10:00 am - Meet in the lobby of the Grand Hotel in Krakow for a group transfer by bus to the Villa Marilor in Zakopane, a small palace converted into a luxurious 4* spa hotel and your home for the next four days. During the drive to Zakopane, there will be stops in Chocholow and Witow villages. Another stop includes a sumptuous home-made lunch at an agrotourist farm and a chance to taste local specialty cheese and drinks. After arriving to the hotel and settling into your rooms, there will be a short tour of the villa then you can relax in the pool or spa, or go for a leisurely walk around Zakopane. In the evening: festive welcome dinner at the villa's restaurant, including a chance to meet the head chef and taste local specialties.

After breakfst, the first cooking class will take place in the highlander village of Gronkow. You'll learn the secrets of preparing the all-time regional favorite, moskole: potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. In the afternoon, you'll travel back to Zakopane where you'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the beautiful mountain village. You can visit one of the many museums and take a leisurely walk along the town's famous Krupowki Street. In the late afternoon, an organized cable car ride is available. This goes up Gubalowka Hill, where you'll get the best panoramic view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.  Dinner is held at Bakowo Zohylina restaurant in Zakopane, offering delicious regional specialties and traditional folk entertainment.

The second cooking class will take place in the village of Dursztyn. On the menu: undisputed Polish and regional favorite - pierogi dumplings! The afternoon program is a tour on through the Dunajec River Gorge on a wooden raft - one of the highlight activities in the region. These daily raft trips have been organized by the locals since the early 19th century. The evening dinner is at Karczma Pieninska, located in the picturesque resort village of Szczawnica, where you'll also get a chance to sample the local alkaline spring waters. As always you will be treated to regional culinary delights and entertainment.

The third cooking experience will involve traveling to nearby Lopuszna to cook with the local village women. Using a traditional regional recipe you'll prepare kwasnica goralsko, highlander sauerkraut soup, for lunch. Besides this culinary highlight, sightseeing is on the menu: 16th-century wooden church and  manor house, a UNESCO world heritage site - a timber church where the interior includes unique paintings and precious Gothic sculptures from the 15th and 16th centuries in the village of Debno Podhalanskie. You'll also experience the inside of a bacowka, a small mountain shepherd hut, where smoked ewe's cheese is made in traditional form. For the final meal of your highlander culinary adventure dinner will be held at the Karczma Czarci Jar restaurant in Zakopane. The restaurant is famous among locals and tourists alike for its outstanding, hearty regional fare.

After an early breakfast, it's back to Krakow where the Polish urban culinary experience begins. On the way to Krakow, there'll be a short stop for shopping at an open air market. After check-in at the luxurious, 4-star Hotel Turowka there will be a guided city tour. Later, there will be an opportunity to venture to a fresh food market, called Stary Kleparz, a centuries-old tradition. Krakow is full of restaurants that offer memorable dining experiences. On this first night in Krakow dinner will be in the Ancora restaurant, located near the Market Square. Signature dishes by owner/chef Adam Chrzastowski are beautifully presented and of exceptional quality.

After breakfast, you'll be taken to the Culinary Institute of Krakow, for the last cooking class of the trip. You'll learn how to prepare a typical Polish three-course meal with the owner and head chef of the institute, Marek Widomski. After the class there will be a tour the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a virtual underground city, with galleries, lakes, chapels and murals, all carved from salt, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. After the tour there will be time to do more shopping! The Farewell Dinner will be at Wesele restaurant, serving traditional Polish delicacies and specialties, located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square.

After breakfast departure to your home country, or stay on if you've made your own arrangements to stay longer in beautiful Krakow.

Even though our vacations are leisurely, you may want to consider staying an extra night at the Grand and Turowka hotels, located within Krakow's metropolitan area, before and/or after the trip. You may find that the extra time will make your week even more relaxing and enjoyable.

The tour will take place in Lesser Poland (Malopolska), located in the southeast part of Poland. It is truly one of the country's most beautiful (and most tasty) regions. In addition to its many unique historic and natural attractions, it is home to Krakow, designated as a European City of Culture in 2000. The Old Town district of Krakow was built around Europe's largest medieval market square, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But Lesser Poland is also home to the highlanders, or orale.  And, while in the charming town of Zakopane and surrounding areas, lots of time will be spent immersed in highlander culture: cooking, singing and dancing in their homes and restaurants. The highlanders' rich culinary and cultural traditions make this region one of the most exciting Polish destinations to explore in depth.

Outdoor Attractions:  Lesser Poland offers an exceptionally varied and pristine landscape. First-rate hiking and biking trails run through the Tatra Mountains, offering stunning views of gorgeous scenery. Winter sports facilities and folklore events attract travelers here in every season. This region is also famous for its many fine health resorts and national parks that protect its unique environment.

Urban Amenities: Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland, boasts many of the best museums, theaters and architecture in the country. Krakow is also home to one of the world's oldest and most distinguished universities, the Jagellonian University founded in 1364. Krakow's Main Square is filled with unique and beautiful cafés, restaurants, and pubs. The square is frequently used for concerts and artistic events. Cultural events or culinary festivals happen during each month of the year, offering residents and visitors many opportunities for fun and entertainment. You'll dine and cook with Krakow's talented chefs in some of the city's best restaurants. You'll also have time to explore its unique architecture and history during a custom-designed city tour.