This leisurely vacation includes Poland, the Baltics, and the best of Russia. Start in Warsaw, Poland, and hear from a Local Guide about the tormented, often tragic history of this important gateway between East and West. Five days are dedicated to the Baltic States, three small countries that quite recently regained their independence. Stay two nights in Vilnius, Lithuania, where a special dinner with regional specialties at a local restaurant awaits you, as well as an interesting visit to the KGB Museum; two nights in Riga, Latvia, with a guided walking tour of the Old Town and the Art Nouveau Quarter; and one night in Tallinn, Estonia, where you will receive an amber gift surprise. In Russia, visit magnificent Catherine Palace (if closed: visit Pavlosk Palace) and continue to St. Petersburg for your three-night stay, with a special dinner of traditional Russian specialties, like caviar, blinis, and vodka, as well as an included visit to the Hermitage Museum. Board the high-speed Sapsan train to Moscow, where you’ll spend three nights and see the sights, including Red Square, opulent St. Basil’s Cathedral, the Kremlin, and the Armory Museum. Then, fly south to Simferopol, capital of Crimea, and continue to Yalta, with visits to Livadia Palace, the summer residence of the last czar, and the Palace of Count Vorontsov, as well as an exciting excursion to Svastopol and Balaklava to visit the former Soviet submarine base in the caves. Continue to Kherson for a lunch with local specialties, and arrive in splendid Odessa, Ukraine’s main harbor. Enjoy guided sightseeing and a special visit to the Museum of Partisan Glory and see the caves, used by smugglers and during WWII as a hiding place for Soviet partisans. Next, fly to Kiev, capital of Ukraine, where a visit to the Cave Monastery has been included. A special farewell dinner at a local restaurant celebrates the success of your vacation.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Warsaw, Poland. Welcome to Warsaw! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day #2 Warsaw. Hear about the tormented, often tragic history of this important gateway between East and West during your guided sightseeing tour. Visit the medieval STARE MIASTO (Old Town) with its market square and the 14th-century CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN, a masterpiece of post-war reconstruction. In the HISTORICAL MUSEUM, watch a moving film showing the city before and after war-time destruction. Sightseeing also features the “wedding cake” Palace of Culture and Science, the remnants of the Jewish ghetto, and a picture stop at the Ghetto Monument. Afternoon at leisure. Why not join an optional Polish dinner and folklore show tonight? (B)
Day #3 Warsaw–Vilnius, Lithuania. The next five days are dedicated to the three small Baltic countries that quite recently regained their independence. Each has its own language and distinct culture. Today, travel to Lithuania, the largest and southernmost of the three. Late-afternoon arrival in the capital, Vilnius, once the splendid center of the mighty Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where a [LF] special dinner with regional specialties at a local restaurant awaits you. (B,D)
Day #4 Vilnius. Vilnius’ picturesque historic nucleus is clustered around the remains of a castle built by Prince Gediminas in 1323. Your Local Guide will accompany you on a walk from Cathedral Square through narrow winding lanes to the OLD UNIVERSITY, founded by Jesuits in 1569. [LF] An interesting visit has been included to the KGB MUSEUM. (B)
Day #5 Vilnius–Riga, Latvia. Enjoy a scenic drive from the River Neris through a landscape alternating dark forests, swamps, and lush pastures. Stop at the Hill of Crosses memorial site on your way to the Baltic port of Riga, the Latvian capital. (B,D)
Day #6 Riga. Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the historic center on the right bank of the Daugava River and a walking tour of the Old Town and the ART NOUVEAU QUARTER. Afternoon and evening at leisure, and an exciting optional excursion is available. (B)
Day #7 Riga–Tallinn, Estonia. Trace the coastline of the Gulf of Riga past the Estonian health resort of Pärnu, a site inhabited since the early Stone Age, on your way to Tallinn, capital of the smallest of the Baltic countries. This afternoon, sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Hanseatic Old Town with its 15th-century Lühike Jalg Gate, and visits to the TOWN HALL and the onion-domed ALEXANDER NEVSKY CATHEDRAL. [LF] Receive an amber gift surprise as a lasting memory of your visit to the Baltic countries. (B)
Day #8 Tallinn–St. Petersburg, Russia. Cross the river at the historic town of Narva and enter Russia. Arrive in magnificent St. Petersburg, where [LF] a special dinner features traditional Russian delicatessen like caviar, blinis, pickled cucumber, and vodka. (B,D)
Day #9 St. Petersburg. Founded by Peter the Great, construction began in 1703 and the city eventually spread over 100 islands linked by 700 bridges. It suffered severe damage during World War II, when a cruel 900-day siege claimed more than a million victims. Start with the Winter Palace complex. Formerly the residence of the czars, it is now home of the world-famous HERMITAGE MUSEUM with celebrated works by Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci, and the major French impressionists. Next, drive along elegant Nevsky Prospect and admire ST. ISAAC’S CATHEDRAL with its gilded dome and marble columns. (B)
Day #10 St. Petersburg. Travel to Pushkin, home of Russia’s last czar, and visit magnificent CATHERINE PALACE (if closed, visit PAVLOVSK PALACE instead). Balance of the day is at leisure, and exciting optional activities are available. (B)
Day #11 St. Petersburg–Moscow. Transfer to the railway station and board the high-speed SAPSAN TRAIN to Moscow. (B)
Day #12 Moscow. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes RED SQUARE, the center of this 865-year-old city. At its core is the Lenin Mausoleum and opulent St. Basil’s Cathedral. Inside the KREMLIN, a city-within-a-city, admire the medieval towers, cathedrals, and palaces. At the ARMORY MUSEUM, see treasures such as Ivan the Terrible’s throne. Of course, you will also see the Bolshoi Theater. (B)
Day #13 At Leisure in Moscow. Another day to further explore this fascinating city. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your traveling companions to celebrate the success of your vacation. (B,D)
Day #14 Moscow–Simferopol–Yalta. Transfer to the airport and fly to Simferopol, the capital of Crimea. On arrival, enjoy a beautiful drive to the famous Crimean coast, where a guided visit to LIVADIA PALACE, the summer residence of the last czar, Nicholas II, awaits you. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin met here in 1945 to discuss the dividing of East and West after the war, usually referred to as the “Yalta Conference.” Arrive in Yalta, a beautiful resort favored by the nobility in the 19th century and still today by the rich and famous. (B,D)
Day #15 Yalta. Start today with a guided sightseeing tour of Yalta. The afternoon is reserved for a visit to the PALACE OF COUNT VORONTSOV in Alupka, unique for its location but also for the combination of various styles of architecture. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (B,D)
Day #16 Yalta. Excursion to Sevastopol & Balaklava. A scenic drive along the Crimean coast will bring you to Sevastopol, the harbor city that still houses the Russian Black Sea fleet. During the city tour we will visit the stunning PANORAMA PAINTING, a reminder of the heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1855. Next, stop in Balaklava to visit the former SOVIET SUBMARINE BASE in the caves, now turned into a museum. On our way back to Yalta we will make a picture stop at the “Swallow’s Nest,” the picturesque castle that was built on the edge of a cliff. (B,D)
Day #17 Yalta–Kherson–Odessa. After breakfast, leave the peninsula and drive to Kherson, on the mouth of the Dnepr River, for an orientation drive and lunch with local specialties. Afterwards, drive through the famous farm fields of the Ukraine to Odessa. (B,L,D)
Day #18 Odessa. Odessa is the Ukraine’s biggest harbor and known for its beautiful architecture and great atmosphere. Morning sightseeing features the harbor, the Potemkin Stairs, Primorsky Boulevard, the Opera House, and more. The afternoon is at leisure. Tonight is your chance to join an optional dinner to try out the specialties of the region. (B)
Day #19 Odessa. Drive to nearby Nerubayske and visit the MUSEUM OF PARTISAN GLORY, and see the caves, created by limestone mining. This network of about 2,500 miles of tunnels was later used by the smugglers and during World War II as a hiding place for the Soviet partisans. (B)
Day #20 Odessa–Kiev. Transfer to the airport and fly to Kiev, capital of the Ukraine on the mighty Dnepr River. This afternoon, visit the CAVE MONASTERY, the 1,000-year-old orthodox Christian complex, listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (B)
Day #21 Kiev. Kiev is one of Eastern Europe’s oldest cities. Guided sightseeing features the Golden Gates, the St. Sophia Cathedral, the remains of the city wall and Vladimir Hill, and a stroll along Andrew’s Descent in the OLD DISTRICT. Later, an interesting optional excursion is available to see more of this fascinating city, and tonight a special farewell dinner with wine at a local restaurant has been prepared to celebrate the success of your Ukraine vacation with your traveling companions. (B,D)
Day #22 Kiev. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
