THE GRAND TOUR OF LITHUANIA - 13 DAYS/12 NIGHTS

On arriving to Vilnius, your driver will meet and take you the Hotel Vilnia **** or similar.

Today you will begin a tour to Kernavė. This village is said to have been the first capital of Lithuania before Trakai and Vilnius. Archeological excavations uncovered several old settlements as well as the remnants of a wooden castle and large wooden encampment dating back to the 12th century. There are four old castle mounds in rural surroundings. Because of its uniqueness, Kernave was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. Visiting of Kernave museum (entrance). On your way back you will make a stop and visit Antakalnis Cemetery. Some notables who were buried there were Algirdas Brazauskas (Independent Lithuania’s 1st President in 1993), the  border guards who were murdered by the Soviets at Medininkai on July 31, 1991 and the civilians killed by Soviet paratroopers during the January 1991 demonstrations, all guarded by a stunning Pietà. Overnight at Hotel Vilnia**** or similar.

Today we travel to Kaunas. En route visit Rumsiskes (entrance) , an open-air museum created to show something of Lithuania’s vibrant peasant culture over the last 200 years. There you’ll explore Lithuanian country life as it was a hundred years ago. Original country houses and wooden churches from all four regions of Lithuania have been brought together from their original locations. Continue to Kaunas.  On the way  visiting  16th-century Pazaislis Convent (entrance), situated on the banks of Nemunas river. Check into Hotel Daugirdas****or similar.

Begin your tour of this marvelous old city that served as Lithuania’s capital between the two world wars, spending most of our time in Old Town. While there, visit a museum dedicated to the works of Ciurlionis (entrance), Lithuania’s most celebrated artist; the Devils Museum (probably the only one of its kind in the world) (entrance),  the War Museum,  which has a first rate collection (entrance); the 13th century Kaunas Castle,  the lovely Town Hall of Kaunas (exterior), known locally as the White Swan; and the 14th-century Church of Vytautas, the principal church of Kaunas Ninth Fort. Overnight at the Hotel Daugirdas**** or similar.

Departure to Palanga with a stop at the IX fort for a short visit outside. By way of the castles of Panemune leave for the city of Klaipeda, Lithuania’s main seaport. Once there, visit Theatre   Square with its statue of Annchen von Tharau, the Old Post Office and the Old Town. Then continue to Palanga where you’ll have some free time. Overnight at the Hotel Mana Palanga *** or similar in Palanga.

Today’s tour of Palanga, you’ll visit the Botanic Garden and the AmberMuseum in the palace of Count Tyszkiewicz (entrance). The museum has 25,000 pieces of amber on display, 15,000 of them containing insects. In the afternoon, you will be able walk around Palanga.

After breakfast, depart for a full day tour of the Kuronian Peninsula. During the day, you’ll make a stop at Juodkrante and visit the Hill of Witches, a park filled with life-size wood carvings of characters from Lithuanian folktales and legends. The carvings are works of various folk artists. Driving to Nida, you’ll visit the Amber Gallery, where you’ll get a chance to view and buy some unique works of amber. In Nida visit the summer residence of Thomas Mann (entrance), the Nobel Prize-winning German author, Fisherman’s House-museum. Also see a typical fisherman’s village and walk along some impressive sand dunes. Then return to your hotel in Palanga . Overnight at the Hotel Mana Palanga**** or similar.