Cultural Break to Krakow with Auschwitz Day Trip, Salt Mine & Schindlers factory

Join Travel buddies on a 3 night trip to Krakow. A beautiful, charming, quaint and fascinating City packed with so much history, culture, architecture, great food, old markets and of course, one of, if not THE most significant and important places in 20th Century History. Auschwitz.

Krakow is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life and is one of Poland's most important economic hubs. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1569.

Day 1 Sunday 1st October
After meeting at the airport on the Sunday we will board our flight to Krakow, where, upon arrival we will take our private transfer to the hotel.

I have booked us in to a 3 star hotel in the heart of the Jewish district so we are perfectly located to go exploring. We will be sharing twin rooms with en suite and breakfast is included each morning. You will be paired with a like minded travel buddy. A small number of single rooms are available for a supplement of £70 for the three nights.

The David Boutique is located in the heart of Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic Jewish district, close to many restaurants and bars. All rooms have private bathrooms and a free Wi-Fi connection.

The air-conditioned rooms all feature flat-screen satellite TVs. Each has a work desk, a kettle and a refrigerator. A safety deposit box and free mineral water are also provided.

In the mornings a breakfast buffet is offered on-site.

The Wawel Castle and Old Town’s Main Market are within the is 0.8 miles from the hotel.

Dinner will be booked each evening somewhere close to the hotel that serves authentic Polish cuisine and is reasonably priced.

The Travel Buddies trips work on the basis that as long as you are having a good time then that is what matters, if you don't feel like coming on one of the excursions or joining the rest of the group for dinner one evening then that is absolutely fine. This is an adventure for everyone and there is nothing worse than having to go somewhere/do something that you don't really fancy!

Day 2 Monday 2nd October
After an early breakfast we will be collected from our hotel and will take the 1.5-hour drive by minivan to Auschwitz located outside the town.
The complex, today a UNESCO World Heritage-listed museum, comprises the Auschwitz I camp and the Birkenau (or Auschwitz II) camp with a total of about 150 buildings and 300 ruins. Auschwitz was only partially destroyed by fleeing Nazis when the camp was liberated, so we will be able to see many of the original brick buildings as we walk around. We will explore the exhibitions, housed in some of the prison blocks, some of which are dedicated to victims from particular countries and also see Birkenau. Most of this camp was destroyed, but we will get an idea of the vast size of the area, fenced off with watchtowers, and can enter some of the surviving barracks.

There will be a stop for lunch which we need to pay for ourselves.

After the guided tour of Auschwitz we will travel south of the city and embark on a guided tour of the salt mines. It is the The only salt mine in the world preserved in such pristine condition and placed on the original UNESCO list of the World Heritage Sites ! 135 meters underground!

Our private transfer will drop us back at the hotel early evening. It is a long day with memories that will stay with you forever. So when we get back we will have a little time to freshen up before enjoying a lovely evening meal together somewhere local.

Day 3 Tuesday 3rd October
After breakfast we will walk to the starting point of our walking tour of Krakow which will be great to familiarise us with the city.

We then have some free time to explore and for lunch before taking the walk to Oscar Schindler's Enamel Factory for a guided tour.

Krakow's fabled Oskar Schindler's Factory of Enamelled Vessels 'Emalia' has been turned into a modern museum devoted to the wartime experiences in Krakow.

Dinner locally at a traditional restaurant

Day 4 Wednesday 4th October
This morning we will enjoy breakfast and check out of the hotel where we will be able to leave our luggage.

Free time to do as we please, There is so much do in the city and surrounding area. Please feel free to do a bit of researching beforehand or alternatively, just pack your case and turn up at the airport!

Some of the must see places in the city are as follows....

The Main Market Square

The main square of the Old Town of Kraków, Lesser Poland, is the principal urban space located at the centre of the city. It dates back to the 13th century, and at roughly 40,000 m² is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. You can take a horse driven carriage ride around the square too, which is really quite special.

The public transport is easy to use and very reasonable. Feel free to amble off on your own if you fancy it!

Wawal Castle.
As the political and cultural heart of Poland through the 16th century, Wawel Castle is a potent symbol of national identity. It's now a museum containing five separate sections: Crown Treasury & Armoury; State Rooms; Royal Private Apartments; Lost Wawel; and the Exhibition of Oriental Art. Each requires a separate ticket. Of the five, the State Rooms and Royal Private Apartments are most impressive. There's also a special display here of the city's most valuable painting, Leonardo da Vinci's The Lady with an Ermine.

St Mary's Basilica
Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven is a Brick Gothic church re-built in the 14th century, adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland. Standing 80 m tall, it is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss.

No visit to Krakow would be complete without a tour of Kazimierz, the Jewish district. Numerous cosy art cafes, galleries and antique shops, paved streets and monuments of Jewish culture draw tourists with a magnetic force. Perhaps a great place to grab lunch or a coffee and watch the world go by for a while.

Meet back at the hotel at around 15.00 to take our private transfer to the airport for our flight back to Birmingham

What's Included

• 3 nights accommodation
• Return Airport transfers
• Breakfast each day
• Walking tour
• Full private day trip to Auschwitz and the salt mines ( please note that this trip is fully guided but not a private tour for the group so we will be joining others. Emma will not be coming on this tour as I have already been before)
• Guided audio tour of Schindlers Factory.

What's not included

• Flights

You need to book your own flights and they are with these are with WizzAir and are just £89.98 as of today 18/05/2023. I would advise to book your flight as soon as possible after booking on to the trip as they are likely to rise the sooner we get to the date of departure.

You are welcome to join the group at the hotel if you prefer to fly from a different UK airport.

01/10/2023
Depart Birmingham 20.00 Arrive Krakow 23.25
Flight Number W65018

04/10/2023
Depart Krakow 17.40 Arrive Birmingham 19.25
Flight Number W65017

• Entrance fees, transport fees and meals other than those listed above.

COST
The price of the above tour is £369.All payments need to be made into the Protected Trust Services account held with HSBC:
A non refundable deposit of £100. If we haven’t received your deposit within 3 days of RSVP, your RSVP will be changed to "not going" and your space will be released. The balance of £269 needs to be paid by the 17th August 2023

Trustees of PTS Air Travel Trust
Account number: 83664597
Sort Code: 40-40-14
REFERENCE: 12517699
Your First and Last Name

To learn more on how we protect your money, please visit [www.protectedtrustservices.com/travel/consumer-protection/

PLEASE NOTE ; IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS UPON RSVP'ING.

By paying a deposit you will be agreeing to the following cancellation policies:

Travel Buddies UK Limited Terms & Conditions

IMPORTANT ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS. What is your full name? what is your contact number? What is your email address? Do you know the travel buddy you wish to share a room with? Do you wish to have a room to yourself for a supplement of £70?

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ.

By paying the deposit for this trip you are confirming that you are physically able to participate in all aspects of this trip unassisted.

Really hope you will join the trip, please feel free to ask any questions that you have.

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