THROUGH VIA BALTICA TOUR
7 DAYS
2006
ESTONIA
- LITHUANIA - LATVIA
By Hydrofoil and Private Coach
Helsinki - The Baltic States - Helsinki
Mondays/2006
Jun 19
Jul 10, 24
Aug 07, 21
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Visit the three independent Baltic States, each with its own language,
culture and way to recapture their position in the Western World. Traverse
the Finnish Gulf by ferry, visit Tallinn and discover the Estonian and
Latvian Countryside on your way to Vilnius, capital of Lithuania. Before
returning to Tallinn and Helsinki, you will spend two nights in Riga.
Note: nationals of some countries
require Visas to Baltic countries. Please check at time of booking.
MON
HELSINKI-TALLINN-PÄRNU
(GATEWAY TO THE BALTICS)
Depart from Helsinki on a 1.5
hour catamaran voyage to Tallinn. A tour by foot of Old Town Tallinn takes
you through a whole city of interesting Medieval architecture. Walking
along the quaint streets you will reach the Castle Hill from where you
have a picturesque view over the whole city and the Baltic Sea. Lunch in
an Old Town local restaurant. Continue to the city of Pärnu
known for its Harbor and Spas. Overnight at Ranna Hotel or
similar in Pärnu.
TUE PÄRNU-VILNIUS
(VIA BALTICA)
Today, you will travel along the Via Baltica, a motorway along Riga Bay
from Pärnu to Vilnius, crossing the borders of
Estonia and Latvia into Lithuania.
In August 1989 the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians formed a human
chain through all the three countries, and Via Baltica became to symbolize
the road to freedom. Enjoy lunch on the way close to Bauska in Latvia and
arrive in Vilnius in the evening.
Overnight at Hotel
Holiday Inn Vilnius or similar.
WED
VILNIUS-TRAKAI-VILNIUS
(UNKNOWN PEOPLE OF TRAKAI)
The day begins with a
trip to the village of Trakai, home to the people of Karaite, who was
transferred here from Crimea by the Grand Duke Vytautas. Visit a medieval
castle, which is situated on a small island connected to the mainland by a
picturesque bridge. Return to Vilnius and lunch in the Old Town. In the
afternoon you will get a close view of the monumental sights of Vilnius,
all bearing witness to the rich history of the city. They include the
Cathedral, the University, which dates back to the 1570’s, and the white
church of Saints Peter and Paul. Overnight at your hotel.
THU VILNIUS-KAUNAS-RIGA
(OUTPOST OF LATIN
CULTURE)
Depart Vilnius for Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania.
Explore the Old Town on a walking tour. After lunch,
continue towards Riga. The drive from Kaunas to Riga goes past
rolling green hills, fiverbanks
and flat fruit fields.
Leaving the town of Siaulilai, you will see a spectacular sight: a mound
covered with thousands of big and small crosses. The locals call this
place the Hill of Crosses. Overnight at Hotel de Rome or similar in Riga.
FRI RIGA
(LESSON OF
ARCHITECTURAL STYLES)
The morning
sightseeing introduces Riga’s historic sights, which display a wide
variety of architectural styles. The new part of the town – also about a
hundred years old – is very interesting with its 19th-century Art Nouveau
architecture. Lunch. Visit to ethnographic open-air museum, which exhibits
the life and culture of Latvia. Overnight
at Hotel de Rome or similar in Riga.
