In footsteps of John Paul II, ver. 2

In footsteps of John Paul II

8 days

Day 1

Arrival to Warsaw; welcome dinner. 

 Day 2

Warsaw bus sightseeing through the Royal Route, the Tomb of Unknown Soldier and the Pilsudski Square, where during his first trip to Poland in 1979 John Paul II appealed to the crowd with his famous phrase: "Thy your Spirit come and change the outlook of land, This land". Those days under communist rules no one believed it could ever be true, but 10 years later this wish fulfilled. Pilsudski Square was also a place of the funeral ceremony after his death; we continue the bus sightseeing passing Warsaw City with skyscrapers, Umschlagplatz and the Monument of Heroes of Ghetto - places commemorating the Warsaw Jewish in which our Pope prayed, then the Town Hall and a glimpse at the monumental architecture from communism time; walk around the Lazienki Royal Park with the Palace on the Water and the Island Theatre, open air Chopin's concert (only summer); visit to the Royal Castle, walk around the Old Town (UNESCO Heritage) and the New Town: the Krasinski Palace, the Palace of Justice and the Monument of Warsaw Uprising; dinner. 
 

Day 3

Warsaw – Lichen Stary – Czestochowa – Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska

Transfer to Lichen Stary, visit to the sanctuary famous for the image of the Lady of Lichen, Golgota Mountain with the Way of the Cross and Pope's Monument - one of the biggest in Poland, the basilica - consecrated by John Paul II, the largest in Poland, the 7th largest in Europe and the 11th largest in the world; transfer to the south of Poland to Czestochowa - pilgrimage's place of John Paul II and the most important Saint Mary Sanctuary in Poland with the inscription over a gate devoted to the Pope, visit to the church with Black Madonna and the Pope's Parents Monument; ride through the white rocky complex of Jura Krakowsko-Czestochowska adorned with castles situated on the top of those rocks dominating over valleys; dinner. 
 

Day 4

Auschwitz-Birkenau – Wadowice – Kalwaria Zebrzydowska – Krakow

Transfer to Auschwitz-Birkenau, visit the concentration and extermination camp museum (UNESCO Heritage); transfer to Wadowice - the Pope John Paul II birthplace; visit to the basilica and Pope's museum; transfer to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (UNESCO Heritage) - place where the special worshiper Karol Wojtyla from his childhood days started pilgrimages with his father, visit to the monastery with dozens of chapels spread around in a beautiful countryside scenery; transfer to Krakow; dinner. 
 

Day 5

Krakow – Lagiewniki

Krakow sightseeing, the most famous place linked with a history and life of the Pope John Paul II: former student of Polish Philology and Theology, actor, young priest, university lecturer, bishop and finally Pope!!!; walk through the "Path of John Paul II"; visit to the Wawel Royal Castle with the Cathedral and Krakow Old Town (UNESCO Heritage): the Sukiennice cloth hall, St Mary church, defensive walls and Barbican; afternoon visit to the Convent of Mercy of God in Krakow - Lagiewniki consecrated by John Paul II and dedicated to Mercy of God; visit to Jewish Krakow district - Casimir; dinner in a Jewish restaurant; time to discover the charm of the city by night. 
 

Day 6

Tatra National Park – Zakopane – Pieniny Mountain

Transfer to the Tatra National Park (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), walk and ride in a mountain train along Chocholowska Valley, the favourite route of John Paul II in the Tatra Mountain; transfer to Zakopane, the highest situated town in Poland, walk along Krupowki walkway; regional dinner accompanied by folklore music; transfer to the Pieniny Mountain. 

Day 7

Niedzica – Pieniny National Park – Warsaw

Visit to Niedzica Castle; gentle rafting on Dunajec River to Szczawnica through the breakthrough in the Pieniny National Park, where Karol Wojtyla as one of the first went down this river by kayak, breathtaking view and a chance to see Three Crowns and Sokolica Peak from the other perspective; transfer back to Warsaw; dinner. 
 

Day 8

Warsaw

Warsaw Free time to relax or for shopping. At stated hour departure to the airport