Baltic Route: Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia

ITINERARY

• DAY 1

  Welcome to Warsaw!

  Welcome to the Warsaw.
  
  Upon arrival, meet with your English-speaking driver and transfer to your accommodating hotel. Spend the day at leisure to relax and rest after your overseas flight.

  What's included?

  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 2

  Warsaw - Explore the Polish capital and its main sights

  Explore the Polish capital and its main sights. Stroll through Lazienki Royal Park with its monument of the famous composer Frederic Chopin, Island Amphitheatre, and the neoclassical Palace on the Water. Transfer to the old Jewish quarter and see the remnants of the former Jewish Ghetto and Holocaust memorials like Umschlagplatz and Ghetto Heroes Monument. In the Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage Site, stroll through the cobbled streets leading from the Royal Castle through the Market Square and Barbican to the New Town, soaking up the medieval atmosphere. In the afternoon, free time for a souvenir hunt in the Old Town area. Transfer back to the hotel.
  
  Overnight in Warsaw.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3

  Zamosc – City tour in a picturesque artists’ town Kazimierz Dolny

  In the morning. transfer to Kazimierz Dolny, a picturesque artists’ town situated on the banks of the Vistula, full of renaissance architecture and surrounded by lush countryside. See the most important sights like Market Square, a gothic Parish Church, remaining fragments of a XIV century castle with a tower, from where you can take in the astonishing views of the Vistula valley, Kazimierz, and the Janowiec Castle. The surrounding fields, woods, ravines, meadows, and hops plantations all form a part of Kazimierz Landscape Park. Enjoy free time in the Old Town at lunchtime and scour the numerous art galleries for unique pieces of regional artwork. In the afternoon arrive in Zamosc and stroll through the perfectly preserved XVI century Renaissance town also known as the “Padua of the North”. Its original fortifications and an impressive amount of combined Italian and Central-European architecture earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
  
  Overnight in Zamosc.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 4

  Krakow – Explore the picturesque little town Zalipie

  After breakfast, take in the fine views of the Polish countryside en route to the village of Zalipie. This picturesque little town has been enchanting its visitors for the past 80 years with its exquisite techniques of folk painting used by the locals to decorate their houses with colorful flower designs. Visit the Painters’ hut–a museum to find various examples of traditional folk art of the area. After a stroll through the village, enjoy a traditional homemade lunch.
  
  In the afternoon, transfer to and overnight in Krakow.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 5

  Krakow – Sightseeing in a UNESCO World Heritage town

  Krakow, the former royal capital, fully deserves its position on the first-ever published UNESCO World Heritage List. Visit the Wawel Hill with the XIV century cathedral and the Wawel Royal Castle with an arcaded courtyard – the former seat of Polish kings. Walkthrough the Main Market Square in the Old Town, the biggest in Europe, with the Renaissance Cloth Hall as its centerpiece. Nearby admire the famous St Mary Basilica and the Town Hall Tower. Continue on to the medieval fortifications of Barbican and the city wall. Degustation of Polish local traditional salty snacks called “bajgle”. Enjoy a free afternoon in the Old Town.
  
  Overnight in Krakow.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 6

  Warsaw – Visit Oswiecim (Auschwitz) and the Monastery of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa

  In the morning, transfer to the Auschwitz – Birkenau Museum in Oswiecim – a unique in its kind UNESCO site being the largest extermination camp in the world and a world symbol of terror, genocide, and the Holocaust. The Nazis created the camp in 1940 on the outskirts of an industrial town Oswiecim, it became the scene of the greatest sacrifice of persons, mostly of Jewish origin. Afterward, transfer to Czestochowa and enjoy free time for lunch. Visit the Monastery of Jasna Gora famous for the painting of the Black Madonna, attracting pilgrimages from around the world since the XIV century. Virgin Mary was proclaimed the Queen of Poland by one of the Polish kings – Jan Kazimierz. Visit the basilica, the Chapel of Our Lady with the revered Black Madonna, the Treasury, and the Armory.
  
  Return to and overnight in Warsaw.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 7

  Warsaw - Day free to your leisure

  Day free to your leisure in Warsaw. Overnight in Warsaw.
  
  Recommended program: Excursion to the Wilanow Royal Palace & Gardens – a summer residence of King John III Sobieski. This impressive baroque residence owes its exceptional character to a unique blend of European and Polish styles. After exploring the rich interior of the Palace we will stroll through the surrounding Wilanow Garden and Parks, displaying English and French design styles.
  
  Recommended program: In the evening – Chopin’s Concert in a unique neoclassical concert hall with original “plaster stucco” walls, crystal mirrors, and stylish nineteenth-century decorations. As you walk through the doors, you will step into the era of Chopin for a two-part ensemble of Chopin’s greatest pieces played by internationally recognized pianists.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
• DAY 8

  Bialystok – Visit the Bialowieza National Park

  After breakfast, transfer to Bialowieza. Visit the Bialowieza National Park (UNESCO Heritage and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve), the biggest primeval forest complex in Europe, visit the bison reserve. Stopover in the town center to see the legacy left by the tsar of Russia. Transfer to Bialystok.
  
  Overnight in Bialystok.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 9

  Vilnius - Visit the old town, an impressive baroque palace of the Branicki family

  Bialystok region is dotted with Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, and Muslim temples and throughout the centuries various nationalities coexist here peacefully. The old town shows this diversity of cultures and religions, and an impressive baroque palace of the Branicki family is the icing on the cake. After breakfast, transfer from Bialystok to Vilnius. Free afternoon to your leisure. Overnight in Vilnius.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 10

  Vilnius – A panoramic tour of the city

  Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 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. Anne’s Church, Old University, and the Gates of Dawn. Free afternoon to your leisure. Overnight in Vilnius.
  
  Recommended excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 11

  Riga – Explore the Hills of Crosses, Siauliai and visit Rundale Palace

  Heading for Riga, the first stop is Siauliai to visit the Hills of Crosses, one of the holiest sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing the Latvian border, we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland surrounded by beautiful gardens. Following a guided tour of the palace, we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon. Overnight in Riga.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 12

  Riga - The walking tour of the Old Town

  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 includes Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds, and the Freedom Monument. Overnight in Riga.
  
  Recommendation: In the afternoon visit Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches.
  
  Recommendation: In the evening an organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 13

  Riga – Enjoy the Gauja National Park in Sigulda

  After we get acquainted with Riga we have the possibility of discovering medieval Latvia. We enjoy the stunning scenery of the 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 the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. Free afternoon. Overnight in Riga.
  
  Recommended - In the afternoon, visit the Riga Motor Museum which has an impressive collection of vintage cars including a very unique collection of old Soviet limousines from the Kremlin Garage.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 14

  Tallinn - Visit the Estonian summer resort of Parnu

  The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon. Overnight in Tallinn.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Transfer
• DAY 15

  Tallinn - Blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life

  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. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the medieval Old Town Hall. Overnight in Tallinn.
  
  Recommendation: In the afternoon, an excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park with a visit to the Kumu Art Museum.
  
  Recommendation: In the evening, enjoy an Estonian medieval dinner at a stylish local restaurant.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 16

  Depart to Tallinn Airport

  Today is the final day of your journey. Morning is yours to relax and rest. After buffet breakfast at our hotel, private transfer to Tallinn Airport for your flight.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer