Page 172 - 2022 & 2023 Adventures by Land & Sea

Itinerary situated in a landscape punctuated by scenic lakes we’ll visit an amber workshop and gallery for a
and islands. First we take a short boat ride to visit hands-on demonstration by a local artisan of the
Trakai Castle, a fairy-tale fortress built in the 14th many uses for this beautiful fossil resin found along

DAY 1 • Depart U.S. century to fend off German knights. Then, we’ll meet the Baltic Sea.
You depart today on your overnight flight to Vilnius, with some local Karaims, who belong to the oldest B,L — National Hotel Klaipeda or similar
Lithuania. Turkish tribe—Kipchaks—who were brought from

Crimea to Trakai in the 14th century as bodyguards DAY • Klaipeda • Travel to Riga, Latvia
DAY 2 • Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania for the castle. At lunchtime, we’ll enjoy a Karai After breakfast, we drive towards Latvia and visit

Upon arrival in Vilnius, we meet travelers from the cooking demonstration and class, after which we’ll be Lithuania’s Cold War Museum and legendary Hill of
pre-trip extensions to Poland: Krakow, Auschwitz & able to enjoy the fruits of our labor. Later, we return Crosses, a grassy double hillock blanketed by several
Warsaw and New! Copenhagen & Odense: Denmark’s to Vilnius and take a tour of the Museum of Genocide thousand crosses. After lunch at a local restaurant,
Cultural Capitals. Later enjoy a brief discovery walk Victims—commonly called the “KGB Museum” we’ll continue our journey to Riga. Upon our arrival in
in Uzupis, a Bohemian neighborhood dotted with because it occupies the former KGB headquarters. Riga, we’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel.
street art and installations. This evening, dinner is B,L — Congress Avenue Hotel or similar B,L,D — Hestia Hotel Jugend Riga or similar
on your own.

Congress Avenue Hotel or similar DAY 5 • Explore Rumsiskes Open-Air DAY • Explore Riga • Home-Hosted Dinner
Museum • Travel to Klaipeda After breakfast, we’ll enjoy a conversation about

DAY 3 • Explore Vilnius On our way to Klaipeda, we first stop at Rumsiskes, an contemporary Latvia led by a local guide. Then, we’ll
After breakfast, we’ll have a Welcome Briefing at the open-air ethnographic museum featuring a collection depart for a city tour of Riga, beginning with a visit to
hotel. Then, we embark on a tour of the Lithuanian of rural dwellings and farmsteads from Lithuania’s the city’s Art Nouveau Museum. Later, we’ll explore
capital. First we’ll walk the cobbled streets of the city’s past. We’ll also stop by a yurta, one of the dwellings Riga’s Old Town, a dizzying collection of cobbled
compact Old Town and admire the restored Baroque used by Lithuanians deported to Siberia, and view one lanes, gargoyle-adorned buildings, and lovingly
buildings and medieval charm that earned it UNESCO of the original railway cars used during deportations
World Heritage status. We’ll also view the linked in the 1930s. Dinner is at a local restaurant.
courtyards of 16th-century Vilnius University, as well B,L,D — National Hotel Klaipeda or similar Watch this independent video to learn
as engage in a conversation with a local resident about more about this adventure

emigrating from Lithuania to the European Union. DAY 6 • Explore Klaipeda • Curonian Spit •
After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a free afternoon Hill of Witches • Amber workshop
to explore Old Town or join your Trip Experience Klaipeda is also the gateway to the Curonian Spit, a
Leader on another walk through Uzupis. This evening, UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fragile sand dune
enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the hotel. peninsula—shared by both Russia and Lithuania—
B,L,D — Congress Avenue Hotel or similar is separated by a protected lagoon on one side and
exposed to the harsh Baltic Sea on the other. We begin
DAY 4 • Vilnius • Excursion to Trakai our day with a hunt for some of the amber—known as

• Experience Karai culture • KGB “Baltic gold”—that washes up on the beaches during
Museum visit storms. Then we’ll hike to the “Hill of Witches,” a
After a conversation with a local expert about forested path through the dunes filled with unique watch video
Lithuanian independence, we’ll journey outside of wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian folk legends.
Vilnius to Trakai, the medieval Lithuanian capital After lunch in the private tavern of a local family,

Meet the people who call the
Baltics home

Karaim People of Lithuania : On Day 4, we’ll
journey outside of Vilnius to Trakai, the medieval
Lithuanian capital, where we’ll meet with some
local Karaims to learn about their ancient culture and sit down to
a lunch of their traditional Karai specialties.

Latvian Locals :On Day 8, we’ll mingle with Latvian locals as we explore
bustling Riga, winding through ornate Old Town and stopping by the Art
Nouveau Museum.

Estonian Villagers :We’ll experience what life is like in rural Estonia during A
Day in the Life of Kose Village, a recently added feature. Meet students at the
village school and enjoy a lunch of fresh local cuisine on a nearby farm.

Discover Lithuania’s enduring traditions, such as metal working.

172 The Baltic Capitals & St. Petersburg www.oattravel.com/blt2022

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