Latvia, BALTIC BLUES TRAVEL, Riga

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Combined tours

• From Vilnius to Tallin, Agrocultural Tour - 8 days
• From Vilnius to Tallin, Cycling tour - 15 days
• From Vilnius to Tallin, Pilgrim Tour - 8 days
• From Vilnius to Tallin, Trekking & Walking- 9 days
• The Baltic Discoverer: 10 days/9 nights
• The Baltic tours classics: 7 days/6 nights

The Baltic tours classics: 7 days/6 nights

DAY 1, Vilnius
Arrival to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Bus transfer to the hotel.

Free time in Vilnius. Many tourists after visiting Vilnius and its region tend to fall in love with Vilnius, pegging it as their favorite Baltic city of them all. Vilnius Old Town is one of the biggest in Eastern Europe, there more than 1500 buildings which remained from various centuries: city boasts the most wonderful architectural styles of Southern and Western Europe, Gothic and Renaissance, as well as the original “Lithuanian” Baroque, also called the last vivid flash of Baroque in Europe.

Overnight in Vilnius.

DAY 2, Vilnius - Trakai
Morning City Tour, the 3-hour acquaintance with  Vilnius Old Town, where you can feel the atmosphere of the city's history of the 16-19th centuries while walking along its narrow winding streets or visiting the most exiting architectural and historic monuments: Vilnius Cathedral erected on the historic site where pagan gods were worshipped and where Vilnius was founded as far back as the 13th c., a nearby Gediminas Castle on the hill rising above the city centre, a gem of the Lithuanian Gothic’s - the 16th c. St. Anne's Church, the Vilnius University, a famous centre of science and enlightment since its very foundation in 1579, Vilnius Town Hall, Jewish Quarter and the Dawn Gate with a miraculous icon of Virgin Mary.

A pleasant 4-hour-tour to Trakai former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 27 km to the west of Vilnius, is a favourite place for an outing. The Trakai Castle situated on an island in the midst of Lake Galve is the most famous and most photographed 15th cent. castle.  Standing on an island in Lake Galve, the Castle now houses an interesting museum telling its history, famous in the times of the Grand Duke Vytautas when the country borders were stretching from the Baltics till the Black Sea. Enjoy a small  town -Trakai,  located on a 2-km-long peninsular with attractive old wooden houses, mostly built by Karaites, a Judaist sect brought by Duke Vytautas from the Crimea and still living here.
Transfer back.

Overnight in Vilnius.

DAY 3, Vilnius - The Hill of Crosses - Rundale Palace - Riga
Departure to Riga (320 km from Vilnius), the capital of Latvia.

Stop at the famous Hill of Crosses near Šiauliai (200 km from Vilnius). The Hill of Crosses, a unique historic place in the world. It is probably the best place to get aquinted with cross-making, a branch of Lithuanian folk art, wich was inscribed on the UNESCO Non-material and Verbal Heritage Masterpiece List. On this hill more than 100 000 crosses have been discontinuously put up to plead for grace or to express gratitude since the ancient times. It is the only place of its kind in the world, included to the Guinness Book of Records for its uniquenes.

After crossing the border of Latvia, you will visit the Rundale Palace  (30 km from Hill of Crosses), Rundale Palace (18th cent.) is the most outstanding monument of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia. The palace is an example of the early work of Italian-Russian architect Rastrelli who also designed the famous Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. You will be impressed by the authentic beauty the Golden Hall, the White Hall, private quarters of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Interiors are decorated with authentic 18th century furniture, paintings and china. To complete your impressions have an enjoyable walk in a beautiful French-style park.

Lunch in Rundale.

Arrival to Riga. Overnight in Riga.

 DAY 4 - Riga
After the breakfast Riga City Tour by bus and walking tour. Riga has hundreds of ways for enticing visitors - its rich history, architecture, spacious gardens and parks, museums, art galleries and world-class opera...and daily treats like a walk in the enormous colorful central market or going to a cozy café, club or pub...

The tour includes the most significant sights of Riga and begins along the central boulevards of Riga, enjoying the view of the City Canal parks, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, the Opera House. In Old Riga you will see the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, the architectural ensemble Three Brothers, St. Jacob's Church, the Parliament House, Old Riga Castle, and view the many wonderfully restored buildings, now housing cozy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops.

Free afternoon in Riga.

Overnight in Riga.

DAY 5, Riga - Sigulda - Tallinn
Departure to Tallinn (307 km from Riga), the capital of Estonia.

Stop at the Gauja National Park, Sigulda city (50km from Riga) often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland.  Gauja National park includes the valley of the Gauja River and together with its tributaries it forms a particularly original landscape. The territory comprises more than 500 monuments of archeology, architecture, history starting with 11th century.
Enjoy beautiful vistas of the Gauja River Valley, visit the 13th century Turaida Castle, now housing a small History Museum, and relax walking in the adjoining Sculpture Park, featuring works of Latvian sculptors.

Evening arrival to Tallinn. Overnight in Tallinn.

DAY 6, Tallinn
Morning City Tour  by bus and walking tour takes you to the surroundings of Tallinn and its Old Town. Unlike most European cities, which have ancient buildings mixed in between modern ones, Tallinn's Old City is complete. You leave bustling modern life behind when of cobblestones and dim alleys, sputtering torches and secret stairways. The Old City holds new surprises around every corner, even for its inhabitants.

City tour includes a visit of  the Upper Town - Toompea (Cathedral Hill) with the impressive Russian Orthodox Church, the 13th century Gothic style Dome Cathedral. The Upper Town viewing points offer excellent bird's eye views of the Lower Town. The tour continues in the Lower Town. Among its highlights - the Gothic Town Hall (early 15th century), the pharmacy, opened in 1422 and still functioning, the Great Guild and Blackheads Fraternity Houses - both from the 15th century.

Free afternoon in Tallinn.
Overnight in Tallinn.

DAY 7, Tallinn
Transfer to the Tallinn airport.
Departure.

 

Itinerary includes:
- 6 0vernights in 3 or 4-stars centrally located hotels in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn;
- 6 Breakfasts in the hotel;
- Transfers according to the programme with 35-50 seats bus;
- Tour leader escort during whole tour;
- Entrance to Vilnius University, Trakai Catsle, Rundale Palace, Rigas Dome, Turaida Castle, Tallinn Dome;
- 7 guided excursions: City Tours in Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn and Trakai, Hill of Crosses, Rundale Palace, Turaida Museum.