2nd Day/Sat - 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/Sun
- VILNIUS/DRUSKININKAI. 9:00
am departure for Druskininkai with a stop in
Grutas village for a visit to Gruto parkas-an open-air exhibition of the
Soviet era sculptures and monuments. Arrival in Druskininkai, check-in
at the hotel. City tour of Druskininkai, the oldest health resort in
Lithuania. The pride of the town is its mineral springs. In 1794 the king of
Poland and Lithuania announced decree officially designating Druskininkai as a
health resort. During a visit to the Health Center everybody can try mineral
bath procedures. Dinner at the hotel. (B,D)
4th Day/ 5th
Day/Tue - NIDA/Juodkrante.
9:00 am combined coach and walking tour of Neringa National Park at the
Curonian Sit separating the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon is an
unforgettable trip to the beautiful wild nature with sand dunes, pine forests
and golden beaches, visiting the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred of
fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path in
Juodkrante village and Nida resort, the Fishermn's House, famous German writer
Thomas Mann's House, Amber Gallery and a walk along impressive sand dunes. (B)
6th Day/Wed
- NIDA.
Leisure time. Nida is an old fishing village on the Curonian Spit washed by
the Baltic sea from one side and the Curonian Lagoon form the other side.
Today Nida is the largest settlement of the town of Neringa and one of the
most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. The ancient fishermen's architecture is
distinguished by its originality. One can choose from a variety of activities
such as water sports and cycling. (B) 7th
Day/Thu
- NIDA.
Enjoy another day at leisure in this charming seaside resort. (B)
8th Day/Fri - NIDA/Minija/KLAIPEDA.
11:00 am departure by boat from Nida to the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park.
Pass through Uostadvaris with a lighthouse that was active for more than 100
years (built in 1876) and Minija village called the Lithuanian Venice, where the
River Minija serves as the main street. Lunch at Kintai, tasting local dishes
made from fish. 3:00 pm departure by coach for Vente Horn. Visit of the
ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse that was active for more
than 100 years. Arrival in Klaipeda 5:30 pm. A short city tour of Klaipeda, the main seaport
of Lithuania, including Theatre Square and Old Town. Check-in at the Hotel. (B,L)
9th Day/Sat - - KLAIPEDA/Palanga. 9:00 am departure for Palanga resort. Visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz, with over 25 000 pieces of amber and 15 000 inclusions of insect on display. 3:00 pm return to Klaipeda. (B)
10th Day/Sun - KLAIPEDA/Hill of the Crosses/RIGA. 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 tow small hills. The Pope John Paul II concelebrated a mass there in 1993. Arrival in Riga check-in at the hotel. Optional dinner in medieval style restaurant. (B)
11th
Day/Mon - 9:00 am a city tour of Riga, visiting medieval Hanseatic town, Riga castle, St.
Pete's Church, Dome Cathedral, the Old Guild Houses. Afternoon optional
excursion to Open Air Museum. (B)
12th Day/Tue -
RIGA/Parnu/TALLINN.
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. Further drive to Tallinn. Arrival in Tallinn,
check-in
at the hotel. Optional dinner in Old Town restaurant. (B)
13th Day/Wed - TALLINN. 9:00 am a 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 Kdriorg Palace. (B)
14th Day/Thu - TALLINN/Tartu/SIGULDA.
9:00 am departure for Sigulda. Stopover in Tartu,
the second largest town in Estonia. 11:00 am 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) 15th Day/Fri - SIGULDA/VILNIUS.
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.
Further driving to Vilnius. Arrival in Vilnius check-in at the hotel. Optional
folk dinner. (B)
16th Day/Sat - VILNIUS/Trakai.
9:00 am a 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's 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 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. Return to Vilnius, 5:30 pm end of the tour. (B,L)
Transfers on arrival and departure are available at $35 per car.
You may extend your stay in Europe.
Also available on optional basis:
Excursions:
Monday: 3-hour excursion to Open Air Museum in Riga - $37 per person
Wednesday: 3-hour excursion to Kadriog Park and visit to Kadriog Palace - $37 per person
Meals:
Tuesday: Dinner in restaurant "Karl Friedrich" in Tallinn - $45 per person
Friday: Folk dinner at restaurant "Lokys" in Vilnius - $37 per person
Sunday: Dinner in medieval style restaurant "Rosengrals" in Ringa - $45 per person
Pre/Post Tour Accommodation:
Hotel in Vilnius RADISSON SAS ASTORIJA or similar
Sgl - $110 per room/per night with breakfast
Dbl - $130 per room/per night with breakfast
YOUR HOTELS:
VILNIUS -
Radisson SAS Astorija or similar
DRUSKININKAI -
Regina or similar
NIDA - Nidus or similar
KLAIPEDA
-Europa Royale Klaipeda or similar
RIGA
- Radisson SAS Daugava or similar
TALLINN
- Meriton Grand Hotel Tallinn or similar
SIGULDA
- Sigulda or similar
For reservations complete Reservation Form or call: 1-800-388-0988
