Combo: 13896 + 10427

Very intense, informative and deeply moving tour to Auschwitz-Birkenau, with transfer from Kraków. I was lucky enough to be staying close to the Kraków main station pickup point, which made the 6 AM pickup time more tolerable. The time I had originally booked was moved to an earlier slot, as the tour company needs to sync with the accredited guides at the camp - understandable, but a possible change of schedule will probably come as a surprise to some. The pickup situation was a bit chaotic as several companies start their tours at the same time, and not always using clearly marked vehicles. Our group was picked up in a regular minivan, whereas others used full sized tour buses. The entry situation at Auschwitz 1 was also a bit chaotic, but there seems to be some method to the general madness, and we were ushered inside fairly smoothly with the fast track entry. Our camp guide, Mariusz (?), was quite amazing with great English proficiency and endless facts being delivered for the duration of the tour, which is about the length of a full working day including the transfer. It was a scorching hot day, so if you are elderly or disabled, please be prepared for a challenging time with plenty of walking (around 10 km for me), information to take in via headset, and of course psychological strain from the accounts of all the horrors that took place in these rooms and spaces not too long ago. I booked the tour on a whim the night before, as I realized how close Auschwitz actually is to Kraków. It was a bit pricier than I had budgeted for, but in the end I feel it was well worth it. I was moved to tears on several occasions, and it's so important to keep history alive by taking in the extent of human evil with your own eyes. Everyone who has the opportunity to go should do so.

I loved the guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The guide was excellent: approachable, clear, and very respectful of the historical weight of the place. He explained everything in detail, from the arrival of the trains to the different areas of the camp, and you could tell he had a great command of the subject. Although it was a very cold day, the experience was totally worth it. I recommend bringing a heavy coat or a warm jacket, gloves, and comfortable shoes, because there is a lot of walking and the wind is noticeable. The fast-track entry tickets saved us time, and the transfer was punctual and comfortable. I was especially struck by the sheer scale of Birkenau and the personal stories the guide shared. A must-see visit, well-organized and deeply moving. I left with the feeling of having learned and having honored the memory of the victims. Totally recommended.

Very good guided tour—but too short The tour was organized top-notch, we were picked up on time, and we received plenty of relevant information about the visit in advance. The guided tour through Auschwitz 1 was very informative, and even the emotionally harrowing accounts were conveyed respectfully and in well-measured doses. Then came an unplanned, long break before heading into the Auschwitz 2 Birkenau camp, as a group ahead of us was running late. When we finally went to Camp 2 with the same guide, the tour was cut drastically short because we were supposed to head back together with the delayed group, which was a real shame. This was neither explained nor compensated for, which is why I'm docking one star.

It is way better to have a guided tour of birkenau 1&2 instead of a solo trip. But I think this is more appropriate for people that don't know the history of the ww2 horrors, you will get basic infos from the tour. I expected more info about the ones that escaped the camps, and maybe about Dr. Mengele experiments, horrors etc. But overall it's a great one time experience, I recommend the guided tour.

Our driver Mikołaj was excellent and clearly informed us about all we needed to do and where to be. The vehicle was very clean and spacious and the journey very smooth. The tour itself was very sad and sobering as to what went on at Auschwitz-Birkenau but a must visit sight. Thank you.