible 700-year old salt mine of Wieliczka. Why this astounding place with its baroque salt statures, underground cathedral and lakes is not better known beggars belief.

And no visit to the region is complete without making the pilgrimage to the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

This is a superb mini-tour, well worth adding to your holiday schedule.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP
Day One - Monday
You're transferred from your London hotel to appropriate airport. Your air ticket is not included in the tour price as the price and availability will depend on when you book this tour. We suggest flying with a 'no-frills' carrier, where tickets are cheaper the earlier one buys them. You can either buy your tickets directly on the Internet or we are happy to do this for you. We recommend Easyjet flights from Luton which depart at approx 12.23 and get ytou into Cracow by 4.30. On arrival in Cracow you're immediately transferred the short distance to our centrally located hotel and, once checked in, we enjoy an informal walking tour of the old central district of the city before our dinner.	Cracow
Day Two- Tuesday
We begin today with an escorted walking tour of the city.Cracow is a compact place and ideally suited to being discovered initially on foot. Highlights of this 'Royal Route' tour include St Florian's church in Matejki Square, the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and the Gothic St Mary's Church, which houses Europe's largest Gothic alter and where the famed Cracow bugle call is played every hour from the taller of its twin towers. Wlsking along streets of renovated palaces and residences you'll also see the monastery complexes of the Dominicans and Franciscans, Peter and Paul Church and Central Europe's second oldest university (established 1364) and amongst whose alumni was Nicolas Copernicus. Tonight, we enjoy another of the splendid traditional dinners we'll have here. Polish soups are truly memorable, as is the locally brewed beer! Then you're free to discover the great night life of the city with its late night shopping, street entertainments, inexpensive beer cellers and concert halls.	Cracow
Day Three - Wednesday
This morning we continue with our explorations of the city. We'll visit the Renaissance royal residence of Wawel Castle with its collection of artistic masterpieces including the 142 strong collection of Flemish and French tapestries. There's be some free time for shopping, or perhaps to visit one of the many museums or art galleries of the old city, before we take an afternoon and evening tour into the local Polish countryside (Ojcow and Niepotomice Forest). This is our opportunity of seeing how local Poles now live as well as discovering some of the historic hill-top castles, palaces and monasteries that are so common to this region. This evening we'll enjoy an optional performance at the 'Filarmonia' or you can attend a classical music concert offered at one of the cities beautiful churches.	Cracow
Day Four - Thursday
Our theme today is an exploration of the Jewish heritage in central Europe. We begin with a visit to one of the saddest places and yet one that perhaps all should make a pilgrimage to - the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. One need say no more than this site has the power to shock like few others and it will remain a place sacred to the memory of the tens of thousands of Jews, Poles and other nationalities who suffered and died here. We return to Cracow where we'll spend a lighter afternoon exploring the Jewish quarter. Here in restored and renovated synagogues we'll discover what life was like in the centuries before the Holocaust. In a number of historic buildings daily life, religion and culture are all explored. All tour participants are certain to find this a most interesting afternoon. We'll also see where the 1940s ghetto was located. The Oscar-winning 'Shindler's List' was filmed in the city and we'll see some of the most recognisable film locations including Oskar Schindler's original factory. We'll dine tonight in the Jewish quarter, enjoying traditional cuisine, and, subject to availability, attend a music performance at the cultural centre or in one of the historic synagogues.	Cracow
Day Five - Friday
Rising early, we travel the short distance to Wielickza. There are so many highlights and unique experiences to be enjoyed during our 5-day tour that everyone will have their own particular favourite. However, the descent and exploration of the 700-year old salt mines is a memory hard to beat! Whatever you imagine a salt mine to be, think again! Here, in an underground complex that stretches over 300 kilometres of tunnels we discover a mysterious and unique underground city housing chapels with amazing salt sculptures and bas-reliefs, massive high-ceiling caverns, dark-watered lakes and the breath-taking Chapel of St Kinga, situated 101 metres underground. Throughout our visit we're accompanied by an English-speaking guide who recounts the history, myths and legends of the mine. Following an underground lunch (not included in tour price), you're transferred to the airport for our 2-hour flight back to London where you're met by your Back-Roads guide and taken to your London hotel. This has been a truly memorable tour, but please note, there is extensive walking on this tour. Those with impaired mobility will not find it a suitable holiday.	London