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Latvia, BALTIC BLUES TRAVEL, Riga

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Marius Mauragas

Office

Riga
Latvia
Tel. +370 5 24 99 160
Fax +370 5 27 84 288
General contact : info@balticblues.com
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Contact Groups : groups@balticblues.com
http://www.balticblues.com
info@balticblues.com

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Castles & fortresses

From Vilnius to Tallin, Trekking & Walking- 9 days

DAY 1 - Vilnius

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

Morning City Tour, the 3-hour acquaintance with the Vilnius’s Old Town, where you can soak in 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, such as Vilnius Cathedral erected on a historic site of pagan gods worship and where Vilnius was founded as far back as the 13th c., a nearby Gediminas Castle rising above the city centre, a gem of the Lithuanian Gothic style - the 16th c. St. Anne's Church, the Vilnius University, a famous centre of science and enlightenment since its very foundation in 1579, Vilnius Town Hall, Jewish Quarter and the Dawn Gate with a famous and miraculous icon of Virgin Mary.

Overnight in Vilnius.

DAY 2 - Vilnius – Aukstaitijos National Park – Vilnius

Trekking: This day tour takes you to Aukstaitija National Park (110 km east of Vilnius), often called the kingdom of forests and lakes. The park captivates with its more than 100 splendid crystal-clear lakes, linked by picturesque water ways, as well as ethnographic villages, vibrant landscapes, abundance of forests and harmony of the nature. The walking route will take you through the Beekeeping Museum, scattered villages and hamlet that have preserved their original character, as well as through ancient burial mounds and other landmarks.
Transfer back to Vilnius.

Overnight in Vilnius.

DAY 3 - Vilnius – Trakai - Curonian Spit

Departure to The Curonian Spit National Park (350 km from Vilnius).

Short stop in Trakai (27 km from Vilnius), the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and a favored place for sightseeing outside of Vilnius. 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 a museum focused on the history of the epoch of the Grand Duke Vytautas when the country borders spanned from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Enjoy Trakai, a small town located on a 2-km-long peninsula, and dotted with quaint old wooden houses, mostly built by Karaites, a Judaist sect brought by Duke Vytautas from the Crimea and still living in Trakai.

Arrival to Klaipeda, sea port of Lithuania. Transfer by ferry to the Curonian Spit and check-in at the hotel in Nida.

Curonian Spit is the most frequently visited and most carefully conserved area in Lithuania. Long chains of North Europe’s highest dunes, the waves of the sea breaking and rustling of sand as well as the smell of fresh fish, and old and quaint Curonian houses create an unforgettable experience for travelers making their way along the split, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. To quote a German writer and Nobel Laureate Thomas Mann, who spent the summers of 1930-1932 in Nida, „visiting the Curonian Spit is a must, the same as seeing Italy or Spain".

Short walking tour of Nida with a climb up the Great Panirdzio Dune from which a breathtaking view opens up.

Overnight in Nida.

DAY 4 - Curonian Spit – Riga

Trekking: You will discover the most beautiful places of the Curonian Spit - the largest sand dunes in Europe, enchanted by the sounds of the sea and rustle of the sand, you will also visit authentic fishermen villages and observe how local fishermen prepare their smoked fish using hundred-years old techniques.

Afternoon departure to Riga (320 km from Nida), the capital of Latvia.
Overnight in Riga.

DAY 5 - Riga - Gauja National Park

Morning Riga City Tour by bus and walking tour. Riga has numerous ways of enticing visitors through its rich history, architecture, spacious gardens and parks, museums, art galleries, world-class opera…and daily treats like a walk in the enormous and colorful central market or a visit to a cozy café, club or pub...

The tour includes the most significant landmarks of Riga and begins along its central boulevards. On the walk you will enjoy the view of the City Canal parks, the Art Nouveau buildings of the beginning of the 20th century, and the Opera House. In the 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, the Old Riga Castle, and view the many beautifully restored buildings now housing cozy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops.

Trekking: in the afternoon you will go the Gauja National Park, called “Latvian Switzerland”. The road leads along the right bank of the Gauja river through a beautiful pine forest. The river makes several curves in this area and has many small tributaries. You will pass the Krimulda church, the Krimulda castle ruins, where there is an interesting open-air labyrinth, the Velnalas (‘devil caves’) cliffs, the Gutmana ala - the biggest cave in Latvia - and the Turaida Museum-Reserve, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Latvia with its Livonian order’s castle ruins, the observation tower, the history museum and the sculpture garden.
Transfer back to Riga.

Overnight in Riga.

DAY 6 - Riga – Haanja Nature Park - Tartu

Departure to Tartu (229 km from Riga), second largest city in Estonia, called student town.

Trekking: Haanja Nature Park (area about 17,000 ha) was established for the protection of the highest region of Estonia and the Baltic States. In addition to the beautiful domed hills, deep valleys and picturesque small lakes, you will see perfectly preserved Estonian authentic villages, where customs and cultural traditions have been preserved to these days. You will see the highest point of the Baltic States - Suur Munamägi (318 m, from foot to summit 62m).

Late evening arrival to Tartu. Overnight in Tartu.

DAY 7 - Tartu – Lahemaa National Park- Tallinn

Morning Tartu City Tour. Tartu is a historic and a young city, Estonia’s second-largest town and the capital of beautiful Southern Estonia. This charming old University City is cozy and small, yet large enough to offer much to the traveler - the glory of once well-known Hansa-town, the ancient Dome Hill, academic atmosphere of the oldest in the Baltic countries University (1632), university buildings and merry student festivals, as well as a rich cultural life of concerts, theatre and exhibitions.

Departure to Tallinn (195 km from Tartu), the capital of Estonia.

Trekking: On the way to Tallinn you will stop (130km from Tartu) in Lahemaa National Park. Lahemaa attracts people with its untouched sandy beaches, waterfalls cascade, mossy pine forests and over 200 species of birds and almost 900 different plant species. Park offers a variety of landmarks, such as Palmse manor, the showpiece of Lahemaa or beautifully preserved 400-year-old fishing hamlet of Altja. Altogether there are 7 nature trails: Majakivi Track (back-and-forth 3km); Nature and Culture Track of Muuksi (ca 5km); Oandu Forest Track (4.7km); Koprarada - Beaver Track - (1km); Nature and Culture Track of Altja (3km); Nature and Culture Track of Käsmu (3.5km); Võsu-Oandu Hiking Track (9.5km).

Transfer to Tallinn. Overnight in Tallinn.

DAY 8 - Tallinn

Unlike most European cities, which have old buildings mixed in between the modern ones, Tallinn's Old City is a charming in its unity of style. You leave the bustling modern life behind when you enter into the world of cobblestone streets and dim alleys, sputtering torches and secret stairways. The Old City holds new surprises around every corner, even for its old inhabitants.

City tour includes a visit of the Upper Town - Toompea (Cathedral Hill) with an impressive Russian Orthodox Church and 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 time in Tallinn.Overnight in Tallinn.

DAY 9 - Tallinn

Free time.

Transfer to the airport. Departure.

Itinerary includes:

- 8 Overnights in 3 or 4-stars centrally located hotels in Vilnius, Klaipeda, Riga and Tallinn;
- 8 Breakfasts in the hotels;
- Transfers according to the programme with 35-50 seats bus;
- Ferry to the Curonian Spit (Nida) and back;
- Tour leader escort during whole tour;
- Entrance to Vilnius Univercity, Rigas Dome, Tallinn Dome, Trakai Catsle, Turaida Castle and Tartu Univercity;
- 6 guided excursions: City Tours in Vilnius, Riga, Tartu and Tallinn, Trakai, Turaida Museum.