FDL1. Three Capitals of Lithuania

           We invite you to visit Lithuania - the country located in the Baltic Sea coast and to see its three capitals - Trakay, Vilnius and Kaunas. You can see Trakay -the first capital of Grand Princes of Lithuania and a favoured place for sightseeing outside Vilnius. The Trakai Castle, located on an island in the midst of Lake Galve, is the most famous and most photographed castle of the 15th century. Now the Castle houses a museum focused on the history of the epoch of the Grand Prince Vytautas (1392-1430) when the country borders spanned from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Vilnius - the capital of Lithuania since 1323 when Lithuanian Prince Gedeminas moved the capital here from Trakai. In Vilnius you can see architectural monuments of many centuries built in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles which have been kept with great care. Today Vilnius is a harmonious combination of elegant style of the past and the present-day life. Kaunas is the second major city in Lithuania. In 1920-1939 Kaunas was a capital of Lithuania after capture of Vilnius by Poland. First of all Kaunas is known for its beautifull Old Town. The Old Town of Kaunas consists of the most important ancient city architectural monuments: the 13th century Castle, the Old Town Hall, nicknamed the White Swan, Archicathedral Basilica, The Church of St.Francis Xavier and the Jesuit monastery, Perkunas House and Vytautas Church. The green and blooming pedestrian street Laisves Aleja is the main business and leisure area of Kaunas. In Kaunas you have chance to visit two unique museums: Museums of Devils (unique exposition of more than 300 small figures of devils from more than 20 countries made from different materials and collected by the local artist Antanas Zmuidzinavicius (1876-1966)) and Museum of great painter of the 20th century -Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis (1875-1911).

Photos: Lithuanian National Tourism Office

Type: Discovery
Tour duration: 3 days
Months of Operation: All-year-round
Recommended Group Size: 2-9 pax
Mode of Travel: car/minibus

Itinerary:

Day 1. Arrival in Vilnius. Transfer to the hotel Algirdas 3*+ or Conti 4*. Accommodation.

Day 2. Breakfast. 8-hour tour to Trakai (27 km from Vilnius) and Kaunas (95 km from Vilnius) including visiting Museum of Devils and Museum of Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis in Kaunas. This evening you may also wish an option to visit a concert, an opera or a ballet performance in Vilnius. (B)

Day 3. Breakfast. Vilnius City Tour, the 3-hour introduction to the Vilniusfs Old Town, where you can soak in the atmosphere of the city's history of the 16-19th centuries, while walking along its narrow winding streets or visiting the most exiting architectural and historic monuments, such as Vilnius Cathedral erected on a historic site of pagan gods worship and where Vilnius was founded as far back as the 13th c., a nearby Gediminas Castle rising above the city centre, a gem of the Lithuanian Gothic style - the 16th c. St. Anne's Church, the Vilnius University (entrance), a famous centre of science and enlightenment since its very foundation in 1579, Vilnius Town Hall, Jewish Quarter and the Dawn Gate with a famous and miraculous icon of Virgin Mary. Transfer to the airport or train station. Departure from Vilnius. (B) 

Photos: Lithuanian National Tourism Office

Recommended flights:

Moscow - Vilnius: UT-703 dep. 21:05 (Vnukovo) - arr. 22:00
Vilnius - Moscow: UT-708 dep. 14:50 - arr. 17:55 (Vnukovo)

Recommended trains:

Moscow - Vilnius: #005 dep. 18:55 (Belorussky train station) - arr. 08:00 (next morning). You save 1 night in hotel with this option
Vilnius - Moscow: #006 dep.17:00 - arr. 08:58 (next morning. Belorussky train station)

 
Photos: Lithuanian National Tourism Office

Costs for individuals - 2010

Included:

• accommodation at twin rooms
• 2 breakfasts
• all excursions as per programme including entrance fee specified
• transport service during all the programme
• English-speaking guide (other languages on request)

Not included:

• air or train tickets

Supplements:

• air tickets Moscow - Vilnius - Moscow: from 158 EUR per person
• train tickets Moscow - Vilnius - Moscow (2nd class): from 185 EUR per person
• lunch in Kaunas or Trakai + 22 EUR per lunch
• dinner at traditional Lithuanian restaurant in Vilnuis + 22 EUR per lunch/dinner
• SGL accommodation (Algirdas hotel) + 33 EUR
• SGL accommodation (Conti hotel) + 56 EUR
• Opera and Ballet Theatre - on request

All the costs are valid at the date of publication and are subject to reconfirmation at the time of booking