Christmas Spirit in Zakopane & Krakow

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT IN ZAKOPANE & KRAKOW

FROM € 693

WHEN 9TH-16TH DECEMBER

VISITING:

Zakopane, Morskie Oko, Gubalowka Mountain, Strbske Pleaso, Bachledova Valley, Chocholow, Chochołowskie Termy, Krakow, Wieliczka Salt Mines, Lagiewniki Hill, Auschwitz – Birkenau & Wadowice

MONDAY 9TH DECEMBER | ARRIVAL & ZAKOPANE

We will meet at the airport at 10.30 am for our Ryanair flight departing at 12.50 pm and arriving at Krakow airport at 3.30 pm. We start our trip towards Zakopane, a beautiful village at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. We will check in at our Pod Skocznią Hotel and later have an optional familiarization walk around Krupowki Street and the town centre.

TUESDAY 10TH DECEMBER | MORSKIE OKO & GUBALOWKA MOUNTAIN

Our full-day optional excursion will take us first to Morskie Oko (Eye of the Sea translated in English). It is the largest and fourth deepest lake in the Tatra Mountains, in southern Poland. It is located deep within the Tatra National Park in the Rybi Potok (the Fish Brook) Valley, of the High Tatras mountain range. Morskie Oko is one of the most popular destinations in the Tatras, often receiving over 50,000 visitors during the vacation season. We will experience a horse-drawn carriage ride (extra) that will take us most of the way up the mountain. We will then 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 Gubalowka Mountain for a spectacular view of the Tatra Mountains.

WEDNESDAY 11TH DECEMBER | STRBSKE PLEASO & BACHLEDOVA VALLEY

After breakfast, our optional full-day excursion will take us across the border to Slovakia. We will first stop at Strbske Pleaso which is the highest village in the High Tatras and second largest mountain lake in Slovakia. We 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. Here you will see the unique nature of the Belianske Tatras. On a more than 600-metre-long route, you will go through the forest with various animal and plant species, find many surprises and learn some lessons. The view from the 32- 32-meter-high observation tower is magnificent, within arm’s reach, you will have majestic trees some of which are even older than you.

THURSDAY 12TH DECEMBER | CHOCHOLOW & CHOCHOŁOWSKIE TERMY

After breakfast and check out from our hotel, we will visit Chocholow, where one can admire the unique wooden houses and also visit a local workshop of a wood carving artist. We then proceed in the middle of the Tatra Mountains at Chocholow Thermal Baths (entrance extra and swimming caps are obligatory). These are the largest thermal baths in Poland with almost 3,000 m2 of water surface and 30 pool troughs. 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. In Chochołowskie Termy everyone will find a lot of attractions: geysers, a rushing river, an artificial wave, hydromassage stands, a sandy beach and a water playground outside in the summer season. Those who prefer an active holiday can play volleyball and water basketball or take a dip in the sports pool. For thrill-seekers there is a slide with a trapdoor and two pontoon slides. For a moment of relaxation, we invite you to the textile dry sauna or the Salt Cave. Customers in Chochołowskie Termy use special watches on which they can make transactions, which makes it easier to use catering outlets. We then head to Krakow to our Hotel Maximum in Krakow for check-in.

FRIDAY 13TH DECEMBER | KRAKOW

After breakfast, we will have a familiarization walk around the Old Town and its Christmas Markets. Krakow’s knockout main square, Rynek Główny, gets dressed up in its fanciest festive sparkle and is filled on one side with a buzzy Christmas market. Stroll through and you’ll find stalls selling frosted gingerbread, wooden decorations, and delicate jewellery. Hungry? Slabs of cheese, enormous meaty sandwiches and churros drizzled in chocolate are among the goodies to grab. We will also be visiting Wawel Castle from the outside and enjoying the panorama of the city and river. Later we will have free time to enjoy Krakow’s Christmas markets.

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER | WIELICZKA SALT MINES & LAGIEWNIKI HILL

Today, our optional full-day excursion will take us to Wieliczka Salt Mines (entrance included), an incredible place which was once described as being ‘as remarkable as the Pyramids and more useful’! Today, this famous attraction is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights of this tour include the stunning underground lake and the beautiful underground cathedral, St. Kinga’s Chapel. Later in the afternoon, we will visit Lagiewniki Hill where there is the Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy and the tomb of Suor Faustina.

SUNDAY 15TH DECEMBER | AUSCHWITZ, BIRKENAU & WADOWICE

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.

MONDAY 16TH DECEMBER | DEPARTURE

After check-out, we will make our way to Krakow airport for our Ryanair flight departing at 3.55 pm and arriving in Malta at 6.35 pm.

PRICE PER PERSON

*SPECIAL PRICE

Adult in Triple € 793/*€ 693

Adult in Twin € 833/* € 733

Adult in Single € 995/* € 895

Child sharing with 2 adults € 649/*€ 549

* Special price applies when all the excursions are taken.

**Seats on flights are assigned directly by Ryanair. Should you need seats next to each other, this may incur a charge.

EXCURSIONS

ADULT /CHILD Zakopane € 35/ € 20

Morskie Oko/Tatra National Park/ Gubalowka Mountain € 40 /€ 30

Bachledova Valley/Magura Spiska Mountain € 39/€ 30

Krakow € 28 /€ 14

Wieliczka Salt Mines*/Divine Mercy € 65/ € 60

Auschwitz*/Birkenau/Wadowice* € 67 /€ 47

* Entrance fees, audio guides and English-speaking guides included

PRICE INCLUDES

Ryanair return flights to Krakow Airport including 20kg luggage

3 nights in the 3-star Pod Skocznia Hotel or similar in Zakopane

4 nights in a 3-star Maximum Hotel or similar in Krakow

Rooms with private facilities & TV

Daily breakfast

Return airport transfers

Service of tour leader

All taxes

Insolvency fund

NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

Gubalowka Mountain Funicular- € 7.50 Adults/ € 6 Children

Tatra National Park- € 2 per person

Chocholow Thermal Baths- € 19 Adults/ €15 Children

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride- € 37 euro per person

Magura Spiska Mountain cable car and treetop walk- € 14 Adults/€12 Children