MARCH OF THE LIVING FOR ADULTS

UPCOMING PROGRAM DATES

MAY 3 - MAY 10, 2024 | Poland Only
APRIL 22 - APRIL 28, 2025 | Poland Only
APRIL 22 - MAY 3, 2025 | Poland + 6-Day Israel
APRIL 22 - MAY 6, 2025 | Poland + 9-Day Israel

AVAILABILITY UPDATE

We have a limited number of spaces still available for the 2024 March of the Living in Poland – register by March 10th to join this year's journey. Registration is also now open for the 2025 March of the Living – plan ahead with us and take advantage of this year's program costs for a limited time.

"Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By." - Elie Wiesel

Travel with us on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal as part of the Adult Delegation to the International March of the Living.

REMEMBRANCE IN POLAND
Together, we'll celebrate the historical achievements of the Jewish People in Europe and bear witness to all that was lost. Our program in Poland will take us to the cities of Krakow, Tarnow, Lublin, and Warsaw, and it coincides with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), when we will march in unity with thousands of young people from Auschwitz to Birkenau and take part in a special ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.

RENEWAL IN ISRAEL | Optional
The Israel segment of the March has been postponed for 2024
Participants have the option to continue to Israel for a tour designed for travelers returning to the Jewish Homeland anew. Together, we'll make new discoveries in the Carmel Mountains, Ramon Crater, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. Our itinerary coincides with the national holidays of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). Together, we'll observe the national siren where the entire country stands in honor of those lost, and we'll experience the authentic joy of celebrating Israeli independence, dancing in the streets of Jerusalem.


The March of the Living for Adults is a highly emotional experience. More than a tour, this is an opportunity to bear witness to one of history's darkest hours, recommit yourself to the Never Again imperative, and reinforce Jewish values of compassion, tolerance, and action.

March of the Living for Adults is an official delegation to the International March of the Living. Our delegation is jointly organized by BBYO Passport and Authentic Israel and is led by our acclaimed Jewish educators and professional guides.

PROGRAM ITINERARY

The following is our projected 2024 itinerary, subject to reasonable change based on local considerations. The projected 2025 itinerary is also available for review.

PART I | BEARING WITNESS IN POLAND

Travelers make their own flight arrangements to Poland and are encouraged to arrive a day in advance at our Krakow hotel by prior arrangement with our office. A recommended flight will be designated for travelers wishing to arrive together on May 3rd with connecting options across North America.


FRIDAY | MAY 3, 2024 | The Kazmierz Legacy

  • Our recommended flight arrives to Krakow in the late morning
    Travelers arriving on the designated flight and other flights arriving in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer
  • Check-in to our hotel in Krakow – get to know our staff team and get oriented to the experience
  • Introductory walking tour to Kazmierz – Krakow's historic Jewish Quarter
  • Option to experience a Kabbalat Shabbat service in Kazmierz
  • Enjoy a festive Shabbat dinner at the Krakow JCC, now the center of modern Jewish life in Krakow, where we'll meet with a local community leader

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Dinner


SATURDAY | MAY 4, 2024 | Shabbat in Krakow

All touring today is on foot

  • Free morning or Shabbat service options followed by a group lunch
  • Honor the achievements of Polish Jewry dating back to the 14th Century – including stops at the Remu Synagogue, Tempel Synagogue, old Jewish cemetery, and Jozefa Street
  • The Galicia Museum – Discover the artfully documented story of Jewish culture and life in this storied region
  • Havdallah – Mark the end of Shabbat and the start of a new week
  • Evening: Explore the grounds of the Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral, the historic center of Polish royalty

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


SUNDAY | MAY 5, 2024 | Confronting Auschwitz & Birkenau

  • Arrive at the grounds of Auschwitz II-Birkenau where the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jewish People is palpable (packed lunch provided)
  • Continue to Auschwitz I, where we will tour the watchtowers, fences, cell blocks, wall of death, crematoria, and Arbeit Macht Frei Gate
  • Close out the day visiting the surviving synagogue of Oswiecim, located just minutes from Auschwitz-Birkenau to honor what was lost and to process the experience together
  • Evening: Free evening and dinner on your own in Krakow

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


MONDAY | MAY 6, 2024 | Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day

  • Trace the history of the Holocaust at the Krakow Ghetto, the Plaszow Labor Camp and view the Oscar Schindler Factory 
  • Continue on to Auschwitz and join thousands of travelers from around the world for the March of the Living (lunch is provided en route)
  • Take part in the official Yom HaShoah ceremony at Birkenau attended by political leaders and dignitaries from Poland, Israel, and beyond
  • Return to Krakow for a free evening and dinner on your own in Old Town Market Square – the biggest Medieval plaza in Europe

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch 


TUESDAY | MAY 7, 2024 | The Galicia Countryside

  • Depart Krakow and travel north through Poland's Galicia countryside
  • Stop for a solemn visit to the Zbylitowska Góra forest mass grave memorial
  • Break along the way to explore the Castle of Lancut and learn about the local Jewish community (lunch is provided en route)
  • Arrive to Lublin and enter the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, a famed center of Jewish learning and the site of a massive Nazi book burning
  • Check-in to our hotel in central Lublin, followed by a free evening and dinner on your own in Lublin's Old Town district

OVERNIGHT: Hampton by Hilton – Lublin, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


WEDNESDAY | MAY 8, 2024 | Lublin & Majdanek

  • Morning walking tour in Lublin: The historic Old City, Jewish Ghetto, Maharshal, and Grodzka Gate
  • Arrive to the Majdanek concentration camp, originally set up for prisoners of war but soon turned into an infamous death camp for Jews and Poles (lunch is provided en route)
  • Continue on to Warsaw and check in to our accommodations
  • Free evening and dinner on your own in Old Town Warsaw

OVERNIGHT: The Westin Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


THURSDAY | MAY 9, 2024 | Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

  • Uprising! – Explore the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto and learn about the Jewish community's famous revolt along the Route of Heroes and at Rappaport Memorial
  • Umschlagplatz – Gathering place before transfer to Treblinka Death Camp
  • Visit the groundbreaking Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN)
  • Travel north from Warsaw for a solemn visit to the stark Treblinka Memorial
  • Return to Warsaw for a closing dinner and final reflections

OVERNIGHT: The Westin Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner


FRIDAY | MAY 10, 2024 | The Journey Continues

Transfer to Warsaw airport for onward flights:

  • Flights to North America | Our designated flight departs Warsaw in the early morning (TBD)
    Travelers flying on the designated flight and other flights departing in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer
  • Flights to Tel Aviv | An optional group flight will be offered for purchase
    We expect the group flight will take off for Israel either on Thursday evening or Friday in the early morning (TBD)

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Airport transfers for those traveling on the recommended flight and other similarly timed flights
  • A Jewish educational guide accompanies the group throughout
  • A local tour manager and security escort accompany the group in Poland
  • Centrally located hotels per the itinerary
  • Breakfast daily and additional meals per the itinerary
    All meals are included in Poland for the 2025 program (kosher)
  • Luxury private touring bus with A/C
  • All programming costs per the itinerary
  • VIP reserved seating at the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration
  • Remote audio headsets
  • March of the Living backpack and rain jacket

NOT INCLUDED

  • International flights
  • Travel Insurance
    Protect your investment, and plan ahead for the unexpected with a travel protection plan
  • Medical insurance
  • Staff gratuities
  • Hotel incidentals

2024 PROGRAM FLOW

Map of Israel Travel Itinerary

 

 


ARRANGING TRAVEL

Travelers arrange their own trans-Atlantic incoming and outgoing flights. Recommended flights are designated for travelers wishing to travel to and from Poland together. These flights are recommended based on the availability of connecting flights from many North American airports. Complimentary airport transfers are provided for travelers flying on the recommended flights or similarly timed flights.

LEARN MORE: Travel Plans 2024

NOTE: Travelers wishing to arrive early can be accommodated at the group hotels based on the group hotel rate and according to availability.

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PROGRAM COSTS

Double Room Occupancy Single Room Supplement
Poland Program
Land costs only
$3,450/p $650/p
Poland + 6-Day Israel Program
Land costs only
$5,950/p $1,450/p
Poland + 9-Day Israel Program
Land costs only
$6,700/p $1,750/p
Warsaw to Tel Aviv flight
Details to be announced
$TBD/p $TBD/p

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ENROLLMENT TERMS

Sign up for March of the Living for Adults by completing the online Registration Form

    • To reserve your spot, a $250/person fully refundable deposit is due at the time of your registration (all program costs are listed in US Dollars)
    • The deposit becomes non-refundable as of December 15, 2023
      December 15, 2024 for the 2025 March
    • The balance is due by February 10, 2024, after which all payments are non-refundable and exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis at Authentic Israel's discretion
      February 1, 2025 for the 2025 March
    • Separate payment and cancellation terms may apply to the group flight (TBD)
    • Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to the initial $250 deposit). Note: credit card fees are not refundable
    • Authentic Israel reserves the right to deny acceptance on the tour according to their sole discretion

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FAQs

Who staffs the tour?

March of the Living for Adults is led by a professional Jewish educator/guide who escorts the tour on a 24/7 basis. Our program leader is joined by a local tour manager and a security escort in Poland.

Will we be traveling with teens?

March of the Living for Adults is an official part of the overall March of the Living initiative, but we travel independently of the many teen groups who comprise the majority of the program. We stay at separate hotels, have separate meals, and we travel with our own separate staff team. For those who wish, there will be opportunities for some shared moments with the BBYO National Teen Delegation.

How active is the touring?

Because we want you to get the most out of your travels, our touring days are full, and there is quite a bit of travel on foot. While none of the walks are strenuous, you will find at the end of the day that you have taken a large number of steps. Be prepared for an average of 3-4 hours of walking a day over all manner of surfaces (e.g., cobblestone paths, uneven walkways, etc.). Travelers requiring walking support or with mobility constraints will not be well accommodated on this program.

How many people travel in a group?

For 2024, we plan to host no more than 30-35 adult travelers per group, and we intend to host two or three groups in Poland and one group in Israel.

Is the tour kosher and Shabbat observant?

March of the Living for Adults is a pluralistic Jewish travel experience open to all. Group meals are kosher and other meals are on own at the traveler's discretion. All touring on Saturdays is on foot, and there are opportunities to participate in local Shabbat services.

How are special dietary needs accommodated?

Travelers can note any special dietary needs as part of online registration. We will coordinate with our catering partners to arrange special accommodations wherever possible.

Can I leave Poland or Israel earlier than the official dates?

Yes. Please contact us to make special arrangements.

How do I get ready for the trip?

Detailed pre-trip material is distributed approximately four months prior to arrival and travel planning guidance is available now. You'll also be invited to a trip Facebook group to connect with fellow travelers before the program and stay in touch afterward.

How does Authentic Israel approach safe travel?

Providing safe travel experiences is our guiding consideration. We appreciate our responsibility and the trust that travelers place in us. We care about their well-being like family. Key security-related protocols that we follow include:

  • Traveling on private transportation only
  • Traveling with a licensed Israeli guide at all times who has been trained in security response
  • Traveling with a security escort (Poland)
  • Avoiding travel to areas of heightened concern
  • Use of hotels with a guard and a secure area (Israel)
  • 24/7 support from our headquarters office in Israel
  • Close coordination with the Israeli security services via the "Situation Room"
  • Willingness and ability to modify our programming, staffing structure, and/or overall protocols as needed based on actual conditions where we travel.

Finally, in the rare event of an acute security event, we have issued full refunds in the past, and we will continue to follow this principle should we deem the situation appropriate.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about our approach to providing travel experiences that are safe, meaningful, and joyous.

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REAL REVIEWS FROM REAL TRAVELERS

We know you'll love the March of the Living experience, but don't just take our word for it. Check out these real reviews from past travelers who have completed the journey.

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