Summer 2027.

June 13 to 24, 2027: ten days across Warsaw, Gdańsk, Sopot, Kraków and Zakopane, plus a travel day at each end.
 

Five cities, one cohort.

Ten days of history, culture, and meetings with leaders in Polish government and business.

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Where you go.

Warsaw to the Baltic coast to Kraków to the Tatras.

Warsaw

Poland’s capital. The Royal Castle, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and meetings at the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy.

Gdańsk

Hanseatic port and birthplace of Solidarity, with a visit to the European Solidarity Centre.

Sopot and Gdynia

The Baltic coast, the Sopot pier, and Gdynia Maritime University.

Kraków

Wawel, the Main Market Square, a business day with Polish industry, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

Zakopane

Morskie Oko in the Tatras, mentorship discussions, and a Highlanders evening.

Explore the itinerary.

The 2027 program, day by day. Final days and meetings are confirmed closer to departure.

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ORD-WAW

June 13: The cohort meets at Chicago O’Hare and takes the overnight flight to Warsaw together.

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Warsaw

Arrival in Poland’s capital. A welcome to the program, a walk through the Old Town, and the first dinner together.

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Warsaw

A day of diplomacy. Students meet government officials and diplomats at the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. Embassy, and hear how Poland approaches international relations today.

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Warsaw

The Royal Route, the Royal Castle, and the Warsaw Uprising Museum, then the train north to Gdańsk on the Baltic coast.

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Sopot

Sopot and Gdynia, on the Baltic coast. A walk on the Sopot pier, a visit to Gdynia Maritime University, and a mentorship discussion on heritage and leadership.

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Gdańsk

In Gdańsk, the birthplace of Solidarity, the cohort visits the European Solidarity Centre for conversations on leadership and legacy, then travels on to Kraków.

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Kraków

Wawel Castle and the Main Market Square in Kraków, then the Wieliczka Salt Mine, where miners carved chapels out of the salt itself.

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Auschwitz

A solemn and powerful day devoted to remembrance. Delegates visit Auschwitz-Birkenau to honor those lost, followed by personal reflection circles and a genealogy workshop connecting past to present through family history.

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Kraków

One-on-one meetings with Polish business leaders in Kraków. Then the group travels south to Zakopane, in the Tatra Mountains.

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Morskie Oko

A guided hike to Morskie Oko in the Tatras, a mentorship discussion, and a Highlanders evening.

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Warsaw

Back in Warsaw: a business meeting with a senior corporate executive on Poland’s economy, time at the local markets, and the farewell dinner.

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WAW-ORD

June 24: The cohort flies home to Chicago together and joins the Heritage Polonia alumni network.

Get to know these flags. You’ll see them throughout the program.

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What is covered.

Fully funded for admitted students. Sponsors, partners, and donors pay for round-trip flights from Chicago, hotels, meals, transport, and every visit.

Apply now

Flights

Round-trip airfare from Chicago O’Hare to Warsaw. The cohort flies together in both directions.

Accommodation

Every night in Poland, across five cities, in 4 and 5 star hotels. Rooms are shared.

All meals

Every meal in Poland, including group dinners and the farewell dinner.

Ground transport

Travel between cities, airport transfers in Poland, and every transfer to each visit.

Every visit and entry

Museums, castles, the salt mine, the European Solidarity Centre, Gdynia Maritime University, and the tours that come with them.

What is not included

Travel to and from Chicago O’Hare, personal spending money, and souvenirs. There is also a $750 deposit if selected: $500 of it comes back to you after the trip once you complete the program, and $250 covers administrative costs and is not refunded. Applying costs $79, waived on request for financial need. Deposit details

What our students say.

The 2026 cohort, in their own words.

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A very inspirational day meeting with multiple diplomats and asking a lot of good questions.
2026 cohort member
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City tour was great, food was great, and salt mine tour was outstanding.
2026 cohort member
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Think this was my favorite day of the trip. Loved the hike and Highlander dinner.
2026 cohort member

Have trip questions?

They’re our favorite. We’d love to hear from you.
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