THE GRAND TOUR OF THE BALTICS
17 DAYS

Day 1 USA-Riga
Depart US for overnight flight to Riga.

Day 2 Riga
Upon arriving in Riga, you will be transferred to your hotel. At 7pm, your guide will join you for a welcome meeting at the hotel.

Day 3 Riga-Jurmala-Riga
This day will begin with a city tour of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Today you will visit St. Peters Church, Riga Castle, the Old Guild Houses and the Dome Cathedral, which houses one of the world's largest pipe organs. The old town has some of the most beautifully restored merchant houses, cozy beer cellars, cafes and historical monuments. In the afternoon, travel 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. (B)

Day 4 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 in Tallinn. (B)

Day 5 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, the Old Guild which was built to celebrate Tallinn's membership to the Hanseatic League, and St. Olaf s Church. In the afternoon, continue 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. (B)

Day 6 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 . The rest of the day will be spent in Sigulda. (B)

Day 7 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 your hotel. (B)

Day 8 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, St. Ann's and St Bernadine's Church, 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. (B)

Day 9 Vilnius - Druskininkai
The morning will be free. Around noon you begin the day with a trip to Grutas Village and visit Grutas Park , an open-air exhibition of Soviet era sculptures and monuments. From there continue to Druskininkai, the oldest health resort in Lithuania . The pride of this town is its mineral springs. In 1794, the king of Poland and Lithuania announced a decree officially designating it as a health resort. However, it became a health resort only after I. Fonberg, a professor of Vilnius University , studied the spring water and recommended to the Czar government that this town should establish a resort in the area (1837). During your visit to the Health Center , everybody will have an opportunity to try mineral bath procedures. Dinner will be served at the hotel. (B)(D)

Day 10 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 your hotel in Nida and have dinner. (B)(D)
Day 11 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 12-13 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. (B)

Day 14 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 your hotel. (B) (L)

Day 15 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. Return to Klaipeda in the afternoon. (B)

Day 16 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. (B)

Day 17 Riga-USA
Transfer to airport for the flight home. (B)


Tour Price Includes

• Buffet breakfast daily
• Welcome cocktail on day 2
• 2 dinners and 1 lunch
• Transportation by air-conditioned motorcoach on days 3-10 and 14-16
• Guide service on days 3-11 and 14-16
• Ferry from Klaipeda to the Curonian Spit
• Ferry from Nida to the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park
• Excursion and entrances fees as per itinerary
• Individual information packages
• Portage and Gratuities not included

• 3 nights at the Hotel Radisson SAS Daugava or similar in Riga
• 2 nights at the Grand Meriton Hotel Tallinn or similar in Vilnius
• 1 night at the Hotel Segevold or similar in Sigulda
• 2 nights at the Hotel Artis or similar in Vilnius
• 1 night at the “Spa Hotel Vilnius” or similar in Druskininkai
• 4 nights at the Hotel Nidos Smilte or similar in Nida
• 2 night at the Hotel Europa Royale Klaipeda in Klaipeda

DEPARTURE DATES AND PRICES From New York*
Per Person, Double Occupancy