Amber Coast

Day 2: VILNIUS Breakfast. Guided visit of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. Panoramic view of the historic town´s center from the three crosses hill, & way through the barroque church of S. Peter & S. Paul, the neoclassic Cathedral, the gothic ensemble of St. Anne church & the Bernardines monastir, Gates of Dawn, the old townhall, the University. Free time. Accomodation in Vilnius.

Day 3: VILNIUS-TRAKAI-KAUNAS (100 Km) Breakfast. In the way to Kaunas, stop to visit Trakai - the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is located 27 km west of Vilnius and is one of the favourite places for outings. The Trakai Castle , situated on an island in the midst of Lake Galve is the most famous and most photographed castle in Lithuania. Lunch in Trakai. Arrival to Kaunas & panoramic visit of the second biggest town of Lituania which during the 1920-1941 was the temporary capital of the country, meanwhile Vilnius was ocupied by Poland. Visit to the fortress of Kaunas dating from the XIII c. & the Townhall square, formed by the Vytautas church, the St. George church, the Cathedral & the Perkunas house, one of the country´s best monuments built in late gothic style. Accomodation in Kaunas.

Day 4: KAUNAS-KLAIPEDA (200 Km) Way to Klaipeda, known as “The seagate of Lithuania”, due to its maritim port which is ice-free during winter. Excursion through the town visiting the University, the former post-office, the old town, the big germanic influence is clear in most of its buildings & monuments, the old theatre & the Simon Dach square. Later after lunch we go to Palanga, the country´s most popular summer resort. Visit to the Botanic garden & the Amber museum, located in the Palace of Count´s Tyszkewitcz, where you can admire a rich exhibition of amber figures. Walk thorugh the main street that leads to the beach. Accomodation in Klaipeda.

Day 5: KLAIPEDA-NERINGA-PALANGA (180 Km) Breakfast. Crossing by ferry to the Curonian istmus, included in the UNESCO list. An inner sea separarted from the Baltic sea by a thin line of dunes, large forests & small fishing villages are the sights of this quite coastline. Moose, deers & boars live in this fragile habitat. Nida is an enchanted fishing town full of picturesque wooden houses. The main sights are the lutheran church (1888), the lighthouse (XIX c.) & the house where the writer Thomas Mann stayed the summers of 1930 & 1931. The wide long beaches made easier the wind erosion creating big sand dunes all over the coast. Lunch in Nida. Later we go back to Klaipeda. Accomodation in Klaipeda.

Day 6: KLAIPEDA-LIEPAJA (230 Km) Breakfast. Following the coast we cross the border in direction to Liepaja, Latvia´s third biggest town & located between the Baltic sea & the big Liepaja lake. Excursion around the old town, passing through the Rose square, visiting the Trinity church with its impressive organ of 7000 tubes & the fabulous panoramic views from its belltower, the craftmen´s house, the Cathedral of St. Jos; after lunch we can go to the north of town, where the Karosta militar base is located, it served as fortress since 1890 under Tzar Alexander III who ottorged it the rights of an indepent town out of Liepaja, out of its interestings historic elements, the Orthodox cathedral of St. Nicholas is still open. Before the sunset, it is always nice to have a walk by the seaside & long beach of Liepaja. Accomodation in Liepaja.

Day 7: LIEPAJA-RIGA (200 Km) Breakfast. Way to Zemgale, Latvia´s southern region, where we visit the Rundale Palace, old summer residence for the dukes of Curland, & the most outstanding masterpiece built in barroque-rococo style in the Baltics, it was designed by the italian arquitect F.B Rastrelli. Lunch in Rundale & way to Riga. Accomodation in Riga.

Day 8: RIGA Breakfast. Panoramic view the old town, so we can admire the fassade in front of the Daugava river, where it is placed the historic center of Riga, capital of Latvia, visit of the most impressive midages buildings, like the Powder tower, the Swedish gates, the church of S. Jacobe, the Dome Cathedral, the church of S.Peter, the merchant Guild houses, the former townhall, andout of the old town, we´ll walk through the Art Nouveau district, where a big number of buildings are a sightseeing from the early XX c. architectonic style. Free time. Accomodation in Riga.

Price includes:
- 8 B/B overnights at 3* or 4* hotel.
- 3 lunches in Trakai, Rundale & Sigulda (3 courses menu, incl. coffee/tea and table water).
- Transport in comfortable coach with air conditioned during all trip.
- Escort english speaking guide for all the trip.
- Excursions with english speaking local guides as indicated in program.
- Tickets as below:
Lithuania: University of Vilnius, Castle of Trakai,
Latvia: Rundale Palace, Turaida Palace (Sigulda)
Riga: Dome Cathedral, Church of St. Peter & Panoramic Tower,
Estonia: Monastir of St. Bridget (Pirita, Tallinn)

Price does not include:
Tips, porterage at hotels & anything not specified in the program.

Hotels 3* :
Vilnius: HOTEL EUROPA CITY *** www.europacity.lt
Kaunas: REVAL TAKIOJI NERIS *** www.takiojineris.com
Klaipeda: HOTEL KLAIPEDA **** www.klaipedahotel.lt
Liepaja: HOTEL LIVA*** www.liva.lv
Riga : HOTEL CITY BRUNINIEKS*** www.cityhotel.lv

Hotels 4* :
Vilnius: REVAL LIETUVA**** www.revalhotels.com
Kaunas: HOTEL DANIELA **** www.danielahotel.lt
Klaipeda: HOTEL KLAIPEDA **** www.klaipedahotel.lt
Liepaja: HOTEL AMRITA **** www.amrita.lv
Riga : REVAL LATVIJA**** www.revalhotels.com

The stay will be in the above mentioned hotels or in others of same or superior category depending on availability. In case hotels would be different, price may slightly vary.