The Visit

  The Lessons from Auschwitz Project consists of two seminars and a visit to Poland. On this page you will find some useful information about the visit to Poland and what to expect on the day.
 

What to bring
Airport Security Information
What happens at the airport?
Travel Information
Food
A breakdown of the day
 

What to bring

Essential:

• Passport - All participants are required to have a valid passport for the visit to Poland.

• European Health Insurance Card - These are free of charge and can be ordered online at www.ehic.org.uk. Please contact the LFA Project team if you do not have one and it is less than a week before your visit.

• Comfortable clothes - During the winter months temperatures can drop to -5˚C so please bring lots of layers. The summer months can be as warm as 30˚C. You are outside for a large part of the day. It is a good idea to check the local weather the day before your departure. www.bbc.co.uk/weather.    

• Hat, gloves and scarf - It can get very cold, wet and windy during the winter so please be prepared.

• Boots / sensible walking shoes and a spare pair of socks in case of rain - Please be aware that it can get very muddy and wet so please wear shoes / boots which will withstand this. The ground, especially at Auschwitz-Birkenau, is very uneven. We strongly advise against wearing any form of heeled shoe or light trainers such as converse.

• Waterproofs / umbrella

• Suntan lotion and hat, as in the spring/summer months the sun can be very strong.

• Insect repellent may be needed in summer months.

• Packed lunch/snacks - Breakfast and dinner will be provided during the flight. You will need food and water for the whole day. Please note that it is long day and we will not be eating dinner until 9.30pm on the flight back. All food will be eaten on the coach.   There will not be an opportunity to buy food or drink once you have boarded the flight to Poland.

• Please be aware that you may not carry any liquids through to the departure lounge after check-in. Drinks can be purchased once in the departure lounge.

• Money to buy drinks and snacks at the UK airport before departure. You will need to have enough water/drinks to last you for the day.

• Note pad and pen

• Torch. There is a good chance it will be dark when we leave Birkenau.

Optional:

• Camera

• Polish currency, Zloty – Please note that there will be no opportunity to buy anything in Poland other than drinks and snacks at Krakow Airport before the return flight.

Airport Security Information

Do not carry any sharp objects in your luggage; this includes knives, forks and spoons as well as scissors and tweezers. You are not allowed to carry any liquid bottles greater than 100 ml e.g. drinks/yogurts/hand-lotion/perfume. Anything over this amount will be removed at security.

If you need to carry any medication or needles through security, they must be kept in their original packaging with the prescription attached. Some medication may require a doctor’s note in order to get it through security. For more information on medical requirements please click here.

Please note: Due to increased security measures, passengers are only allowed to carry one piece of hand luggage with the maximum weight of 6 kg. No luggage will be stored in the hold. Please check if there are left luggage facilities available at the airport.

What happens at the airport?

Students are asked to arrive at the airport with the other student from their school and to remain in pairs for the duration of the visit. All participants will be given an emergency contact number at the Orientation Seminar, which they are advised to bring with them to the airport.

You will need to check in promptly at 5.00am, the flight will not wait for late arrivals. When you arrive at the airport check the flight information screens for our flight number and check-in desk details and make your way to check-in.

You will need to join the queue for check-in. You will not be issued a ticket until you check-in; the only thing you need to bring with you to the airport is your passport and one piece of hand luggage. At check-in you will be issued with your outbound and return flight tickets. You will need to keep your return ticket and passport safe for the journey back to the UK.

Lessons from Auschwitz (LFA) Project staff will be present at check-in. If you have any questions or you need any help please look for staff carrying LFA Project rucksacks and folders.

Once checked in you will need to immediately make your way through security. You will then be expected to wait in the departure lounge and proceed directly to the gate once it has been announced on the departures screen. Please do ensure you buy drinks, once you have been through security, that will last for the duration of the visit.

Travel Information

Travel to and from the seminars and UK airports is the responsibility of the participants and at their individual expense. If you would like information about how to apply for the Trust’s travel subsidy please click here.

For the flight to Poland Peltours Limited charter a plane for the group, so there is no cause for concern regarding the cancellations of flights.

When we land at Krakow airport you will immediately make your way through security and onto one of the coaches provided. The LFA Project staff will be at designated points throughout the airport where they will stand and direct participants towards the coaches.

There are two groups on each coach, which will also include each group’s educator, a driver and a local Polish guide. A full group register is taken each time before the coach leaves a site. Participants will use the same coach for the duration of the day and so they may leave some possessions on the coach if they wish, however the Trust strongly advises not to leave valuables on the coach. The Trust insists on participants keeping their passport and return boarding pass with them at all times.

If the plane journey back to the UK is severely delayed, the Trust will contact the schools coordinating teachers and the participant’s emergency contact.

If you would like more information relating to the Trust’s health & safety policy regarding travel, please click here.

Food

The airline used for the visit will provide each participant with a vegetarian breakfast and dinner. The Trust is sometimes able to accommodate nut allergies, gluten/wheat free diets and a vegan diet, provided that this has been specified on the online registration form at least two weeks before the date of departure. The Trust will be in contact if we are unable to accommodate any dietary requirements.

Participants must ensure that they have enough food and water to last them throughout the duration of the day. There is approximately 12 hours between the breakfast and dinner that is provided on the plane.

A breakdown of the day

Please note: The following times are subject to change in the event of flight or traffic related delays. Some components of the visits to Oświęcim, Asuchwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau sites may need to be altered on the day due to time constraints.

05.00 - 10.45
Check-in at UK airport and fly to Kraków

10.45 - 12.15
Flight lands in Kraków
Transfer through immigration and customs to allocated coaches
Coach journey from Kraków Airport to Oświęcim

12.15 - 13.10
Visit a site of pre-war Jewish life in Oświęcim
Re-board the coaches for the journey to Auschwitz I

13.10 - 15.15
Tour of Auschwitz I
Re-board the coaches for the journey to Birkenau

15.15 - 18.30
Tour of Birkenau
Memorial service at the ruins of Crematoria II, Birkenau

18.30 – 22.30/23.00 (landing time varies on each visit)
Re-board the coaches for the journey to Kraków Airport
Arrive Kraków Airport and fly back to the UK