Itinerary
- Day 1
Gdansk
You'll fly into Gdansk and make your way to the hotel on your own using public transport. Later that evening, meet up with your guide and the rest of the group for an information session. You'll toast to the trip ahead with Goldwasser, a traditional Polish spiced liqueur that has gold leaf flakes floating in it, which makes for a nice introduction to the region.
Included Activities
- Information session with tour guide and fellow travelers
- Tasting of Goldwasser (spiced liqueur with gold leaf flakes)
- Day 2
Gdansk to Hela
After breakfast, you'll take a water streetcar to Hela, the Baltic peninsula (or hop on a bus from September if that works better for your schedule). Once there, a guided tour walks you through the charming old town with its fishermen's cottages and half-timbered houses. The Museum of Fishing is set up in a former Gothic brick church where you can learn how locals have worked the Baltic for generations. From there, head to the fokarium, which is a WWF breeding station focused on protecting the Baltic Sea's grey seal population. It's a quiet, purposeful kind of place if you're interested in marine conservation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Water streetcar/bus trip to Hela
- Guided tour of Hela town
- Visit to Museum of Fishing
- Visit to fokarium (WWF grey seal breeding station)
Landmarks Hela (Hel) Museum of Fishing Fokarium (WWF Baltic Seal Breeding Station) - Day 3
Gdansk
Your guide takes you through Gdansk's history and culture, starting with the Langgasser Gate and the historic town hall. You'll see St. Mary's Church, which is Poland's largest church and quite impressive inside. After that, head to an amber gallery where you can watch artisans hand-cut and polish raw amber into finished pieces, which gives you a real sense of the craftsmanship involved. The afternoon is yours to wander around the Hanseatic city and discover it on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Gdansk
- Visit to Langgasser Gate
- Visit to old town hall
- Visit to St. Mary's Church
- Amber gallery tour with demonstration of hand-cutting and polishing
Landmarks Langgasser Gate St. Mary's Church - Day 4
Gdansk - Frombork - Elblag - Osterode
Head east from Gdansk toward the cathedral in Frombork, then continue on to Elblag, which was the second-most important port back when it was part of East Prussia. The main event is boarding a canal boat on the Oberländer Canal, completed in 1860 and still one of Europe's longest inland waterways. The boat navigates a 99-meter height difference as it moves through the locks, giving you panoramic views the whole way. By late afternoon you'll arrive at the Eco Natural Hotel in Osterode, where a local herbalist will talk about medicinal plants from the region before dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Frombork cathedral
- Guided tour of Elblag
- Panoramic canal boat cruise on Oberländer Canal
- Meeting with local herbalist and introduction to Warmia herbs
- Homemade herbal infusion tasting
Landmarks Frombork Cathedral Oberländer Canal - Day 5
Sensburg (Masuria)
This day focuses on Masuria's lakes and cultural sites. You'll visit the baroque Heiligelinde pilgrimage church and catch an organ concert there. From there, travel to Wolf's Lair near Rastenburg to learn about the resistance movement during World War II, particularly officer Stauffenberg's story. Lunch happens at a charming harbor in Łötzen, and if you want, there's an optional boat trip through the landscape afterward. You'll end up at your hotel in Sensburg for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at charming harbor in Lötzen (Gizycko)), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to Heiligelinde baroque pilgrimage church
- Organ concert at Heiligelinde
- Visit to Wolf's Lair memorial and guided tour
- Lunch break at Lötzen harbor
Optional Activities
- Relaxing boat trip through the Masuria lake landscape (bookable on site, approximately €16 per person)
Landmarks Heiligelinde Pilgrimage Church Wolf's Lair Memorial 
- Day 6
Sensburg (Masuria)
Start with a city tour of Nikolaiken, which has a strong maritime character. Stop at the Oberza pod Psem inn for coffee and homemade cake, and the owners run a small local museum on-site too. Later you'll do an easy 8-kilometer hike through Johannisburg Heath, one of Poland's largest closed forest areas, taking roughly 2 hours with very little elevation change. Keep an eye out for storks, wild horses, lynx, and moose roaming through. Before finishing up, check out an Old Believers' monastery in Eckertsdorf village, then take a relaxing punt boat ride down the Krutynia River.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Nikolaiken (Mikolajki)
- Visit to Oberza pod Psem inn for coffee and homemade cake
- Visit to local museum at Oberza pod Psem inn
- Guided easy hike through Johannisburg Heath (8 km, approximately 2 hours, approximately 50 m elevation gain)
- Visit to Old Believers' monastery in Eckertsdorf
- Punt boat trip through Krutynia River
Landmarks Nikolaiken (Mikolajki) Johannisburg Heath Old Believers' Monastery Krutynia River - Day 7
Marienburg to Gdansk
On your last day, you'll drive back toward Gdansk but first stop at Marienburg (Malbork), a massive Gothic brick castle complex built by the Teutonic Knights during medieval times. It's been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, and for good reason. The castle splits into distinct architectural sections, so you can walk through the outer castle, middle castle, and upper castle to see how each part was designed and used. After exploring, you'll head into Gdansk for a farewell dinner in the Old Town, which gives you a chance to reflect on the trip over a final meal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner in the Old Town of Gdansk)
Included Activities
- Visit to Marienburg (Malbork) castle complex
- Farewell dinner in Old Town Gdansk
Landmarks Marienburg (Malbork Castle) Old Town of Gdansk 
- Day 8
Gdansk
Leave your hotel and head to the airport using public transport on your own. Then fly back to Germany and wrap up your Polish journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
