9 Days Sacred Poland Pilgrimage & Holiday - Krakow and Warsaw
Get fascinated on the different things Poland has to offer. The visit to the Divine Mercy will definitely rejuvenate your faith and spirit. Get inspired by St John Paul II by following his footsteps and seeing his humble beginnings. The 400-year-old UNESCO site, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Our Lady of Cz?stochowa will not only strengthen your spirituality but will also amaze you with its architecture and artworks.
Have your pilgrimage combined with an exquisite holiday experience as you will surely get enchanted with the old city of Krakow. Take yourself back in history by visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum. Artworks definitely flourished in Poland. See the stunning beauty of sculptures and other artworks made from salt in Wieliczka Salt Mine and be a witness to a wonderful presentation of Polish culture in the famous Baltic Amber Gallery.
Aside from that, Poland takes pride of the breath-taking views they can offer to all visitors in Tatra Mountains Region. Complete your Polish experience by satisfying your palate with delectable polish cuisines.
DAY 1
Arrival at Krakow airport
Transfer to the accommodation.
After refreshing, we will visit the Old Town with the biggest medieval Square in Europe (Rynek), the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Florian’s (Florianska) Gate, St. Mary's (Mariacka) Basilica with the largest gothic alter in the world, the university district with Collegium Maius - the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University. St. John Paul II had spent many years in Krakow, working and studying here during the II World War and later as a priest and a bishop, before he became a pope.
Welcome dinner in ‘Morskie Oko’ Restaurant -
You will taste regional Polish cuisine in a restaurant with a traditional wooden interior. All the service crew is wearing traditional Polish costumes like in the Swiss Alps. We guarantee an unforgettable Polish highland experience.
DAY 2
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. We will leave at 8:00 am to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Museum (UNESCO). In the years from 1940-45 the Nazis killed about 1.5 million people there, mainly Jews. We will see The Cell of St. Maksymilian Kolbe, where he was murdered by Nazis.
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 which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. 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.
We will later visit the house where St. John Paul II was born and the Basilica where he was baptized. He was born in Wadowice in 1920 and lived there until 1938 when he left for Krakow.
LUNCH - because of the concert in the evening, the main meal of the day is lunch.
Lunch organized in Medieval Mansion which is famous for weddings.
On our way back to Krakow we’ll visit the Replica of Golgotha in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - beautiful baroque pilgrimage site dear to Pope John Paul II. There is a Bernardine monastery with 44 chapels located on beautiful green hills there. We will celebrate mass at 400 year old Basilica (UNESCO).
DAY 3
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. In the morning, we will drive south to Czestochowa.
Afternoon visit to the magnificent 14th century Monastery of Our Lady of Czestochowa at Jasna Gora, the biggest Marian Shrine of Poland, the home of the miraculous Black Madonna icon which is one of the most important places of religious worship in the Christian world, with tradition of pilgrimages that goes back to the 14th century. Our Holy Father St. John Paul II has frequently visited Jasna Gora Monastery.
We will celebrate Mass at the Pauline Monastery and venerate the priceless treasures contained within, including the Miraculous Icon.
If time permits drive through the white rocky limestone trail adorned with castles. We will see the Hercules Mace Rock as well.
DINNER
A Unique Traditional Polish Dinner in a very nice folk inn.
DAY 4
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. After breakfast, we will visit the Wawel Hill in the heart of Krakow.
Wawel Cathedral is overwhelmingly full of spectacular chapels, medieval tombs and sarcophagi. The Royal Cathedral was the coronation and burial site of all of Poland's monarchs. In the cathedral, there are relics of the 11th century martyr, St. Stanislaw (patron of Krakow) and St. Jadwiga (Queen of Poland during 14th century).
Wawel Castle: This Renaissance-style Royal Castle reconstructed between 1504 - 1535 with the historic interior houses an astonishing collection of treasures from the Polish monarchy.
Lunch at beautiful Grodzka Street.
Leisure at afternoon. Optional visit to the former Jewish district. 5pm a visit to famous Baltic Amber Gallery.
DINNER
Dinner organized in a floating restaurant on Vistula River with the back drop of Krakow Castle and with an elegant table setup.
DAY 5
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. Leave the hotel at 10 am for Divine Mercy Shrine, taking part in Divine Mercy Chaplet in front of St. Faustina’s tomb. Celebrating Mass.
The Sanctuary houses the miraculous Image of Merciful Jesus and the relics of St. Faustina. St. John Paul II was said to be the driving force behind the worship of the Lord's Mercy within its center, the Lagiewniki sanctuary, by the worldwide Catholic movement. Every year over two million pilgrims from all over the world visit the shrine.
Leave at 15:30 for Wieliczka, the oldest Salt Mines in Europe (UNESCO). A unique mine were massive Chapels, Crucifixes and halls are carved out of salt. In
1978 the Wieliczka Salt Mine was added to UNESCO´s 1st World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage.
The historic underground chambers, shafts and caverns, decorated with sculptures and carvings, are connected by 2 kilometres of passage. The chapel of St. Kinga, is the biggest underground chapel in the world, crown jewel of Wieliczka Salt Mine and the miner's pride.
DINNER
Dinner organized inside the Salt Mine… a truly unique experience!
DAY 6
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. Morning drive to Zakopane, a beautiful resort village nestled in the splendor of the Tatra Mountains region. Originally a 17th Century forestry settlement, Zakopane is now a sprawling town, close to the Slovak border and on the edge of the Tatra Mountains National Park. It has been a center for Polish intellectuals for the past century.
The great church in Krzeptowki was built out of gratitude for the rescue of St. John Paul II after the attempted assassination on 13 May 1981 in Rome. The Pallottines, however, had stored the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in a chapel on the site since 1961. It was donated by the bishop of Leiria and handed to the church by cardinal Stefan Wyszy?ski. It was then consecrated by bishop Karol Wojty?a.
Visit of Zakopane Old Town, funicular to Gubalowka hill and visit a local market famous for wood craft, leather and other souvenir.
DINNER
Dinner at HAWE?KA restaurant where culinary art became a legend. HAWE?KA'S work was appreciated by His Majesty the King of Greece, Her Majesty The Queen of England, The President of the USA, Austro-Hungarian Archdukes and so on...
DAY 7
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. After Breakfast, we will transfer by bus to Warsaw. Transfer to the hotel. After refreshing, we will visit the Old Town.
DINNER
Dinner in the Hotel.
DAY 8
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. The whole day Warsaw sightseeing: Old Town, Lazienki, St. Stanislaw Kostka Church (with Fr. Jerzy Popieuszko tomb), etc. It is also time and opportunity for some shopping. : )
DINNER
Farewell Dinner in the Hotel.
DAY 9
BREAKFAST
Buffet breakfast. Transfer to Warsaw Airport.
Pick-up from airport to the hotel.
- 8 nights / 9 days accommodation in 3 star hotel
- Breakfast and special organised 3 course dinners
- Private transport as per the itinerary
- Professional English speaking
- All entrance fees, local taxes
- Flights
- Travel Insurance
- Tips/gratuities
- Mass offerings
- Lunch
- Personal expense for shopping etc.
- Anything else which is not mentioned in the itinerary