BEST OF THE BALTICS AND POLAND - 2010
15 days/14 nights
Vilnius - Trakai - Rundale - Riga - Parnu - Tallinn - Tartu - Sigulda - Vilnius - 
Warsaw - Czestochowa - Zakopane - Krakow

Starts in Vilnius on Fridays:  June 18 - July 2 July 2 - 16 July 16 - 30 July 30 - August13 August 20 - September 3 TOUR COST: $2,350 dbl ($850 sgl.suppl.).  Airfare not included.

TOUR COST INCLUDE:   - 14 nights accommodations   - Meals as specified   - Sightseeing tours as specified   - Entrance fees to sites visited   - Motor coach transportation between countries   - English speaking guide   - Baggage handling   - Taxes and information package

2nd Day/Fri - VILNIUS. Transfer to your hotel (optional). Check-in at the hotel, 7:00 pm welcome meeting at the hotel where you will be greeted by the tour guide.

3rd Day/Sat - VILNIUS/Trakai. 9:00 am city tour of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The tour includes: St. Peter and Paul's Church, Cathedral Square, St. Ann and Bernardine Church, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the Virgin Mary, Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Town Hall Square and Vilnius University (founded in 1579) with St. John's church. Lunch at Old Town restaurant. Afternoon trip to Trakai (16 miles from Vilnius), former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the insular castle of the 14th century, beautifully situated on a small island in the lake Galve. For ages it served as a defensive structure and residence of Lithuanian Grand Dukes. (B)

4th Day/Sun - VILNIUS/Hill of the Crosses/Rundale/RIGA (236 miles). 9:00 am departure by coach to Riga, the capital of Latvia.  Stop at the Hill of Crosses, the unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. A further drive to Riga. Short stop in Rundale. 4:00 pm  visit to Rundale Palace of the 18th century, a beautiful late baroque palace in Latvia. It is a splendid example of the early work of famous Italian architect F. B. Rastrelli. Arrival in Riga, check-in at the hotel. (B)

5th Day/Mon - RIGA. 9:00 am city tour of Riga, visiting medieval Hanseatic town, Riga castle, St. Peter's Church, Dome Cathedral, the Old Guild Houses.  Afternoon optional excursion to Jurmala. (B)

6th Day/Tue - RIGA/Parnu/TALLINN (187 miles). 9:00 am departure for Tallinn with a stop in Parnu, Estonian "Summer Capital". This little town is known as a health resort since the first spa opened here in the 1830's. Arrival in Tallinn, check-in at the hotel. (B) 

7th Day/Wed - TALLINN. 9:00 am city tour of Tallinn, visiting the Old Town of Tallinn - an example of gothic architecture in the Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, the Dome Church (13th century), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevskij (19th century), Town Hall Square (15th century), the Old Guild, St.Olaf's Church. Afternoon optional excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to Kadriorg Palace. (B)

8th Day/Thu - TALLINN/Tartu/SIGULDA (236 miles). 9:00 am departure for Sigulda. Stopover in Tartu, the second largest town in Estonia. At 12:00 noon a city tour of Tartu, including Tartu University, Toome Hill Park with its monuments, sculpture bridges and ruins of gothic church, panorama view of the town with Jaani Church and Town Hall Square. Further driving to Sigulda (Latvia). Short stop in a small ancient town of Cesis for a walk in Castle park. Arrival in Sigulda, check-in at the hotel. (B) 

9th Day/Fri - SIGULDA/VILNIUS (217 miles). 9:00 am short walk in Gauja National Park, including visit to Turaida Castle and the ruins of the 13th century Crusader Castle in Sigulda. Continue to Vilnius, Lithuania, and check-in at the hotel. (B)

10th Day/Sat - VILNIUS/WARSAW. After breakfast depart for the airport and board a short flight to Warsaw, Poland. On arrival at the Okecie Airport transfer to your hotel in the heart of the city. Time to unpack and change money.
At 6:00 pm meet the rest of the group in the hotel lobby. Welcome dinner with folklore show. (B,D)
With land only services, flight from Vilnius to Warsaw is not included. 

11th Day/Sun - WARSAW. Highlights of your half-day tour include Old Town, rebuilt with great care after WW II, with its colorful Old Market Square, remnants of the defense walls, St. John's Cathedral. Continue to Jewish Ghetto Memorial and along the Royal Route to beautiful Lazienki Park built by the last monarch of Poland. (B, L)

12th Day/Mon - WARSAW/Czestochowa/Auschwitz/ZAKOPANE. After breakfast, depart for Zakopane one of the most popular vacation resorts in the Tatra Mountains. En route, stop in Czestochowa to tour the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with miraculous icon. Next stop is made in Auschwitz, where you will tour the  Martyrdom Museum of the former Nazi concentration camp.  In the evening arrive Zakopane and check-in at your hotel beautifully situated overlooking the Zakopane Valley. (B, L)

13th Day/Tue - ZAKOPANE/KRAKOW. After breakfast sightseeing tour of Zakopane.  Admire the  breathtaking views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka Mountain and shop for souvenirs of arts and crafts of the highlanders (Gorale) in the local bazaar. In the afternoon take a raft trip down the Dunajec River through the spectacular scenery of the Pieniny National Park. Continue to the medieval city of Krakow for dinner at the local restaurant and overnight. (B,D)

14th Day/Wed - KRAKOW-Wieliczka. This morning tour of the charming city of Krakow includes Wawel Coronation Cathedral, Old Town Square and St. Mary's Church with famous Gothic altar. Enjoy a stroll along the shops of the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)  where you can buy souvenirs. In the afternoon excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mine, an unforgettable tourist attraction with underground walk (1.3 mile) through chambers, grottoes, and chapels carved from salt.  Dinner with folklore show at a local restaurant. Entrance fees to the  Coronation Cathedral and St.Mary's Church are included. (B,D)

15th Day/Thu - KRAKOW/WARSAW. This morning your motorcoach returns to  Warsaw.  After lunch in your hotel in Warsaw, time at leisure. Dinner on your own. (B,L)

16th Day/Fri - WARSAW. After breakfast, termination of the tour services. Transfer to the airport. (B)

With land only services, flight from Vilnius to Warsaw is not included in the tour cost. 
If you wish to stay in Krakow on your own, we will deduct $60 per person for the last overnight in Warsaw. 
If you want to stay an extra night in Krakow and would like us to make a reservation for that extra night there is no deduction.