Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow: Optional Guided Tour & Pickup

Your trip starts with a ride from Krakow, either from your hotel or a meeting spot you pick. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to Auschwitz. When you arrive in Oswiecim, take a quick break for coffee or to look around outside. Then, a friendly local guide, licensed by the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, will meet you and lead your tour.
When you arrive at your destination, you will be met by your professional guide and enter the site at Auschwitz I, walking through the gate to the camp that bears the inscription Arbeit Macht Frei (Work Sets You Free).

The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex was established in 1940 in place of old polish army barracks. Originally to hold Polish POW`s political prisoners, and operated until its liberation by advancing soviets in 1945. During its operation, more than 1.5 million Jewish, Polish, Italian and French prisoners were brought here ,of which 1.1m. was exterminated as part of largest genocide in human history. Leaving survivors terribly scared for live.

The Auschwitz complex comprises of original buildings and you can see the original roads, fences, watchtowers and railway ramps, and death wall.
Visit some of the barracks on the Auschwitz I complex, which now house a collection of original exhibitions and documents, as well as articles stolen from prisoners upon camp arrival.
The second part of the tour - Birkenau (Auschwitz II) - the largest camp from over 40 camps and sub-camps from Auschwitz complex.
Originally planned as a camp for Soviet prisoners of war, it eventually became a concentration camp for prisoners of various nationalities and a center of the extermination of Jews. Its construction began in October 1941 by hands of slave labourers, in a place of displaced and mostly demolished village of Brzezinka and three kilometres from Auschwitz I.

It was design to hold 125 000 prisoners at one time. Who was from the start destined to die from cold, hunger, diseases and of exhaustion. Prisoners was treated as redundant and easily replaceable work force.

You will sea unimaginable living condition, prisoners have to adapt. You can walk to preserved camp barracks. You will see rail ramp, when infamous Dr. Mengele oversaw selection process of new arrivals, when split second decided of you life or death in gas chambers. Which were only 200m away.
After the tour, we don't hurry you. You'll have at least 20 minutes to stop at a bookstore, grocery store, or just take a break. Then, after another 1 hour and 15 minutes on the road, we'll take you back to a set place in Krakow.