Hill of Witches, Lithuania
Goat farm, Ceni Parish, Latvia
UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ ll also view the linked courtyards of 16th-century Vilnius University. Later, tour the KGB Museum. Tonight, gather for a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers.
Meals: B, L, D | Congress Avenue Hotel or similar
DAY 4 • Vilnius • Trakai • Karai culture • Home- Hosted Dinner
After a conversation with a local expert about Lithuanian independence, we’ ll visit Trakai, the medieval Lithuanian capital. We’ ll meet with some local Karaims, members of an ancient Turkish tribe, and enjoy a Karai cooking demonstration before returning to Vilnius. Tonight, enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local family.
Meals: B, L, D | Congress Avenue Hotel or similar
DAY 5 • Rumsiskes Open-Air Museum • Klaipeda On our way to Klaipeda, stop at Rumsiskes, an openair ethnographic museum of rural dwellings and farmsteads from Lithuania’ s past. We’ ll also stop by one of the original dwellings used Lithuania deportation, referred to as a yurta.
Meals: B, L | Reja Hotel or similar
DAY 6 • Klaipeda • Curonian Spit • Hill of Witches Begin today with a visit to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ ll hunt for some of the amber that washes up on the beaches during storms. Then, we’ ll hike to the“ Hill of Witches,” a forested path through the dunes filled with unique wooden sculptures. After lunch in the private tavern of a local family, visit an amber workshop for a hands-on demonstration of the uses for this fossil resin found along the Baltic Sea.
Meals: B, L, D | Reja Hotel or similar
DAY 7 • Klaipeda • Riga, Latvia On our way to Latvia, visit Lithuania’ s Cold War Museum and legendary Hill of Crosses, a grassy double hillock blanketed by several thousand crosses. We’ ll arrive in Riga later this afternoon.
Meals: B, L, D | Radisson Blu Ridzene Hotel or similar
DAY 8 • Riga • Controversial Topic: Latvia Now: Soviet inheritance • Rumbala Holocaust Memorial & Salaspils labor camp
We’ ll start off the day with a conversation with a local on the Controversial Topic of Latvia’ s separation from vestiges of the Soviet era. Then, we’ ll visit Riga’ s Art Nouveau district and Riga’ s Old Town. Our tour of Riga continues at the Salaspils labor camp, which was established in 1941 during the Nazi regime and saw the demise of thousands. We’ ll also stop at Rumbala Memorial, which commemorates the lives lost in Latvia during the Holocaust.
Meals: B | Radisson Blu Ridzene Hotel or similar
DAY 9 • A Day in the Life of a Latvian goat farm • Optional Rundale Palace tour
Today, we’ ll enjoy A Day in the Life of a family-owned goat farm outside of Riga. We’ ll tour the farm, have an opportunity to help out with some farm chores, and assist in preparing our lunch. Afterward, you may choose to join an optional tour at Rundale Palace and its gardens, home to 52 rose circles blooming with varietals from different countries.
Meals: B, L | Radisson Blu Ridzene Hotel or similar
DAY 10 • Tallinn, Estonia • Parnu • Song Festival Grounds
On our way to Estonia, stop briefly in Parnu for a glimpse of Estonia’ s premier seaside resort, before arriving in Tallinn, the northernmost of the Baltic capitals. Then visit the Song Festival Grounds, the site of the city’ s famous Singing Revolution.
Meals: B, L, D | Tallink City Hotel or similar
DAY 11 • Tallinn Enjoy a walking tour of Tallinn’ s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town, whose cobbled streets are lined with preserved 14th- and 15th-century buildings.
Meals: B, L | Tallink City Hotel or similar
DAY 12 • Tallinn • Conversation about Estonia: Now and Then
Begin your day with a conversation about Estonian independence and the changes that have taken place in recent years. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour of the Kumu Art Museum, which features collections of Estonian art from the 18th century to the present day.
Meals: B | Tallink City Hotel or similar
DAY 13 • Tallinn • Ferry to Helsinki, Finland Today, we’ ll board a ferry for the 50-mile journey across the Baltic Sea to Helsinki, Finland. Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation walk, which concludes at a nearby library.
Meals: B, D | Home Hotel Katajanokka or similar
DAY 14 • Helsinki Enjoy a walking tour of Helsinki’ s historic city center. Our walk concludes in Market Square at the Old Market Hall, where we’ ll have lunch at a local restaurant.
Meals: B, L | Home Hotel Katajanokka or similar
DAY 15 • Helsinki • Porvoo • Malmgård Manor Discover the rural village of Porvoo, Finland’ s second oldest town, followed by a tour of Malmgård Manor, a Swedish noble estate that traces its history back to the 17th century. After lunch at the manor, return to Helsinki. Enjoy an included Farewell Dinner tonight.
Meals: B, L, D | Home Hotel Katajanokka or similar
DAY 16 • Return to U. S. Fly back to the U. S., or begin your post-trip extension to Lapland, Finland.
Meals: B
Want to know more? Find the full itinerary and dates & pricing at www. oattravel. com / blt
CUSTOMIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE
OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & Warsaw PRE-TRIP: 5 nights from $ 1,995
This destination is only available as a trip extension
Lapland, Finland POST-TRIP: 4 nights from $ 2,395
ARRIVE EARLY We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth before your trip. Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer.
• Arrive early in Krakow before your Poland pre-trip extension from $ 220 per room, per night
• Arrive early in Vilnius before your main adventure from $ 130 per room, per night
CENTRAL EUROPE & THE BALKANS
Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www. oattravel. com / blt 185