DAY ONE
Arrival in Krakow. Transfer to hotel for a welcome supper followed by a short introductory talk about nature protection in South Poland.

DAY TWO
Guided introduction to Krakow, a city of so rich a cultural and architectural heritage that it was placed on the first list of twelve World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1978. Evening journey by coach to Zakopane (about two hours), the capital of the Polish Tatra, where we will be based for the next four nights.

DAY THREE
A full day walks amongst the soaring limestone cliffs and deep gorges of the Western Tatra, brilliant scenery which is complemented by abundant wildlife. In the Tatra National Park more than 1300 vascular plants have been recorded, breeding birds include Golden Eagle, Eagle Owl, Alpine Accentor and Wall Creeper, and we can expect to see animals such as Chamois and Marmot.

DAY FOUR
Ascend by cable car from Zakopane to the Peak of Kasprowy Wierch (1987 m). From here we walk along an exhilarating ridge path, Czerwone Wierchy, before descending through Koscieliska Valley perhaps the finest of the manyspectacular Western Tatra valleys.

DAY FIVE
Excursion to Lake Morskie Oko, in the most beautiful part of the High Tatra. We walk through 'Alpine' scenery , including the Five Polish Lakes Valley and past the highest waterfall in the Tatra (70 metres) to Lysa Polana, a frontier station at the border with Slovakia. The day will end with 'posiad goralski', an opportunity to experience ethnic food and liqueurs with 'The Highlanders'.

DAY SIX
By coach from Zakopane to the Pieniny Mts (about two hours), where we will stay in fantastic scenic area with immensely rich flora and fauna. We take a raft trip on the River Dunajec, which flows through Pieniny via a spectacular gorge. Dinner and free time in Szczawnica, a health resort in the Pieniny.

DAY SEVEN
We return to Krakow by coach (about three hours). On the way into Krakow we will visit the ancient, but still working, salt mines at Wieliczka. This vast underground maze of passages and chambers is unique, leading to its inclusion in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. There will be some free time in Krakow before a special farewell supper. Overnight stay in Krakow.

DAY EIGHT
Time to shop or sightsee in Krakow before departure.

THE TEN DAY OPTION...
..follows the itinerary above but provides for one extra day each in the Tatra and Pieniny National Parks. There will be a full day excursion by coach in the Podtatrze region to see some of the most interesting examples of the material culture of 'The Highlanders'. The second extra day will be a full day walk in the Pieniny, including an ascent of Trzy Korony (Three Crowns, 982 m), a limestone pinnacle with a breath-taking view. In the evening we will enjoy a lamb roast round a campfire in Jaworki.