Travel With TimOnTheTrain To… Poland

The second Tour that I have pencilled in for 2021, departs on 06th March 2021 and couldn’t be more different to Sri Lanka. It combines history with rail travel. I’m something of a nerd when it comes to the Second World War; office shelves sag under the weight of military history reference books. Railways and World War II History in Poland is a chance to not only discover the culture of Poland (They’re a good bunch of people, and historically loyal British friends) but also to view some of the historically important World War II sites – some well known and others less frequently visited.

We have 3 city bases with guided Tours in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw and everybody will receive a complimentary public transport rover ticket in all three, ideal to discover the extensive tramway networks. Rail travel between cities is on First Class PKP Intercity services and Express Intercity Premium (EIP) high speed train between Warsaw and Krakow.

We also have a privately chartered heritage tram ride in Wroclaw and privately chartered river cruises in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw.

Historical Highlights of the Tour include:

• Warsaw Ghetto, Ghetto Museum and Uprising Memorial
• Kazimierz Jewish Quarter in Krakow and visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory in the former Krakow Ghetto
• Trip to Oświęcim and optional visit of Auschwitz concentration camp
• Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow
• Visit to the Gliwice Radio Tower in Upper Silesia
• A visit to the ‘Great Escape’ Stalag Luft 3 prisoner camp in Zagan

(During the Stalag Luft 3 camp, by popular demand I will play the role of Stee McQueen and for a small fee, offer to recreate his famous motorcycle scene on foot!)

The visit to the camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau is optional (It can be prove distressing for some) but I would encourage all to visit, nonetheless. I have been there about 20 times taking Tour Groups around the site, so am familiar with how best to manage the visit. The visit links in some ways with the included visit to the Schindler Factory. The Schindler camp itself was at Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp, located on the route to Oświęcim in the suburbs of Kraków.

The Gliwice Radio Tower is the site of a 118 m (387 ft) tall wooden Radio Tower, still standing as the tallest wooden structure in Europe. Formerly German territory, it was here that the SS staged a false flag fake attack, using the bodies of concentration camp inmates as a casus belli for the subsequent invasion of Poland.

In amongst the history, it’s easy to forget just how beautiful the cities are, especially Wrocław and Kraków.

So, that should be enough to whet your appetites. Come with me on this Tour and it will be fascinating. It may also be a bit chilly, possibly there will be snow on the ground, certainly below zero at night (a good excuse for a bracing shot of Miodunka, also known as Miodula), a honey vodka from Silesia – Trust me, it works!).