11D10N Sweden Northern Lights and Poland

11D10N Sweden Northern Lights & Poland

Day 01 – ARRIVE KIRUNA – BJORKLIDEN   [D] 
Upon arrival in Kiruna Airport, transfer to your accommodation in Bjorkliden.  Free time for the rest of the day.  In the night, go on a Northern Lights Experience Tour (dinner included) to catch the northern lights.  The northern lights are one of nature’s most beautiful displays and the Abisko National Park, 250km into the Arctic Circle in the Swedish Lapland, ranks among the best places, if not as the best place, in the world to witness this awesome phenomenon.

Day 02 – BJORKLIDEN: ABISKO   [B/D] 
Free time in the morning to enjoy Bjorkliden on your own  (suggestion: visit nearby Silver Falls) before boarding the Arctic Circle Train to Abisko at around noon.  Enjoy Abisko town on your own.  Return to Bjorkliden in the evening.  This evening, you will go on a “Chase The Northern Lights Tour” for another opportunity to catch the northern lights.   

Day 03 – BJORKLIDEN: ICEHOTEL   [B/L/D]
Join a tour to appreciate the Swedish Lapland that includes a visit to the world famous IceHotel.  The IceHotel, rebuilt every year from sculptured ice blocks from the nearby Torne River, features about 120 rooms with the “furniture” all sculpted from ice.  There is also a nice bar with glasses made of ice, an ice restaurant and even an ice chapel that is ever popular with couples making their marriage vows!  (The whole structure remains at below freezing point at around −5°C.  Return to Bjorkliden in the afternoon.  Free time thereafter (suggestion: walk to the nearby Aurora Viewpoint to catch the northern lights).

Day 04 – BJORKLIDEN: NARVIK   [B/D]
Board the Arctic Circle Train to the beautiful port-town of Narvik in Norway.  The rail journey will take you through a few towns set amidst wild and beautiful landscape with breathtaking views of a Norwegian fjord, the Ofotfjord (Narvik Fjord), along which Narvik is located.   This train ride ranks highly among the most spectacular train rides in the world.  Thereafter, return to Bjorkliden.  In the evening, you may yet again want to venture out, whether to the nearby Aurora Viewpoint or just within the vicinity of your accommodation, to catch the northern lights (afterall, even if you had seen the northern lights on previous nights, no 2 northern lights displays are ever the same!).

Day 05 – BJORKLIDEN – GDANSK   [B]
Depart Bjorkliden and board a flight to Gdansk, Poland.  Upon arrival in Gdansk Airport, your driver will meet you at the arrival hall and drive you to your hotel in Gdansk city centre.  Gdansk, a port city on the Baltic coast of northern Poland, is one of Poland’s most beautiful cities.  Its main attractions are located along or near Ulica Długa (Long Street) and Długi Targ (Long Market), a pedestrianised thoroughfare  surrounded by beautiful and colourful buildings and flanked at both ends by elaborate city gates.  With a rich heritage and history, Gdansk boasts several important historical attractions, such as the Royal Way, a street leading through the centre of Gdansk that was once used by Polish royalties when they visited Gdansk and which puts you in close proximity to several of Gdansk’s key attractions as you stroll through it.

Day 06 – GDANSK   [B]
Join a Gdansk sightseeing and traditional food tour in its beautiful medieval old town.  Learn about the city’s fascinating history and stop for tastings at some of the city’s specialty food stores and restaurants.  Thereafter, free time to explore Gdansk on your own.  At the centre of its old town are the colourful facades of Long Market, home to shops and restaurants.  Nearby is Neptune Fountain, a 17th century symbol of the city topped by a bronze statue of the sea god.  Check out Ulica Mariacka, probably Gdansk’s most atmospheric street and certainly one of Poland’s most beautiful streets.  You may wish to have a cup of coffee in one of the lovely little cafes along the street and perhaps visit one of the numerous amber jewellery shops.  Gdansk is in a region famous for amber – aka “Baltic Gold” – and Gdansk, being a trading centre for amber, has the reputation of being the amber capital of the world.

Day 07 – GDANSK – KRAKOW   [B]
Depart Gdansk and travel by train to Krakow.  Krakow’s well-preserved Old Town (Stare Miasto) is amongst the most impressive medieval locations in Europe and its accreditation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is well deserved.  The Old Town – ringed by remnants of the city’s medieval walls – lies mainly within the huge market square (Rynek Glówny).  The Cloth Hall (a Renaissance-era trading outpost) and St Mary’s Basilica (a 14th century Gothic church) are but 2 of several major attractions located within the market square.  Enjoy the impressive Krakow Old Town at your own leisure.

Day 08 – KRAKOW: WIELICZKA SALT MINE   [B]
Join a day tour to visit the world-renowned Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a history of salt mining dating back to medieval times which only ended in 2007.  In this unique subterranean world that has been in existence for several centuries, there is a 3km long tourist route at 135m under the ground.  The mine’s top attraction is St Kinga’s Chapel, a large underground chapel sculpted entirely out of salt.  Thereafter, return to Krakow and enjoy the rest of the day in Krakow on your own. (Possible to add a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, for those who are interested in a tour of the Nazi’s infamous death camp and to-date one of Eastern Europe’s most visited sites).

Day 09 – KRAKOW – WARSAW   [B]
Depart Krakow and travel by train to Warsaw, the capital and largest city of Poland.  Warsaw was once one of Europe’s most beautiful cities with the reputation of being the “Paris of the East” until it was flattened in WWII.  Rising from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix, it has since rebuilt itself, emerging once again as one of Europe’s great cities.  Join a Warsaw city group tour to visit some of Warsaw’s highlights, including the Old Town (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Castle Square, Royal Castle, King Sigismund’s III Column (first secular monument in Poland), St John’s Cathedral, Jewish Ghetto, Holy Cross Church, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and “Lazienki” (or “Palace on the Water”, a lavish summer residence of the last Polish King).

Day 10 – WARSAW   [B]
Free time to explore Warsaw on your own.  For shoppers, treat yourselves to a diverse shopping experience, from vintage shops of the Old Town to unique Polish brands and, of course, global designer labels.

Day 11 – DEPART WARSAW   [B]
Free time to continue to enjoy Warsaw on your own until your transfer to Warsaw Airport for your departure flight.

Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.