Tuesday, July 6 | Springfield - Boston - Poland

Our pilgrimage begins

Gather in the Springfield area for our included group motorcoach transfer to Boston Logan Airport. Check in for our overnight flight to Kraków, Poland, and begin preparing for the days ahead. Our pilgrimage will bring us from the Catholic heart of Kraków and the Tatra Mountains to the Marian shrines and historic cities of northern Poland. Meals and refreshments will be served according to the airline’s arrangements.

Overnight in flight. Airline meals according to schedule.

Wednesday, July 7 | Arrival in Kraków

Welcome to the city of St. John Paul II

Upon arrival in Kraków, we will meet our Polish guide and driver and transfer to our hotel. The remainder of the day will be intentionally gentle, with time to settle in after the overnight journey. Depending on our flight schedule, we will take an introductory walk in the Old Town and celebrate Holy Mass before gathering for our welcome dinner. Kraków’s medieval streets, churches and great market square introduce us to a city inseparably connected with Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope St. John Paul II.

Overnight in Kraków. (D)

Thursday, July 8 | Catholic and Royal Kraków

Archbishop’s Palace - Wawel - Old Town

Today we explore the historic and spiritual heart of Kraków. We will request the privilege of celebrating Holy Mass in the chapel of the Archbishop’s Palace, where Karol Wojtyła lived and served as bishop and cardinal. Outside, the famous Papal Window recalls his warm conversations with young people during his visits to Poland. We continue along Kanonicza Street to Wawel Cathedral, where Polish kings were crowned and buried, and where the newly ordained Father Wojtyła celebrated his first Mass in St. Leonard’s Crypt. Our walk through the Old Town includes the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica, renowned for the carved altarpiece of Veit Stoss. Dinner as a group and overnight.

Overnight in Kraków. (B, D)

Friday, July 9 | Divine Mercy and St. John Paul II

Łagiewniki - St. Faustina - Time for prayer

This morning we visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki. At the convent of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, we will pray at the tomb of St. Faustina Kowalska and see the image of the Merciful Jesus in the convent chapel. We will request Holy Mass and, if available, a talk with one of the sisters. Our schedule may allow us to join the Hour of Mercy and the Chaplet at 3:00 p.m. Nearby, we visit the St. John Paul II Sanctuary, whose chapels, mosaics and relics honor the life and legacy of the Polish pope. Later, enjoy time at leisure in the Old Town or Kraków’s historic Kazimierz district.

Overnight in Kraków. (B)

Saturday, July 10 | Auschwitz-Birkenau and Harmęże

Remembrance - St. Maximilian Kolbe - Holy Mass

Travel to Oświęcim for a solemn guided visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau. We remember the victims of Nazi persecution and murder, including St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Edith Stein, and reflect on the dignity of every human life. Afterward, continue to the St. Maximilian Kolbe Center at Harmęże for Holy Mass and quiet reflection. We also plan to visit Marian Kołodziej’s extraordinary exhibition, “Negatives of Memory: Labyrinths.” Auschwitz prisoner number 432, Kołodziej created a moving visual testimony to suffering, faith and the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Return to Kraków for a deliberately quiet evening.

Overnight in Kraków. (B)

Sunday, July 11 | Wieliczka Salt Mine - Kraków

Underground chapels and an afternoon at leisure

A morning excursion takes us into the remarkable Wieliczka Salt Mine. Generations of miners carved chapels, statues, reliefs and chandeliers from salt, creating a world unlike anything above ground. The magnificent Chapel of St. Kinga is the highlight of our visit. We will request Holy Mass underground if arrangements permit; otherwise Mass will be celebrated at another suitable church. Return to Kraków for a leisurely afternoon: browse the market, shop for Polish crafts, enjoy a café or spend quiet time in one of the city’s many churches.

Overnight in Kraków. (B)

Monday, July 12 | Kalwaria - Wadowice - Zakopane

In the footsteps of St. John Paul II

Leaving Kraków, we stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the great Bernardine monastery and pilgrimage landscape beloved by Karol Wojtyła from childhood. We will celebrate Holy Mass and take time for prayer before Our Lady of Kalwaria. Continue to Wadowice to visit the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where he was baptized, and his family home, now a museum tracing his childhood, vocation and extraordinary life. There will be an opportunity to sample the famous kremówka pastry he remembered so fondly. We then travel into the Tatra foothills to Zakopane, known for its wooden architecture, mountain scenery and Highlander traditions.

Overnight in Zakopane. (B, D)

Tuesday, July 13 | Zakopane

Our Lady of Fatima - Highlander culture - Relaxation

Begin with Holy Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Krzeptówki, built in thanksgiving for the preservation of Pope John Paul II’s life following the assassination attempt of May 13, 1981. We will explore Zakopane at an easy pace, including Krupówki Street with its shops, cafés and distinctive Highlander character. Weather permitting, ride the funicular to Gubałówka for sweeping views of the Tatra peaks. A generous portion of the afternoon remains free for relaxing, shopping or enjoying the mountain atmosphere. This evening, gather for a traditional dinner with regional food and Highlander music.

Overnight in Zakopane. (B, D)

Wednesday, July 14 | The Dunajec River Gorge

Traditional wooden rafts through the Pieniny Mountains

After morning Mass, travel into the Pieniny Mountains for a traditional wooden-raft journey through the Dunajec River Gorge. Local boatmen guide us between forested slopes and dramatic limestone cliffs along the Polish-Slovak border, sharing stories and local traditions. The excursion is scenic rather than strenuous and ordinarily lasts two to three hours, depending on the route and water conditions. After disembarking near Szczawnica, enjoy time for lunch and a short walk before returning to Zakopane. The evening is free to enjoy the town or rest at the hotel. Rafting is subject to weather, river conditions and seasonal operation.

Overnight in Zakopane. (B)

Thursday, July 15 | Zakopane - Częstochowa

Our Lady of Jasna Góra - The Black Madonna

Leaving the mountains, we travel to Częstochowa, Poland’s spiritual capital. At Jasna Góra Monastery, the Pauline Fathers have guarded the revered icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa for centuries. Generations of Poles have come here in joy, thanksgiving and national trial, entrusting themselves to Mary’s maternal care. We will tour the monastery and basilica, celebrate Holy Mass and spend unhurried time in prayer before the Black Madonna. After dinner, we plan to return to the chapel for the 9:00 p.m. Apel Jasnogórski, the evening prayer that unites pilgrims and the Polish nation before Our Lady.

Overnight in Częstochowa. (B, D)

Friday, July 16 | Częstochowa - Toruń

Medieval streets - Copernicus - Gingerbread

Our morning offers another opportunity for prayer at Jasna Góra before we continue north to Toruń. Situated on the Vistula River, this remarkably preserved medieval city is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. A guided walk introduces its Gothic Old Town, the Cathedral of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Old Town Hall, and the city’s medieval walls and lanes. Toruń is also famous for its centuries-old gingerbread tradition, and we will include an opportunity to experience this delicious part of its heritage. Holy Mass will be arranged according to our schedule. An overnight stay allows us to enjoy the city after the day visitors have departed.

Overnight in Toruń. (B, D)

From the mountains to the Baltic

Our northern journey brings a different face of Poland: medieval trading cities, the Marian shrine of Gietrzwałd, the brick towers of Gdańsk, and time to enjoy the Baltic coast. As throughout our pilgrimage, daily Mass and opportunities for personal prayer remain at the heart of the experience.

Saturday, July 17 | Toruń - Gietrzwałd - Gdańsk

Our Lady of Gietrzwałd - The “Polish Lourdes”

Before leaving Toruń, we plan to visit the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, and St. John Paul II. Continue to Gietrzwałd, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1877 to two young girls, Justyna Szafryńska and Barbara Samulowska. Speaking in Polish at a time when the language was being suppressed, her message emphasized conversion, perseverance in faith and the daily Rosary. Gietrzwałd remains Poland’s only Church-recognized Marian apparition site. We will celebrate Holy Mass, visit the basilica and apparition chapel, and allow time for prayer before continuing to Gdańsk on the Baltic coast.

Overnight in Gdańsk. (B, D)

Sunday, July 18 | Catholic and Historic Gdańsk

St. Bridget’s - St. Mary’s - Solidarity

Begin with Holy Mass and a visit to St. Bridget’s Church, closely associated with the Solidarity movement and renowned for its monumental amber altar. Our walking tour introduces the Royal Way, Long Market, Neptune’s Fountain, the Artus Court and the waterfront along the Motława River. Visit the immense brick Gothic Basilica of St. Mary, one of the city’s most memorable landmarks. Later, we turn to Poland’s modern struggle for freedom at the former Lenin Shipyard, where Solidarity emerged under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa. Depending on the group’s interests and available time, we may include the European Solidarity Centre. Enjoy an evening at leisure along Gdańsk’s illuminated streets and waterfront.

Overnight in Gdańsk. (B)

Monday, July 19 | Malbork - Oliwa - The Baltic

A medieval fortress and the coast

Travel to Malbork Castle, the vast medieval fortress constructed by the Teutonic Order along the Nogat River. Our guided visit through its courtyards, halls and chapels introduces the complex history of medieval Christianity, political power and the Baltic region. Return toward Gdańsk, stopping at Oliwa Cathedral if timing permits. Its interior reflects Cistercian origins and later Baroque splendor, and its great organ is especially celebrated. We may also include a brief visit to Sopot for a leisurely encounter with the Baltic Sea. Holy Mass will be celebrated at the most suitable church according to our final schedule.

Overnight in Gdańsk. (B)

Tuesday, July 20 | A Relaxed Day in Gdańsk

Prayer - Shopping - Time to enjoy northern Poland

After Holy Mass, this day is intentionally left open. Shop for amber, religious articles and Polish gifts; stroll the waterfront; revisit a favorite church; explore a museum; linger over lunch; or simply rest before our journey home. For those who would enjoy the coast, an optional outing to Sopot may be offered without obligating the entire group. This breathing room gives everyone the chance to enjoy northern Poland personally and at a comfortable pace. This evening, we gather for a farewell dinner, giving thanks for the friendships, experiences and graces of our pilgrimage.

Overnight in Gdańsk. (B, D)

Wednesday, July 21 | Gdańsk - Boston - Springfield

Homeward with memories and graces

After breakfast, transfer to Gdańsk Airport for our return flight to Boston. Upon arrival at Logan Airport, our included group motorcoach transfer brings us back to the Springfield area. We return home with a deeper understanding of Poland’s Catholic heritage, the witness of its saints and martyrs, and the faith that sustained its people through centuries of trial.

Meals: Breakfast; airline meals according to schedule.

Important pilgrimage information

The program includes 16 days with international travel and 14 hotel nights: 5 in Kraków, 3 in Zakopane, 1 in Częstochowa, 1 in Toruń and 4 in Gdańsk.

Meals: B = breakfast; D = group dinner. Meals not indicated are on your own. The proposed group-dinner schedule may be adjusted as arrangements are finalized.

Daily Mass is planned except when international travel schedules prevent it. All Mass locations, especially the Archbishop’s Palace chapel, Harmęże and Wieliczka, remain subject to ecclesiastical approval and availability.

Airline, flight schedule, hotels and the order of sightseeing remain subject to final confirmation. The program may be adjusted to accommodate church schedules, museum reservations, local conditions and transportation requirements.

Travel insurance, personal expenses and meals not listed are not included. Contact John Paul Pilgrimages and Tours for registration details and complete booking conditions.