Arrive Krakow Airport | Welcome Dinner 

Arriving in Krakow, we collect our bags and are greeted by our Polish Tour Escort before departing for our hotel in the Old Town area of the city. After some time to settle in, we gather for a special Welcome Dinner to celebrate our arrival in Poland!

Overnight: Krakow (Breakfast, Dinner)

Old Town Krakow | Wieliczka Salt Mines

We begin with a walking tour of Krakow’s Old Town area with visits to several interesting sites including the iconic Wawel Castle and Cathedral. After time for lunch in the city’s market square, we transfer to the Wieliczka Salt Mines. Here, miners have carved out a vast network of caverns complete with richly decorated chapels and brilliant works of sculpture. 

Overnight: Krakow (Breakfast, Dinner)

Wadowice | Kalwaria Zebrzydowska | St. Stanisław Kostka

This morning, we depart for the childhood home of the late Pope John Paul II. In Wadowice, we tour his family home, now a museum, and visit the church in which he was baptized. Later, we visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, also known as Polish Jerusalem. A place of pilgrimage for over 300 years, here we encounter dozens of richly decorated chapels along a beautiful walking trail modeled on the stations of the cross. Upon returning to Krakow, we stop at the Church of St. Stanisław Kostka, named after one of Pope John Paul II’s spiritual mentors.

Overnight: Krakow (Breakfast, Dinner)

Divine Mercy Shrine | Depart Krakow | Tour Auschwitz | Arrive Czestochowa

Our day begins with a visit to the Shrine of the Divine Mercy. Here stands the chapel where the miraculous image of Merciful Jesus and the tomb of St. Faustina are to be found. We then depart Krakow and proceed to the infamous concentration camp of Auschwitz. Here we remember and honor the many thousands of lives lost to this terrible place during World War II. During our visit, we will see the cell where Maximilian Kolbe was held before his execution. Our somber time at Auschwitz concluded, we complete our journey with our arrival in the Holy City of Czestochowa. 

Overnight: Czestochowa (Breakfast, Dinner)

 Jasna Gora Monastery | Free Afternoon

Our day in Czestochowa will start with a visit to the Jasna Gora Monastery. Our guide will show us the Gothic Chapel of Our Lady, which hangs the famous Black Madonna icon on a magnificent silver and ebony altar. We will continue touring the treasury and celebrate Mass at the shrine before being given the balance of the day to explore to our own tastes. 

Overnight: Czestochowa (Breakfast, Dinner)

 Depart Czestochowa | Flight to Germany | Arrive Bonn

Today, we bid Poland farewell as we take an afternoon flight to Germany. Arriving in Cologne, we are greeted by our German Tour Escort before transferring to our hotel in the riverside city of Bonn. 

Overnight: Bonn (Breakfast, Dinner)

Aachen Day Trip

A short drive through the German countryside sees our group arrive in Aachen. The Cathedral of Aachen has stood as one of the faith’s most important pilgrimage destinations since the Middle Ages as it houses many important relics including the swaddling clothes and loin cloth of Jesus Christ, the dress of Mary, and the decapitation cloth of John the Baptist. In the late afternoon, we return to Bonn and enjoy a group dinner to close the day. 

Overnight: Bonn (Breakfast, Dinner)

Tour Cologne

After breakfast, we complete a short transfer to the nearby city of Cologne. The city’s Cathedral, the Kolner Dom, has housed the relics of the Three Magi, the Wise Men who brought gifts the infant Jesus, since its construction in the Late Middle Ages. While the Cathedral is the highlight of our visit, we will also enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town area of the city, perhaps even stopping to buy some “cologne” before returning to our hotel in Bonn. 

Overnight: Bonn (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Bonn | Arrive Speyer | Tour Speyer

Following the Rhine River, we depart Bonn and travel south to the town of Speyer. After some time for lunch, we visit the Speyer Cathedral. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cathedral has served as a burial place of emperors and kings for over 1000 years and enjoys the distinction of being the world’s largest Romanesque style church. We finish our tour of Speyer by walking to the Old Gate, which marks the end of a traditional procession route beginning from the Cathedral.  

Overnight: Speyer (Breakfast, Dinner)

Depart Speyer | Dachau | Arrive Munich

Before reaching Munich, we detour north to visit Dachau. This camp was one of Nazi Germany’s first and was used as a model for all future camps. After a somber and sobering tour of the grounds, we close the day with our arrival at our Munich hotel.

Overnight: Munich (Breakfast, Dinner)

The Churches of Munich | Altötting

This morning, we experience an emotional and spiritual release with a walking tour to many of Old Town Munich’s most famous churches. Among them, the Frauenkirche, also known as the Cathedral of Our Dear Lady, serves as major highlight. Carefully restored following the destruction of World War II, its towers are the tallest structures in Munich and stand as one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. In the afternoon, we take a short drive to the nearby Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting. Also known as the Chapel of Grace (Gnadenkapelle), this national shrine is known for its many healings, so much so that it’s called the Lourdes of Germany. Within is housed a Black Madonna carved from Lindenwood. 

Overnight: Munich (Breakfast, Dinner)

Neuschwanstein Castle | Wieskirche | Augustiner Keller

Our last full day in Germany begins with a visit to one of Bavaria’s most iconic sites. Neuschwanstein Castle was the passion project of King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Although the king died before the construction could be completed, Neuschwanstein was eventually “finished” by subsequent monarchs who opened it up to public visitors. Our fairytale castle tour complete, we make our way to the nearby pilgrimage site of Wieskirche. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding rococo architecture, the Church of Wies will serve as the venue for the final Mass of our pilgrimage. This evening, we mark the end of our time in Germany with a farewell dinner at one of Munich most famous traditional beer gardens - Augustiner Keller!

Overnight: Munich (Breakfast, Dinner)

 Return Home

Bidding farewell to Germany, we board our flights bound for home. We take with us memories of a beautiful pilgrimage, new friendships, and countless stories to share with our loved ones and friends. 

Overnight: N/A (Breakfast)