Baltic States
Itinerary
Day 1 - Friday 23 May
Australia - Bangkok - Copenhagen
Depart today for Bangkok where we will have a short transit stop prior to joining our flight to Copenhagen.
Day 2 - Saturday 24 May
Arrive Copenhagen, Denmark
Upon arrival this morning and after clearing airport formalities we are transferred to our centrally located hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure for you to explore this delightful Scandinavian capital.
Day 3 - Sunday 25 May
Copenhagen
This morning we enjoy a guided tour of the city where we will see the Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Danish royal family, Getion Fountain, Christiansborg Palace (Danish Parliament buildings). The old harbour of Nyhavn, and of course the famous Little Mermaid. This afternoon is free to explore this fairytale city. This evening we'll dine in the famous nearby Tivoli Gardens. BD
Day 4 - Monday 26 May
Copenhagen - Vilnius, Lithuania
We transfer to the airport this morning for our flight across the Baltic Sea to Vilnius, vibrant and picturesque capital city of Lithuania. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel in the ‘Old Town'. Afternoon at leisure prior to dinner this evening at our hotel. BD
Day 5 - Tuesday 27 May
Vilnius
This morning we will enjoy a tour of the city which will include Aushros (Dawn) Gate, Vilnius Cathedral with its cellar burial crypt housing a number of Lithuanian's Royal family members. We will continue to St. Anne's and Bernadardines’ churches - gems of 16th century Gothic architecture. Whilst visiting the Vilnius University founded in 1579 we are favoured with special entry to the University Library to see the first printed publications and its ancient map collection. Before leaving the university we will enjoy a delightful organ recital in the University's St. John's Church. Then continue with a visit to Ss Peter and Paul's Church, a rare example of the 17th century Baroque period. After lunch, we travel to Trakai, the ancient capital of Lithuania to visit the Gothic Castle, built on an island on Lake Galve. Once a powerful fortress, and today a museum. We visit Karaite Museum to learn of its ethnic story. Here we'll also enjoy tasting the kibinas, a national Karaite pie. Returning to our hotel later this afternoon. BL
Day 6 - Wednesday 28 May
Vilnius - Riga, Latvia
After breakfast we depart by coach to Riga. En route we will visit the Hill of Crosses and the splendid 18th century Rundale Palace - the former residence of the Duke of Kurland and one of the most splendid country houses in the Russian Empire at the time. Upon arrival into Riga, the largest and most centrally situated city in the Baltics, we continue to our hotel. Prior to dinner we will enjoy a welcome drink on the terrace of our hotel, while taking in the magnificent view of the Old Riga panorama and Dome Cathedral. BD
Day 7 - Thursday 29 May
Riga
The modern founding of Riga is regarded by historians to have begun with the arrival in Latvia of German traders, mercenaries and religious crusaders in the second half of the 12th century. This morning our tour of Riga includes the extensive Old Town, cosy beer cellars and cafes where we will enjoy tasting a selection of traditional beers and liquors. The Dome Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, the Powder Tower are also included. Enjoy the masterpieces of early 20th century Art Nouveau architecture that abound throughout the city. The afternoon is free to relax, or for independent sightseeing. B
Day 8 - Friday 30 May
Riga - Sigulda - Riga
Today we will enjoy a tour to Sigulda, often called the ‘Latvian Switzerland', with its beautiful and imposing landscapes. We will visit the 13th century Knight's Castle and the mysterious Gutmana Cave linked to a romantic medieval love legend. The Liv chieftain Rindaugas accused his wife of being unfaithful and buried her alive in a steep bank of the Gauja river. Her tears turned into a stream which created the cave. Later this afternoon we return to our hotel in Riga. BL
Day 9 - Saturday 31 May
Riga - Parnu - Tallinn, Estonia
We depart by coach to Tallinn. En route we will visit the Ethnographic Open Air Museum on the outskirts of Riga to see traditional Latvian rural buildings, the oldest dating from the 17th century. We continue to Parnu for a sightseeing tour of this Estonian summer resort on the Baltic Sea coast. After lunch in Parnu we continue our afternoon's drive to Tallinn, Estonia's beautiful Hanseatic capital and onto our hotel. This evening we will enjoy a medieval style dinner. BLD
Day 10 - Sunday 1 June
Tallinn
In 1154 Tallinn was marked on the world map of the Arab cartographer al-Idrisi. By 1285 the city had become the northernmost member of the Hanseatic League - a mercantile and military alliance of German-dominated cities in Northern Europe. The dominant St. Olav's Church, once the tallest in the world, is still the tallest building in Tallinn. During our morning's entertaining tour, Old Tallinn will come to life with our costumed guide imparting many old stories and legends. We will visit the medieval upper and lower town visit Parliament House, Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral and the Dome Church. We then have a pleasant coach drive to Kadriorg Park, the song festival ground and Pirita with impressive ruins of St. Birgitta's Convent. Our tour will end in Old Town close to our hotel. A perfect location to find a charming spot to lunch and relax during the afternoon. B
Day 11 - Monday 2 June
Tallinn - St. Petersburg, Russia
After breakfast this morning we board our coach for the drive through northeastern Estonia. Approximately one hour's drive from Tallinn we will visit the famous Palmse Manor, considered the most beautiful in Estonia and dates back to the 15th century. After lunch in the park we drive back to Tallinn to the Baltic Railway Station to board our train for the continuation of our journey across the frontier into Russia and onto St Petersburg. A light dinner will be served onboard the train this evening. We arrive St Petersburg late this evening where our coach is waiting to transfer us to our hotel. BLD
Day 12 - Tuesday 3 June
St. Petersburg
This morning's grand tour will include the Nevsky Prospekt lined with innumerable historic palaces, mansions and churches, the Kazan Cathedral, Peter and Paul Fortress (outside), Palace Square, the famous Bronz Horseman of Peter the Great and St. Isaac's Cathedral (outside). An exclusive backstage tour of the legendary Imperial Mariinsky Theater concludes the afternoon. Home to both the Kirov Ballet and Opera Companies, the sumptuous powder blue and gilt Mariinsky is an architectural jewel. The house is small, making each and every performance an unforgettable event. Our performance at the Mariinsky Theatre awaits this evening. A festive dinner at the avant-garde Backstage Restaurant, decorated by Kirov set designers, follows the performance. BD
Day 13 - Wednesday 4 June
St. Petersburg - The Hermitage
This morning will be devoted to the magnificent Hermitage Museum located in the former Winter Palace of the Czars. The building alone is worth the visit, not only to marvel at the immense collection of European paintings from the Renaissance to the Impressionists, but also to observe the antiquities, the decorative and fine arts, as well as temporary exhibitions from the collection not on permanent display. Our tour will end at The Hermitage, where you will be free to explore, returning to the hotel at your leisure, only a few minutes walk from The Hermitage. B
Day 14 - Thursday 5 June
St. Petersburg - Pushkin - Pavlovsk Palace - St. Petersburg
Today's delightful tour will take us into the countryside to Pushkin - the Imperial summer residence located 25 kilometres south of St. Petersburg. The town of Pushkin came into existence when Catherine I built a small palace here as a surprise for her husband, Peter the Great. The palace, a combination of white and gold, is magnificent; a huge ballroom- the Grand Hall, ornately decorated drawing rooms, studies and dining rooms. En-route back to St. Petersburg we visit Pavlovsk. In 1780 the creation of Pavlovsk's grounds commenced with its park and pavilions. The Pavlovsk Palace is probably the best preserved of Russian imperial residences outside the capital. This evening we visit Vladimir Palace the last imperial palace to be constructed in St. Petersburg for Grand Duke Alexandrovich of Russia. Tonight's unforgettable tour and private musical performance at the Vladimir Palace is followed by dinner in the Grand Duke's personal dining room. BLD
Day 15 - Friday 6 June
St. Petersburg - Berlin, Germany
This morning is at leisure for independent sightseeing. We check-out of our hotel at noon. Then there is ample time for lunch prior to our mid-afternoon transfer to the airport to join our flight to Berlin. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our hotel. B
Day 16 - Saturday 7 June
Berlin
Our tour this morning will include Berlin's treasured features: Kaiser-Wilhelm - Memorial Church, Europe Centre, Bauhaus Museum, the National Gallery, Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten, Charlottenburg Palace and many other delightful points of interest in this vast capital. We return to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure. B
Day 17 - Sunday 8 June
Berlin - Potsdam
A short drive, this morning, to nearby Potsdam where we will spend the morning exploring the beautiful and vast palace of Sans Souci. Frederick the Great's famous retreat from affairs of state - a string of contrasting palaces, the famous terrace garden and a series of ornamental buildings reflecting Italian, Chinese, Greek and Roman Rococo tastes follow one another in this huge park. We will visit Schloss Sans Souci itself before moving on to the Neo-Classical retreat of Charlottenhof and the adjoining Roman Baths. Later this afternoon we return to our hotel in Potsdam. BL
Day 18 - Monday 9 June
Potsdam
The Neuer Garten, laid out from 1786 by Frederick Wilhelm II, embraces the artfully informal, English landscaped style, a gently radical contrast to Sans Souci - the lakeside Marble Palace at its centre is modest and playful and interestingly furnished - the Elizabethan-style Schloss Cecilienhof was site of the Potsdam Conference in 1945. This afternoon is free for the opportunity perhaps to explore the town of Potsdam with its lively Dutch Quarter and Schinkel cathedral. B
Day 19 - Tuesday 10 June
Potsdam - Worlitz, Luisium - Potsdam
90 Km to the south, Worlitz was the creation of Prince Franz of Anhaltz-Dessau, his libertarian idealism contrasting with Frederick the Great's expansionism - an extravagant homage to the Enlightenment, he created this earliest of English style parks on the continent as the centrepiece of his new social order. His models in this great enterprise were Palladio, Brown and Rousseau. We return to our hotel in Potsdam later this afternoon. BL
Day 20 - Wednesday 11 June
Potsdam - Dresden - Potsdam
A delightful tour south to Dresden today. This afternoon we will visit the Zwinger, an unique Rococo confection, part palace, part arena for festivities and part museum for cherished collections. We will visit the excellent porcelain museum and the fabulously rich Old Masters Gallery - a further walk includes the remaining buildings of the Electoral court, the Catholic Church, and the newly-restored, great domed Frauenkirche. Later this afternoon we return to Potsdam. BL
Day 21 - Thursday 12 June
Potsdam - Berlin - Copenhagen
Our last day is free for personal sightseeing or seeking out that last souvenir. Later this afternoon we transfer to Berlin airport where we join our early evening flight to Copenhagen. Here we connect with our homeward bound flight via Bangkok. B
Day 22 - Friday 13 June
Bangkok - Sydney
Our flight arrives at Bangkok this afternoon where we transit to connect with our onward flight.
Day 23 - Saturday 14 June
Australia
We arrive home today with so many treasured memories of our time in the Baltic States, Russia and Germany.
