The Best of the Baltic States: 8 days/ 7 nights

Vilnius

Vilnius – Trakai - Vilnius

Breakfast. Morning Vilnius City Tour, the 3-hour acquaintance with Vilnius Old Town where you can feel the atmosphere of the city's history of the 16-19th centuries while walking along its narrow winding streets or visiting the most exiting architectural and historic monuments: Vilnius Cathedral erected on the historic site where pagan gods were worshipped and where Vilnius was founded as far back as the 13th c., a nearby Gediminas Castle on the hill rising above the city centre, a gem of the Lithuanian Gothic’s - the 16th c. St. Anne's Church, the Vilnius University, a famous centre of science and enlightment since its very foundation in 1579, Vilnius Town Hall, Jewish Quarter and the Dawn Gate with a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary.

Lunch in Vilnius.

Afternoon departure to Trakai, former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 27 km to the west of Vilnius, is a favourite place for an outing. The Trakai Castle situated on an island in the midst of Lake Galve is the most famous and most photographed 15th cent. castle.  Standing on an island in Lake Galve, the Castle now houses an interesting museum telling its history, famous in the times of the Grand Duke Vytautas when the country borders were stretching from the Baltics till the Black Sea. Enjoy a small  town -Trakai,  located on a 2-km-long peninsular with attractive old wooden houses, mostly built by Karaites, a Judaist sect brought by Duke Vytautas from the Crimea and still living here.
Transfer back.  Dinner and overnight in Vilnius.

Vilnius - Klaipeda – Curonian Spit

Exploring Curonian Spit in Nida (50 km from Klaipeda, 5 km by ferry). The Spit lies between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea, with the biggest sand dunes in EuropeThe Curonian Spit National Park  is the most protected area in Lithuania. Chains of North Europe’s highest dunes, the soughing of the sea and rustling of sand as well as old Curonian houses smelling of fish accompany a traveller all along the spit, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. This area is distinguished by unique landscape, flora and fauna.

Visit the Hill of Witches in Juodkrante. Excursion to Nida, the Lithuanian sea resort includes a climb up the Great Dune to see breathtaking view.
Introduction of amber history, possibility to watch and to try to process amber in a Amber workshop which is in the same building.
Dinner in Nida. Transfer back to Klaipeda. Overnight in Klaipeda.

Klaipeda – Hill of Crosses - Rundale Palace - Riga

Breakfast. Departure to Riga (300 km from Klaipeda), the capital of Latvia.
Stop at the famous Hill of Crosses (160 from Klaipeda). The Hill of Crosses, a unique historic place in the world. It is probably the best place to get aquinted with cross-making, a branch of Lithuanian folk art, wich was inscribed on the UNESCO Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpiece List. On this hill more than 20,000 crosses have been discontinuously put up to plead for grace or to express gratitude since the ancient times. It is the only place of its kind in the world, included to the Guinness Book of Records for its uniqueness.
Lunch en route.

Stop in the Rundale Palace (30 km from  the Hill of Crosses), this Palace (18th cent.) is the most outstanding monument of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. The palace is an example of the early work of Italian-Russian architect Rastrelli who also designed the famous Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. You will be impressed by the authentic beauty the Golden Hall, the White Hall, private quarters of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Interiors are decorated with authentic 18th century furniture, paintings and china. To complete your impressions have an enjoyable walk in a beautiful French-style park.
Evening arrival to Riga. Dinner and overnight in Riga.

Riga

Breakfast. Riga City Tour by bus and walking tour. Riga has hundreds of ways for enticing visitors – its rich history, architecture, spacious gardens and parks, museums, art galleries and world-class opera…and daily treats like a walk in the enormous colorful central market or going to a cozy café, club or pub...

The tour includes the most significant sights of Riga and begins along the central boulevards of Riga, enjoying the view of the City Canal parks, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, the Opera House. In Old Riga you will see the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, the architectural ensemble Three Brothers, St. Jacob's Church, the Parliament House, Old Riga Castle, and view the many wonderfully restored buildings, now housing cozy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops.
Lunch in Riga.

Afternoon tour to the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, one of the show-pieces of Latvia's cultural heritage, founded in 1924. Situated 10 km from Riga centre in a pine forest on the banks of Jugla Lake, the museum consists of some 90 traditional rural buildings.

Dinner and overnight in Riga.

Riga - Sigulda - Tallinn

Breakfast. Departure to Tallinn (307 km from Riga), the capital of Estonia.
Stop in Gauja National Park, Sigulda city (50km from Riga) often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland.  Gauja National park includes the valley of the Gauja River and together with its tributaries it forms a particularly original landscape. The territory comprises more than 500 monuments of archeology, architecture, history starting with 11th century.
Enjoy beautiful vistas of the Gauja River Valley, visit the 13th century Turaida Castle, now housing a small History Museum, and relax walking in the adjoining Sculpture Park, featuring works of Latvian sculptors.
Lunch en route.

Evening arrival to Tallinn. Dinner and overnight in Tallinn.

Tallinn - Kadriorg Palace

Breakfast.  Morning Tallinn City Tour by bus and walking tour takes you to the surroundings of Tallinn and its Old Town. City tour includes a visit of  the Upper Town - Toompea (Cathedral Hill) with the impressive Russian Orthodox Church, the 13th century Gothic style Dome Cathedral. The Upper Town viewing points offer excellent bird's eye views of the Lower Town. The tour continues in the Lower Town. Among its highlights - the Gothic Town Hall (early 15th century), the pharmacy, opened in 1422 and still functioning, the Great Guild and Blackheads Fraternity Houses - both from the 15th century.
Lunch in Tallinn.

Excursion will continue in beautiful Flower park of the Kadriorg Palace (5km from Tallinn), which was founded by the Russian tsar Peter.
Dinner and overnight in Tallinn.

Tallinn

Breakfast. Transfer to Tallinn airport.
Departure.

* 7 overnights in centrally located hotels;
* 7 Breakfasts;
* 6 Lunches (3 course with water + coffer or tea);
* 7 Dinners (3 course with water + coffer or tea);
* English speaking guide escort during whole tour;
* 35-50 seats coach with air-conditioner, WC and video (2 transfers airport - Vilnius, Tallinn - airport are included);
* Sightseeing tours (Vilnius, Trakai, Curonian Spit, Rundale Palace, Riga and Tallinn);
* Ferry to/from Curonian Spit;
* Entrance fees (Vilnius University campus, Trakai Castle museum, Rundale Palace, Riga and Tallinn Dome Cathedrals, Turaida castle, Riga Ethnographical museum).

Please send us a request to receive the tour price for your group or FIT clients.