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EXETER ESSENTIAL SELF-DRIVE in the BALTICS: LITHUANIA, LATVIA

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EXETER ESSENTIAL SELF-DRIVE in the BALTICS: LITHUANIA, LATVIA EXETER ESSENTIAL SELF-DRIVE In THE BALTICS: LITHUANIA, LATVIA AND ESTONIA 2020 White Glove Self-Drive Programs Include: *A pre-programmed GPS system for you to use while in Europe. Every pre-planned sight will be programmed into the GPS. Just click and go! *24-hour local help line, available to you as you travel and manned exclusively by Exeter local staff. *Our expert advice in finding the perfect car for your trip. Your car will be waiting for you to pick up locally and we’ll show you exactly where to return it when you are finished. *The freedom to deviate and explore on your own and then jump back into your planned itinerary at any time. Itinerary at a glance: Day 1 Arrival into Vilnius Day 2 Vilnius Sightseeing Day 3 Vilnius at Leisure Day 4 Vilnius -- Klaipeda Day 5 Klaipeda at Leisure Day 6 Klaipeda – Riga Day 7 Riga Sightseeing Day 8 Riga at Leisure Day 9 Riga – Gauja National Park Day 10 Gauja National Park -- Muhu Island Day 11 Muhu Island at Leisure Day 12 Muhu Island -- Tallinn Day 13 Tallinn Day 14 Departure from Tallinn Why Exeter International? Our Knowledge & Experience At Exeter International we have been creating memories and crafting custom-designed journeys for 27 years. We are a team of specialists committed to providing the best travel experiences in our destinations. Each of our experts has either travelled extensively on reconnaissance trips, or has lived in their area of expertise, giving us unparalleled first-hand knowledge. Because we focus on specific parts of the globe, we return to the same destinations many times, honing our experience over the years. Hand-Selected Guides We know that guides are one of the most important components of any travel experience. That is why we only use local experts who have a history of working with our guests and whom we know personally. We are extremely particular in selecting our guides and are confident that they will be one of the most memorable aspects of any of our trips. Authentic & Extraordinary Experiences Our Extraordinary Experiences are different, unusual, and not something easily googled. We also know how important it is to remain authentic. Going beyond the obvious is becoming increasingly important to our guests, and we focus on developing experiences that enrich and enhance both head and heart. We also recognize that the obvious sights are still popular, and we make every effort to skip lines whenever possible, therefore maximizing time in each destination. Original Custom Programs, Meticulously Planned Our experts speak your language both literally and culturally. Our advice and recommendations are impartial, honest, and always have the individual in mind. We save valuable time in pre-trip research and offer smooth and effortless touring in each destination. Our planning is detailed, and we think of everything, including restaurant reservations. You will also have complete peace of mind on the ground with 24-hour local support. Quality Vehicles We use late-model luxury vehicles, often Mercedes, Audi, BMW, or Volkswagen, depending on the size of the vehicle you need. The only exception to this is in some Central Asian countries that use vehicles predominantly from Japan. DAY 1 Arrival in Vilnius Arrival to Vilnius airport where you will be met by your Exeter International driver to transfer you to your hotel in the historic center of the city. Your hotel is the finest in Vilnius, the Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius, recently opened in the center of the city and within walking distance of all the major sights. Please note that no airfare is included in your trip cost. Vilnius Old Town boasts outstanding architectural diversity in one of the largest and best-preserved old towns in Europe. This UNESCO World Heritage site is filled with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque masterpieces. Narrow medieval streets, secluded courtyards, town castles and fortifications and an incredible number of churches reflect the city’s rich and vibrant history. This afternoon, you will meet your Exeter guide in the lobby of your hotel for an overview waking tour of Vilnius Old Town. You will visit Gediminas Castle Museum, the Cathedral Square and the Vilnius Cathedral and the Royal Palace. You will return to your hotel for an evening at your leisure. Special Note: All touring today is on foot and you will largely be in pedestrian only areas. Please wear comfortable footwear. Exeter Services Transfer; Half-Day Guide (4 Hours) Hotel Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius DAY 2 Vilnius This morning your guide will continue your walking tour of Vilnius’ Old Town with you. If you are interested, you can visit the Amber Gallery and Museum which explains the origins and history of this precious material and exhibits amber of various sizes, forms and color. Exhibitions of works of art from amber are constantly held at the museum’s gallery. Amber jewelry of modern and classical design is available for purchase as well. A tour of the Old Town is not complete without a visit to Vilnius University, founded in 1570 by Jesuits and one of the most important centers of the Counter-Reformation. The observatory tower dates back to 1569 and the library contains nearly 5 million volumes, making it the richest collection of Lithuanian books and one of the best-known libraries in Eastern Europe. Also in the Old Town, you will see the Presidential Palace, which has been the official seat of Lithuania’s President since 1997. A flag displaying the coat of arms of the President is hoisted when the President is in the Palace and in Vilnius. You will also see the Gothic St. Anne’s Church, which was originally built for the Catholic Germans and other visiting Catholics. The present brick church was constructed in the late 15th century at its exterior has remained almost unchanged since then. St. Anne's Church is part of a complex including the much larger Gothic Church of St. Francis and a monastery. This afternoon meet your driver for a visit to the moving Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, which was opened in 1992 in the former KGB headquarters. The museum is the only one of its kind in the former Soviet republics. The execution chamber in the basement, where more than a thousand prisoners were killed between 1944 and the early 1960s, can also be visited. The Museum stirred a bit of controversy by renaming itself somewhat misleadingly a Museum of Genocide Victims (it does not include much about the Holocaust.) Finally, you will visit the Renaissance Palace of the Radziwills, who were for centuries one of the most influential and powerful Polish-Lithuanian princely families. The current building was erected in the middle of the 17th century but was partially destroyed in the following wars and remained mostly neglected for centuries. It was further devastated during World War I when only the northern wing of the palace survived. It was restored in the 1980s and is now a branch of the Lithuanian Art Museum. Return to hotel and enjoy at evening at leisure. Special Note: Some touring today is on foot and you will largely be in pedestrian only areas. Please wear comfortable footwear. If you are tired at any time, your guide can arrange for taxi service on the spot and you can pay locally. Exeter Services Half-Day Vehicle & Driver (4 Hours); Full-Day Guide (8 Hours) Hotel Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius DAY 3 Vilnius At Leisure This morning you will pick up your rental car from the downtown location near your hotel. Today is the perfect opportunity to explore some of the locations around Vilnius. Please note the cost of the rental car is not included. Rental costs are based on your individual vehicle needs. We suggest stopping in Trakai, about 20 miles west of the city. Trakai, the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is situated amidst picturesque lakes, the largest of which – Galve - has over 20 islands. It is best known for its captivating 14th Century fairytale castle which was presumably one of the largest in Lithuania of those times and served as residence for a number of Lithuanian rulers before the insular castle was constructed a short distance away on an island of Lake Galve. The Castle Museum offers a view into Lithuania’s past, when Trakai ruled an empire from the Baltics to the Black Sea. The Tartars, once part of this empire’s royal bodyguards, still live in Trakai today. Trakai was also home to a large Karaite community. The origin of the Karaites is very interesting. Some scholars link them to the Khazars, Turkic people that converted to Judaism in the eighth century while others view them as descendants of the Karaite Jews who lived in Crimea. They were brought to Lithuania by Grand Duke Vytautas from the Crimea and served as his bodyguards. Today you may visit the Karaites' house of worship, called kenesa, and a museum of Karaite culture. After you tour Trakai, we suggest you stop at the city of Paneriai, which was once a quiet small suburb before being turned into a mass-murder site by the Nazis in World War II. Nowadays, the entrance to the Paneriai memorial complex is marked by three stone slabs with inscriptions in Russian, Lithuanian and Hebrew honoring the memory of the hundred thousand who perished here. Exeter Services None (Self-drive) Hotel Grand Hotel Kempinski Vilnius DAY 4 Vilnius – Klaipeda Today you will make your way towards Klaipeda. On the way you may wish to stop in the town of Kaunas. Arrive into Klaipeda this afternoon where you will meet your guide for an introductory walking tour of the town.
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