Krakow – Warsaw – Vilnius – Riga – Tallinn, 13 days/ 12 nights, from July to September 2013

Day 1 (Tuesday): Arrival Krakow

• Arrival in Krakow,
• Optional: transfer to Hotel Park Inn Krakow **** or similar
• Check-in, welcome meeting.

 

Day 2 (Wednesday): Krakow
For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets.

• The morning sightseeing tour: St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls and Wawel with the Wawel Castle and the Wawel Cathedral.
• Optional: afternoon tour to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters.
• Optional: Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.

 

Day 3 (Thursday): Krakow-Warsaw
We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland.

• A visit to the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna.
• Early afternoon arrival to Warsaw and check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Warsaw**** or similar.

 

Day 4 (Friday): Warsaw
Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town.

• Warsaw morning sightseeing tour: the Royal Route and the Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square and the Barbican.
• Optional: afternoon tour to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water.

 

Day 5 (Saturday): Warsaw-Mragowa
We continue through the well forested North Poland into the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland.

• The afternoon excursion of the Masurian Lakeland takes us to the quaint town of Ketrzyn, to the beautiful Baroque church in Swieta Lipka and to the town of Gizycko, surrounded to all sides by the lakes.
• In the late afternoon we check-in at Hotel Mercure Mrongovia Resort & Spa**** or similar.

 

Day 6 (Sunday): Mragowa-Vilnius
Today we continue along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland with endless blue lakes and attractive resort towns into Lithuania. We do a stop in Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania, to admire the beautiful Old Town and the elegant white Baroque Town Hall before we arrive in the late afternoon to Vilnius.

• Late afternoon arrival to Vilnius, check in at Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar.

 

Day 7 (Monday): Vilnius
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches.

• Morning sightseeing tour: a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn.
• Optional: tour to Trakai – the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve.
• Optional: folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.

 

Day 8 (Tuesday): Vilnius-Riga

• Transfer to Riga with enroute stop at the Hills of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania.
• Visit to magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. A guided tour of the palace.
• Late afternoon check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Latvija**** or similar.

 

Day 9 (Wednesday): Riga

• Optional: morning tour Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga.
• Optional: afternoon tour visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a spacious exposition of 18th century country life.
• Optional: organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

 

Day 10 (Thursday): Riga
Riga, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles.

• The walking tour of the Old Town: Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument.
• Optional: visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches.
• Optional: Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.

 

Day 11 (Friday): Riga-Tallinn
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu.

• A short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn;
• Early afternoon check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar.

 

Day 12 (Saturday): Tallinn
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants.

• Tallinn city tour: walk around the old medieval city walls, Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the medieval Old Town Hall.
• Optional: tour to Kadriorg Park with a visit to the Kadriorg Palace and its art collections.
• Optional: medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

 

Day 13 (Sunday): Tallinn Departure

• Optional: transfer to airport.

 

TOUR PRICE: 1195 EUR/ per person

 

Tour price includes:

• 12 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
• 12 x buffet breakfast
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrances to Wawel Castle in Krakow, Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw, Old University in Vilnius, Rundale Palace, St. Peter’s Church in Riga, and medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn
• Service of English and German speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of Italian and Spanish speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
• Portage at hotels
• Service and VAT

 

Tour dates:

GPB10: 02.07-14.07.12
GPB12: 16.07-28.07.12
GPB14: 30.07-11.08.12
GPB15: 06.08-18.08.12
GPB16: 13.08-25.08.12
GPB17: 20.08-01.09.12