Travel to the Baltics

GRAND TOUR OF THE BALTIC COUNTRIES
(Baltic Impressions)

ESTONIA - LATVIA - LITHUANIA

2006

10 DAYS

By Private Coach 
from Tallinn back to Tallinn

Thursdays/2006:

Guaranteed Departures

TOUR DESCRIPTION:
Visit the three independent Baltic Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on this escorted motor coach tour.

THURSDAY      TALLINN
Arrive in Tallinn - capital of Estonia. Optional - transfer to the Hotel Reval Olumpia. Check-in at hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Time to explore Tallinn on your own. Tour meeting with welcome drink.

FRIDAY      TALLINN - TARTU - CESIS
After breakfast we head south to Tartu, the famous university town, where Estonia gained its statehood. We see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632. From Tartu we drive onwards into Latvia to Cesis, a Hanseatic city with winding streets, castle ruins and beautiful gardens. We see the ruins of the Castle of the Livonian Order and the St. John’s Church before we check in at the Hotel Cesis. 

SATURDAY     CESIS - SIGULDA - VILNIUS
Today we drive through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, a popular holiday resort. We see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the ruins of the of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we continue to Vilnius. En route we reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. After a guided tour of the palace, we travel through Lithuania to reach Vilnius late afternoon to check in at Hotel Reval Lietuva.

SUNDAY      VILNIUS - KLAIPEDA
Vilnius is known for its more than 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anna’s Church, Old University and Gates of the Dawn. After the city tour we drive to Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania, and have a short stroll in the Old Town with the elegant Old Town Hall and  the Gothic Cathedral.  The balance of the day is spent en route to Klaipeda, where we arrive late afternoon and check-in at Hotel Klaipeda for a two night stay.

MONDAY      KLAIPEDA - CURONIAN SPIT - KLAIPEDA
The day is reserved for a full day tour to the Curonian Spit, a thin 60 mile stretch of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fishing villages, pine forests and endless sand dunes. We visit the resort town of Nida with its High Dunes and Thomas Mann’s Summerhouse. On the way back to Klaipeda, we stop at the Hill of Witches in the resort town of Juodkrante. The evening offers a Lithuanian dinner at the traditional Restaurant "Buru Uzeiga" in Klaipeda.

TUESDAY     KLAIPEDA - LIEPAJA - RIGA
Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and had a long history as a German town called Memel. The morning’s sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with its narrow, cobblestone streets and old guild houses and we visit the Theatre Square and Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. We now continue northbound for the Latvian port of Liepaja, which takes it name from the numerous lime trees in the city. After a short stroll in the Old Town with its Trinity Church we drive through the former Duchy of Courland. We reach Riga late in the afternoon and check-in at Reval Hotel Latvija.

WEDNESDAY      RIGA
Riga founded in 1201 by the German Bishop Albert is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, “Three Brothers”, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a large exposition of 18^th century Latvian countryside life. In the evening enjoy a Baltic seafood dinner at the exclusive Restaurant “Kalku Varti” in Riga.

THURSDAY      RIGA - PÄRNU - TALLINN
After breakfast, we continue via the Coastal Highway to the Estonian summer resort, Pärnu to view the city  and take a leisurely walk on the beach. Then we continue through Estonian forest land to Tallinn to check-in at Hotel Reval Olumpia. Evening free.

FRIDAY      TALLINN
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, out-door cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Cathedral, the Alexander Nevsky Church and the medieval Old Town Hall.  In the afternoon a 3 hours  excursion to Kadriorg Park is offered with a visit to the re-opened Kadriorg Palace with its art collections. In the evening enjoy a medieval evening at the themed Restaurant "Peppersack".

SATURDAY     TALLINN
Tour ends after breakfast. Optional - Departure transfer.

FROM:
$1395 per person double
$  485 single supplement

INCLUDES:
- 9 nights at First Class Hotels
- Daily Breakfast, 3 dinners
- First Class Motor Coaches
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- Bi-Lingual Tour Escort
- Tax and Service Charges

TOUR ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON OPERATIONAL NEEDS

 PLEASE NOTE: This tour is organized and operated by our Associate Office in Riga. Due to the nature of this tour organization departures are bi-lingual tours escorted in English and German. We hope this does not create any distraction and is understood it is a means to offer as much variety to the customers as possible.

VIA 083005