Day 1 | Riga - Vilnius

Upon arrival, we will head to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, a beautiful city with a rich and fascinating historical past. Depending on our arrival time, we'll embark on an introductory tour of the city. Vilnius, known for its greenery and beauty, has always been the political and cultural center of Lithuania. Its old town combines ancient buildings, churches, and beautiful structures. We'll enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the "Gediminas Castle," visit the cathedral, and stroll through picturesque streets. We'll taste local delicacies and visit the museum and the Jewish quarter, the vibrant heart of Lithuanian Jewry. Here, we'll follow in the footsteps of the Gaon of Vilna and visit the Jewish cemetery, where we'll also see the grave of the Vilna Gaon.

Day 2 | Vilnius - Kaunas (Kovno)

This morning, we'll complete our visit to Vilnius (sights seen on the previous day) and head out to Trakai, the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, located amidst beautiful lakes. We'll visit the impressive 15th-century Gothic castle built on an island in the lake, the only water castle in Eastern Europe. We'll learn about the interesting and unique history of the Lithuanian nation. Continuing our tour, we'll visit the Karaite Museum, representing a unique community that arrived here from the Crimean Peninsula about 600 years ago. We'll stroll through the local tourist market and then journey to the city that served as the capital of Lithuania between the two World Wars - Kaunas. Upon arrival in Kaunas, we'll take a walking tour through the old town, stroll along the main street, and explore the "Slobodka" district, where wealthy Jewish communities thrived. We'll visit the intriguing "Witches' Museum" and the city's fortifications, ending at the "Ninth Fort," a memorial site for Lithuanian and European Jews, with its remarkable story of the Japanese consul during World War II.

Day 3 | Kaunas - Nida - Klaipeda

We bid farewell to Kaunas in the morning and will head north: visiting the Radziwill family fortress, one of Lithuania's famous noble families. A short journey will bring us to the Curonian Spit, a nature reserve with unique sand dunes. We'll be located near Kaliningrad (formerly Königsberg), a Russian exclave on the Baltic Sea coast. We'll continue to the picturesque and mysterious resort village of Nida, surrounded by high dunes, amber washed up from the Baltic Sea, and dark oak forests. We'll see the neo-Gothic church and the cemetery, visit the museum for amber washed up from the Baltic Sea. Towards evening, we'll return to the coastal city of Klaipeda for accommodation and dinner.

Day 4 | Klaipeda - Šiauliai - Riga

We'll explore the city of Šiauliai, stopping by the "Hill of Crosses" - an impressive site with over 250,000 crosses, symbolizing Lithuanian resistance to foreign rule. After a short drive, we'll cross the border into Latvia and arrive in Riga, the capital of Latvia, in the evening. Upon arrival in Riga, we'll embark on an introductory tour of the unique city.

Day 5 | Riga and its surroundings

We'll start our tour of Riga, considered one of the most beautiful Baltic capitals. We'll see impressive buildings in various styles, giving the feeling that the city is a large museum under the sky. We'll travel along the main streets, enjoying the parks and city views. We'll visit the Old Town and see the Castle Hill, the Powder Tower, the Latvian National Theater, the Freedom Monument, the University, and the Opera House. We'll pass through the "Swedish Gate," the central cathedral, St. Peter's Church, the Parliament House, and the Old Riga Castle. We'll continue to the "Cat House," the magnificent "Blackheads House," the large and small guilds reflecting the lives of the rich traders who were an important part of the local population and its economic activity.

Day 6 | Riga - Sigulda - Cēsis

In the morning, we'll visit Riga's central market, one of the largest and most impressive markets in Europe. We'll continue our tour to the architectural gem of the region, the Albert Street, a unique concentration of buildings designed in the Art Nouveau style. Then, we'll head north to Estonia. On the way, we'll visit Turaida Castle, restored from the 13th century. The castle is located near the resort town of Sigulda, nestled in a picturesque segment of the Gauja River valley, often referred to as the "Switzerland of Latvia." From there, we'll drive along the coast of the Baltic Sea, passing by the famous resort town of Pärnu. In the village of Virtsu, we'll board a ferry and sail to Saaremaa Island, the largest of the Estonian islands, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the region. Towards evening, we'll arrive at the island's capital and the only city on it - Kuressaare, located on the shores of the Riga Gulf.

Day 7 | Kuressaare - Tallinn

In the morning, we'll visit Kuressaare Castle from the 14th century, the only castle in the Baltic countries that has been preserved in its original form. The castle is located in a beautiful park, and the visit sheds light on life in the Middle Ages. We'll continue to another wonder of Saaremaa, the Kaali meteorite crater field. Thousands of years ago, a meteorite hit the island, creating a cluster of nine craters. The depth of the largest and most impressive crater is 22 m, and its radius is 110 m. We'll reach the village of Angla to tour the authentic windmill hill built here at the beginning of the 20th century. For the night, we'll return to Saaremaa Island, where we'll spend the night.

Day 8 | Tallinn and its surroundings

Today, we'll delve deeper into Tallinn, built on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. We'll stroll through the 800-year-old Old Town, see the Parliament building, the Town Hall Square from the 15th century, the city walls, Toompea Castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and the bustling harbor. We'll explore the picturesque streets and visit some of its impressive buildings, some of which have been recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Accommodation and dinner will be in Tallinn, combined with a folk show.

Day 9 | Tallinn - Riga

An additional half-day will be devoted to Tallinn and its surroundings. In the afternoon, we'll return from Tallinn to Riga.