Day 1: Following your home taxi collection, you will join our platinum tour coach and we will make our way to Kent for our short sea crossing. Upon our arrival in France, we continue our journey crossing into Belgium and then into Germany and the Dortmund area where we find our first overnight hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott Dortmund on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning we continue our journey through East Germany, before crossing the border into Poland as we head to Wroclaw, one of Poland’s most beautiful cities. Our base for the next two nights is the Hotel Park Plaza on a dinner, bed & breakfast basis.
Day 3: Today we have a day at leisure to explore Wroclaw. Wroclaw is Poland’s fourth-largest city and the capital of the Viovodship of Lower Silesia. Originally (in medieval times) built across 12 islands, the city still has 130 bridges and beautiful gothic architecture.
Be sure to visit the 13th century Cathedral of St. John the Baptist located on Ostrow Tumski island, the oldest part of Wroclaw. Walking along Odra riverbank, you can ascend the 'Polish Hill', offering a splendid view over the city. Nearby there is the Panorama of the Battle of Raclawice Museum, presenting one of the biggest 360-degree panoramic battle scenes in the world, nowadays one of the nation’s symbols. Why not take a stroll around the medieval cobblestone streets which lead to the Market Square, one of the largest in Europe. The Rynek (central square), lined by its colourful buildings, is one of the city’s most popular destinations.
(Attractions today subject to individual choice and payment)
Day 4: This morning we depart Wroclaw as we head to Krakow, and our hotel for the next 4 nights, the Hotel Wyspianski on a dinner bed & breakfast basis.
Day 5: This morning we are met by a local guide for a walking tour to introduce you to the sights of Krakow. As the ancient capital of Poland, Kraków was the royal residence for centuries. It was also the only major city in the country to escape major damage during World War II. As a result, and unlike many other European cities whose centre have been rebuilt, what you see in Kraków is genuine. The wealth of Gothic and Renaissance monuments and churches, and the sheer number of architecturally wonderful buildings, makes this a very special place. Kraków’s assembly of monuments are listed by UNESCO as one of the world's twelve most significant historic sites.
The Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe and deserving of its place among the most beautiful in the world. The square is the focal point of the city and is divided by the imposing Gothic style Cloth Hall. After the sightseeing tour there will be time at leisure to explore all at your own pace. Perhaps walk up Wawel Hill to the Royal Cathedral, one of Poland’s greatest buildings, and the burial place of over 40 Polish Kings. The former Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, whose narrow streets are scattered with lively squares and remnant synagogues, was the setting for the film Schindler’s List.
Day 6: Today, we include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. It was established by the Nazis in 1940, in the suburbs of the city of Oswiecim (Auschwitz in German) which, like other parts of Poland, was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. Here, you can walk through the buildings of the camp - many of which have been left unchanged since their discovery in 1945. This will be a life-changing trip to see what is left of the most startling of all the Nazi Concentration Camps. Although it’s located just 70km southwest of Kraków, it will feel like a completely different time and place. It’s a very moving experience where you will learn about the history and significance of this site. (Due to the sensitivity of this excursion, we fully appreciate that not everybody will wish to attend).
Day 7: Today we head to town of Wieliczka and the oldest salt mine in Europe. The mines are an impressive underground world of salt lakes and galleries. They are a masterpiece of generations of miners who have created a subterraneous world of chambers and lakes, where galleries, halls, chapels and numerous sculptures have been carved in the salt rock. The journey starts at the Danilowicz Shaft where we meet our guide, and then descend via some 380 steps to 64 metres below ground. Our guide takes us on a fascinating journey through the magnificent chambers, revealing the history and the secrets of the mine. At the end of our visit we return to the surface by the miners lift.
Day 8: Sadly this morning we depart our hotel and leave Krakow behind us as we head back to Germany. En route we make a short stop in Zagan to visit the German POW camp, Stalag (Luft) III. The camp, founded in 1943, was one of the six special German POW camps specially built for the ever increasing amount of POW aircrews. At the height of the camps use, about 10,000 commissioned and non-commissioned officers were in the camp. The Stalag (Luft) III became famous for what was known as ‘The Great Escape’. In March 1944, a large group of 80 Allied prisoners dug a tunnel with the nickname ‘Harry’. Only three men managed to escape to free territory. Of the rest, 50 were murdered by the Gestapo. We will uncover the story of the escape and the reprisals ordered by Hitler, and visit the memorial, before continuing to our hotel, the Holiday Inn Express in Dresden on a dinner bed & breakfast basis.
Day 9: This morning we continue our journey across Germany to our overnight hotel, the Leonardo Hotel, arriving early evening on a dinner bed & breakfast basis.
Day 10: After breakfast we head back to Dunkirk for our ferry crossing to Kent. Upon our arrival, we head back to Norfolk making suitable stops along the way. We re-join our door to door taxi service who will return you safely home.
Holiday Information:
9 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1695pp
Single Supplement: £309
Tour Reference: EUR1909
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.