Poland | Krakow and Auschwitz

From your centrally located hotel located inside Krakow's historic walls you will be able to easily explore this beautiful renaissance city. Countless attractions, including Wawel Castle and the beautiful old town square are all within easy walking distance of your home away from home. If you would like to participate in structured tours, a tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mines will be available from your on site tour manager. A visit to Auschwitz, one of the most unsettling locations in the world, and a stop-n-shop at the pottery factories in Boleslowiac on the way to Krakow will complete your visit to Poland.

Spaces on this popular trip to Poland are limited, reserve yours today! Whether you board the bus in Baumholder or Kaiserslautern, you will enjoy June's long weekend if you travel with Army Outdoor Recreation! 

Estimated Itinerary

Wednesday: Check in 

Settle into your seat, lean back and relax while your comfortable coach whisks you from your starting point at either Pulaski or Smith Barracks to Krakow. Don’t forget the essentials for your overnight ride! Blankets, pillows, power banks, snacks and drinks will all make your journey to Poland more enjoyable.

Thursday: Pottery Shopping in Boleslowiac | Continue to Krakow

Hand-made ceramics with a distinctive blue glaze have been a local specialty in Boleslowiac since the middle ages. An en-route Stop-N-Shop will allow you to buy directly from the factories, keeping your purchasing prices low. Whether you are just starting to outfit your kitchen, or just need that one last piece to complete your collection, this is your chance to do so. After you check into your hotel inside Krakow’s medieval walls, you will have the evening free to explore the city. 

Friday: Free day in Krakow or Salt Mines Excursion**/***/****

This morning offers you a tour of the medieval center of Krakow, where you can see Wawel Castle and Saint Mary’s Basilica. After lunch, you will have the opportunity to take an optional excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mine**. Get ready for some cardio; the salt mines reach a depth of 327 meters through over 287 kilometers of tunnels, the 3 kilometer tourist route including over 380 stairs will take you to four underground chapels, past countless statues carved from the living rock salt, and an underground lake***.

Saturday: Auschwitz*/****

After breakfast, you will visit one of the most historically significant and somber sites in the world, Auschwitz Concentration Camp. While your visit to both Auschwitz and Birkenau will be deeply impactful, it is an important experience to have while serving in Europe. Auschwitz is not just a historical/tourist site but a solemn memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is a place for reflection, a reminder of the consequences of hatred and intolerance. Visiting Auschwitz is an emotional and sobering experience, one that leaves an indelible mark on the heart and mind. It is a trip that implores us to remember, to mourn, and to ensure that such horrors are never repeated. 

Sunday: Return to Germany

After breakfast you will start your return to Germany, where you will arrive at your starting point in the evening. 

* Auschwitz reserves the right to deny entry to the camp to children under 14
** Not Included
*** Optional excursion at additional fee paid directly to tour manager
****Extensive walking on uneven surfaces required

Price on or prior to Friday, April 18:

• Double Occupancy: $529 per person
• Single Occupancy: $679

Price on or after Saturday, April 19:

• Double Occupancy: $599 per person
• Single Occupancy: $749
• Up to 2 children under 12 with 2 paid adults in triple room or unconnected double rooms: $449 per child
• Infants under 3 in existing bedding with adult: $179
• Children under 12 will be accommodated in either a triple room for two adults and one child or in multiple double rooms for larger families.
• Infant price does not apply in triple rooms.

Deadlines and Discounts:

• Early Bird Discount expires on Friday, April 18.
• Empty hotel rooms will be cancelled on Tuesday, June 3.
• Registrations made on or after Wednesday, June 4 may be subject to hotel rebooking fees. 

Trip Includes:

• Round trip tour bus transportation 
• 3 nights lodging at Campanile Krakow*** or equivalent
• Daily breakfast
• Guided tour of Krakow
• Guided tour of Auschwitz
• Polish Pottery Shop-N-Stop

Optional Excursion (Paid cash directly to tour manager):

• Wieliczka Salt Mines:  €39 per person

Physical Fitness: 

• Both Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mines involve extensive walking on uneven surfaces.
• The Wieliczka Salt Mines tour involves at least 3 km of underground walking, including a total descent of 135 meters and over 380 stairs.

Departure: 

• Bus departs Wagon Wheel Theater, Smith Barracks at 8:30 pm to KL ODR.
• Bus departs Kaiserslautern Outdoor Recreation, Pulaski Barracks, bldg. 2905 at 10 p.m. 

Return: Sunday evening