Secret Poland

Accompanied by a local guide, we will visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum, an interesting place where we will learn about Warsaw’s role in WWII.  We will eat lunch at Hala Koszyki, a modern and energetic collective eatery.

In the afternoon, we will dive deeper into Warsaw with a private tour that will take us to places you won’t commonly find in guidebooks. We end the day with a stop at the world’s first Vodka Museum to learn about and taste the national drink of Poland.

In the morning we make our way to Białowieża National Park in eastern Poland. This park is known for its protection of Europe’s last temperate primeval forest. It is also home to the world’s largest population of European Bison (Żubr).

Here we will also visit Treblinka, a Nazi Germany extermination camp, as well as the Holy Mountain of Grabarka that is covered in thousands of votive crosses. With our local guide from Podlaskie, we take a peek into the rich culture and history of Eastern Poland. The accommodation is planned at a boutique hotel surrounded by sprawling farms and nature.

Fresh breakfast from the local farm will give us the energy for another great day in Poland. Our local guide will lead us through the fairytale forests and introduce us to a diverse variety of flora and fauna.

At the Bison Reserve, we will have the opportunity to learn more about these legendary creatures. We will visit the Orthodox Parish of St. Nicholas and Palace Park, which formerly served as a residence for Russian tzars.

The Podlasie region of Poland was the most ethnically diverse area in Poland prior to WWII. Our guide will introduce us to Tatar culture, Orthdox churches, Belarusian stories and Jewish history. We will visit a rural and rustic place called The Land of Open Shutters that is filled with artistically decorated and historic buildings.

On our way to the Great Masurian Lakes, we will stop at the geographical center of Europe and walk through Krzemianka Nature Reserve. We will spend the night at a beautiful small hotel beside the lake.

Today our guide will take us through the Wolf’s Lair, which served as Adolf Hitler’s first European Front headquarters. This spot is hidden in the Masurian woods and the bunkers and buildings are overgrown with a layer of natural camouflage. From here, on to Święta Lipka, a tiny village where we will visit a monastery complex and a beautiful Baroque Church.

The Great Masurian Lakes are a favorite summer destination among Poles and for a good reason. We will spend the afternoon relaxing by the lake, taking a walk or even kayaking.

In the small village of Gietrzwald, we will find the place where the White Lady (Mary, the Mother of Jesus) is said to have appeared several times in 1877 to two local girls and has since been named a pilgrimage site for the Catholic Church.

In the afternoon, we will see one of the Seven Wonders of Poland, the Elblag Canal, which is a unique feat of hydro engineering. Our boat cruise will convert into a railway car in order to navigate through this incredible canal.

With a local guide, we will visit the Malbork Castle. This 13th century fortress is an UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest castle in the world measured by land mass.

In the afternoon we reach Gdańsk. This seaside town has a beautiful Old Town decorated with colorful buildings and shops. We will visit an amber workshop and see artists at work. Poland exports around 70% of the world’s Baltic Amber and you will find many beautiful pieces on the streets of Gdańsk.

We begin the day with a visit to the Museum of World War II which is one of our favorite museums in Poland. This modern and interactive museum is not to be missed as Gdańsk is the official starting place of WWII.

The afternoon will be spent on the water! From the town of Sopot, we will walk the longest wooden pier in Europe. Here we begin our journey by boat to the Hel Peninsula, a long crescent shaped sand bar separating the Bay of Puck from the Baltic Sea. There will be plenty of time to walk on the golden sand beaches and relax by the sea.

Today we see the historical city of Toruń located on the Vistula River. Toruń is one of the oldest cities in Poland with a settlement dating back to the 8th century. We will visit the Living Museum of Gingerbread and participate in an interactive tour. We will walk the streets of the Old Town, the same streets that Nicolaus Copernicus walked as a boy growing up in Toruń.

We travel on to the town of Poznań with a short visit on the way to Gniezno, the first historical capital of Poland in the 10th century. Poznań is an important business and cultural center that is known for its traditional Saint Martin croissants and the renaissance style of the Old Town.

Wrocław is one of our favorite cities in Poland. We will explore the historic streets with a local guide and see art galleries, local pubs and the historic and vibrant Market Square. This beautiful city is filled with many colorful nooks.

We will stroll through Ostrów Tumski, a small island in the center of the city, and find a spot to enjoy a coffee and ice cream. Wrocław locals love ice cream no matter the season!

Our first visit is to the UNESCO site, The Church of Peace in Świdnica. The church, built in the 17th century, is the largest timber-framed religious building in Europe. From here we go to Wałbrzych (Damian’s Hometown), which holds many secrets from WWII. Many people believe this area conceals thousands of secrets from the Third Reich, including the legendary Amber Chamber.

Lunch is organized at Fregata, a restaurant known for its delicious fare and location on Lake Bystrzyckie. We then visit the third largest castle in Poland, Castle Książ, whose history dates back to the 13th century. A guide will take us through the beautiful rooms and gardens and share with us the stories and plans that the Third Reich had for the castle and the region.

With a local expert, we will visit the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. This site is a monument to the tragic history that took place there during WWII. It is a very emotional and extremely important place.

From here we will stop at Moszna Castle, a fairytale castle in southern Poland that is often featured on lists of the most beautiful castles in the world. We will visit Ojcowski National Park that contains natural bridges, dark caves and deep ravines. The natural features here are unparalleled.

We dive underground into the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This is a historic mine deep underground that boasts almost 200 miles of tunnels. There are many incredible things carved into the stone here, including an enormous underground cathedral. Wieliczka is a must see.

In the afternoon its time to roll up our sleeves - we’re making pierogi! The class will be held with cheerful cooks that use fresh local ingredients. We will also bake braided Challah bread and taste some other local delicacies.

Today we find ourselves in the Polish Jurassic Highlands, where we will explore the famous castle, Ogrodzieniec, which was featured in the Netflix series The Witcher (2019). This castle is part of the legendary Trail of the Eagle’s Nests, which is a chain of 25 medieval castles between Częstochowa and Kraków.

Our final night will be spent in Warsaw with a farewell dinner to celebrate our incredible adventure together in Poland

Enjoy a fresh breakfast before going to the airport.

Safe Travels!

This itinerary can be customized for you and your groups. We can add extra nights in each of the cities or prepare something special just for you. Simply let us know and we can arrange it.