POLISH AND BALTIC JEWELS
July-August 2010, 13 days/12 nights

DAY 1 (TUESTDAY)

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

DAY 2 (WEDNESDAY)

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 offers an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka.

DAY 3 (THURSDAY)

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 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)

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)

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 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)

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)

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 Maja’s Tombstone, the ruins of the Episcopal Castle, the ruins of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword and the mysterious Gutman Cave before we return to Riga. The afternoon offers an 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 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)

The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort and a leisurely stroll along the beach. The balance of the day goes through the North Estonian land of forests to Tallinn, check-in at the Hotel Reval Olympia**** or similar.

DAY 12 (SATURDAY)

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.

Guarantee departure dates:
MPB07: 06.07-18.07.10
MPB09: 20.07-01.08.10
MPB10: 27.07-08.08.10
MPB11: 03.08-15.08.10
MPB12: 10.08-22.08.10
MPB13: 17.08-29.08.10


Including
• 12 overnights at centrally located 4 star hotels
• 12 x buffet breakfast
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrances to Wawel Castle in Krakow, Jasna Gora Monastery in Czestochowa, St. John’s Cathedral in Warsaw, Old University in Vilnius, Rundale Palace, St. Peter;s Church in Riga, and medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn
• Service of English and German speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of Italian and Spanish speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of local French speaking guides on tour MPB07, MPB10 and MPB11
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivans throughout the itinerary
• Portage at hotels
• Service and VAT

Optional
• Transfer airport to Hotel Novotel Centrum Krakow: EUR 40,00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 60,00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)

• 4-hour excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mine: EUR 60,00 pp
• Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka: EUR 40.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion to the Royal Lazienki Park and visit to Palace on the Water: EUR 40.00 pp

• 4-hour excursion to Zelozawa Wola: EUR 60.00 pp
• Polish dinner at Restaurant Podwale: EUR 40.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion to Trakai and visit to Trakai Castle: EUR 40.00 pp
• Folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas: EUR 40.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Gauja National Park: EUR 50.00 pp

• 3-hour excursion to Open Air Museum: EUR 40.00 pp
• Organ concert at the Dome Cathedral: EUR 35.00 pp
• 4-hour excursion to Jurmala: EUR 40.00 pp
• Latvian dinner at Restaurant La Boheme: EUR 40.00 pp
• 3-hour excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to Kadriorg Palace : EUR 40.00 pp
• Medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack: EUR 40.00 pp
• Transfer Hotel Reval Olumpia to airport: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• Half board at hotels (12 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea): EUR 325.00 pp