Vintage Baltics

DAY 1

Direct flights from Stansted, Luton and London City - indirect flights from Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh - to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Transfer to our centrally located hotel.

DAY 2

A free day for your own relaxation and exploration of Vilnius.

For rail fans there is the option of a day out by rail. Two trips are possible, either Marijampole or Visaginas. We would recommend Marijampole with the train departing Vilnius at 09:10 arriving Marijampole at 11:43. You can return at 12:30 (arriving back 15:42) or stay and have lunch and free time. The town itself is charming with several points of interest that will make your visit enjoyable. It's a culturally rich city with an intriguing history and the architectural and other evidence to prove it! Return train at 15:39 (arriving back at 17:34). For Visaginas you leave Vilnius at 11:18 and get back at 18:27. Return fare, first class is only £20.

DAY 3

Today, there will be a tour of the Old Town, partly by coach and partly walking. The Old Town is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. During our tour we will see the main churches, historic and architectural monuments, the Gate of Dawn with a splendid icon of the Virgin Mary, Vilnius University and Cathedral Square. At midday we depart by train to Trakai which is 28km from Vilnius. This is the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and has a beautiful 14th century castle that stands on an island in the middle of Lake Galve. The lake serves as a moat around the castle. A cruise on the lake allows us to view the castle from a different perspective. This evening, we have our welcome dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Vilnius.

DAY 4

We transfer by coach to Lentvaris railway station for our train to Kaunas. The Kaunas city tour includes the funiculars in Kaunas, the only city in Lithuania currently with this type of transport*, in service since 1931. In the residential districts of Zaliakalnis and Aleksotas these 'climbing cars' serve both as a means of transport and entertainment. The Aleksotas funicular links the old part of the city with the slopes of Aleksotas hill, offering a marvellous panoramic view of the city. The Zaliakalnis funicular provides an easy way of reaching the Resurrection Church from the city centre. We visit Lord Jesus Christ's Resurrection Basilica in Kaunas before we have lunch in a traditional Lithuanian restaurant. If you would like to do your own thing in Kaunas, and are interested in classical music or art, we recommend a visit to the M K Ciurlionis Gallery in Kaunas. Ciurlionis (22 September 1875 - 10 April 1911) was Lithuania's foremost composer and painter. There is a fascinating gallery featuring his music and paintings in an attractive modern building built onto the back of a traditional military museum. There are also a number of other art galleries in Kaunas. Return by train to Vilnius. Overnight in Vilnius. *Vilnius also has a funicular up one side of the Gediminas Castle mound which was opened in 2003 but is currently out of order.

DAY 5

Today, we travel to Anyksciai to visit the Siaurukas railway museum and travel on the narrow-gauge railway. This unique heritage line, built in 1899, runs between Panevezys, Anyksciai and Rubikiai and dates from a time of steam locomotives and wooden carriages. At the beginning of the 20th century the railway was the main mechanical means of transport in the region of Aukstaitija (northeastern Lithuania) for carrying people and goods such as flax, bacon, sugar-beet, flour, butter, flaxseed, wood, and silica-sand. Since 2001 the narrow-gauge railway has only been used for passenger transport. During our trip we will have a barbecue lunch at a small cafe located on the banks of Lake Rubikiai, before travelling on to Riga. On the way, we stop at the Panevezys narrow-gauge railway museum and at the Hill of Crosses. Overnight in Riga.

DAY 6

This morning, we have a Riga highlights tour including a visit to the biggest indoor market in the Baltic States. During our tour we will also see numerous places of cultural and historic importance, such as the Dome Cathedral, St. Peters Church, the Parliament Buildings, and the Swedish Gate. You will experience the atmosphere of Riga Market, perhaps chat with the friendly local people, and taste Latvian specialties. After lunch in a local restaurant, we travel by train to Jurmala, a summer resort on the Baltic Sea which built itself a reputation as a Spa resort in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and also known for its beautiful wooden houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We will have a walking tour of Jurmala and some free time before we return to Riga by train. Overnight in Riga.

DAY 7

We depart by train to Gauja National Park where we visit Turaida Castle in Sigulda (sometimes called 'the Switzerland of Latvia'), set on the banks of the River Gauja. The town and surrounding areas offer magnificent views. Turaida Castle was built in the 13th century under the direction of Albert, the Bishop of Riga. After our visit to Gauja National Park we will continue to Tartu stopping at the Valmiermuiza Brewery for lunch. Tartu is referred to as the intellectual capital of Estonia because of its famous University founded in 1632 by the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus and was initially called Academia Dorpatensis. Some say that the main building of the University of Tartu is one of the pearls of the city - certainly it is one of the most outstanding examples of Classicistic architecture in Estonia, built from 1804 to 1809. Once we have checked into our hotel, we will have a walking tour of this fine city including a visit to the Kissing Students Fountain in the centre of Town Hall Square that was erected in 1998. This has since become the most popular meeting place in the city. Overnight in Tartu.

DAY 8

An early start today as we depart by train to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, which is the most northern of the Baltic States. We arrive in good time for our mid-morning tour of Tallinn which is one of the most completely preserved medieval towns in Europe. The medieval Old Town is known around the world for its well-preserved completeness and authentic Hanseatic architecture. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy and explore these wonderful streets before we meet in the evening for our farewell dinner. Overnight in Tallinn.

DAY 9

There will be free time today for your own relaxation and appreciation of this wonderful city. For train and tram enthusiasts our local guide will be able to advise of local trips you can do for very little cost. (Those flying back to Stansted could do so tonight, if you prefer, departing at 20:25.)

For rail fans there is the option of a day out by rail. Three trips are possible; Viljandi, Riisipere or Paldiski (the line to Parnu is closed). Rail fares are only around £8 in each direction (£10 where first class available). For Viljandi we recommend the 11:50 departure which gives you 1 or 4 hours in Viljandi. For those desperate to do more than one of these lines it is possible by doing the 07:35 train to Viljandi which gets you back into Tallinn at 12:50 there are then roughly hourly departures to Riisipere or Paldiski each of which take on hour in each direction.

Viljandi - This adorable little town hidden deep within southern Estonian forests boasts impressive castle ruins and a former home of the ruling Livonian Order. The scenic views of the nearby lake and wooden architecture makes Viljandi a place of interest to both nature and culture lovers.

DAY 10

Road transfer to the airport for our flights back to the UK. There is a direct flight to Gatwick at 17:00 today, with Air Baltic. As the flight to Stansted is late evening (22:30) there is time to go by rail to Viljandi and back - if you did not do it yesterday.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner