TOUR PAT-1 AND PAT-1A:
2nd Day/Fri - WARSAW. Meet your tour guide and other tour participants at the hotel lobby at 6PM and depart for a welcome dinner in one of the fine restaurants in the Old Town. (D)
If the airline tickets are purchased through PAT TOURS, we will include complimentary transfer to the hotel upon arrival in Warsaw airport.
3rd Day/Sat - WARSAW. Today a city sightseeing tour will introduce you to the most important features of this heroic city that was reduced to ashes during WWII. Your tour begins at the reconstructed Old Town with colorful houses, art galleries, quaint restaurants, boutiques and antique shops. Visit St.John's Cathedral and Royal Castle Square. From here drive to Lazienki Park & Palace created by the last Polish King, August Poniatowski, as his summer residence and playground. Afternoon tour the Army Museum for an introduction to Polish History. In the evening, a cultural performance. (B,L)
4th Day/Sun - WARSAW. Late morning depart for Wilanow Palace, splendid Baroque residence built by King Jan III Sobieski as his summer residence. After lunch, continue to Zelazowa Wola for a Chopin's concert at the composer's home. (B,L)
5th Day/Mon - WARSAW/Sandomierz/SIENIAWA. This morning's route leads via an impressive ruins of Krzysztopor Castle and charming town of Sandomierz on the Vistula River dating back to the 13th century. Discover its historical treasures: the Cathedral with unique Byzantine frescoes, St.James Church, the oldest in town and the museum in the Dlugosz house built for the most notorious Polish historian. Overnight in the Sieniawa Palace. (B,D)
6th Day/Tue - SIENIAWA/Lezajsk/Lancut. Whole day excursion to the tourist attractions of the area: First to Lancut Palace, magnificent Baroque residence of the noble Lubomirski and Czartoryski families with the exquisite collection of carriages of the 18th century. After light lunch, visit the historic Distillery Museum in Lancut and then on to Lezajsk's Bernardine Basilica with miraculous icon of Our Lady. Here you will listen to a short concert on a unique organ. Return to the palace for overnight. (B,D)
7th Day/Wed - SIENIAWA/ZAKOPANE. After breakfast you motor coach departs for Zakopane nestled in the beautiful Carpathian mountains, known for its unique folklore and charming architecture. Visit Villa Atma, home of the great Polish composer, Karol Szymanowski. Spend a relaxing evening in a highlander's cottage enjoying Gorale music and local specialties. (B,D)
8th Day/Thu - ZAKOPANE/Wieliczka/Wadowice/KRAKOW. This morning climb the Gubalowka Mountain for a spectacular view of the Tatra Mountains. At noon depart for Krakow via charming village of Chocholow with typical mountain architecture. After lunch tour the Wieliczka salt mines, the oldest in Europe. On a 2.5 mile tourist route discover fantastic underground world of salt grottoes, sculptures, a subterranean lakes and chapels and even a sanatorium for asthma patients. En route stop in Wadowice, birth place of Pope John Paul II. Overnight in Krakow (B,L)
Tour PAT 1B starts with evening dinner.
9th Day/Fri - KRAKOW. Today you'll discover one of the most significant centers of European culture, a designated UNESCO site. A walking tour of the old town includes the St. Mary's Church with Europe's largest Gothic wooden altarpiece carved by Wit Stwosz and listen to the traditional trumpeters call that signaled the Tatar invasion in the 12th century. Included is a visit to Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter, Remuh Synagogue and old cemetery. At the Jagiellonian University tour a fascinating collection in its museum. Balance of day at leisure or for an optional excursion to Auschwitz Martyrdom Museum, former Nazi Concentration Camp. In the evening attend a cultural performance. (B,D)
10th Day/Sat - KRAKOW. This morning, continue to explore Krakow's treasures with a tour of the imposing Wawel Castle, its treasury and Coronation Cathedral, final resting place of Polish Kings, poets and national heroes. You'll also visit some of Krakow's famous museums such as the Czartoryski Collection, Gallery of Polish Paintings, and Franciscan Church with stunning stained glass windows by Wyspianski. Dinner in one of the elegant restaurants of Krakow. (B, D)
11th Day/Sun- KRAKOW/Czestochowa/WROCLAW. Today depart for Western Poland via scenic route of Ogrodzieniec castle ruins and Ojcow National Park. Stop in Czestochowa, the pilgrimage center of Poland and tour the Jasna Gora Monastery with its treasures and the shrine of the miraculous icon of the Black Madonna. After lunch, continue to Wroclaw for overnight. (B,L)
Tour PAT 1A terminates after breakfast.
12th Day/Mon - WROCLAW. After breakfast, start the tour with Ostrow Tumski, the oldest section boasting the most valuable architectural relics, the 13th century Town Hall and Wroclaw University. Balance of day at leisure to spend at the beautifully restored Market Square, one of the largest in Europe. (B,D)
13th Day/Tue - WROCLAW/Lubiaz/RYDZYNA. Before departing for central Poland you will view the unique "Panorama Raclawicka", a huge diorama depicting the victorious battle T. Kosciuszko in 1794. Next stop is Lubiaz, the first and largest Abbey of the Cistercian Order brought to Poland in 1163. Although most of this huge complex is being renovated, but its most magnificent Ducal Hall escaped destruction and can be admired today. Overnight in the Castle. (B,D)
14th Day/Wed - RYDZYNA/Poznan/Gniezno/TORUN. Today your coach departs for cradle of the Polish nation. En route visit magnificent Neo-Gothic Kornik Castle. A short tour of Poznan will introduce you to this fifth largest city and capital of Poland from 968-1039. Included are the Renaissance Town Hall and the historic Poznan Cathedral with tombs of first kings of Piast Dynasty. Continue to Gniezno Cathedral, first capital of Poland to visit the 10th century cathedral built by Mieszko I who brought Christianity to Poland in 966. Overnight in Torun. (B,L)
15th Day/Thu - TORUN/Malbork/GDANSK. After breakfast, tour the medieval city of Torun-a Unesco site including home-museum of Polish astronomer, N. Copernicus. After tasting the traditional Torun gingerbread, depart for Malbork. Here you will discover the fascinating castle of the mighty Teutonic Knights in the 15th century. It is the largest brick structure in Europe. Overnight in Gdansk. (B,L)
16th Day/Fri - GDANSK. Start the day with a tour of the historical Gdansk, birthplace of Solidarity, beautifully restored to its medieval splendor. Here you can admire a stunning Town Hall, Artus Court, Naptune's Fountain and St. Mary's Church, the largest brick church in the world. Continue to the beach resort of Sopot, an Old World resort with grand hotels, boardwalks, beaches, resort pleasures and the longest pier on the Baltic. Balance of day at leisure in Gdansk's lively Old Town with its beer gardens, sidewalk cafes, and boutiques with best selection of silver and amber souvenirs. In the evening, farewell dinner with a cultural performance. (B,D)
17th Day/Sat - GDANSK/USA. After breakfast, termination of tour services. (B)
Private transfer to the airport is available at additional cost.
YOUR HOTELS:
WARSAW - Polonia
Palace; SIENIAWA -
Palace
ZAKOPANE -
Villa Marillor; KRAKOW -
Alexander
WROCLAW
- Qubus or
Radisson; RYDZYNA or
ROKOSOWO - Castle;
TORUN - Filmar or Helios; GDANSK
-
Wolne Miasto
For reservations complete Reservation Form or call: 1-800-388-0988
