Europe
Day 1
We meet at Malta International Airport at 04:00 for flight FR7142 to Krakow, which departs at 06:00 and arrives in Krakow at 08:40. Transfer by coach to the center of Krakow. We take a city tour with a local guide to see the main attractions, including the Old Town, the Royal Road, Wawel Castle, and Kazimierz (the Old Jewish Quarter). We will also visit the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) and St. Mary's Basilica, where we will see the famous altar by Veit Stoss. We then continue to the BW Old Town Hotel, located in the city center, for check-in and room allocation. Afterward, we will go for a walk with the leader.
Day 2
Join us as we explore the beauty of the Polish Alps, where we will visit Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. These mountains extend across the borders of Poland and Slovakia and are the highest part of the Carpathian Mountains. Zakopane is a popular resort known for skiing, with many tourists strolling along the main Krupowski Street during both summer and winter. This street is filled with cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and large horse-drawn carriages. We will take a tour of Zakopane, visit the modern church dedicated to the Madonna, which was a gift to Pope John Paul II, and see the typical wooden houses and architecture of the area. We will also visit a small art museum. Those who wish can take a cable car (extra charge) to enjoy a beautiful view of the town. We return to Krakow.
Day 3
A highly interesting excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where together we will experience one of the most memorable places in modern European history. Today, we will visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps (extra entrance fee), a somber reminder of the Holocaust where millions of people lost their lives. We will see the national memorials, the railway tracks, and the remains of hundreds of barracks. In the evening, we will go for a drink.
Day 4
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our journey to Czestochowa, one of the largest centers of Marian pilgrimage. Every year, over 5 million pilgrims and tourists visit the Sanctuary of Jasna Gora to see the precious Black Madonna icon. This site is one of the most important monuments for the Polish people. We will also visit the Monastery and the Baroque-style church. Afterward, we return to Krakow.
Day 5
A half-day excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, also known as the underground Salt Cathedral of Poland and one of the most spectacular salt mines in the world. Together with a local guide, we will explore the mines, where we will find various salt sculptures, small chapels, including one dedicated to St. Kinga, and over 300 kilometers of tunnels. These mines are also listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List of Cultural and Natural Sites. We then transfer by coach to Krakow Airport for flight FR7115, which departs at 18:20, and we will arrive back in Malta at 21:00.
