Poland: Cooking, Culture, and Exploring the Countryside

Location: Europe
Duration: 8 Days
Price: From $6,495
Activity Level: Active

Poland: Cooking, Culture, and Exploring the Countryside

Location: Europe
Duration: 8 Days
Price: From $6,495
Activity Level: Active

Overview

Travel deep into the heart of southern Poland, a centuries-old time capsule of culinary and folk-art traditions. Divide your time equally between charming Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains and the stunning medieval city of Krakow, where unique local experiences offer the perfect backdrop for new friendships. From cooking classes and market visits to a river float trip and salt mine exploration, revel in the colorful customs and boundless hospitality that keep this a truly original corner of Eastern Europe. Toast to new friendships and celebrate your adventures with a fabulous farewell dinner in the heart of Krakow’s Market Square.

Main Attractions

Culinary and Cultural Delights

Discover the delicious culinary heritage and colorful Highlander traditions of Malopolska, Poland’s southernmost region. Learn to prepare regional recipes in fragrant markets and local kitchens.

Scenic Adventures

Hike through scenic Chocholowska Valley, ride a traditional wooden raft through the Dunajec River Gorge, and descend deep underground to explore the massive caverns of famed Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Historic Exploration

Visit beautiful wooden churches on the Trail of Wooden Architecture. Explore Krakow’s Old Town and the city’s historic Jewish quarter.

Map showing flight paths from Krakow to Zakopane in Poland, with an inset map highlighting Poland and its neighboring countries.
A group of people stands on a wooden bridge over a stream in a forested area with rocky cliffs nearby.
A group of twelve people in outdoor clothing stands on a wooden bridge over a stream in a forested area.
A white horse-drawn carriage with two horses is moving on a cobblestone street in a city with historic buildings and pedestrians nearby.
A vibrant market stall displays various fresh vegetables, including peppers, carrots, and herbs, with price signs in a lively outdoor setting.
Wooden church with a sloped roof surrounded by a wooden fence and trees, set in a grassy area with a row of stones arranged in a circle.
A chapel inside a salt mine, featuring wooden pews, an altar, a colorful mural, stained glass windows, and a large chandelier hanging from the arched ceiling.
A group of people smiling and posing in front of a wooden building with a sign that reads "Tischnerówka.

Itinerary

A street view of colorful, ivy-covered buildings with a cafe set up outside on a cobblestone path. Red chairs and umbrellas are arranged around tables, with a few people nearby.

Arrive in Krakow

Arrive at the Krakow airport and transfer to your hotel. Group transfers are available based on arrival time. Take the afternoon and evening to relax, grab a bite to eat, and get some sleep before your adventure begins tomorrow. Malopolska, or Lesser Poland is one of the country’s most beautiful and delicious regions and home to the magnificent capital city of Krakow, designated as a European City of Culture in 2000. During your adventure, you’ll get to know your expert Polish guide, who will help you learn about local traditions and foods, as well as lead you as you explore the lush countryside.

People standing in front of an illuminated sign spelling "ZAKOPANE" at night.

Krakow to Zakopane

After breakfast, head out of Krakow for Zakopane, a two-hour drive away. Stop for a homemade lunch in the village of Dolina Chocholowska, where you’ll get to sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea, which includes vodka! After settling into your comfortable hotel, relax or head out for a leisurely walk around the town before you gather for your welcome dinner.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of people sitting in a wooden boat on a river surrounded by lush, forested cliffs. One person is standing at the back steering with a pole. It's a sunny day.

Cooking Class and Scenic Float Trip

Drive an hour to nearby village where local women will teach you to cook regional specialties like moskole, potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. Then, head to Pieniny National Park for a scenic float trip—weather permitting– on a traditional wooden raft down the Dunajec River, surrounded by soaring cliffs and the rugged Tatras peaks. Visit Debno Podhalanskie village to explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site timber church, adorned with unique paintings and Gothic sculptures from the 15th and 16th centuries. End your day with a delightful dinner on your own.

Meals breakfast, lunch
Two wooden huts sit in a lush green meadow with pink flowers, framed by tall, rugged mountains and a partly cloudy sky.

Explore Zakopane

Explore Zakopane, Poland’s winter capital. Stroll along Krupowki Street and its side streets, learning about the town’s history. Enjoy a group lunch at a local inn. Drive to the Chocholowska Valley, the longest valley in the Polish Tatras, for a three to four-hour hike. Capture stunning scenery, local wildlife, and quaint shepherd huts with your camera. Spend a free evening in Zakopane shopping for handicrafts, indulging in a spa treatment at your hotel, or further exploring Krupowki Street. Dinner is on your own.

Meals breakfast, lunch
A woman holds up a painted glass pane depicting a golden dog. She is seated at a table with art supplies.

Visit the Culture Center and Glass Painting Class

Drive to Bukowina Tatrzanska to visit the Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After a brief tour, enjoy a traditional glass painting class. Savor lunch at Schronisko Bukowina restaurant and shop for local specialties. Drive through Lesser Poland, stopping at wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores, and the villages of Chocholow and Witow on the Timber Architecture Route. Visit a local wood carver’s studio to purchase unique handmade carvings. At Bacowka, a mountain shepherd hut, learn about and taste oscypek cheese. End the day with a dinner of regional specialties, complete with folk entertainment and dancing.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
A group of people sitting together at a long table in a wooden restaurant setting.

Discover Krakow and Beyond

Drive two hours to Krakow and embark on a walking tour of the city’s major sites. Visit Market Square, the largest medieval town square in Europe, and the 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Then, drive 30 minutes to Srebrna Gora vineyard for a Polish wine tasting and a delicious late lunch. Spend the late afternoon and evening exploring Krakow at your leisure. Enjoy dinner on your own at one of the many local restaurants.

Meals breakfast, lunch
A person in a kitchen chops potatoes next to bowls of herbs and greens on a wooden counter.

Experience Krakow’s Culinary and Cultural Treasures

Visit Stary Kleparz, Krakow’s centuries-old fresh food market, to taste local breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and vegetables. Meet a local chef for a half-day class to prepare and enjoy a typical three-course Polish meal. Explore the Wieliczka Salt Mine, an underground city with galleries, lakes, chapels, and murals carved from salt. Take a three-hour walking tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. End your day with a festive farewell dinner, celebrating your Polish journey with your AdventureWomen friends.

Meals breakfast, lunch, dinner
Two women in colorful traditional attire with floral shawls and bead necklaces pose joyfully indoors in front of a wooden wall.

Depart Krakow

Say goodbye to your guide, and new AdventureWomen friends as you transfer to the airport for your flights home.

Meals breakfast
A clear river flows in the foreground with a green, tree-covered mountain and sharp peaks under a blue sky in the background.

Accommodations

Please note that all amenities were current when written and are subject to change at any time.

A woman walks a dog on a quiet street lined with a historical red building featuring ornate architecture beside a modern building.

Golden Queen Aparthotel

Golden Queen Aparthotel is a recently renovated aparthotel in the center of Krakow, a 9-minute walk from Town Hall Tower and half a mile from Main Market Square. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, an elevator, and luggage storage for guests.

Amenities: soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer, safe, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning

Modern interior with a large black hand-shaped chair, wooden table with greenery, and artistic lighting fixtures in a spacious room.

Hotel & Spa Nosalowy Park

The Hotel & Spa Nosalowy Park has 139 rooms and suites, all designed in Art Deco style with great attention to detail. The former Villa Marilor is incorporated into the hotel; the Marilor was the best-known salon of Zakopane during the interwar period, standing in spacious surroundings and offering an unobstructed view of the Tatra Mountains. Today, the comfortable hotel is the perfect location from which to explore the Tatras.

Amenities: Ssoap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi

A four-story corner building with illuminated windows, set against a sunset sky. Trees partially obscure the facade.

Hotel Wawel Queen

The Wawel Queen is located right next to Planty Park in Krakow. This hotel, which is a refurbished tenement building, combines traditional history with modern design, and a portrait of a woman is on display in every room.

Amenities: Soap, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryer; electricity; Wifi

What People Are Saying

It was a fabulous trip. I shared great experiences with fascinating women.

What People Are Saying

I have never traveled with another group, but I think what sets AdventureWomen apart is all of the staff on your team and the places we stayed. Caring, attention to detail, very knowledgeable and just a lot of fun!

What People Are Saying

Every need was thought of before I knew I needed something.  Accommodations, food, activities, and travel we so smooth, ample, and well, excellent!  This was my first “solo” travel trip, so I was nervous, but I had no need to be.

Dates & Pricing

Start Date End Date Availability Pricing Booking Link
May 9 May 16
Space Available
$6,495*
Standard Room, Single
$7,395 total, $800 deposit
Standard Room, Double
$6,495 total, $800 deposit

*Additional Pricing Information: 2026 Optional Single Accommodation: $900

Arrive: Arrive in Krakow, Poland (KRK) on Day 1 at any time.
Depart: Depart Krakow, Poland (KRK) on Day 8 at any time.

What's Included

  • Accommodations as per itinerary based on double occupancy
  • All meals as listed in the itinerary
  • All ground transportation
  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Guided sightseeing and activities as indicated in the itinerary
  • English-speaking guide throughout the main trip
  • English-speaking guide on days 2 and 3 in Warsaw (extension only)
  • Drinking water available in large jugs to refill personal bottles
  • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, hotel staff, and waitstaff

What's Not Included

  • International airfare to and from Poland
  • Optional activities
  • Meals not specified in the itinerary
  • Alcoholic beverages (unless otherwise specified)
  • Fees for passport, visas, immunizations, or travel insurance
  • Cost of hospitalization or evacuation
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Gratuities for the main guide
Trip Extensions

Auschwitz and Warsaw

Embark on a captivating four-day Poland extension that offers a deep dive into the country’s rich history and vibrant present. Begin your journey in Krakow, where you’ll be picked up for a visit to Auschwitz, exploring both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. This powerful and sobering experience invites moments of reflection as you walk through the corridors of history. Next, hop on a comfortable train to Warsaw, Poland’s bustling capital and immerse yourself in a city brimming with energy and culture. You’ll experience a guided walking tour that uncovers Warsaw’s storied past and dynamic present. From historic landmarks to lively cultural spots, this adventure seamlessly  blends history, education, and entertainment.

Castle Square in Warsaw at sunset, featuring the Sigismund's Column and the Royal Castle with illuminated historic buildings.

FAQs

Absolutely! We happily welcome all women as long as you are physically capable of doing the activities on your chosen trip. Our guests range from 18-85+! It is important to us to talk to each guest to make sure each woman chooses the right trip for her physical ability and interest.

You can process your registration on our online booking system or over the phone. Most deposits are $800. In many cases, and unless otherwise indicated, your deposit is transferable if you notify us in writing 120 before your trip departs.

Be sure to check the ‘What’s Included’ section of the trip you are interested in. Once you get to the departure city and meet the group, we often include most meals, all accommodations, all activities (although there might be an optional activity at an additional cost), transportation while on the adventure, qualified local guide(s) and some trips also include an AdventureWomen Ambassador. Our trips do not include airfare to/from the arrival and departure cities. However, internal flights are included in some itineraries so please read the itinerary carefully.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it! Many of the women who travel with AdventureWomen come solo. For those that do not choose a single supplement, we pair you with a roommate. Usually, when we change accommodations on a trip, we will change roommates if we can, so you get a chance to know others in our group. A limited number of single supplements may be available for an additional charge.

That depends entirely on the trip! AdventureWomen adventure travel trips are rated according to the physical fitness level demanded by the included activities.

  • Moderate: These adventures exercise your mind more than your body and are designed for women who prefer a leisurely, less rigorous experience. For example, you could walk up to 2 miles per day through cities and villages, stand in museums for a few hours, relax on a boat, or view wildlife from a vehicle.
  • Active: Adventures that get you on your feet! You should be in good physical condition where you are comfortable walking on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestone streets, biking manicured nature trails or kayaking calm waters.
  • High Energy: These adventures are designed for women who enjoy a physical challenge and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to): a full day of biking on a rolling terrain, hiking 5-8 miles on moderate to steep trails, being active at high altitudes, whitewater rafting, or skiing.
  • Challenging: Adventures that get your heart rate pumping, these are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. You should be in excellent physical condition, and be able to hike up to 10 miles, in steeper, more rugged terrain.