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BALTIC FLY & DRIVE TOUR

Vilnius - Kaunas - Vente Cape - Klaipeda - Mezotne - Riga - Tartu - Narva - Lahemaa - Tallinn

15 days / 14 nights

Take your time and explore the Baltics in depth and at your own pace. The suggested itinerary combines all the atmosphere of bustling city life with the relaxation of a beautiful countryside full of amazing castles and manors.

Day 1: Arrive at Vilnius and pick up your car at the airport

Day 2: Vilnius

A day to explore Vilnius on your own. The historical Old Town of Vilnius with its Cathedral and the adjoining square, Vilnius University, one of the oldest universities in Eastern Europe, Pilies Street, with its 16^th –18^th historical and architectural monuments,

Gothic corner of Vilnius, with St Anne and Bernardine’s churches. The Old Town is a living museum where modern life and comfort go hand in hand with the picturesque charm of the Middle Ages. Take the time to visit a few of the many museums, art galleries and craft shops, go up Gediminas Hill for a panoramic view of the city and enjoy dining at one of many excellent restaurants catering to every taste.

Day 3: Vilnius - Trakai - Rumsiskes - Kaunas

Trakai, located 28 km from Vilnius, the ancient capital of Lithuania is now famous for its 15^th century island castle housing an exhibition on prehistoric artifacts and 17^th-18^th century applied arts depicting the way of life of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the Karaites, a Judaic sect brought by Grand Duke Vytautas from the Crimea.

Rumsiskes Country Life Village Museum offers you an understanding of rural 18^th- 19^th century architecture, traditions, crafts as well as the way of life of farmers of that period. The museum boasts a collection of old houses, farms, schools, pubs and mills representing the major regions of the country, complete with the vegetation specific to these regions.

Kaunas, the second largest town and once Lithuania’s capital has preserved its famous Old Town, with original museums, a pedestrian street, Freedom Avenue, just bustling with street vendors, musicians, and is full of cafes and souvenir shops.

Day 4: Kaunas - Raudondvaris - Jurbarkas - Vente Cape

Upon leaving Kaunas take the road along the Nemunas River dotted with Raudondvaris, Veliuona and Raudone castles.

In the Nemunas River Delta Park visit the bird banding station that has operated since 1929 keeping track of the many coastal migratory birds. Time permitting do not miss a lighthouse that has been working for more than 100 year and the Polder Museum.

Day 5: Vente Cape - Klaipeda

Klaipeda, Lithuania’s main town on the coast has a venerable history dating back to 1252 and differs greatly from inland cities, as it shows the influence of Germanic architecture of the Hanseatic period which is reflected in many of the lattice-work buildings. Interspersed between these buildings are narrow alleyways with attractive courtyards, art galleries, cafes and small boutiques. Browsing through these labyrinths in search of interesting art objects could take a whole day.

Day 6: Klaipeda - Curonian Spit - Klaipeda

After a short crossing of the Curonian Lagoon by ferry, you reach the Curonian Spit (UNESCO World Heritage site), a sandy stretch of land, 98 km long and varying in width from 400 m to just a few kilometres, between the waters of the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. A great holiday site, filled with the sweet scent of pines, water and fresh air. Formed some 6000 years ago as sand accumulated in shallow waters near the coast, it’s an extremely fascinating area today with its fishing villages developed as resorts; such as Juodkrante, famous for the Hill of Witches where one can see wooden statues of legendary heroes in a dense pine wood, or Nida, the resort of serene beauty, the main destination noted for its magnificent dunes 50-60 m high, the Lithuanian Sahara. The German writer Thomas Mann had a summer house built here which now houses a museum and has remained a meeting place for writers and intellectuals ever since.

Day 7: Klaipeda - Palanga - Hill of Crosses (near Siauliai) - Mezotne (Latvia)

Palanga, Lithuania’s prime sea resort, just 25 km from Klaipeda, is noted for the Amber Museum housed in the former mansion of Count Tyszkiewicz surrounded by an elegant park created by French arborist Andre. About 4,500 amber pieces are found on display in the 15 rooms of the museum. Visitors are familiarized with the formation, processing, practical application, and structural variations of amber. The museum has a wealth of amber pieces with trapped insects or plants, dating back millions of years as well as a collection of unique pieces of amber, and examples of fossilized tree resin brought from all over the world.

The Hill of Crosses near the Lithuanian-Latvian border is a unique place of national pilgrimage and an unforgettably emotional site. It is located 12 km north of Siauliai on the road to Meskuciai. Despite the frequent Soviets attempt to destroy the site, thousands of crosses stand on this sacred spot. The crosses, with their handwritten messages, reveal much about the history of the Lithuanian people and testify to their strong will and faith. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the site in 1993.

Mezotne village was made famous by Mezotne Palace built at the end of the 18^th century. A beautiful English style park, an exclusive hotel and a café await visitors today.

Day 8: Mezotne - Rundale - Bauska - Riga

Rundale Palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful baroque buildings in Latvia. It is located near the town of Bauska (66 km south of Riga). The palace built in the 18^th century is an outstanding example of the early work of Italian - Russian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli who also designed the famous Winter Palace in St.Petersburg. The professionally renovated palace interiors are decorated with authentic 18^th century furniture, paintings and china.

Bauska Castle, the medieval Livonian Order fortress, was built in the mid 15^th century. Ruins of the castle, a viewing tower and a small exposition on local history are open for a visit.

Day 9: Riga

Enjoy the beauty of this Hanseatic city. A stroll through the cobble-stone, picturesque streets of the Old Town will lead you to the Dome Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, the Old Guild House, Riga Castle, the Powder Tower, and the Opera House. Don’t miss the Art Nouveau architecture from the beginning of the 20^th century which made Riga the Art Nouveau Capital of Northern Europe.

Day 10: Riga - Sigulda - Gauja National Park - Cesis - Valmiera - Tartu (Estonia)

The city of Sigulda, often referred to as the Latvian Switzerland, marks the beginning of the Gauja National Park which includes the remains of Turaida Castle, the medieval cemetery, with the legendary grave of “Rose of Turaida,” sandstone grottoes and the Sculpture garden dedicated to Latvian Folklore.

Cesis, the heart of Vidzeme region, is a small friendly Hanseatic town with numerous yellow and white buildings dating back several centuries, 13^th century Castle ruins and the Church of St John.

Valmiera has an ancient castle and St Simon’s Church which is one of the oldest stone buildings in Latvia.

Tartu – Estonia’s intellectual and architectural centre- hosts the country’s main liberal arts university. Tartu has an impressive old quarter and many other fine sights worth seeing.

Day 11: Tartu - Peipsi Lake - Narva

Peipsi Lake, Estonia’s largest lake is the fifth largest lake in Europe. On the way to Narva worth a short visit are the small towns of Kalaste, Mustvee, and Vasknarva.

Narva, this ancient outpost, which skirts the river border between Estonia and Russia, is a place where the two cultures meet and mingle creating a fascinating mix of East and West. The gorgeous Narva Castle is a hallmark of the region testifying to northern Estonia’s rich and sometimes tragic history.

Day 12: Narva - Rakvere - Lahemaa Park

Rakvere is an ancient town which has preserved its castle dating from the 13^th century, ruins of a Franciscan monastery, 16^th century and several charming streets of late 19^th century buildings.

On the way to Estonia’s largest national park, you can stop to visit old fishermen villages: Vergi, Vosu, Kasmu, and Loksa.

Day 13: Lahemaa Park - Tallinn

Lahemaa Park is an interesting mix of coastal bluffs, dense forest, 7000 year old bogs, 18^th century manor houses, and numerous lakes, rivers and waterfalls that cascade down some 56m (184ft). Palmse manor is the showpiece of Lahemaa.

The 18^th century baroque house, open to the public, is filled with period furniture, and you can wander the landscaped grounds to see the 17^th century distillery, hotel and granary.

A few kilometers north of Palmse, on Käsmu Bay, are the old Soviet Coast Guard barracks, which now house a maritime museum with excellent exhibits on the Soviet era and the history of the village. The 400-year-old fishing hamlet of Altja, in the north-western corner of the park, has been beautifully preserved.

Day 14: Tallinn

Spend your day by acquainting yourself with many interesting sights in and around the city centre. The main attraction is the Old Town which is a compact maze of cobblestone streets, historical buildings and great views. The Old Town is easy to cover on foot. To fully appreciate medieval Tallinn, you might consider walking around the walls and fortifications. The city used to have 66 towers of which 19 remain. Some are restaurants or shops, other are offices.

Tallinn is full of museums, covering a range of fields from history and nature to art and architecture. For art lovers, museums show a range of established artists, but the city’s art scene is also alive with constantly changing exhibits in galleries and halls.

Day 15: Drop off your car at the airport. Departure

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