Itinerary

Introduction

Medieval Europe, or Christendom, whose features included a powerful papacy and Church, with its monks.

1

Day 1

Welcome to Vilnius - the baroque beauty of the Baltic !

On Arrival at Vilnius Airport, proceed to hotel and check-in. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, is known for its more than 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. Enjoy an Indian Dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight stay at hotel Panorama or similar in Vilnius (D)

2

Day 2

Today enjoy the Vilnius City tour. Afternoon visit Trakai - A miniature wooden town,encircled by several lakes !

This morning after breakfast at the hotel, proceed on a Vilnius half day city tour.

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania was founded in 1323 when Grand Duke Gediminas built a castle there, nowadaysbustling city with one of the oldest and most charming Old Towns in Europe. The splendid architectural blend ofGothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles makes this a wonderful city to explore. During sightseeing tour you willvisit Old town, which is included to the UNESCO World Heritage. Visit Cathedral Square and passby Gediminas Avenue, the Parliament and President's Palace, Vilnius University and Town Hall. Continue walkingnarrow old streets, visit St. Anna's Church - a gem of Gothic architecture, Gates of Dawn and St. Peter’s and St Paul’s Church.Lunch at an Indian restaurant.

Afternoon tour to Trakai Castle

Trakai, the former capital of Lithuania, which is situated on an island in the middle of a lake. The 14th century redbrick castle now houses the Art Museum. The castles of Trakai are the best known works of defensive architecturein Lithuania. The old town of Trakai, which includes the Island and the Peninsula Castles, surrounded by lakes, isone of the most impressive and most picturesque locations in Europe. Here still reside small national minority of Karaites, which is confessing Judaism. It is believed they were brought from the Crimea by the Grand Lithuanian Duke Vytautas. Return to Vilnius. Enjoy Dinner at a Indian restaurant.

Overnight stay at hotel Panorama or similar in Vilnius (B,LL,D)

3

Day 3

Hills of Crosses – Rundale Palace – Riga

DAY 03 Breakfast at the hotel.Departure to Latvia.

On the way, stopover at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai. The Hill of Crosses, KryžiųKalnas,located 12 kilometres north of the small industrial city of Siauliai (pronounced shoo-lay) is the Lithuanian national pilgrimage centre. Standing upon a small hill are many hundreds of thousands of crosses that represent Christian devotion and a memorial to Lithuanian National identity. Further travel to Rundale.

Enjoy a local lunch at restaurant .

Rundale Palace, the most magnificent masterpiece of baroque architecture in the Baltic States, lies at a distance of70 km from Riga. It was built in the first part of the 18th century by the Italian architect F. B. Rastrelli, the baroquegenius from Italy who created many of St. Petersburg’s finest buildings including the Winter Palace. Theprofessionally renovated palace interiors are decorated with authentic 18th cent. furniture, paintings and china. Themost impressive are the Golden Hall, the White Hall, the bedroom of the Duke of Courland Johan Ernst Biron. Thepalace boasts a beautiful French-style park.

Thereafter, continue your journey to Riga.

Enjoy Riga Old Town walking tour . A medieval Hanseatic town will include St. Peter's Cathedral from whose steeple will be the best views in the city, Riga castle with its three wonderful museums, Dome Cathedral, which boasts one of the world’s largest pipe organs, and the old Guild houses. Return back to the Hotel.Enjoy an Indian dinner tonight.Check into your hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel Radisson Bluor similar in Riga (B,LL,D)

4

Day 4

Riga – Sigulda– Turaida– Tallinn

DAY Breakfast at the hotel.Route to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.One of the most picturesque towns in Latvia - Sigulda, often called the Latvian Switzerland, is located about 50 kmfrom Riga in the Gauja River valley. Sigulda is situated in the Gauja National Park and is known as the mostpopular tourist and leisure destination as well as a famous winter sports resort in Latvia because of its bob-sleightrack and the down-hill skiing routes. Experience a genuine whiff of the Middle Ages, a time of romantic legends, castles and heroic figures, as you see theruins of the 13th cent. Crusader Castle, and the 19th cent. Kropotkin’s Palace in the outskirts of Sigulda. By coachyou will travel down into the river valley, enjoy the landscape and the walk to the sandstone grottoes on the ancientriver bank.

The Turaida Museum Reserve is the historical centre of Turaida and comprises archaeological, historical and artmonuments that tell us about the events that have taken place since the 11th century. Turaida church, one of theoldest wooden churches built by the local rural craftsmen, is situated here. A graveyard was established here forthe first baptized Liivs. Under an old linden tree is the legendary tomb of Roze that commemorates a girl whosacrificed herself in the name of love. The "Folk Song Garden", containing 25 sculptures by IndulisRanka, issituated on the site of a former ancient Liiv village. It is dedicated to Latvian folk songs and to the lifelong work oftheir collector Krisjanis Barons.Local Lunch at restaurantOnward travel to Tallinn.Tonight enjoy an Indian dinner in a restaurant.Check into the hotel.

Overnight stay at hotel Hestia Seaport or similar in Tallinn (B,LL,D)c

5

Day 5

Tallinn city tour – Rocca Al-Mare

After breakfast in your hotel, proceed on aTallinn City tour, a picturesque old city, where whole districts date back to the Middle Ages. You will visit the OldTown with its quaint narrow streets and beautiful merchants' houses exemplifying the best of Gothic architecture.The tour includes Toompea Castle, the 13th century Dome church, the 19th century Russian orthodox Cathedral ofAlexander Nevskij, the 15th century town Hall square, the Old Guild built to celebrate Tallinn's membership in theHanseatic League, and St. Olaf's church. On Driving part visit Tallinn’s suburbs and Song Festival Grounds, StBrigitte’s monastery and Pirita area.

Post local lunch, visit to Rocca Al Mare Museum.The Estonian Open Air Museum (founded in 1957) is situated at an 8 km distance from the centre of Tallinn on awooded coastal headland in a beautiful place called Rocca al Mare. The Open Air Museum presents a uniquecollection of old Estonian buildings on a 79-hectare expanse of seaside land. Farm buildings, windmills and watermills from various periods and regions have been brought together here. Folk holidays are celebrated in traditionalstyle at the museum. Handicrafts are sold in the main gateway and horseback rides are also available.Enjoy an Indian dinner at restaurant

Overnight stay at hotel Hestia Seaport or similar in Tallinn (B,LL,D)

6

Day 6

Onto Helsinki – the Finnish Capital. Guided city tour of Helsinki.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure by ferry to Helsinki.On arrival in Helsinki, enjoy an local lunch. Thereafter, proceed on a Helsinki city tour.In Helsinki visit the historical centre with Senate Square, the Presidential Palace, City Hall, the Parliament building, Finlandia Hall and the Opera House. Stops at the Sibelius Monument and, when possible, at the Temppeliaukio Church (the church in the rock).

The ‘Church in the Rock’, designed by Timo and TuomoSuomalainen, was consecrated in 1969. The church is builtinto solid rock, with the inner wall left raw and unfinished, and is crowned with a solid copper dome. The wallsurrounding the church is made from rock quarried on the site.Finlandia Hall is Helsinki’s conference and concert hub. The hall was built in 1971 and is one of Alvar Aalto’s mostfamous works. It is also home to the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Robert Kajanus in 1882. The hallis a great place for one to hear Finland’s finest musicians as well as appreciate the distinctive, angular architectureemployed in Aalto’s buildings.Enjoy an Indian dinner at restaurant

Overnight stay at hotel Scandic Meilahti or similar in Helsinki. (B,LL,D)

 

7

Day 7

Visit Porvoo – Traditional Finnish Town. Fly back home !

After breakfast visit Porvoo. Porvoo is the second oldest town in Finland. Porvoo was granted town status in the 14th century and is one of the treasures in the history of Finnish architecture. The town plan from the Middle Ages, the low small houses, picturesque yards and narrow streets form a historically unique wooden town milieu. The symbols of Porvoo – thered warehouses on the riverbanks – tell the story of seafaring and trading. There will be some free time for a cup of coffee and for a walk in the old town with delightful shops and craftsmen's workshops. Enjoy an Indian lunch at restaurant.

Later, drive to airport for your flight back home ! Back home with the wonderful memories of your tour that you will cherish for lifetime! (B,L)