Slavic Neighbors:
The Shared Borderlands and Histories of Czechia and Poland
June 12 - 22, 2025
A photo tour beyond the boundaries of the Czech Republic and Poland, across the ancient kingdoms of Moravia and Silesia, blending history, culture and the region’s modern status as two vital, democratic European countries.
The past is both treasured and preserved as a powerful memorial. From the historically and emotionally potent sites of Auschwitz and Birkenau to beautiful Prague — relatively unscathed by WWII but shaped by years of Soviet occupation — this 11-day, 10-night tour reveals an intricate story.
The past is both treasured and preserved as a powerful memorial. From the historically and emotionally potent sites of Auschwitz and Birkenau to beautiful Prague — relatively unscathed by WWII but shaped by years of Soviet occupation — this 11-day, 10-night tour reveals an intricate story.
Beginning in Prague, Czechia and ending in Krakow, Poland
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.Dan Burkholder &
Jill Skupin Burkholder 
Our Guide is photographer Daniel Rosca who has spent time in both countries, smoothing our journey and finding the most unique photographic opportunities. Daniel has also managed other adventurous trips for Dan and Jill including Romania, Greece and Bulgaria.
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The changing borderlands of Central Europe present a complex history of ancient kingdoms, decadent dynasties and the lingering influence of both World Wars. This exciting new photo tour traverses the Czech Republic and southern Poland, across the historic Slavic states of Moravia and Silesia, and tells a story of a vibrant culture marked by the past.
Beginning in the Czech Republic, our small group will explore the castles and cathedrals of Prague, a fortunate European capital that escaped the destruction many of its historical buildings during WWII. Our picturesque hotel is located on the edge of the Staré Mesto (Old Town) with easy access to Prague’s lively cobblestone streets.
Heading northeast from the city, our itinerary gives us several stops including a traditional Czech glass factory and other regional stops before we cross the Polish border to explore the captivating Ksiaz Castle, a 13th century Silesian fortress and gardens used by the Nazis for various purposes.
The Gross-Rosen concentration camp was a network of 100 WWII subcamps which imprisoned Jews, Poles and Soviet citizens to serve as slave labor for Nazi Germany. This somber visit will include the granite quarry and a museum focused on the memory of those lost to the camp’s brutality.
Traveling toward Wroclaw, we will have a delightful tour of a celebrated pottery factory at Boleslawiec and watch artisans paint the traditional patterns onto the famous pottery. This full day will end with a tour of colorful Wroclaw, a city built across several river islands and rich with vintage architecture.
After spending the morning in Wroclaw, the group will travel to the Upper Silesia Ethnographic Museum to photograph an open-air collection of agricultural buildings, a wooden church and folk cottages from all over Silesia.
Traveling back across the CZ border, an old industrial site at Vitkovice offers a unique photo opportunity as we tour these vintage ironworks from the 1800’s. The Michal Mine completes our day focused on the early industries that were so vital to the area economies.
Beginning in the Czech Republic, our small group will explore the castles and cathedrals of Prague, a fortunate European capital that escaped the destruction many of its historical buildings during WWII. Our picturesque hotel is located on the edge of the Staré Mesto (Old Town) with easy access to Prague’s lively cobblestone streets.
Heading northeast from the city, our itinerary gives us several stops including a traditional Czech glass factory and other regional stops before we cross the Polish border to explore the captivating Ksiaz Castle, a 13th century Silesian fortress and gardens used by the Nazis for various purposes.
The Gross-Rosen concentration camp was a network of 100 WWII subcamps which imprisoned Jews, Poles and Soviet citizens to serve as slave labor for Nazi Germany. This somber visit will include the granite quarry and a museum focused on the memory of those lost to the camp’s brutality.
Traveling toward Wroclaw, we will have a delightful tour of a celebrated pottery factory at Boleslawiec and watch artisans paint the traditional patterns onto the famous pottery. This full day will end with a tour of colorful Wroclaw, a city built across several river islands and rich with vintage architecture.
After spending the morning in Wroclaw, the group will travel to the Upper Silesia Ethnographic Museum to photograph an open-air collection of agricultural buildings, a wooden church and folk cottages from all over Silesia.
Traveling back across the CZ border, an old industrial site at Vitkovice offers a unique photo opportunity as we tour these vintage ironworks from the 1800’s. The Michal Mine completes our day focused on the early industries that were so vital to the area economies.
The next day brings our most solemn stop with a guided tour of the chilling memorials at Auschwitz and Birkenau, the Nazi concentration and extermination camps where over 1.1 million men, women and children lost their lives.
By evening we will be in Krakow, the ornate medieval capital of Poland until the 1600’s. This will be a convenient base for the last three days. We will see the Polish people respecting tradition with the processions of Corpus Christi, a Catholic feast and public celebration. Dressed in traditional regional costumes, groups march in the villages and children scatter flower petals on the streets.
Krakow is the location of Oskar Schindler’s factory made famous by the movie, Schindler’s List. Schindler was an industrialist whose actions saved many Jews during the Nazi occupation. Our group will visit the factory, now a museum about the Nazi occupation of Poland. In addition to the museums, churches and Jewish quarter of Krakow, we will have a pierogi cooking class and an opportunity to photograph the wreath-making festivities of the Wianki Festival, a summer solstice event in Krakow.
As our visit reaches a close, we’ll enjoy a group dinner together, a final celebration of our adventures crossing borders and merging the past and present stories from the heart of Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Poland.
By evening we will be in Krakow, the ornate medieval capital of Poland until the 1600’s. This will be a convenient base for the last three days. We will see the Polish people respecting tradition with the processions of Corpus Christi, a Catholic feast and public celebration. Dressed in traditional regional costumes, groups march in the villages and children scatter flower petals on the streets.
Krakow is the location of Oskar Schindler’s factory made famous by the movie, Schindler’s List. Schindler was an industrialist whose actions saved many Jews during the Nazi occupation. Our group will visit the factory, now a museum about the Nazi occupation of Poland. In addition to the museums, churches and Jewish quarter of Krakow, we will have a pierogi cooking class and an opportunity to photograph the wreath-making festivities of the Wianki Festival, a summer solstice event in Krakow.
As our visit reaches a close, we’ll enjoy a group dinner together, a final celebration of our adventures crossing borders and merging the past and present stories from the heart of Central Europe, the Czech Republic and Poland.
Crossing Borders Reveals a Unity Across the Regions.
From Prague to Wroclaw to Ostrava to Krakow, the Past and Present Build an Intriguing Story of Perseverance.
Your Trip
The tour includes 11 days/10 nights in accommodations that include boutique guesthouses, country estates and highly rated hotels. Beginning in Prague, you'll be picked up at the airport and stay near the historic Old Town known as the Staré Mesto for two nights. After time in Prague, we're traveling by private, air-conditioned bus toward the final destination of Krakow. Along the way, we will be staying 1 or 2 nights in various villages and towns in both the Czech Republic and in Poland. The group is limited to 10 participants and the workshop price is $5100.
Included:
• Ten nights in unique accommodations
• Various location fees and shooting opportunities
• Ground transportation in Czechia and Poland
• All breakfasts and two dinners
• Daily workshop instruction during classtime or photo outings
• Daily assistance from photographers and guides, specialized guides will assist at some historic locations
Not included:
• Passport
• Lunches and Dinners (except for two dinners)
• Tips and Gratuities
• Airfare to Prague and departure from Krakow plus baggage fees
• Travel/Medical Evacuation Insurance (available from your travel agent)
• Bottled water and all alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
Included:
• Ten nights in unique accommodations
• Various location fees and shooting opportunities
• Ground transportation in Czechia and Poland
• All breakfasts and two dinners
• Daily workshop instruction during classtime or photo outings
• Daily assistance from photographers and guides, specialized guides will assist at some historic locations
Not included:
• Passport
• Lunches and Dinners (except for two dinners)
• Tips and Gratuities
• Airfare to Prague and departure from Krakow plus baggage fees
• Travel/Medical Evacuation Insurance (available from your travel agent)
• Bottled water and all alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses
Payment and Cancellation Policy
Hold your spot with a $1200 deposit with the balance due Apr 10. If you need to cancel before Apr 10, $600 will be refunded. Because of advanced planning, if the cancellation is within 60 days or less before the workshop starts, we will not be able to refund any of the workshop fee.
On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price. Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. Single occupancy is available for a one time supplement of $650 for the workshop. Most of the hotels have elevators but a few may not. If you have trouble with stairs, let us know soon so we can try to get a ground floor room depending on availability. Early registration is encouraged for those who need one of the limited ground floor rooms.
On the unlikely chance that we need to cancel the workshop for any reason, you will be refunded the entire workshop price. Rooms are based on double occupancy and all have private baths. Single occupancy is available for a one time supplement of $650 for the workshop. Most of the hotels have elevators but a few may not. If you have trouble with stairs, let us know soon so we can try to get a ground floor room depending on availability. Early registration is encouraged for those who need one of the limited ground floor rooms.
Prerequisites
Any digital camera is welcome — from DSLR to Mirrorless to iPhone — as long as you have a way to get your images onto an iPhone or iPad for viewing and editing.
If possible, iPhones and iPads should be models with Airdrop making it easy to share images during classroom critiques and lessons.
Bring lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes because you’ll spend lots of time on your feet.
Before your departure, you will receive tons of helpful, detailed information to help you prepare for your adventure. From camera gear advice to packing suggestions, you’ll get lots of help to ensure your trip is one of learning and image making instead of problems and hassles.
If possible, iPhones and iPads should be models with Airdrop making it easy to share images during classroom critiques and lessons.
Bring lightweight clothing and comfortable walking shoes because you’ll spend lots of time on your feet.
Before your departure, you will receive tons of helpful, detailed information to help you prepare for your adventure. From camera gear advice to packing suggestions, you’ll get lots of help to ensure your trip is one of learning and image making instead of problems and hassles.
Slavic Neighbors: Poland and Czechia, May 2025 Deposit Only
DEPOSIT - Photo Tour of Poland and the Czech Republic. Across the ancient kingdoms of Moravia and Silesia, this tour blends history with the cultural traditions of two vital democratic European countries. Enjoy magical Prague and the countryside, honor the history on view at Auschwitz, explore the castles and summer festivals of Poland and more. All types of cameras are welcome! A lightweight, modern approach to our image making with photo critiques and classes emphasizing iPhones and iPads. Total cost is $5100.