In the footsteps of the Pilgrims: Vilnius - Kaunas - Klaipeda - Riga - Tallinn (10 days / 9 nights)
DAY 1: VILNIUS (arrival)
Arrival in Vilnius and welcoming by the local English speaking guide at the airport of Vilnius. Transfer to the hotel, check-in, dinner at the hotel.
DAY 2: VILNIUS – TRAKAI – VILNIUS (50 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning meeting with your local English speaking guide for a 3 hours city tour of Vilnius, visiting the most magnificent places: Cathedral square, Presidential Palace square, Vilnius University, gothic corner with the churches of St. Anne and St. Bernardine, the old Jewish ghetto. Special attention will be drawn to the famous Gates of Dawn and St. Teresa church, visited by a pope St. John Paul II.
In the afternoon excursion to Trakai, former capital of the Grand Duke of Lithuania, surrounded by three lakes, known as the biggest Karaite minority town. Visit to the 15th century insular castle. Continuing to your excursion in Trakai visit to The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where you will find the the oldest image of the Mother of God in Lithuania. Its title as Protectress of Lithuania is evidence not only of the importance of this painting, but also of the deep tradition of considering Lithuania to be a land of Mary, a realm safeguarded by the intercession of the Mother of God. Return to Vilnius. Dinner at the restaurant in Vilnius old town.
Overnight: VILNIUS
DAY 3: VILNIUS – KAUNAS (120 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania. Before arrival to the hotel, excursion to Pazaislis Monastery, the largest monastery complex in Lithuania and the most magnificent example of Italian baroque architecture in the country. Arrival to the hotel. Check-in.
In the afternoon city tour of the Old Town of Kaunas with its St George's Church, Kaunas Castle, the courtyard of the Theological seminary, the Town Hall Square surrounded by former 16th - 18th century merchants’ houses and baroque churches, the Church of Vytautas dating back to the 14th century and the Perkunas (Thunder) House (no entrance). Following the pope‘s John Paul II route in Lithuania, visits to the Kaunas Cathedral Basilica and the Christ's Resurrection Church, a monumental Roman Catholic church in Kaunas. Dinner at the restaurant in Kaunas old town.
Overnight: KAUNAS
DAY 4: KAUNAS – TYTUVENAI – SILUVA – KLAIPEDA (390 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Klaipeda. In the route stop in Tytuvenai. Visit to the Tytuvenai Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Monastery. Further diver towards Siluva, a source of spiritual refreshment, consolation and serenity. The Lithuanian shrine of Our Lady of Šiluva is a Marian treasure which much of the world is just starting to discover. Šiluva guards the site of one of Mary’s earliest apparitions in Europe. Pope John Paul II prayed at the shrine in the humble Lithuanian village of Šiluva in 1993 and Benedict XVI in 2006 blessed new crowns of gold for a miraculous image of Mary and Jesus at Šiluva. The tour continues towards Klaipeda. Arrival and check-in. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: KLAIPEDA
DAY 5: KLAIPEDA – CURONIAN SPIT – KLAIPEDA (100 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Curonian Spit, the curved sand dune peninsula that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Your local guide will take you along the most beautiful towns of Lithuania like Juodkrante and Nida. Visit the summerhouse of the German Nobel laureate, Thomas Mann and the Hill of Witches to see the incredible wooden sculptures. Return to Klaipeda. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: KLAIPEDA
DAY 6: KLAIPEDA – HILL OF CROSSES – RUNDALE – RIGA (380 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Riga. On the way through the natural countryside of Lithuania with its wide open views, you will visit the famous Hill of Crosses, with over 50,000 crosses built from different materials. Continuing to Riga, you will stop in Rundale for a short excursion to Rundale Palace, a baroque jewel designed by Italian architect F.B. Rastrelli, who is known for his world famous Hermitage palace in St. Petersburg. Arrival to Riga. Check-in. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: RIGA
DAY 7: RIGA – ETHNOGRAPHIC OPEN AIR MUSEUM - RIGA (30 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning your local guide will take you for a 3 hour excursion through Riga, the „Metropolis of the Baltics“. The tour will cover the most impressive places of the city: The Old Town, surrounded by a water channel, with the famous Dome cathedral, St. John and St. Peter churches, the Freedom Monument, National Opera, Parliament, Castle and the cosy spacious squares. The tour will continue to a remarkable Art Nouveau district, the architectural and artistic answer to the literary Modernist movement in the late 19th century.
In the afternoon excursion to ethnographic open air museum. The museum houses authentic homes, farmsteads, windmills, wooden churches and fishing villages which represent different regions of Latvia through the last three centuries. Return to Riga. Dinner at the restaurant in Riga’s old town.
Overnight: RIGA
DAY 8: RIGA - GAUJA NATIONAL PARK – PÄRNU - TALLINN (350 km)
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning departure to Tallinn. On the way stop in Gauja National park, surrounded by hilly river banks and sandy caves. Visit to the 13th century Turaida castle, built under the order of Teutonic knight and Riga‘s bishop. Continue towards Pärnu, the summer capital of Estonia. Further drive towards Tallinn. Arrival. Check-In. Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: TALLINN
DAY 9: TALLINN
Breakfast at the hotel.
In the morning meeting with a local English speaking guide for a 3 hour excursion through Tallinn. The tour of this magnificent Hanseatic city covers the visit to the old town, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. You will get a chance to visit the upper (Toompea fortress and Parliament, Orthodox and Lutheran cathedrals, panoramic viewpoint) and lower (Town Hall square, Merchant Guild Houses) parts of the old town.
In the afternoon excursion to KUMU art museum, a new type of modern multifunctional art building that contains exhibition halls, lecture hall offering diverse facilities, and an educational centre for young visitors and for art lovers. On the way to the museum you will also pass the beautiful Kadriorg park with its palace, the seaside area to have a look at Russalka monument, Pirita Monastery and the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds where the famous song festivals take place. Return to Tallinn. Dinner at the restaurant in the city centre.
Overnight: TALLINN
DAY 10: TALLINN
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time. Departure transfer to the airport of Tallinn.
The price includes:
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•9 overnights at the chosen hotel category
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•Daily breakfast
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•Half board (9 x times dinner)
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•Arrival and departure transfers
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•Private comfortable air-conditioned motor coach services according to the program
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•English speaking local guide services according to the program
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•English speaking escort throughout the travel
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•Entrances: Vilnius University, Trakai castle, Pazaislis Monastery, the Christ's Resurrection Church, Rundale palace, Turaida castle, KUMU ART museum.
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•21st person free of charge in double room
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•Taxes