Polish
and Baltic Jewels
Krakow - Warsaw - Mragowa - Vilnius - Riga - Tallinn
July - September 2013, 13 days / 12 nights
Baltic
and Poland tour dates:
PT10: 02. 07-14. 07. 13
PT12: 16. 07-28. 07. 13
PT14: 30. 07-11. 08. 13
PT15: 06. 08-18. 08. 13
PT16: 13. 08-25. 08. 13
PT17: 20. 08-01. 09. 13
Day 1 (Tuesday): Arrival Krakow
Arrival in Krakow, optional transfer to Hotel Park Inn Krakow**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.
Day 2 (Wednesday): Krakow
For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland
and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions
and secrets. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to Krakow Old Town with the St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls
and Wawel with the Wawel Castle
and the Wawel Cathedral. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offers an optional
Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.
Day 3 (Thursday): Krakow-Warsaw
We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, where we visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna. Through the flat low-laying plain of Central Poland we reach Warsaw in the early afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Warsaw**** or similar.
Day 4 (Friday): Warsaw
Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town. The morning sightseeing tour includes the Royal Route
and Warsaw Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square
and the Barbican. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water. The evening offers an optional
Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale.
Day 5 (Saturday): Warsaw-Mragowa
We continue through the well forested North Poland into the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland. The afternoon excursion of the Masurian Lakeland takes us to the quaint town of Ketrzyn, to the beautiful Baroque church in Swieta Lipka
and to the town of Gizycko, surrounded to all sides by the lakes. In the late afternoon we check-in at Hotel Mercure Mrongovia Resort & Spa**** or similar.
Day 6 (Sunday): Mragowa-Vilnius
Today we continue along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland with endless blue lakes
and attractive resort towns into Lithuania. We do a stop in Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania, to admire the beautiful Old Town
and the elegant white Baroque Town Hall before we arrive in the late afternoon to Vilnius. Check in at Hotel Radisson Blu
Lietuva Vilnius**** or similar.
Day 7 (Monday): Vilnius
Vilnius is known for its more than 1. 200 medieval buildings
and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city
and a walking tour of Vilnius Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter
and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University
and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.
Day 8 (Tuesday): Vilnius-Riga
Heading for Riga, the first stop is the Hills of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon, check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Latvija**** or similar.
Day 9 (Wednesday): Riga
Before we get acquainted with Riga we have the possibility of discovering medieval Latvia. The optional tour for this morning takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park
and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida,
and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle
and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers
and optional visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a spacious exposition of 18th century country life. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral in Riga.
Day 10 (Thursday): Riga
Riga founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the 3
Baltic capitals
and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large
and Small Guild House
and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit from Riga to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture
and sandy beaches. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.
Day 11 (Friday): Riga-Tallinn
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests
and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia Tallinn**** or similar.
Day 12 (Saturday): Tallinn
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility
and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés
and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls
and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
and the medieval Old Town Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park
and visit to KUMU, the award-winning new Estonian Art Museum, with its collections of classic
and contemporary fine art. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.
Day 13 (Sunday): Tallinn Departure
Optional transfer to the airport.
Price per person:
€ 1195. 00 (double occupancy)
€ 550. 00 (single supplement)
Included:
12 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
12 x buffet breakfast
Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
Personalized welcome package
Entrances to Wawel Castle in Krakow, Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw, Old University in Vilnius, Rundale Palace, St. Peter’s Church
and Tower in Riga
and medieval Great Guild Hall in Tallinn
Service of English
and German speaking tour escort on all tours
Service of Italian
and Spanish speaking tour escort on all tours
Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
Portage at hotels
Service
and VAT
Cena: € 1195
E-pasts: info@baltictour.com
Tālrunis: +371-20003916
