STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY The Baltics ESTONIA, LATVIA AND LITHUANIA June 16 to 27, 2014 a program of the stanford alumni association The indomitable spirit of the citizens of the Baltics never shone brighter than in June of 1988 when thousands of Estonians gravitated to their beloved Song Festival Grounds outside of Tallinn and spontaneously began singing patriotic songs and hymns. This peaceful protest against Soviet rule became the “Singing Revolution” and quickly spread to Latvia and Lithuania, eventually leading to their liberation from the Soviet regime. The Song Festival Grounds are just the first stop on our exploration of this “not-to-be-missed” historic region of Eastern Europe. Marvel at each capital’s Old Town, filled with medieval, Gothic and baroque architectural treasures; visit an ancient pagan site; soak up the pastoral scenery; and, of course, attend several musical performances! ST. ANNE’S CHURCH, BRETT S. THOMPSON, ’83, DIRECTOR, STANFORD TRAVEL/STUDY VILNIUS, LITHUANIA Highlights FERRY over to Estonia’s EXPLORE Riga’s PONDER the fates of Saaremaa Island, complete architecturally diverse Old thousands of Lithuanians with a medieval castle, Town, boasting the finest who were exiled to Siberia ancient windmills and a assemblage of art nouveau in Vilnius’ sobering KGB luxurious seaside hotel. structures in all of Europe. Museum. COVER: TALLINN, ESTONIA TALLINN, ESTONIA Tallinn SWEDEN Saaremaa ESTONIA Island Virtsu Kuressaare RUSSIA Riga LATVIA Baltic Rundale Sea Hill of Crosses LITHUANIA . Kernave BELARUS KALININGRAD Vilnius POLAND Trakai Finland’s many islands. Walking and note the vestiges of early Itinerary along the park’s lovely trails and paganism in symbols carved bogs, look for bear, moose, into the church’s ceiling. Visit MONDAY & TUESDAY, beaver, lynx and seabirds. Also the Angla Windmills and Lake JUNE 16 & 17 view hundreds of stone-covered Kaali, formed in ancient times U.S. / TALLINN, mounds that are remnants of by a small meteorite. Tour ESTONIA ancient settlements and the Bishop’s Castle, the best- Depart the U.S. on overnight 18th-century Palmse Manor preserved medieval castle in flights to Tallinn, Estonia. Upon House, once occupied by the Baltics. After dinner on our arrival, transfer to our hotel in German barons. SAVOY own, return to the castle for a the heart of the city’s Old Town. BOUTIQUE HOTEL (B,D) private musical performance. Gather this evening for a wel- GEORG OTS SPA HOTEL (B,L) come reception and dinner. FRIDAY, JUNE 20 SAVOY BOUTIQUE HOTEL (6/17: D) TALLINN / VIRTSU / SUNDAY, JUNE 22 MUHU ISLAND / SAAREMAA ISLAND / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 KURESSAARE, VIRTSU / RIGA, TALLINN SAAREMAA ISLAND LATVIA Visit the Song Festival Grounds, Board a ferry in Virtsu for Return by ferry to Virtsu for our site of the 1988 “Singing Estonia’s largest island, all-day overland journey to Riga, Revolution,” where Estonians Saaremaa. Inhabited for more capital of Latvia and largest first publicly demanded their than 5,000 years, Saaremaa city in the Baltics, enjoying the independence. Tour St. Brigit- has been home to pirates, pastoral Latvian countryside ta’s Convent and the Kadriorg knights, Germans, Danes, en route. Stop for an optional Park and Palace, built in 1718 Swedes and Russians. Today canoe ride and a picnic lunch by Peter the Great. After lunch, it’s famous for its bread, beer, in Gauja National Park and begin our city walk on Toompea windmills and spas. Stop for stroll through the Turaida Castle Hill and visit the Dome Church. lunch on Muhu Island and visit ruins. Arrive in Riga late this Explore Tallin’s Old Town, the Koguva Museum/Fishing afternoon and check in to our Eastern Europe’s best- Village. Arriving on Saaremaa delightful art nouveau hotel. preserved medieval town Island, transfer to our modern NEIBURGS HOTEL (B,L,D) center and a World Heritage spa and hotel in Kuressaare, site. This evening is at leisure. the island’s capital. GEORG OTS MONDAY, JUNE 23 SAVOY BOUTIQUE HOTEL (B,L) SPA HOTEL (B,L,D) RIGA Explore Riga’s Old Town, a THURSDAY, JUNE 19 SATURDAY, JUNE 21 World Heritage site with me- TALLINN / LAHEMAA KURESSAARE, dieval and Gothic architecture NATIONAL PARK SAAREMAA ISLAND and the finest collection of art Drive to the Lahemaa, or Land View the 13th- and 14th-century nouveau buildings in Europe. of Bays, set among the Gulf of stone carvings at Karja Church RUSSIA RUNDALE PALACE, LATVIA After a short organ concert, See the 16th-century Gates Optional Post-trip our speaker from the Latvian of Dawn; the Church of St. Fund of Nature Council brings Casimir, Vilnius’ oldest baroque Extension to Poland JUNE 27 TO JULY 4 us up to date on environmental church; and the intricate red ( 8 DAYS ) issues. Visit a famed café for brickwork at St. Anne’s Church, a taste of Latvia’s renowned built around 1500. Enjoy a lunch Visit the Old Town of Warsaw chocolate. Continue to the briefing by speakers from the and Chopin’s birthplace in Natural History Museum, then Lithuanian Fund for Nature and Z˙elazowa Wola. Explore take a look backstage at the the Ministry of Environment. the 700-year-old Wielicza Latvian National Opera House. Visit the Holocaust Museum Salt Mine, a World Heritage Tonight, schedule permitting, and the KGB Museum in the site, and visit Auschwitz. In attend an opera performance. former District Court Building. Kraków tour Wawel Castle; NEIBURGS HOTEL (B,L) RAMADA HOTEL AND SUITES VILNIUS Jagiellonian University; (B,L) Kazimierz, Kraków’s historically TUESDAY, JUNE 24 Jewish district; and Oscar RIGA / RUNDALE / THURSDAY, JUNE 26 VILNIUS / TRAKAI / Schindler’s factory. Travel to VILNIUS, LITHUANIA · Travel to the 18th-century KERNAVE Wrocław, a beautiful city of Rundale Palace, whose elegant Visit the town of Trakai, one of islands and canals. Admire rococo rooms were used as Lithuania’s first capitals. Travel the baroque Leopoldine Hall apartments, a school and a by boat to a small island on at historic Wrocław University granary during the 20th cen- Lake Galve to view a restored and explore Ostrów Tumski, tury. Enter Lithuania and stop castle that today houses a or “Cathedral Island,” with its at the Hill of Crosses where, Karaite house of prayer and an large concentration of medieval for 700 years, pilgrims have ethnography museum. Visit the churches. Additional details · planted crosses. Routinely torn World Heritage site of Kernave, and pricing will be sent to down by the Soviets, these Lithuania’s medieval capital, confirmed participants. crosses were replaced at night and check out the five intact by local artists and patriots. 13th- and 14th-century forts. Arrive in Vilnius and check in This evening enjoy a farewell to our hotel. RAMADA HOTEL AND cocktail reception and dinner. SUITES VILNIUS (B,L,D) RAMADA HOTEL AND SUITES VILNIUS (B,L,D) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 VILNIUS FRIDAY, JUNE 27 Vilnius is awash in Gothic, VILNIUS / U.S. baroque, Renaissance and This morning transfer to the neo-classical architecture. airport for flights back to the U.S. (B) HILL OF CROSSES, LITHUANIA RIGA, LATVIA ESTONIA Trip Information DATES private transfers Trip-cancellation/inter- June 16 to 27, 2014 (12 days) ruption and baggage insurance Excess- baggage charges Personal items such SIZE as internet access, telephone and fax calls, Limited to 35 participants laundry and gratuities for nongroup services COST* AIR ARRANGEMENTS $7,595 per person, double occupancy International and U.S. domestic airfare is not $8,495 per person, single occupancy included in the program cost. Round-trip, *Association nonmembers add $200 per person economy-class airfare from San Francisco to Tallinn, Estonia, and return from Vilnius, Lithuania, INCLUDED starts at approximately $1,550 as of September 10 nights of deluxe hotel accommodations 2013 and is subject to change without notice. 10 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 6 dinners Information on recommended flight itineraries Local beer and wine with included lunches will be sent by our designated agent. and dinners Welcome and farewell receptions with beer and wine Bottled WHAT TO EXPECT water on bus excursions and drives between We consider this program to be moderately cities Gratuities to guides and drivers for strenuous and at times physically demanding all group activities All tours and excursions and busy. Travelers should be prepared for as described in the itinerary Transfers and long walking tours, up to three miles in a day, baggage handling on program arrival and often on uneven terrain, such as cobblestoned departure days Minimal medical, accident streets. Tours may require spending several and evacuation insurance Educational hours on one’s feet and standing in one place program with lecture series and pre-departure at a time, such as during museum tours where materials, including recommended reading seats are not available. In many instances, list, a selected book, map and travel informa- guided tours require climbing up and down tion Services of our professional tour several flights of stairs where steps may be manager to assist you throughout the steep and uneven, and elevators may be program unavailable. Many sites and museums do not allow motorcoaches to pull directly in NOT INCLUDED front, thus requiring a walk of several minutes International and U.S. domestic airfare to reach the entrance. Participants must Passport and visa fees Immunization costs be physically fit, active and in good health. Meals and beverages other than those We welcome travelers 15 years of age and specified as included Independent and older on this program. SAAREMAA ISLAND, ESTONIA Terms & Conditions Deposit & Final Payment insurance will be mailed with your or in carrying out the arrangements of A $1,000 per-person deposit is confirmation about one week after the program. We cannot accept any required to hold your space on this we receive your deposit.