LITHUANIAN KALEIDOSCOPE

(9 days / 8 nights)

Day 1: VILNIUS ARRIVAL
Arrival at Vilnius. Transfer to hotel. Check-in at the hotel of selected category. Dinner at local restaurant with folk show.

Day 2: VILNIUS – KERNAVE - VILNIUS
City tour of Vilnius and its Old town enlisted on the UNESCO Heritage List. During the sightseeing you will have opportunity to see a lot of gorgeous churches (it is said that in XVI century there were more churches than in Italy), get to know influence of different architectural styles on today’s Vilnius, to hear interesting stories. Main sights: Cathedral, hill of three crosses, Gediminas tower, St. Ann's Church, the 16th century masterpiece of Gothic architecture, St. Peter & Paul’s Church, the Gates of Dawn with the chapel housing a holy image of the Virgin Mary, Pilies str., entrance in Vilnius University courtyards, Town Hall square, Užupis district (Vilnius Montmartre) and much more pearls of Vilnius.
Lunch at centrally located restaurant in Vilnius.
Afternoon tour to the archeological and cultural sanctuary of Kernave which is one of the most beautiful places and the first capital of Lithuania founded on the coast of the River Neris. From 2004 it has been enlisted on the UNESCO Heritage List.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 3: VILNIUS-TRAKAI-KAUNAS
Departure to Trakai, former capital of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island in Lake Galve. For centuries it served as a defensive structure and residence of Lithuanian Grand Dukes.
Lunch at traditional Lithuanian restaurant. Excursion to Pazaislis Monastery church- the largest monastery complex in Lithuania and the most magnificent example of Italian baroque architecture in the country.
Arrival in Kaunas, check-in at the hotel of selected category
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 4: KAUNAS - KLAIPEDA
Excursion in Kaunas the second largest city of Lithuania and the interim capital of the country between the two world wars, includes ruins of the Castle, Town Hall Square with its impressive monuments, visit to Cathedral, walking along the renovated Vilnius street with original old architecture and pedestrian Laisvės avenue, now housing cozy cafes, bars and souvenir shops. Nearby, M.K. Čiurlionis’ State Museum attracts with mystic modernist works of the outstanding Lithuanian painter, symbolist and composer M.K. Čiurlionis, and the joyful Devils’ Museum hosts an impressive collection (near 2000) of devil statues. Lunch in Kaunas.
After lunch departure to Klaipeda via Panemunes castles.
Arrival in Klaipeda, check-in at the hotel of selected category.
Dinner at the hotel.

Day 5: KLAIPEDA-CURONIAN SPIT-KLAIPEDA
City tour of Klaipeda. Klaipeda the third city with the only ice-free port in the Republic of Lithuania, which is the largest one in all the Baltic states.
Departure to Curonian spit by ferry. The Curonian Spit is a natural wonder created by sea, wind, and man. On December 2, 2000 was inscribed into UNESCO World Heritage List as a valuable and unique cultural landscape in the Baltic region. During tour we will visit to Juodkrantes and Nida towns.
Lunch at restaurant in Curionian Spit.
In the afternoon return to Klaipeda.
Dinner

Day 6: KLAIPEDA- HILL OF CROSSES-PANEVEZYS
Departure to Panevezys. En route stop near the Hill of Crosses a unique example of Christianity in Lithuania, imposing creation of Catholic believers, who took those thousands of crosses into one place, so now you will be able to see thousands of crosses on one hill.
Second stop at open air museum in Kleboniskis and manor house in Burbiskes
Arrival in Panevezys. Check in at the hotel of selected category.
Dinner.

Day 7: PANEVEZYS - DRUSKININKAI
City tour of Panevezys with beer tasting at one of the biggest beer bravery in Lithuania.
Lunch in Panaevezys.
Departure to Druskininkai with stop at Stakliskes to taste Lithuanian mead
Arrival to Druskininkai. Check in at the hotel of selected category
Dinner.

Day 8: DRUSKININKAI - VILNIUS
Departure to Vilnius with stop at Soviet sculpture park Grutas. During the excursion in Grūto parkas you can feel the spirit of the Soviet age and will try different dishes of that time in a local tavern.
Lunch at local tavern.
Arrival to Vilnius. Check-in at the hotel.
Dinner.

Day 9: VILNIUS DEPARTURE
Transfer hotel - Vilnius airport

Prices for above program are on request.

Please contact Baltic Travel Service in case you wish to get more itineraries or tailor made programs.