Day 1 (Tuesday):  Arrival Krakow

Arrival in Krakow, optional transfer to Hotel Novotel Centrum Krakow**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

Day 2 (Wednesday):  Krakow

For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets. The morning sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with the St. Mary’s Church, the Jagiellonian University, the Cloth Halls and Wawel with the Wawel Castle and the Wawel Cathedral. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offer an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.

Day 3 (Thursday): Krakow-Warsaw

We leave for Czestochowa, the spiritual heart of Poland, where we visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the Black Madonna. Through the flat low-laying plain of Central Poland we reach Warsaw in the early afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Novotel Centrum Warsaw**** or similar.

Day 4 (Friday): Warsaw

Warsaw is essentially a post-war city with a meticulously reconstructed Old Town. The morning sightseeing tour includes the Royal Route and the Old Town with the Royal Castle, St John’s Cathedral, the Old Town Market Square and the Barbican. In the afternoon is offered an optional excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park with the Palace on the Water.

Day 5 (Saturday): Warsaw

The morning offers an excursion to Zelozawa Wola, the romantic birthplace of the Polish composer and pianist, Frederyk Chopin, who played an exceptional role in shaping Polish national identity. The afternoon is reserved for exploring more of Warsaw’s secrets individually. The evening offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale.
Day 6 (Sunday): Warsaw-Vilnius
We continue through the well forested North Poland along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in the whole of Poland and continue into Lithuania to reach Kaunas, a genuine Lithuanian city. We take a stroll in the Old Town with its elegant Old Town Hall and Gothic cathedral. We continue eastwards and arrive soon in Vilnius. Check in at Hotel Reval Lietuva**** or similar.

Day 7 (Monday): Vilnius

Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas.

Day 8 (Tuesday):  Vilnius-Riga

Heading for Riga, the first stop is the Hills of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia we soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga late afternoon, check-in at Hotel Reval Latvija**** or similar.

Day 9 (Wednesday): Riga

Before we get acquainted with Riga we have the possibility of discovering medieval Latvia. The optional tour for this morning takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida, and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers and optional visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a spacious exposition of 18th century country life. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Day 10 (Thursday): Riga

Riga founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches.  In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.

Day 11 (Friday): Riga-Tallinn

The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue  through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon,  check-in at the Hotel Reval Olympia**** or similar.

Day 12 (Saturday): Tallinn

Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the medieval Old Town Hall.  In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park with a visit to the Kadriorg Palace and its art collections. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

Day 13 (Sunday): Tallinn Departure

Optional transfer to the airport.