Poland: Wisla Wanderer Scenic Rail Tour

Day 2 - Gdansk - ' to Hel and back'!

Breakfast on the train prior to a sightseeing tour of Gdansk, where we will have lunch. The afternoon will be free to spend as you wish, or, if sufficient are interested, we could maybe catch a local train to Hel! (only one 'l' in Poland).

Dinner on train and evening departure to Malbork.

Day 3 - Malbork
	Breakfast on train prior to a tour of Malbork Castle, home of the Teutonic Knights for two centuries and a royal residence used by Polish monarchs for three centuries. The Castle has been painstakingly restored following the Soviet assault in 1945. The tour will be followed by lunch and afternoon departure for Torun. Dinner on train.

Day 4 - Torun - from Copernicus to confectionery!
Breakfast on the train before touring local places of interest, then free time. Torun is one of the biggest and most important historical trading centres along the Wisla River. Having miraculously survived the recurrent wars, its magnificent centre brings together a rich variety of architectural styles.

Famous as the birthplace of Copernicus - and also for its gingerbread (piernik) since the fourteenth century - you must try some! Evening departure for Warsaw - dinner on the train.

Day 5 - Historic Warsaw
	Breakfast on the train. Sightseeing tour of the old town, historical landmarks and the railway museum. In the evening there will be dinner at a traditional restaurant, with entertainment, before returning to our train.

Day 6 - Travel to Zamosc

Breakfast on the train. Early morning departure for Zamosc, taking in the beautiful Polish scenery while we also enjoy lunch on the train.

On arrival at Zamosc, if time, we can cross the road from the station to look around the interesting zoo, with numerous species.

We then transfer to the Orbis Hotel for dinner and two nights' stay.

Day 7 - Zamosc - "hidden jewel in the crown of Eastern Poland"

Zamosc is one of Europe's best preserved Renaissance town centres and is classified by UNESCO as "an outstanding historical monument".

In the sixteenth century Jan Zamoyski (to a design by a Bernardo Morando of Padua) built a magnificent Italianate period piece, with a wide piazza, grid plan streets, an academy and defensive bastions. Although some of the bastions can be seen, most were blown up by the Russians, but have now been replaced with a beautiful lake and park. There is an interesting tourist route to follow on foot around the town.

Day 8 - A landscape of majesty and modesty

Breakfast at the hotel. Return to our train for morning departure to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains. Again, we relax and enjoy the changing scenery, with lunch on the train.

The sight of the majestic Tatra Mountains appearing in the distance, contrasts with the train's route through gentle valleys, undulating slopes and strip farmed fields. You will see houses built in the Podhale or 'Zakopane' style - attractive wooden built structures, newer ones with tin roofs and older buildings with decorated shingle style ones.

There will be Catholic shrines by roads and, in a lot of cases, farming people still working horses in the fields, or riding on 'antique' tractors. On arrival at Zakopane we will stable our train for two nights. Dinner on the train.

Day 9 - Horse drawn carriages, cable cars, relaxing spas
	Breakfast on train. Tour of Zakopane in horse-drawn landaus and cable car to Kasprowy Wierch for fine views. The remainder of the day and evening will be free for sightseeing, shopping, thermal spas and sampling the local cuisine, with its wide variety of cheeses.

Day 10 - The good, the bad and the ugly!

Breakfast on the train. Today a magnificent steam locomotive will be attached (subject to availability)for an early morning departure for Oswiecim, where we tour the infamous Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps. The visitor is greeted by a sign in four languages, stating simply, "There were four million."

It is a sad and moving experience, but something everyone should try to see in the hope that, by their relating it to others and keeping the memory alive, such horror will not happen again. On a lighter note, en route we stop at Wadowice for a visit to the bithplace of the recently bereaved Pope John Paul, just off the market square, and to the parish church where he was baptised and prayed.

At the end of this day of mixed emotions we make an evening departure from Oswiecim for Wisla. Dinner on train.

Day 11 - River, mountains ... and beer!

Breakfast on the train. Free morning to explore this pleasant mountain village of Wisla, which is near the source of the famous river whose meandering route we have followed through Poland. Midday departure by bus for a scenic journey over the Beskid Mountains to Zywiec, stopping for lunch en route.

At Zywiec we will tour the famous brewery of the same name before rejoining our train at the local railway station. Those wishing to miss the bus and brewery tour may remain with the train and take lunch as it transfers from Wisla to Zywiec. On rejoining our train at Zywiec we are again hauled to Krakow. Dinner on the train.

Day 12 - Krakow - 'City of Culture'

Breakfast on the train. We will visit the historic Jewish Quarter, then on to Wawel Castle and the old city centre with its famous square (or "rynek"). In the square is the old Cloth Hall (where, today, amber of all sorts, plus other gifts, can be obtained), market stalls, restaurants, café-bars, shops, clubs, etc.

The afternoon is free, or there are optional trips to Wieliczka Salt Mine (not for the claustrophobic!) or Chabowka open air railway museum. The evening is free for you to spend in Krakow, or you may dine and remain on the train if you prefer.

Day 13 - A 'pilgrimage'
	Breakfast on train. Early morning departure for Czestochowa for a visit to the shrine of The Black Madonna. Here, the hilltop monastery of Jasna Gora (Bright Mountain) is one of the world's greatest places of pilgrimage for its famous icon of "the Black Madonna" and has drawn the faithful for the past six centuries. The icon of the Virgin Mary and Child was presented to the order of monks in 1384 and soon began to attract crowds of believers, thanks to numerous miracles attributed to her. In 1717 she was even crowned Queen of Poland in a ceremony attended by 200,000 faithful.
It is not known when the icon was created, but is thought to be between the 6th and 14th centuries. Since the 17th century the picture has traditionally been dressed with richly attired robes and crowns, which are changed for special occasions. Placed on the high alter, it is covered with a silver screen and only revealed for certain periods in the day, the main one being 6.00 am - 12 noon. After viewing we make our way back to the train for departure to Warsaw, where, following an early farewell dinner on the train, we transfer to a comfortable hotel for the night.

Day 14 - Farewell!

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for departure.

Poland: Wisla Wanderer Scenic Rail Tour

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