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Jewels of The Baltic &
Scandinavia |
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Itinerary |
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Day 01 |
Sat. ARRIVAL IN
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK. Check into your hotel. The rest of the
day is free to explore the Danish capital. Tonight, meet your Tour
Director and fellow travelers. (D) |
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Day 02 |
Sun.
COPENHAGEN-BERLIN, GERMANY. A morning to enjoy Hans Christian
Andersen’s friendly city. Sightseeing includes the Little Mermaid
sitting on her rock by the Langeline Promenade, and the rococo
Amelienborg Palace. In the afternoon drive to Gedser for the
two-hour ferry crossing to Rostock. Then past Lake Plaurer to Berlin
for overnight. (B) |
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Day 03 |
Mon. BERLIN-POZNAN,
POLAND. No longer divided but every bit as fascinating,
Berlin is a city shadowed by a tragic past yet clearly set for a
bright future. The old West Berlin of the Reichstag, the Brandenburg
Gate, and the new huge Europa Center is vastly different from East
Berlin with its needle-sharp Television Tower, Karl Marx Allee, and
classical State Opera House. See it all on the optional sightseeing
tour. Also take a stroll down the Kurfürstendamm, aptly described by
novelist Tom Wolfe as the “longest coffee shop in Europe.” In the
afternoon cross the River Oder into Poland for an overnight in
Poznan. (B,D) |
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Day 04 |
Tue. POZNAN-WARSAW.
Travel eastwards this morning across the flat Polish lowlands
to the country’s capital, Warsaw. This afternoon join the optional
sightseeing with a Local Guide. This is an excellent introduction to
Warsaw’s historic center, magnificently restored after massive
wartime destruction. (B) |
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Day 05 |
Wed.
WARSAW-VILNIUS, LITHUANIA. Journey northeast by way of
Bialystok towards Augustow and Suwalki. Cross the Lithuanian border
for the relatively short drive to Vilnius for an early evening
arrival. (B,D) |
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Day 06 |
Thu. VILNIUS.
Vilnius has been the capital of Lithuania since the 13th
century and the old town reflects in its architecture the influence
of the various peoples who have at different times been the dominant
force. Lithuanians, Russians, Jews, Moslems and Swedes all
contributed to the making of this city. After breakfast join the
included city sightseeing tour. The itinerary will take in St.
Stanislav’s Cathedral, Gedeminas’ Castle, St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s
Church, St. Anna’s Church, the Gate of Dawn and the old university.
Later in the afternoon enjoy some leisure or take the optional
excursion to visit Trakai Castle. This evening there’s an optional
folklore dinner. (B) |
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Day 07 |
Fri. VILNIUS-PILSRUNDALE,
LATVIA-RIGA. An interesting journey today as you travel right
across Lithuania into Latvia for a stop in Pilsrundale to visit the
baroque Palace of Rundale, the former summer residence of the Duke
of Courland. The palace was built by the great architect Rastrelli,
who also designed the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. More lovely
countryside before reaching Riga. (B,L,D) |
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Day 08 |
Sat. RIGA.
The capital of Latvia is rightly considered one of the most
beautiful towns in the Baltics. On the included tour of the old city
with Local Guide, you will be briefed on some of the most eventful
parts of the city’s 800-year history. Founded in 1201 by Bishop
Albert, head of the Order of Teutonic Knights, the old town is a
mixture of narrow streets, parks, river banks, and a canal flanked
by old houses and lofty church spires. The main sights in the old
town are Riga Castle and the Dome Cathedral. (B) |
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Day 09 |
Sun. RIGA-PARNU,
ESTONIA-TALLINN. A very interesting itinerary today since it
will start with a drive through the Gauja National Park, known as
the “Livonian Switzerland,” a land dotted with castles, parks,
picturesque countryside and a variety of fauna and flora seen only
here. The park is traversed by the Gauja River. Next head to the
Baltic coastline for the drive to the Estonian border and a stop in
Parnu, Estonia’s most fashionable seaside resort. Then travel
northwards to Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, for overnight. (B,L,D)
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Day 10 |
Mon. TALLINN.
Start the day with an included sightseeing tour to appreciate
Tallinn’s history and beauty. The old town, now on the list of World
Heritage sites, is certainly the most interesting part of the city.
Also worth noting are the Hanseatic merchant houses, the mile-long
town wall, the medieval Town Hall and the House of the Brotherhood
of the Blackheads. (B) |
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Tue.
TALLINN-ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA. Drive east today towards the
border town of Narva with the impressive Hermann Fortress. Then
start the journey to St. Petersburg, considered by most travelers to
be Russia’s most fascinating city. (B,L,D) |
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Day 11 |
Wed. ST.
PETERSBURG. St. Petersburg was created in 1703 by the iron
will of Peter the Great. He made it the capital of all the Russias
and ensured that it should rival any other European capital in
splendor, beauty, and distinction. Palaces, parks, monuments,
squares, wide boulevards, and 600 bridges delight visitors with
their symmetrical beauty, and the River Neva adds to the city’s
charm. During World War II the city was besieged for 900 days and
much of it was destroyed, along with hundreds of thousands of its
inhabitants. This morning’s included sightseeing excursion will
acquaint you with the best of the city’s highlights. (B) |
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Day 12 |
Thu. ST.
PETERSBURG-VYBORG, FINLAND-HELSINKI. Realize the huge expanse
of Russia as you take a last glimpse of St. Petersburg. Set off
north, traveling between Lake Ladoga to the east and the Gulf of
Finland to the west, before crossing into Finland and its capital,
Helsinki. (B) |
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Day 13 |
Fri.
HELSINKI-BALTIC SEA CROSSING-STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN. The included
tour of the Finnish capital covers the sedate Empire-style palace on
Senate Square and the cathedral. The afternoon is free for your own
exploration. In the evening embark on the Silja Line ferry to
Stockholm. On board you can enjoy music, dancing and shopping. (B)
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Day 14 |
Sat. STOCKHOLM.
Dock in Stockholm, perhaps the most beautiful of the
Scandinavian capitals. The effect of its crystalline waters flowing
through the city’s intersecting canals gives a luminous appearance
to palaces, castles, and parks. The best way to see and appreciate
the highlights of Sweden’s capital is to join the included
sightseeing tour with a Local Guide. (B,D) |
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Day 15 |
Departure |
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