Collette Vacations introduced a new tour of Poland for 2013. The 11-night/12-day Discovering Poland package includes visits to Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, Torun and Gdansk. The product was developed under the guidance of David Lutz, Collette’s product manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Russia and cruising, and a resident of Eastern Europe. Lutz was inspired to try to bring the attention of Americans to what he sees as an under-appreciated destination.

“Living in Eastern Europe allows me the opportunity to create tour packages that highlight the real feel of a destination,” said Lutz. “Through my travels, I have noticed that Poland, while very popular with European and international travelers, is often ignored by U.S. travelers. Each city within this country has such distinct character and charm, and more than enough historical, cultural, and religious sites to please the tastes of even the most seasoned U.S. traveler.”

Participants on the tour will visit the seaside city and port of Gdansk and gather at the docklands, where the historic 1980 Solidarity uprising against Soviet rule took place, which was a catalytic event that led to the liberation of Poland. The itinerary includes an overnight in medieval Torun, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and birthplace of the astronomer Nicholas Copernicus; a visit to the 700-year-old Teutonic Knight’s Marie burg Fortress, the largest castle in the world; a visit the Jana Gora Monastery to see the Black Madonna, which draws more than 5 million pilgrims a year; a visit to Auschwitz; and tours of Warsaw and Wroclaw. The itinerary includes two-night stays in Krakow, Wroclaw, Gdansk and Warsaw and a one-night stay in Torun.