Self-drive tour
Best of Lithuania in 7 days
Program
DAY 1: CITY TOUR OF VILNIUS – TRAKAI KAYAK TOUR
Welcome to the capital of Lithuania! Spend the morning on a guided walking tour of Old Town, the medieval heart of Vilnius. The highlight of Vilnius is the Cathedral square. The Cathedral is consecrated in 1783 and sitting on the expansive Cathedral Square, this is Lithuania’s premier Roman-Catholic church. Moreover, its mausoleum is the final resting place of some notable figures throughout history including grand dukes of Lithuania and even King Alexander of Poland.
We see on the tour the Gediminas Tower, the 15th-century St. Anne’s Church and enter the Baroque gem; Vilnius University, which, having been founded in 1579, is the oldest university in the Baltics; and the Gate of Dawn, the city’s medieval defensive fortification, which was built around a chapel that remains a major catholic pilgrimage site in Lithuania.
Afterward, you’ll head west. A half-hour of Vilnius is the town of Trakai. Here do a guided kayak tour around the medieval Trakai Castle, the star landmark of the area. Afterwards you’ll visit this handsome fortification, which was built in the latter half of the 14th century out of red brick and stone and is done in the Gothic style.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Vilnius
DAY 2: FROM VILNIUS TO KAUNAS – STOP IN KERNAVE
After breakfast, drive from Vilnius to Kaunas. En route, you’ll stop in the village Kernavė, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 13th century when it was the medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The area is also an archaeological site, as here there are ruins of ancient human settlements dating back to 9000 BCE.
After visiting Kernavė, you’ll continue on to Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania. Upon arrival, a guided walking tour takes you around the Old Town and visit landmarks like Town Hall Square and the House of Perkūnas, a Gothic merchant house that dates to the 15th century. You’ll of course also visit Kaunas Castle, a Gothic fortress built on a hill overlooking the Nemunas River and which dates to the middle of the 14th century.
After touring the town, you’ll head to your hotel and will have the evening free.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Kaunas
DAY 3: FROM KAUNAS TO NIDA – STOP IN PALANGA
In the morning you’ll leave Kaunas on a 2.5-hour drive west to the Lithuania coast and Palanga, Lithuania´s most popular seaside resort town. Besides its wide beaches, you will visit Palanga Amber Museum. Located in a 19th-century palace, it features a collection of about 28,000 amber pieces, many of which contain insects, spiders, and plants.
Afterward, you’ll continue to Klaipe to do a guided walking tour in the port city Klaipėda. Before the check in you’ll embark on the Klaipeda sightseeing tour. It begins in Klaipėda’s Old Town, known for its old cobblestone streets lined with medieval guild houses. You’ll then visit landmarks like Theatre Square and the Ann from Tharau Fountain, which is dedicated to Simon Dach, a famous German poet born in Klaipėda and which features a sculpture of his muse, Ann.
Afterward you’ll take a ferry to the Curonian Spit, a long, thin sand spit that runs 62 miles (100 km) between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Dotting this narrow strip of land are sleepy fishing villages, isolated pine forests, and endless sand dunes.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Nida
DAY 4: SELF-GUIDED BIKING TOUR OF THE CURONIAN SPIT
In the morning you’ll do a self- guided bike tour from Nida to Joudkrante. On this route will see several dunes and visit the Hill of Witches, located at the lagoon side village of Juodkrantė. Despite the spooky name, this landmark is actually a collection of wooden sculptures atop a forested sand dune. There are over 80 sculptures here done by local artists that depict themes of paganism and Lithuanian folklore. After that, you’ll return back to Nida. To stroll around the town, enjoy local fish restaurants, and try different kinds of smoked fishes.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Nida
DAY 5: FROM NIDA TO SIAULIAI – HIKE THE LAKE PLATELIAI – STOP AT HILL OF CROSSES
From Nida the tour continues to the Samogitia National Park in Lithuanian is called „Žemaitija” (lowlands), to do a guided hiking tour around the picturesque Lake Plateliai and Lithuania’s marshlands.
After that, you’ll head east to Siauliai. Just north of this city lies the Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest Catholic sites in Lithuania. Pilgrims have been leaving crosses on this small rural hill since 1830 when the site was a pivotal landmark in Lithuania’s resistance against Russian aggressors. In the intervening years, the arrival of pilgrims has been so regular that today the hill has over 100,000 crosses, crucifixes, and statues of the Virgin Mary. After touring the Hill of Crosses, you’ll return to town and check into your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Siauliai
DAY 6: FFROM SIAULIAI TO VILNIUS – STOP AT NAISAI & STELMUZE
In the morning, you’ll leave Siauliai and return to Vilnius. On the way, you’ll stop at a couple of historic villages. The first, Naisiai, has a famous public park featuring wooden sculptures of Lithuanian pagan gods. There are trails here that you can hike and which afford great views of the artwork and surrounding nature.
The next village you’ll visit Stelmuze, which is the home of the oldest oak tree in Europe. There are many ancient legends regarding this tree, one of which being that there is treasure buried under its roots. Another is that the tree is actually hollow, and you can enter it and descend to the underworld.
After touring the area, you’ll continue on to Vilnius where you’ll check into your hotel and can spend the remaining day relaxing.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Vilnius
DAY 7: DEPARTURE FROM VILNIUS
Departure day, transfer to the airport.
Meals included: Breakfast
Highlights
- Tour the medieval city of Vilnius;
- Kayaking around the Trakai Peninsula the island castle;
- Biking tour on the Curonian Spit;
- Hike around Plateliai Lake;
- Visit in Stelmužė the oldest oak tree in Europe.
Foto gallery
Package price per person
- EUR 739 (double occupancy)
- EUR 350 (single supplement)
Included
- 2 nights in Vilnius, hotel Holiday Inn Vilnius**** or similar, 1 night in Kaunas, Best Western Hotel**** or similar, 1 night in Nida, hotel Nido Banga*** or similar and 1 night in Siauliai, hotel Tomas*** or similar;
- Car rental for 7 days;
- Vilnius, Klaipeda and Kaunas walking tour;
- Guided Kayaking tour in Trakai;
- Self-guided bike tour of the Curonian Spit;
- Guided Hiking tour in Semogitia National park;
- Entrances: Vilnius University and Kaunas castle museum.
*Note
Starting from/to Vilnius airport, day 1. – 7. a VW Polo or a similar car
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