We will meet at the airport at 7am for our Ryanair flight departing at 9.30am and arriving in Kraków airport at 12.05pm. We start our trip towards Zakopane, a beautiful village at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Upon arrival, we will check-in at our Hotel Czarny Potok.

Our full-day optional excursion will start with a familiarisation walk around Krupowki Street and town centre. Later we will proceed to Morskie Oko, the largest and fourth deepest lake in the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland. It is located deep within the Tatra National Park (entrance extra). We will experience a horse drawn carriage ride (extra) that will take us most of the way up the mountain. Late in the afternoon we will make our way to the hotel making a stop to take a short ride on a cable car (extra) that will take us on top of Gubałówka Mountain for a spectacular view of the Tatra Mountains.

After breakfast, our optional full-day excursion will take us across the border to Slovakia. We will first stop at Strbske Pleaso, the highest village in the High Tatras and second largest mountain lake in Slovakia. After we will drive to Bachledova Valley, where we take a short cable car (extra) ride to Magura Spiska Mountain. Here, we shall have a Treetop Walk (extra). Bachledka Treetop Walk is situated in the heart of the majestic forests of the Pieniny National Park, providing the opportunity to admire the unique nature of the Belianske Tatras. On a more than 600-metres long route, you will go through the forest, enjoying the magnificent view from the 32-meter-high observation tower. Within arm’s reach, you will have majestic trees some of which are even older than you.

After breakfast, we will check-out from our hotel and begin our day with a visit to Chochołow, where one can admire the unique wooden houses. We will also visit a local workshop of a wood-carving artist. Next, we will travel into the Tatra Mountains to visit the Chochołowskie Thermal Baths (entrance extra and swimming caps are obligatory). These are the largest thermal baths in Poland with almost 3,000m2 of water surface and 30 different pools. These thermal waters are rich in many micronutrients, a guarantee for a surge of vitality and full regeneration of the body. In addition to swimming pools and a jacuzzi with thermal water, you are invited to the treatment zone with sulphide and brine water. We then head to Kraków to our Hotel Wyspianski in Kraków for check-in.

After breakfast, we will have an optional guided walking tour around the Old Town of Kraków and its Christmas Markets. Kraków’s main square, Rynek Główny, is beautifully decorated for the festive season and features a lively market with stalls offering gingerbread, wooden decorations, and handmade jewellery. We will also find a variety of food, including cheese, hearty sandwiches, and sweet treats. We will view Wawel Castle from the outside and enjoy panoramic views of the city and the river. Later we will have free time to enjoy Kraków’s Christmas markets at leisure.

Our last optional full-day excursion takes us to Auschwitz-Birkenau. Here, we will witness one of the most memorable lessons of modern European history. During our visit we will see the flower-strewn Death Wall, the national memorials, the rail line and remains of the hundreds of barracks, a testimony to the number of lost lives through Nazi activities across occupied Europe. In the afternoon we visit Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope Wojtyla. We will see the Pope's monument erected in front of the gothic Polish Church.

Today we check out of the hotel and depart for our optional excursion taking us to Wieliczka Salt Mines (entrance included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This remarkable underground complex features highlights such as an underground lake and the impressive St. Kinga’s Chapel. Later in the afternoon, we will transfer to Kraków Airport for our Ryanair flight, departing at 5.20pm and arriving in Malta at 8pm.