THE GRAND TOUR OF THE BALTICS
16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS

Day 1 (Sunday) Riga
Upon arriving in Riga, you will be transferred to the Hotel Radisson Blu Daugava*****. At 7pm, your guide will join you for a welcome meeting at the hotel.

Day 2 (Monday) Riga-Jurmala-Riga
A combined coach and walking tour encompasses the most significant sights of Riga. Driving along the central boulevards of Riga, enjoy the view of the City Canal Parks, the Bastion Hill, the Powder Tower, the Latvian National Theatre, the Fine Arts Museum, the Art Nouveau Buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, the Freedom Monument, University of Latvia, Latvian National Opera House and the Daugava River. During the walking part of the tour, you will enjoy the beauty of this ancient Hanseatic City. You will see the picturesque streets of the Old Town, the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St.Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, St.Jacob’s Church, St. Mary Magdalene's Church, the Parliament House, and the Old Riga Castle. After, visit of the famous market halls of Riga. In afternoon, you are free to experience Riga on your own or take an OPTIONAL  tour  to Jurmala. Stretching over some 15 miles of coastline Jurmala is an internationally celebrated spa and a popular destination for day outings. People from all over the world come to enjoy Jurmala's clean air, temperate climate, curative mineral springs and mud baths, all in the setting of a virgin pine forest. Return to Riga.

Day 3 (Tuesday) Riga-Parnu-Tallinn
Today you will depart for Tallinn. Enroute visit the town of Parnu. Parnu is a resort town dating back to medieval times and is becoming a chic center of Estonia. It is also known as Estonia’s Summer Capital.” Arrive at the Meriton Grand Hotel Tallinn**** or similar in Tallinn.

Day 4 (Wednesday) Tallinn
The morning will start off with a sightseeing tour of Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. This picturesque old city has districts dating back to the Middle Ages that are still intact today. We'll begin in the Old Town with its narrow streets and beautiful merchant houses exemplifying the best of Gothic architecture in the Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, the 13th century Dome Church, the 19th century Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevskij, the 15th century Town Hall Square, St. Catherine's Passage, where artists of St. Catherine guild present their work and St. Olaf s Church. In the afternoon, you can take an OPTIONAL tour to Kadriorg park and visit Kadriorg Palace. This palace was discovered in 1721 by the Russian emperor Peter the Great. It was a gift for his wife, Catherine II, to use as their summer palace.

Day 5 (Thursday) Tallinn-Tartu-Sigulda
After breakfast, you depart for Sigulda. Located 37 miles from Riga , Sigulda is surrounded by the Gauja National Park and Nature Preserve. This is a mountainous region that has long been cherished as Latvia 's most beautiful ancient oak forests. Before arrival in Sigulda, there will be a stop in Tartu , the second largest town in Estonia . The tour of Tartu will include, Tartu University , Toome Hill Park with its monuments, sculpture bridges and ruins of the gothic church, Jaani Church and Town Hall Square . There will be another stop in the small ancient town of Cesis , where you'll take a brief walk through Castle Park . At the end of the day, you will check in at the Hotel Segevold*** in Sigulda.

Day 6 (Friday) Sigulda-Vilnius
In the morning, there will be a brief walking tour through the Gauja National Park visiting the Turaida Castle and the ruins of the 13th century Crusader Castle . From there, continue on to Vilnius where your day will end when you arrive at the Hotel Novotel**** or similar.

Day 7 (Saturday) Vilnius-Trakai-Vilnius
After breakfast, you begin the day with a city tour of Vilnius, Lithuania's capital for more than 600 years. The tour includes the following; St. Peter and Paul's Church, Gediminas Castle, Cathedral Square with St. Stanislaw Cathedral and Bell tower, St. Ann's and St Bernadine's Church, Amber gallery-museum, Užupis -one of the oldest districts of Vilnius, mentioned in the historical sources as far back as the 16th century, novo days the artists’ “republic”, which has its own constitution, national anthem, calendar and map, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the Virgin Mary, the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Town Hall Square, Vilnius University (founded in 1579) and St. John's Church. After lunch, you depart for the 14th century castle of Trakai that was erected on a small island on Lake Galve.

Day 9 (Monday) Druskininkai-Kaunas-Juodkrante-Nida
You will begin this day with a brief tour of Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest city. Visit the 13th century Kaunas Castle, Town Hall Square and Cathedral Basilica. Continue through Klaipėda where you’ll be transferred by ferry to the Curonian Spit. The peninsula of the Curonian Spit is a narrow strip of land separating the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon. It is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Before arriving Nida, you will stop in Juodkrante. While in Juodkrante, visit the Hill of Witches which houses hundreds of fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path. At the end of the day, arrive at the Hotel Nidos Smilte*** or similar in Nida and have dinner.

Day 10 (Tuesday) Nida
In the morning, you will begin with a walking tour of Nida. Visit the Fisherman's House, the house of the famous German writer Thomas Mann, the Amber Gallery, the old ethnographic cemetery and a neo-gothic church. You will finish the morning with a walk along some impressive sand dunes. Afternoon will be at leisure. (B)

Day 11-12 (Wednesday-Thursday) Nida
Free time. There are more places you can visit in Nida. The Agila Cultural Centre Gallery, the Ethnographic Museum and the Evangelical-Lutheran Church are among them. One also can choose a variety of activities such as water sports and cycling.

Day 13 (Friday) Nida-Minija-Vente-Klaipeda
Today you depart by boat from Nida to the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. En route stop in Uostadvaris where you will visit a lighthouse built in 1876 and The Polder museum. Continue to Kintai settlement passing Minija village, called the "Lithuanian Venice", where the Minija River serves as the main street. Lunch will be provided at Kintai, tasting local dishes made from fish. After lunch, you will leave for Klaipeda. Before your arrival, there is a stop at Vente Horn to see the ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse that was active for more than 100 years. Arrive Klaipeda, the main seaport of Lithuania, and check-in to the Hotel Radisson Blu Klaipeda**** or similar.

Day 14 (Saturday) Klaipeda-Palanga-Klaipeda
On this brief tour of Klaipeda you will visit Theater Square and the Old Town. Continue to Palanga, the biggest seaside resort in Lithuania (25 km from Klaipeda). This city tour includes a visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz. This museum houses over 25 000 pieces of amber and 15 000 inclusions of insects. Continue with a walk by the Birutė Hill along the sea coast on the sea bridge and Basanavičiaus street, which is famous for its cafes and restaurants with live music. Return to Klaipeda in the afternoon.

Day 15 (Sunday) Klaipeda-Siauliai-Rundale-Riga
Departure by coach to Riga, the capital of Latvia. En route you will stop at the Hill of Crosses (16 km from Siauliai). Since the 14th century, pilgrims have been placing crosses here. Until today, there are thousands of them. In 1993, Pope John Paul concelebrated Mass at the Hill of Crosses. Continue to Rundale and visit the 18th century Rundale Palace, one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Latvia. It is a splendid example of the early work of famous Italian architect F.B.Rastrelli. Arrival in Riga and check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Daugava or similar*****.

Day 16 (Monday) Riga Departure
Transfer to airport. 

Includes 15 nights at the 5/4/3  star hotels Round trip transfers airport-hotel in Riga Buffet breakfast daily Welcome cocktail at hotel in Riga  Morning  swimming pool and  gym at  hotels Radisson Blu  Daugava , Meriton Grand  Hotel  Dinner at hotel  in Druskininkai on day 8 Dinner at hotel in Nida  on day 9 Lunch  at the restaurant at Kintai, tasting of local fish dish on day 13 Transportation by air-conditioned coach or minivan on days 2-9,  13 - 15 Ferry ticket from Klai­peda to the Cu­ro­nian Spit Ecological fees  for Cu­ro­nian Spit Bo­at trip from Ni­da to the Ne­mu­nas Ri­ver Del­ta Re­gio­nal Park English  speaking guide escort on days 2-10,  13 - 15 Excursions as per itinerary Entrances to: the Dome Church, St.Jacob’s Church and St. Mary Magdalene's Church in Riga, the Dome Church  and  Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky in Tallinn, Tartu University, Turaida Castle. St. Peter and Paul’s Church, Vilnius University with St. John’s Church, St. Stanislaw Cathedral, Amber gallery- museum and Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit in Vilnius,  Trakai Castle, Grutas  Park, Thomas Mann  museum, the Fisherman’s House- museum and Amber Gallery in Nida, Amber museum in Palanga, Rundale  Palace. Individual information package (city guides and program) Optional Excursion to Jurmala – 35 EUR p/p Excursion to Kadroig Park and visit to Kadroig Palace – 40 EUR p/p Meal packages are available upon request

Tour Dates and Prices(Per Person, Double Occupancy) for 2012

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Get your airfare quote in USD online at www.vytistours.com or call us for a quote at 1-800-778-9847. Deposit of $100 USD due 7 days after confirmation. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. That amount will be converted from EUR to USD at the time of final payment. 

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