A Culinary Adventure from Krakow to Zakopane

Embark on an exciting 7-day 6-night tour of Poland, sampling the local delicacies, exploring its vibrant culture and taking in the stunning landscapes. Enjoy a luxurious stay at the 5-star Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa, and explore the highlander villages of the Podhale region, sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea in Dolina Chocholowska, and learn the secrets of making moskole - potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms.

Take a leisurely stroll along Krupowki Street in Zakopane and admire the views of the Tatra Mountains, go rafting in the picturesque Dunajec River Gorge, visit the St. Michael Archangel's Wooden Church in Debno Podhalanskie and the Bukowina Cultural Centre in Bukowina Tatrzanska for a glass painting class. Meet Jan Zieder, a local wood carver and artist, and visit Bacowka, a small mountain hut famous for its smoked sheep cheese “oscypek.”

Explore the historic city of Krakow, seeing the Old Town, Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and the fresh food market of Stary Kleparz. Finally, take a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and learn how to prepare a typical three-course Polish meal with a local chef. Don't miss out on this amazing adventure!

Experience the beauty of Poland and create lifetime memories with this one-of-a-kind tour! 

Tour Dates: September 15 – September 21, 2024 
Length of Tour: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Cost: $2950 Per Person US/ double occupancy - $350 single supplement - $500 per person deposit

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Itinerary 
Day 1: Wellness & SPA & Welcome Dinner
Location: Krakow to Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
We'll be meeting in the lobby of our designated meeting hotel in Krakow at 10:00 a.m. for a group transfer by mini bus to the 5-star Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa. Enjoy luxurious Wellness & SPA services in a convenient location and experience the traditional Zakopane hospitality. Along the way, we'll make a stop for a delicious home-made lunch in the village of Dolina Chocholowska where we'll get to sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea (which includes vodka!). After settling into your comfortable hotel, take a leisurely walk around Zakopane or simply enjoy the relaxation! This evening, we'll gather for a festive Welcome Dinner at our hotel restaurant and savor the local specialties.

Welcome dinner at Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa

Day 2: Tour Zakopane, Stroll Krupowki Street & Gubalowka Hill
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa

After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a unique experience in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region, learning the secrets of preparing the regional favorite, moskole: potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. In the afternoon, we take a tour of the beautiful mountain town of Zakopane. Taking a leisurely stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, we admire the surrounding views of the Tatra Mountains and other mountain ranges. We then take a funicular or a chair ski lift up Gubalowka Mountain* to get the best panoramic view of Zakopane. To round off the day, we recommend dinner on your own at Restaurant Sabala on Zakopane’s main street, where you can savor delicious regional Polish food, drink and music while watching the world go by from the cozy terrace.

Important note: 

*Funicular or chair lift to Gubalowka Mountain is subject to confirmation once in Zakopane and depends on the weather and technical condition of the equipment. 


Day 3: Dunajec River Rafting & St. Michael Archangel's Wooden Church
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
This morning, we're off to the picturesque Sromowce-Wyzne village, to embark on an unforgettable rafting journey through the stunning Dunajec River Gorge. (If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll instead explore the nearby Tatra Mountains Museum and other amazing attractions in the Zakopane area.) Our rafting trip is a top attraction of this region, and has been led by 'gorale' - the highlanders - since the 19th century. After rafting and lunch, we'll visit the spectacular timber church in Debno Podhalanskie village, where we can admire stunning paintings, sculptures and other carvings from the 15th and 16th centuries. This remarkable church is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites! In the afternoon, you'll have some free time to explore Zakopane, shop for local handicrafts, pamper yourself with spa treatments at our hotel, or take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki street. For dinner, we recommend the Mala Szwajcaria restaurant in Zakopane - a favorite among locals and tourists, for its delicious Polish and European dishes.

Day 4: Bukowina Cultural Centre & Legendary Chocholow Woodcraver 
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa

Today we take a journey to the charming highland town of Bukowina Tatrzanska! We will be attending a glass painting class at the local Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After class, we enjoy a delicious lunch at Schronisko Bukowina Restaurant and shop for some local specialties at their store. On our way back to Zakopane, we will be making short stops at wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores, and the villages of Chocholow and Witow, both on the Lesser Poland Timber Architecture Route. In Chocholow, we will have the chance to visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a local wood carver and artist. Here you can purchase one of his unique, hand-made carvings! To finish off our fourth day in gorgeous Lesser Poland, we'll dine at Gazdowka u Zajaca restaurant in Dolina Chocholowska, where we will enjoy regional specialties and folk entertainment!

Legendary Chocholow Woodcraver

Day 5: Oscypek Cheese & A Tour of Krakow Poland
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel 
After a hearty breakfast, we set off to explore Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland. On the way, we make a stop at Bacowka, a small mountain hut, where the locals make the famous smoked sheep cheese “oscypek” in a traditional way. Once we reach Krakow, we take a guided tour of the historic city. Being one of the few Polish cities that survived World War II, Krakow is full of preserved medieval architecture. On the tour, we visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest medieval town square in Europe, Market Square. We also visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral. For dinner on your own, we recommend the Biala Roza restaurant, which specializes in traditional Krakow cuisine. The restaurant is run by Chef Lukasz Cichy, who creates modern arrangements of flavors of the past using top quality regional products.

Day 6: Stary Kleparz Fresh Food Market, Cooking Class & UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel 
After a delicious breakfast, we'll make a stop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition, Stary Kleparz fresh food market! Here, locals and visitors shop for the freshest Polish food products, including breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and vegetables! Once we arrive at our cooking class location, a local Krakow chef will teach us how to make a tasty three-course Polish meal. Then, we'll take a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site full of galleries, lakes, chapels, and murals - all carved from salt! After our tour, you'll have free time to explore the sights and shops of Krakow on your own. We recommend Cepelia store, which has quality Polish folk handicrafts. Finally, we'll have a Farewell Dinner at Wesele restaurant, which serves old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square.

Day 7: Departure or Extend Your Stay
Location: Krakow, Poland

We bid you farewell as you depart for home after a hearty breakfast. If you're looking to make your holiday even more special, why not consider extending your stay in the beautiful city of Krakow? You may find that an extra night here will make your vacation even more relaxing and enjoyable.

Tour itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, health and safety considerations, travel restrictions, changes in the availability of attractions, or other logistical concerns.


What's Included
Six Nights Accommodations: Double-occupancy, with en suite bathroom

Transportation:

  • Arrival transfer from Krakow hotel at 10:00 a.m. to Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane
  • Transportation where specified

Meals:

  • Daily breakfast & lunch
  • Dinner as outlined on itinerary
  • Local beer, house wine, tea, and coffee with all included meals (Cocktail drinks and drinks consumed outside of mealtime are not included)

Activities:

  • Rafting through the Dunajec River Gorge
  • Glass painting class at the School of Dying Trades in Bukowina Tatrzanska
  • Two hands-on and/or demonstration-style Polish cooking lesson
  • Complimentary white cooking apron with Poland Culinary Vacations logo
  • Excursions to cultural sites, all entrance fees and food artisan visits

Other Services:

  • English interpreters
  • All luggage transfers
  • Taxes and service charges

What's Not Included

  • Airfare or other non-specified transportation to/from trip starting/ending point
  • Meals and alcoholic beverages not specified in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as laundry or telephone calls
  • Passport or visa fees
  • End of vacation gratuities for guides (not required, but greatly appreciated)
  • Insurance of any kind

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View Photos From Prior Year Tours

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join us for A TOUR OF SOUTHERN POLAND AND THE KRAKOW PIEROGI FESTIVAL!

Our August 2024 Culinary Vacation is scheduled around the annual Pierogi Festival being held in Krakow, Poland. Join us for pierogi tasting, local beer, live entertainment and more.

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