"Grand Tour of Lithuania" 14 Days

Day 1 USA-Vilnius
Depart from U.S. on Finnair for overnight flight to Vilnius.

Day 2 Vilnius-Kaunas
On arriving to Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, drive to Kaunas located some 60 miles northwest of Vilnius.

Day 3 Kaunas
Begin our tour of this marvelous old city that served as Lithuania's capital between the two world wars, spending most of our time in Old Town. While there, visit a museum dedicated to the works of Ciurlionis, Lithuania's most celebrated artist; the Devils Museum (probably the only one of its kind in the world); the War Museum which has a first rate collection; the 13th century Kaunas Castle; the lovely Town Hall of Kaunas, known locally as the White Swan; and the 14th-century Church of Vytautas, the principal church of Kaunas. In the afternoon, a trip to 16th-century Pazaislis Convent, situated on the banks of Nemunas river. (B)

Day 4 Kaunas - Rumsiskes - Kaunas
Today visit Rumsiskes, an open-air museum created to show something of Lithuania's vibrant peasant culture over the last 200 years. Some further sights we suggest for today: Ninth Fort, a Second World War German concentration camp; and the Zilinskas Art Gallery which has a very fine permanent collection. (B)

Day 5 Kaunas
Day at leisure in Kaunus. (B)

Day 6 Kaunas-Klaipeda-Palanga
By way of the castles of Panemune leave for the city of Klaipeda, Lithuania's main seaport. Once there, visit Theatre Square with its statue of Annchen von Tharau, the Old Post Office, and the Old Town. Then continue to Palanga where you'll have some free time. Overnight in Palanga. (B)

Day 7 Palanga
A half-day tour of Palanga where you'll visit the Botanic Garden and the Amber Museum in the palace of Count Tyszkiewicz. The Museum has 25,000 pieces of amber on display. 15,000 of them containing insects. (B)

Day 8 Palanga-Nida-Palanga
After breakfast, depart for a full day tour of the Kuronian Peninsula. During the day, you'll make a stop at Juodkrante and visit the Hill of Witches, a park filled with life-size wood carvings of characters from Lithuanian folk tales and legends. The carvings are works of various folk artists. Driving to Nida, you'll visit the Amber Gallery, where you'll get a chance to view and buy some unique works of amber. In Nida visit the summer residence of Thomas Mann, the Nobel Prize-winning German author. Also see a typical fisherman's village and walk along some impressive sand dunes. Then return to your hotel in Palanga . (B)

Day 9 Palanga-Kretinga-Siauliai-Vilnius
Today's tour begins with a trip to Kretinga where you'll visit a museum located on the estate of the former Count Tyszkiewicz. There you'll see some of the cultural and religious splendors of Kretinga's past. Also visit the Winter Garden and the Church of Annunciation. After Kretinga, you'll stop in Siauliai at the Hill of Crosses, one of Lithuania's holiest shrines. Since the 14th century, pilgrims have been placing crosses here. Until today there are hundreds of thousands of them. In 1993, the Pope concelebrated Mass here. (B)

Day 10 Vilnius
After breakfast, you will be escorted on a city tour of Vilnius, Lithuania's capital. It is an extraordinary city with a rich and varied history stretching all the way back to its foundation in 1323 by the Grand Duke Gediminas. Start your tour to some of the city's most beautiful churches; St Anna's, a church so lovely that Napoleon wished he could transport it whole to France. Also visit Vilnius University which was founded in 1579, and which houses one of the country's finest art collections. Visit the Gates of Dawn, the TV Tower, Vilnius Picture Gallery, and Houses of Parliament. (B)

Day 11 Trakai
A half-day tour to the lovely Trakai Castle, completed in the 14th century and built on an island amid lakes and forests. (B)

Day 12 Vilnius - Medininkai
Further touring Vilnius you'll visit the, Antakalnis Cemetery and the 15th century Gediminas Castle, which commands striking views of the city. In the afternoon a guided trip to Medininkai, an old town on the border with Belarus and the site of the massacre of the seven young Lithuanian border guards on July 31 1991. You'll see the ruins of the town's old castle (1311), the fortification walls, and the watch tower. (B)

Day 13 Vilnius
Free day to explore the town at leisure. We suggest to visit the exhibit "Christianity in Lithuania's Art" at the museum of Applied Art. (B)

Day 14 Vilnius - USA
Transfer to the airport for the flight home. (B)

(B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner

Tour Price Includes

Round trip airport transfers
Accommodations
Guided tours according to itinerary
Breakfast daily
Service charges taxes and tips to porters
Individual information package (city guides, maps etc.)

Accommodations

4 nights at the Hotel Best Western Santaka or similar in Kaunas
3 nights at the Hotel Palangos Vetra or similar in Palanga
5 nights at the Hotel Narutis or similar in Vilnius

Price of Tour - COMING SOON!

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