From my journey to yours■
At Jack’s Amber Trails, every stop, story, and detail is personally selected, drawn from years of living, learning, and walking these trails. I don’t just guide you through Poland, I share the stories I’ve chosen because I believe they’ll speak to you.
Poland is my home of choice. Here, hiding in plain sight, are some of the most memorable and authentic flavours, stories and moments waiting to be uncovered.
[ About ]■
Get in touch with me to find out what could you plan for your visit in Warsaw, Gdańsk, Kraków, Poznań and Wrocław.
From city break design to short walking tours and curated guides with my recommendations of places to visit, food to try and experiences - you can make the most of your time at one of the most underrated travel destinations of Europe.
Featured Tours
Cold War and Spy Secrets
Duration: ~90 minutes • Free walking tour
Warsaw
The topic of spies and counter-movement during Cold War affected all areas of life under the regime. From the international espionage to small acts of rebellion, city’s history of life under communism is still reflected in the architecture, culture, and even the lifestyle.
It’s a tour that covers various aspects of life under the regime, from how the Polish secret police dealt with resistance and how they tried to control their own people.
We start our tour at a classic example of Soviet realism, the Marszalkowska Residential District, complete with Soviet statues, mosaics and neon lights. We also visit the Palace of Culture and Science, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Free Speech Memorial and the old Communist Party HQ.
Two other major players in our tour that we talk about are the Catholic Church and the trade union Solidarity. We also go into more unusual topics like: how the secret service used airline stewards, book smuggling and of course some stories about some of the most famous spies during that period, including Ryszard Kukliński (Jack Strong).
Warsaw
Secret Heroes of World War II
Duration: ~90 minutes • Free walking tour
There are lots of tours about World War Two in Warsaw, however I truly believe this one is unique. It tells a story from the perspective of ordinary people who became war heroes through various acts of courage - sometimes small everyday actions, sometimes huge and changing the course of history.
On the route we go from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, through the old town, and then finally to the monument to the heroes of Monte Cassino. As we walk, I tell the stories of individuals who lived in Warsaw at that time, and aren’t necessarily known for their bravery - despite the fact that they’ve often shown courage beyond belief.
All sorts of city folk, from army commanders, women, men and children, teachers, museum curators - just ordinary people, who lived in Warsaw during the occupation and the uprising, who either had no choice than to be brave and endure one of the most horrific spectacles of conflict and cruelty, or the ones that had shown resilience and courage beyond belief through deliberate, planned actions.
We visit most of the major memorials and key remembrance sites around the city and some of the big old town sites too.
I can honestly say I was amazed how many of these names are unknown, even amongst my Polish friends, but I can promise - they are unforgettable once you hear their stories.
Warsaw
Kraków
Poznań
Wrocław
Gdańsk
Jack’s story
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historical education and a passion for storytelling
I have completed my degree in Brighton and moved to London shortly after, like so many graduates, I found myself searching for both a job and a sense of purpose. At times, I was surviving on tips from bartending and tour guiding, but through it all there was one thing I never doubted: I am a storyteller.
When I moved to Poland, everything began to fall into place. My purpose became clear: to explore, research, learn, and discover, and to share the stories of this beautiful country with the world. Despite being so different, Poland immediately felt like home. I suspect the comfort food and the people had a lot to do with it.
People often ask me what I love most about this place, and my answer is usually long and tangled, because it’s so many things at once. If I had to narrow it down, though, it would be the history: centuries of freedom fighting, in countless forms, that have shaped the Polish spirit. I’m not trying to be more patriotic than the locals or win brownie points with city parking officials – I simply love it here, and I want to share that love with audiences of every kind.
[ TESTIMONIALS ]"Warsaw is an open air museum, and taking this tour did a better job than any physical museum or guidebook could have done.
Jack had a lot of local & historical knowledge that allowed me to learn so much about this period in time. I walked by some of the buildings on the tour a few time and had no idea about the significance behind them.
I would recommend that anyone interested in Cold War, espionage, the Communist era of Poland, etc take this tour."
Kayla, New York, USA"Jack was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable, readily answered questions, and engaged every member of the group. We all learned a lot, got great recommendations for Warsaw, related books and movies. The pace was good for picture taking, elderly people, and children.
Excellent tour with an excellent personality!"
Diane, Austin, USA
"Jack is an excellent guide. He’s professional, experienced, and brings a unique perspective to the tour. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about the Cold War period of Warsaw and Poland’s history and shares details throughout the tour.
I highly recommend if this topic is interesting to you. It’s very different from other Warsaw tours."
Jim, Charlotte, USA
[ FAQ ]Common Questions
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Free walking tour is free of charge, although a tip is customary. This way everyone can join it, regardless of the budget - and you’ll pay what you can afford and what you think my trip was worth. You will find similar concept tours in many cities across Europe, where you follow the guide for the duration of the tour, and tip at the end. The amount you decide to pay for the tour is no reflection on you - it’s usually a reflection of the quality of my tour.
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I offer a bespoke tour design for 5 Polish cities: Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań and Wrocław. If you are planning to visit - get in touch and I will help you plan for it.
I also offer free walking tours in these cities, where my team and I guide visitors and locals through places of historical significance, and follow a certain story.
I also share recommendations of places me and my friends recommend, in terms of experiences, culture, history and food - free of charge. Follow me on social media for more recommendations!
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I offer tours which don’t require any walking, (e.g. food, drink and stories) and I’m very open to bespoke requests. I have experience guiding tours for families, guests with disabilities and I pride myself in a creative approach to designing tours - I’m sure we can work something out.
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Book directly through my website, get in touch, or find me on Guru Walks, Civitatis and other walking tour aggregators.
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I guide tours in English, but my team helps me deliver the stories to Spanish, Italian and French-speaking audiences. You can book a tour in any of those languages.
[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]