Poland – The Baltic States – Russia (16 days/15 nights)
DAY 4 – WARSAW
Half day tour of Warsaw including visit to the Old Town with the charming Market Square, the Saint John’s Cathedral, the Castle Square with the Royal Castle, the monuments of the Jewish ghetto, the Great Theatre and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy the atmosphere of the city or shopping. Overnight in Warsaw.
DAY 5 – WARSAW – MIKOLAJKI – VILNIUS
Departure from Warsaw for Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. On the way, stop at Mikołajki, a picturesque resort town located in the Masurian Lake District. Continuation to Vilnius. Arrival and accommodation in Vilnius.
DAY 6 – VILNIUS – TRAKAI – VILNIUS
Panoramic tour of the city of Vilnius including visit to the Old Town inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. In the afternoon excursion to Trakai, the most famous castle in Lithuania. Overnight in Vilnius.
DAY 7 – VILNIUS – HILL OF CROSSES – RUNDALE – RIGADeparture in the morning towards Riga. En-route stop at the mysterious Hill of Crosses – a major site of the Catholic pilgrimage in Lithuania. Continuation to Riga. In Latvia stop and visit to the famous Rúndale Palace. Short panoramic tour upon arrival in Riga and overnight.
DAY 8 – RIGA – PARNU – TALLINN
Tour of the city of Riga, known as the “Paris of the North”. Once we reach the old town we will see the Dome Cathedral, the Saint Peter’s Church and the panoramic tower, the old Medieval Castle, the Blackheads House, the buildings of the old guilds, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, Parliament and many other buildings converted into restaurants, pubs and souvenir shops. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum of Latvia. In the afternoon continuation of the trip along the Baltic coast to Parnü, Estonian summer capital where we will make a short stop. Arrival and accommodation in Tallinn.
DAY 9 – TALLINN
In the morning tour of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. We will see the Tallinn Cathedral, the Kadriorg Park, the Town Hall. In the afternoon transfer and tour of the Kadriorg area including visit to the Kadriorg Palace and Gardens. Overnight in Tallinn.
DAY 10 – TALLINN – SAINT PETERSBURG
In the morning departure for Saint Petersburg, the famous Russian city located on 44 islands. Short panoramic tour of the city upon arrival. Overnight in Saint Petersburg.
DAY 11 – SAINT PETERSBURG
Half day tour of Saint Petersburg including The Saints Peter and Paul Fortress and Cathedral; walk along the famous “Nevsky” Avenue; the Palace Square with the Alexander Column; the Winter Palace; the Arts Square and the Kazan Cathedral. In the afternoon visit to the Catherine’s Palace. Overnight in Saint Petersburg.
DAY 12 – SAINT PETERSBURG
Visit to the State Hermitage Museum: one of the largest art galleries and museums of antiquities in the world. In the afternoon visit to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, one of the most characteristic monuments of the city. Overnight in Saint Petersburg.
DAY 13 – SAINT PETERSBURG – MOSCOW
Departure for Moscow, the capital of Russia. Short panoramic tour of the city upon arrival. Overnight in Moscow.
DAY 14 – MOSCOW
The tour of Moscow including the Vorobyovy Gory (Sparrow Hills), the University of Moscow – an example of Stalinist architecture, the Victory Park and the Triumphal Arch. Overnight in Moscow.
DAY 15 – MOSCOW
Visit to the Kremlin, the political center of Russia and one of the city’s major tourist attractions. We will see the Salvador Tower, Red Square, Lenin’s Mausoleum and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Overnight in Moscow.
DAY 16 – MOSCOW / Departure
Transfer to the airport. End of services.
DAY 1 – KRAKOW
Arrival in Krakow. Check-in and overnight.
DAY 2 – KRAKOW
In the morning sightseeing tour of Krakow. For much of its history Krakow was the country’s capital and it still is the heart of Poland for many Poles. The tour will feature the most prominent buildings in the city: the Royal Castle (admission included) and the Cathedral on Wawel Hill; the medieval city (the Old Town) with its beautiful market square, one of the largest in Europe and dozens of old churches and museums; the 14th century buildings of the Jagiellonian University and the Gothic Basilica of Saint Mary (entrance included), built in the 14th century, with the famous wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss. Free afternoon to enjoy the atmosphere of the city or shopping.
Optional: excursion to the UNESCO-listed Salt Mines in Wieliczka – a 300 km long maze of galleries and corridors carved out of salt and forming one of the greatest tourist attractions in Poland. Overnight in Krakow.
DAY 3 – KRAKOW – AUSCHWITZ – CZESTOCHOWA – WARSAW
In the morning transfer to Oświęcim village to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. Built by the Nazis in 1940, it became the place of extermination of one and a half million people. Remembering the many martyrs of that “factory of death”, we will see the cell where Saint Maximilian Kolbe died. Continuation to Warsaw. On the way visit to the Jasna Góra Monastery in Czestochowa – the most sacred in Poland with the Black Madonna icon. Arrival and accommodation in Warsaw.
