CULTURAL-HISTORICAL BALTIC BALTIC UNESCO HERITAGE 10 days/9 nights

The region of the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea is one of the richest in historical vicissitudes, where the fate of many nations, religious views and traditions intertwined. The territory, which has Day 1. Arrival in Tallinn become a bridge between civilizations, cultures and peoples, keeps Tallinn is on the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to its many centuries of secrets and, revealing them to an interested perfectly preserved medieval Old Town. The cityscape of the traveler, helps to look deeper into yourself and your picture of the modern Estonian capital impresses with a strange juxtaposition world. Three small republics on the shores of the Baltic Sea have of late Gothic and high-tech. had a history of their national independence since 1918 and have Arrival of the group in Tallinn. Meeting with the accompanying brought three unique components to the treasury of the world English speaking tour guide. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in the hotel. culture. We hope that our programs will help to come to a greater City tour and tour of the surroundings: Old Town’s protective trust and understanding of other people, to make the world closer walls with towers, Opera house, Sea promenade, ruins of the and friendlier, and of course, will make your vacation interesting Pirita Convent, the Song Festival Grounds. and eventful. Old Town tour: the Lower Town with St. Mary's Cathedral, historic city center and the Old Town, which have been on the Parliament House, Cathedral School, Orthodox Alexander Nevski UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. Cathedral, viewing platform, garden of the Danish King, the City tour and walking tour in . Tour of the Old Town with a Lower Town with St. Nikolai Church, Holy Spirit Church, Great visit to the organ concert in the Riga Dome Cathedral, sightseeing Guild House, Town Hall. Night at hotel in Tallinn of the Black Head House, St. Peter's Church, St. Jacob's Church, Parliament Building, , etc. (outside). Visit to the Central market halls with tasting of the country specialties. Visit to the historic city center with the Art Nouveau streets. Night at hotel in Riga.

Day 4. Riga-Rundale-Hill of Crosses-Klaipeda

Day 2. Tallinn-Pärnu-Riga

Day 3. Riga The capital of , the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals, a Departure to the Zemgale region, to Rundale. Visit to the Baroque recognized European Art Nouveau pearl, fascinates with its castle of the Dukes of Courland, built by Bartholomeo Rastrelli. Continuation to . Stop at the Hill of Crosses, a pilgrimage site of international importance and an important UNESCO object. Continuation via Schiauliai to Klaipeda, formerly Memel. Old Town tour in Klaipeda. Night at hotel in Klaipeda.

Day 7. City tour and city tour in Vilnius. The Lithuanian capital is located where several cultures meet. It Day 5. Klaipeda-Curonian Spit-Klaipeda is by right included into the UNESCO World Heritage list. As the Full day excursion to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World most northern in Europe baroque town, Vilnius astonishes by Heritage Site. Small hike to the high dune, visit to the Thomas architectural perfection of sacred buildings. The harmony of Mann house, visit to the Amber gallery with the possibility to several cultures gives the city a unique gloss. City tour and make an amber amulet. Visit the largest colony of gray walking tour: the Gate of Dawn with the Chapel of the Madonna cormorants in the country. Visit to the Witches' Mountain in to Vilnius, St. Anna Church, St. Bernard Church, Peter and Paul Juodkrante. Church, the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Ladislaus, the Vilnius Night at hotel in Klaipeda. University, the Town Hall Square, the Jewish Quarter etc. Night at hotel in Vilnius. Day 6. Klaipeda-Kaunas-Vilnius Departure to Kaunas, the provisional capital of Lithuania in the interwar period in the Modern style, which was nominated for the UNESCO list. Sightseeing. Continuation to Vilnius. Night at hotel in Vilnius.

Day 8. Vilnius-Grodno (Belarus, VISA FREE) Ride to Grodno (Republik of Belarus). City tour and city tour in Grodno, one of the historical centers of Old Russia and the medieval Grand Duchy of Lithuania. City tour and walking tour in the historic center of Grodno. Visit to the 12th century church, Day 9. Grodno – Trakai - Vilnius which was nominated for the UNESCO list. Return to Lithuania. Ride to Trakai. Guided tour of the Trakai Transfer to the Korobchitsy manor, where after a welcome with Island castle - the medieval residence of the Grand Dukes of bread and a traditional drink, guests will enjoy a medieval Lithuania, which was also nominated for the UNESCO cultural romance with the local flavor during a costumed activity with a list. Continuation to Vilnius. horse ride. Dinner in the restaurant on the estate with a folklore Night at hotel in Vilnius. chapel. Transfer to the hotel. Day 10. Departure of the group Night at hotel in Grodno. Depending on the departure time: leasure time in Vilnius, transfer to the Vilnius Airport. Farewell to the Baltic tour guide. Return flight of the group. THE SILVER BELT OF OLD LIVONIA 7 days / 6 nights

Day 1: Riga International Airport - Riga / city center Transfer from the Riga International Airport to the Hotel in the center of the Latvian capital. Guided city tour in the Old Town (a bird's-eye view from the tower of St.Petri Church, the Riga Cathedral, St.Jacobi Church, the Day 2: Riga - Saulkrasti - Liepupe Breakfast in the hotel restaurant. building complex Three Brothers, the Swedish Gate, medieval A ride to the Baltic Sea coast. A visit the White Dune in Saulkrasti architecture, narrow streets and sidewalks). - a sandstone formation that was formed around 400 million Park on the city canal, the house of the National Opera, the years ago. From the 18 m high dune you have a wonderful view Freedom Monument etc. of the Riga Bay. The legend tells that here, on the White Dune, the Art Nouveau architecture, visit to the Riga Art Nouveau Museum. Russian Empress Catherine the Great stopped on her Livonia trip Night at the hotel in Riga. and planted lime trees in the area. Visit to the Museum of the Lies Baron of Münchhausen. Night at the Liepupe manor from the 18th century

Day 3: Liepupe - Limbaži - Cesis - Ungurmuiza (Orellen Day 4: Dikli - Tartu - Vihula () estate) - Dikli Breakfast in the manor's restaurant. Breakfast in the manor's restaurant. Departure to Tartu Visit to the "Living Silver Museum" in Limbaži. City tour with sightseeing of the university town of Tartu (the The castle ruins and lookout tower in Limbaži. Cathedral mountain, the Old Town, the water feature "Kiss under Ride to Cesis, the former Livonian Order center Wenden. Visit to the umbrella", the University of Tartu). Continue to the Lahemaa the Order castle ruins, the New castle of the Count von Sievers, National Park. the St.Johns church (13th century). Leasure time at Vihula Manor, where guests are offered to visit a Ride to the Orellen Manor (Ungurmuiza). It is the only surviving SPA complex, the museum and various activities. wooden baroque-style architectural ensemble from the 18th Night at the Vihula Manor. century with unusual frescoes. Ride to the Dikli manor. Night at the Dikli manor.

Day 6: Tallinn In the morning - the Old Town tour: the Upper Town Toompea with St. Mary's Cathedral, the Parliament House, Cathedral School, Orthodox Alexander Nevski Cathedral, a viewing platform, the garden of the King of Denmark, the Lower Town with St. Nikolai Church, Holy Spirit Church, Great Guild house, the Town Hall etc. Afternoon: the city tour and tour of the surroundings - the Old Town wall with defense towers, the Opera house, the Sea promenade, the Ruins of the Pirita Convent, the Song Festival Grounds, the baroque palace of the wife of the Russian Tsar Peter I in Kadriorg. Night at hotel in Tallinn.

Day 5: Vihula - - - Tallinn Breakfast in the manor's restaurant. Excursion to the : A ride through the Sagadi Manor to Palmse. Visit to the manor house and the Palmse manor. Delicious house wine tasting in the wine cellar of the manor house. Continuation to Tallinn. Night at hotel in Tallinn.

Day 7: Departure from Tallinn Airport Transfer to the airport. Departure of the guests. BALTIC CAPITALS IN ROYAL SPLENDOR 13 days / 12 nights

Day 1: Arrival of the group in Kaliningrad (Königsberg) Day 2: Kaliningrad-Curonian Spit-Klaipeda (Lithuania) The journey into the glorious history begins with a tour in the Along the historic postal road it goes over the Curonian Spit to Historic center of the former residence city. The old and new Memel (today Klaipeda). On the way a stop in the resort of Nida, have closely intertwined here. However, the Second World War a visit to the hiking dune and a visit to the Thomas Mann House. was ruthless towards this city. A visit to the preserved and Short guided tour of the Old town in Klaipeda with a visit to the restored objects of the world history and culture: the Cathedral, famous Ännchen von Tharau monument. Immanuel Kant’s grave, the Amber museum, the renovated Night at hotel in Klaipeda. towers and gates of the historical fortifications. Night at hotel in Kaliningrad.

Excursion to the Trakai Historical National Park: sightseeing of the Trakai Island castle - the medieval residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Return to Vilnius. Night at hotel in Vilnius.

Day 3: Vilnius Departure to Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital. The Lithuanian capital is located where several cultures meet. It is by right included into the UNESCO World Heritage list. As the most northern European baroque town, Vilnius astonishes by architectural perfection of sacred buildings. The harmony of several cultures gives the city a unique gloss. City tour and walking tour in Vilnius with a visit to the Palace of the Grand Day 5: Vilnius - Hill of Crosses - Rundale Baroque Castle - Dukes of Lithuania, the Cathedral of St.Stanislaus and St. Riga (Latvia) Ladislaus, where several rulers of the Polish-Lithuanian state Departure to Latvia. On the way a visit to the Hill of Crosses - a were crowned, the chapel of St. Casimiras, the burial place of the special pilgrimage site of UNESCO importance. Continuation to canonized king’s son, the Gediminas mountain with the ruin of Latvia, Zemgale region. A visit to the Baroque pearl in Rundale - the castle of the Lithuanian Grand dukes, etc. the castle of the Curonian Duke E.J. Biron based on the project by Night at hotel in Vilnius. Bartholomeo Rastrelli. A ride to Riga. Night at hotel in Riga. Day 4: Vilnius - Trakai - Vilnius Continuation of the city tour in Vilnius: the pearl of the Baroque, the Church of St.Peter and St. Paul, the ensemble of the National University founded by King Stefan Bathory. the boulevard ring, Art Nouveau streets. A short Piccolo organ concert in the Riga Cathedral. Night at hotel in Riga.

Day 7: Riga-Pärnu-Tallinn (Estonia) Departure to Tallinn along the historic Hanseatic Road. Short stop in Pärnu, the former Hanseatic city, which can remember several royal visits. Arrival in Tallinn. Night at hotel in Tallinn.

Day 8: Tallinn At the place where the Estonian capital is today, according to the

legend, Danish Danneborg fell in the hands of King Waldemar II Day 6: Riga from heaven. A tour in the Old Town: the Upper Town with St. Mighty rulers in Europe have often tried to make their own plans Mary's Cathedral, the Parliament House, Cathedral school, for Riga. But the proud Hanseatic city always had its own Orthodox Alexander Nevski Cathedral, a viewing platform, the character. garden of the King of Denmark; the Lower Town with St. Nikolai City tour and walking tour of the Old Town in Riga: St. Mary's Church, Holy Spirit Church, Great Guild house, the Town Hall etc. Cathedral, the House of the Blackheads, St. Peter's Church, the Guild houses, the Parliament building, the Freedom Monument, City tour in Tallinn: the Opera house, Sea promenade, the Ruins of the Pirita Convent, the Song Festival Grounds, the baroque palace of the wife of the Russian tsar Peter I in Kadriorg. Night at hotel in Tallinn.

Day 11: St.Petersburg and Petershof Morning: Visit to the Ermitage Museum in the Winter Palace Afternoon: boat trip to Petershof, tour of the parks with beautiful water features, visit of the Grand Palace. Return to St.Petersburg by coach. Day 9: Tallin-St.Petersburg (Russia) Night at hotel in St.Petersburg. Departure to Narva, to the border crossing. Continuation to St.Petersburg. Day 12: St.Petersburg and Tsarskoye Selo Night at hotel in St.Petersburg. Excursion to Tsarskoye Selo to the summer residence of Tsarin Day 10: St.Petersburg Katarina II the Great. Residence of the Russian emperor, the northern capital of Russia Visit to the Palace of the Russian empress Catherine with the and the Venice of the north. Full day city tour of St.Petersburg, Amber Room. including: Peter Paul Fortress, Isaac's Cathedral etc. Return to St. Petersburg by bus. Overnight at hotel in St.Petersburg. Day 13: Departure Transfer from hotel to the International airport. Departure of the group. NEW DISCOVERY OF LATVIA Day 2: Riga-Daugavpils Departure from the hotel to Daugavpils (Dünaburg), the capital 7 days / 6 nights of the region Latgale. Sightseeing tour in Daugavpils, visit to the

Schmakovka museum to learn about the preparation technology

of the traditional local drink, with a tasting. Day 1: Arrival in Riga Night at hotel in Daugavpils The capital of Latvia is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and a recognized European Art Nouveau pearl. It fascinates with its historic city center and the Old Town, which have been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. Meeting with the English speaking local guide at the airport. City tour and walking tour of the Old Town in Riga: St. Mary's Cathedral, House of the Blackheads, St. Peter's Church, St. Jacob's Church, Parliament building, Freedom Monument, the Art Nouveau district (outside). Night at hotel in Riga

Day 3: Daugavpils and surroundings Guided tour of Dunaburg Fortress - the last fortress built in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. Visit to the color field painting in the Marc Rotko art museum located in the fortress. Ride to Aglona, the most important Catholic center in Latvia, which is proud of two visits by the in 1993 and 2018. Visit to the Basilica. Return to Daugavpils. Night in hotel in Daugavpils

Night at hotel in Liepāja

Day 4: Daugavpils –Bauska -Rundale-Jelgava Drive to the Zemgale region. Ruins of the Livonian Order and the castle in Bauska (outside). Guided tour of the Baroque palace with park of the Courlandes duke in Rundale. Continuation to Jelgava, the regional capital Zemgale. Walking tour in Jelgava. Night at hotel in Jelgava

Day 5: Jelgava - Liepaja Ride to the Kurzeme region. On the way short city tour in the city of Saldus. Arrival in Liepaja. City tour in Liepaja - the city where, according to the city anthem, "the wind is born". City tour "on the notes" (the promenade, the concert hall "The Great Amber", the Trinity Church with the largest mechanical organ in the world). Tour of the Karosta district - a unique historical site on the Baltic Sea coast, which retains traces of the militaristic activities of different times and powers: the North mole, detention center for soldiers, the Orthodox Naval Cathedral, etc. BALTIC MOSAIC: COUNTRY AND PEOPLE 8 days / 7 nights

Day 1: Vilnius Daily specials: Cepelinai A Lithuanian national dish of potatoes, meat, speck and sour cream

Arrival of the group to Vilnius. Meeting with the accompanying English speaking tour guide. Transfer to the hotel. Orientation trip through the city. Night at hotel in Vilnius. Day 6: Liepaja - Kuldiga -Riga

Ride to Kuldiga, the widest waterfall in Europe Ventas Rumba. Sightseeing. Continuation to Riga. Night at hotel in Riga

Day 7: Departure of the group

Check out. Transfer to Riga Airport. Departure of the group

Day 2: Trakai, the Karaite capital Day 3: Vilnius - Pakrojis - Rundale – Riga Daily specials: Kibinai Daily specials: Puff dessert of rye bread A national Karaite dish with lamb stuffing A dessert from the Latvian national cuisine made of

rye bread, whipped cream and currants

Guided city tour and walking tour in Vilnius: the Gate of Dawn Visit to the former Pakruojis manor. with the chapel of the Madonna to Vilnius, St. Anna Church, St. The manor, first mentioned in the 16th century, belonged to the Bernard Church, Peter and Paul Church, the Cathedral of St. von Ropp noble family in the 19th century. Guests can Stanislaus and Ladislaus, the Vilnius University, the Town Hall interactively explore life on the 19th century manor on a guided Square, the Jewish quarters etc. tour. After the visit, a typical lunch with a tasting of traditional Excursion to Trakai, the medieval residence of the Grand Duke of beer is offered. Lithuania located in the National Park; visit to the Island Castle. Currently, the town of Trakai is considered the unofficial capital of one of the Lithuanian minority - Karaites. Possibility to take a lunch in the traditional Karaite restaurant. Back to Vilnius

Transfer to Latvia. The Palace of Duke of Courland Biron in Rundale, built by architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli, is an outstanding monument of baroque and rococo architecture in Latvia. Tour of the Palace (museum). Transfer to Riga. Overnight stay at a hotel in Riga

Day 4: Riga traditional food of Latvian culinary specialists Daily specials: “Man’s kiss” and Overnight stay at a hotel in Riga. “Woman’s kiss” Sprats in traditional strong or tender Day 5: Riga-Tartu marinade in Latvian style – with potato or Daily specials: Salad with beans and on bread as smoked chicken meat a sandwich Latvian national recipe

Visit the Art Nouveau houses in the historic city center. Visit to the Latvian Open Air Museum. Lunch in a typical tavern. Continuation through the area of the Gauja National Park, via Cesis and Valmiera to Tartu (Estonia). Tartu is the oldest city of three Baltic countries situated in the south of Estonia. The former Hanseatic city is at the same time the city of museums and university traditions. A tour of the Old Town and the early Gothic St. John’s church (14th century) with its more than 1000 preserved terracotta sculptures and a visit to the National Museum, which opened in 2016, is an absolute must for city visitors. Overnight stay at a hotel in Tartu. Riga, the capital of Latvia - the largest of the three Baltic capitals and recognized pearl of the Art Nouveau - delights by its historical centre and Old Town, which were included into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Sightseeing and walking tour of the Old Town with a visit to St. Mary’s Dome Cathedral, external tour of the House of the Blackheads, churches of St. Peter and St. Jacob, Parliament (Saeima) building, Monument to Freedom etc. Tour of the pavilions with tasting of local products and

Day 6: Tartu –Tallinn Daily specials: fish, fresh fished from Lake Peipus, in the old-believers style

Old town tour in Tartu. Visit to the Estonian National Museum Tartu. The conceptual idea of the National Museum has taken 10 years to mature, and now the museum, which was built with European co-financing, surprises with its technical solutions, as well as with the exhibition, which has the motto “Land.Volk. Culture. ”Haunted the destiny of the Estonian people and other Finnish-Ugric peoples through thousends of years. Continue to Lake Peipus, through the old believers' villages on the "Onion Route". The Old Believers are a national minority in Estonia located along the shores of Lake Peipus. This population group is characterized by its traditional lifestyle, which is due to the traditional Old Orthodox belief, the use of the Old and traditional clothing. The area has been confirmed to be particularly suitable for growing an agricultural crop - onion. This gave rise to the name “Onion Route”. Lunch break in the fish and onion restaurant. Visit to the Old Believers 'Visitors' Center. Get to know traditional crafts and participate in a master class. Continuation to Tallinn via Mustvee, Rakvere. Overnight stay at hotel in Tallinn.

Day 7: Tallinn Daily specials: “Kama” A traditional Estonian dessert, prepared from flour mixture of rye, wheat, barley and pea

Tallinn, the medieval Hansa city in the past and modern capital of the Estonian state nowadays, wonderfully combines late Gothic and high-tech. Perfectly preserved medieval Tallinn’s Old Town has been included into the list of UNESCO World Heritage treasures. Tour of the Old Town: the Upper Town, Toompea (the Dome Cathedral, House of Parliament (Riigikogu), School of the Dome Cathedral, Orthodox St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Danish King’s Garden and a viewing point); the Lower Town (St. Nicholas church, the Holy Spirit Church, Guild Houses, Town Hall, Town Hall Square). Sightseeing tour of the city and near surroundings: the medieval Town Wall with towers, Opera House, Promenade, St. Brigitta Convent ruins, Kadriorg, Song Festival Grounds. In the afternoon - visit to the Lennusadam Maritime Museum (seaplane port). Among other things, there is the submarine of the Estonian Navy Lembit, which survived the Second World War and was in the water for the longest - 75 years. The submarine can be viewed Day 7: Departure of the group from Tallinn from the inside. Overnight stay at hotel in Tallinn. Transfer to the airport, say goodbye to the Baltic guide, return flight to the group. Departure of the guests.