DAY 1 Friday   VILNIUS Arrival to Vilnius. Private transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. In the evening meet your guide and group members. Learn about the tour and each other while having dinner at traditional Lithuanian cuisine restaurant. Overnight in Vilnius.

 

DAY 2 Saturday VILNIUS Breakfast at the hotel. Day to explore charming Vilnius Old town and surroundings. Cathedral and it’s square, Gediminas castle promising amazing panoramic view, Pilies street with 16-18 century historical and architectural monuments, Gothic corner ( St Ann’s Church), former Town Hall square, miraculous Gates of Dawn, bohemian Uzupis district and one of the most impressive churches in the world – baroque St. Peter and Paul church. Visit the museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, located in former KGB prison, pass by Lithuanian Parliament and TV tower to better imagine where and how Lithuanians were fighting for independance from USSR. Overnight in Vilnius.

 

DAY 3 Sunday VILNIUS – TRAKAI – KERNAVE – KAUNAS Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to the capital of Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Trakai, located 25 km from Vilnius. Visit insular castle of 15th century and learn about Karaites, ethnic minority brought from Crimea in 14th century. During free time try traditional Karaite dishes: broth and kybyns. Later continue to Kernave, where you climb a 5 mound complex, UNESCO site, and learn the story of the first capital of Lithuania. In Kernave museum you will see archeological findings and visualisations of the area. Travel to Kaunas to visit a museum of Lithuanian genius – painter and composer – M.K. Ciurlionis. Overnight in Kaunas.

 

DAY 4 Monday KAUNAS – BIRSTONAS – JUNIPER VALLEY  - KAUNAS Breakfast at the hotel. Morning to explore the second biggest city of Lithuania and country‘s capital between the World Wars.  Kaunas Old town: pass by the castle, Cathedral, wonderful churches, Town Hall square, Perkunas House. Walk the legendary Freedom avenue – a lovely tree-lines pedestrian street flanked by shops, cafes and restaurants. Learn about art deco influence to the city and one of the oldest still operating funiculars in the world. In the afternoon drive to Royal SPA resort Birstonas. Surrounded by pine tree forests, washed by the waters of biggest river in Lithuania Nemunas, famous for natural mineral water resources – Birstonas is a perfect place to relax and enjoy gifts of nature. You will pass by the central park, open air graduation pavilion, Kneipp garden, Mineral water pavilion “Birutes Vila”, Birstonas Kurhaus. The most enduring ones could climb the highest observation tower in Lithuania. On the way back to Kaunas, stop at Juniper valley. Selected as the most beautiful educational walkway in 2016, it continues to attract lots of visitors due to the panoramic views over Kaunas Lagoon, islands and uniqueness of 5 ha juniper wood itself. After the relaxing walk, return to Kaunas for overnight.

 

DAY 5 Tuesday KAUNAS – RAUDONDVARIS – VILKIJA – PANEMUNE – ZYPLIAI – KLAIPEDA Breakfast at the hotel. Day to explore rural Lithuania. First stop at Raudondvaris manor, which marks the start of one of the most picturesque roads of the country – Panemune Castle road. It runs along Nemunas river and is surrounded by mounds and lovely villages. In Vilkija you will have a chance to see a treasurer of local folk art – Antanas & Jonas Juskos ethnographic museum. Established in the oldest building of Vilkija region, former parish, dating  beginning of 18th century, it is run by woodcarver, artist A.Snieckus, his wife and presents local lifestyle, crafts in a very simple and authentic way. Afterwards continue to Renaissance era Panemune Castle. Enjoy impressive exterior and surrounding. Time to please not only your soul, but also body. Drive to Zypliai manor, where restaurant “Kuchmistrai” is located. You will be introduced to Lithuanian noble cuisine ( snacks, main dish, dessert and several local drinks). Drive to the only seaport of the country - Klaipeda for overnight. 

 

DAY 6 Wednesday KLAIPEDA – CURONIAN SPIT – PALANGA Breakfast at the hotel. You will take a ferry and travel to Curonian Spit – the pearl of Lithuania. In Juodkrante you will climb an authentic Hill of Witches,  decorated with numerous wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian legends and folk tales. In Nida you will see majestic continental sand dunes, unique wooden architecture, neo-gothic church and old ethnographic cemetery. When back to Klaipeda, learn about the town, which once was the capital of Prussia Kindgdom. Feel german spirit in the streets of the Old town, pass by the Theatre square with famous scupture of Ann from Tharau. Upon possibility visit amber shop. Continue to Palanga for overnight.

 

DAY 7 Thursday PALANGA Breakfast at the hotel. Morning tour of Palanga – summer capital of Lithuania. You will visit the Botanic Garden, Birute‘s Hill and the Amber museum, housing 25,000 pieces of amber. Explore wooden architecture and walk iconic Palanga Sea Peer. Free afternoon to enjoy the beach and resort life. Overnight in Palanga.

 

DAY 8 Friday PALANGA – COLD WAR MUSEUM – HILL OF CROSSES – VILNIUS  Breakfast at the hotel. Morning departure to Vilnius with en route stops at unique Cold War museum and Hill of Crosses. The Cold war museum is located in a former Soviet Nuclear missile base, built in 1960, in the middle of Zemaitija National park. A secret site 2010 was turned into a museum, presenting Cold War history, but the highlight is to poke a nose to the former missile bunkers. Later continue to the holy site of Catholic Piligrimage – The Hill of Crosses. This is an expression of a spontaneous religiousness of the people and is a symbol not of grief and death, but of Faith, Love ans Sacrifice. From here the Pope blessed people of Lithuania and Christian Europe. Late afternoon return to Vilnius. Overnight.

 

DAY 9 Saturday VILNIUS – AUKSTAITIJA NATIONAL PARK – VILNIUS. Today will have a chance to see the most interesting sights of Aukstaitija National park, also called the Switzerland of Lithuania. Visit Ancient beekeeping museum. Situated in a rustic cottage, it depicts the art of bee-keeping throughout the ages, as well as exploring its spiritual links. Items of interest include an oak tree once worshipped by pagans, hilarious carvings, elaborate hives and a couple of ingeniously menacing anti-bear traps (think rusty spikes on springs). The woodland surrounding the museum is currently home to seven swarms of bees, and a short trail makes for a scenic and interesting walk. Guests are welcome to sample their honey at the end of the visit. Afterwards stop at Ginuciai watermill and Ladakalnis viewing platform. Last but not least - taste Lithuanian specialty tree-cake or Sakotis and learn how it is being made. Return to Vilnius for overnight.

 

DAY 10 Sunday VILNIUS Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer to the airport. Departure.