Best of Lithuania in 8 days
Private tour

Best of Lithuania

  • 8 days / 7 nights
  • Lithuania
  • Vilnius – Trakai – Kaunas – Palanga – Klaipeda – Curonian Spit – Naisiai – Siauliai – Pakruojis – Kernave – Vilnius

Program

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN VILNIUS

Welcome to Lithuania! Arrival in Vilnius. Check in to the hotel.

Overnight: Vilnius

DAY 2: VILNIUS

Vilnius is a lively and vibrant Baltic capital that is especially famous for its sophisticated baroque architecture. The city offers a great contrast – the Old Town charms you with wonderful gothic, renaissance, baroque, and neoclassical architecture gems while other parts of the city are known for a buzzing alternative culture scene. Lithuania is very proud of its history as the Grand Duchy, and many cultural monuments in Vilnius still speak of those times, for example, Gediminas Tower, a very distinctive landmark of Vilnius that offers a wonderful panorama of the Old Town. Another important monument is Vilnius Cathedral, an impressive neoclassical building that once served as the coronation place of the Grand Dukes, but today is the main Catholic cathedral in Lithuania. Join the guided walking tour and discover the most beautiful places in Vilnius Old Town.

Around lunchtime, join the Cepelinai Culinary Master Class. Cepelinai, potato dumplings filled with meat and onions, is the most popular traditional dish in Lithuania. You will have a unique opportunity to make cepelinai with your own hands and dive deep into Lithuanian food culture.

Later you will have an opportunity to enjoy some free time. Right next to the Old Town lies the self-declared artists’ republic Uzupis, a very charming bohemian district with its own “constitution”, “president”, “flag” and even “money”. Uzupis is full of art pieces on the streets and secret artists’ yards, and it offers many exciting discoveries that reveal themselves only to the most attentive observers. Go for a leisurely walk around the Uzupis, sit at a cafe, and enjoy the creative atmosphere of the artists’ republic.

Overnight: Vilnius

DAY 3: VILNIUS – TRAKAI – KAUNAS

In the morning, you will go to Trakai and visit Trakai Island Castle, one of the main tourist attractions in the country and the symbol of Lithuanian statehood. Being built on an island on Lake Galve, one of the deepest lakes in Lithuania, the red brick medieval castle looks just like out of a fairytale. Trakai Island Castle used to be a residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, and you will learn more about them by visiting the Trakai History Museum located in the castle.

Later you will go to Kaunas, the second-largest city in Lithuania. Kaunas is famous for its Interwar architecture, mostly Art Deco, and amazing pieces of street art, but it also has a lovely Old Town. Join the guided walking tour and see the most beautiful landmarks of Kaunas, such as the Town Hall Square, the 15th-century House of Perkunas, and the 14th-century Kaunas Castle, a gothic fortress built on the hill overlooking the confluence of the Neris River and the Nemunas River. During the tour, you will take the Aleksotas Funicular which has been operating since 1935. The funicular will bring you up to Aleksotas Hill, a wonderful viewing platform, offering the best panorama of Kaunas.

Overnight: Kaunas

DAY 4: KAUNAS – PALANGA – KLAIPEDA

In the morning, you will leave Kaunas and go to Palanga, the most popular seaside resort in Lithuania that is often called the Summer Capital of Lithuania. The most known symbol of Palanga is the Palanga Pier, an L-shaped pier that stretches into the sea for 470 meters. Already at the end of the 19th century, the pier was dedicated for the use of pedestrians only. Today, it is the most popular place for watching the sunset, going for romantic walks, and having a panorama of the beach. Palanga is famous for its Amber Museum, located in a magnificent 19th-century palace in the center of Birute Park. The museum has one of the biggest collections of amber in the world, consisting of about 30 thousand exhibits. You will have a chance to visit the museum and explore the mysterious and beautiful world of ambers.

Afterward, you will go to Klaipeda, a lively and colorful port town full of fishing boats, yachts, and ships. Klaipeda has a very distinctive architectural style strongly influenced by Germans, and that makes Klaipeda very different from any other Lithuanian city. Join the guided walking tour in Klaipeda Old Town and fall in love with cozy architecture, cobblestone streets, and countless sculptures that hide in the most unexpected places: on the rooftops, on the street corners, and the walls. Later enjoy the promenade along the Dane River. It is a lovely place for leisurely walks that offers a romantic port-town atmosphere with sailing boats in the river, countless cafes and restaurants, and old warehouses standing on the shores.

Overnight: Klaipeda

DAY 5: KLAIPEDA – CURONIAN SPIT – KLAIPEDA

In the morning, you will take a ferry to the Curonian Spit, a long and narrow sandspit stretching for almost a hundred kilometers between the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. The Curonian Spit offers a unique and diverse natural and cultural landscape: magnificent sand dunes, peaceful fishermen’s villages with lovely wooden architecture, vast pine forests, and endless beaches.

At first, you will stop at Juodkrante, a lovely fishermen’s village with beautiful wooden villas and a promenade. The village is known for the Hill of Witches, one of the most popular tourist attractions on the Curonian Spit where countless wooden sculptures allow you to familiarise yourself with Lithuanian mythology. Not far from Juodkrante, you will see another tourist attraction with a spooky atmosphere – the Grey Heron and Cormorant Colony.

On the way to Nida, you will stop by a truly wonderful place for discovering the magical charm of dunes – Nagliai Nature Reserve and its dead dunes that once buried several villages under sand. Later you will visit Nida, another lovely fishermen’s village with colorful architecture, traditional weather vanes, and a wonderful promenade. Not far from it, you will visit one of the most spectacular places on the Curonian Spit – Parnidis Dune. Enjoy the vastness and the desert-like scenery.

In the evening you will take a ferry back to Klaipeda.

Overnight: Klaipeda

DAY 6: KLAIPEDA – HILL OF CROSSES – NAISIAI – SIAULIAI

After leaving Klaipeda, you will visit the Hill of Crosses, one of the most sacred Christian pilgrimage sites in Lithuania. It is believed that people have been leaving crosses of different sizes on this hill since the 1830s. In some historical periods, this activity was perceived as a resistance against the regime, but generally, the Hill of Crosses serves as a place for hope. If you want to leave a cross on the hill, but you don’t have one, don’t worry – people often create symbolical crosses from whatever they can find around, little branches, grass, or tiny stones.

Later, you will visit another unique place – Naisiai Baltic God Park. This is an open-air museum that educates about ancient Baltic religion and pagan ways of understanding the world around us. Stroll around the park, enjoy wooden sculptures depicting different Baltic gods and deities, and explore the ancient Baltic worldview.

Then it will be time to discover Siauliai. You will see the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, a renaissance architectural monument, shining bright white already from far away. The best place to feel the real essence of Siauliai is Siauliai Boulevard, the pedestrian part of Vilniaus Street that is often called the Heart of Siauliai. Go for a leisurely walk along the boulevard and enjoy its charm: various sculptures, buildings from different centuries, tiny stores, cozy cafes, and restaurants create a very lively atmosphere.

Overnight: Siauliai

DAY 7: SIAULIAI – PAKRUOJIS – KERNAVE – VILNIUS

In the morning, you will go to Pakruojis Manor, one of the biggest, most impressive, and most beautiful manors in the Baltic States that is especially famous for its Flower Festival which takes place every summer. The manor offers time travel back to the 19th century by strolling around its splendid interiors and wonderful garden, exploring the curiosity room and clock room, peeking into the beer brewery and distillery, as well as visiting a fortune teller.

Later you will go to Kernave where the first capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania once stood. Today, the Kernave Archaeological Site is a great place for exploring Lithuanian history starting from the late Paleolithic Period to the Middle Ages. In Kernave, you will see the remains of five picturesque hillforts, a reconstructed 13th – 14th-century settlement, as well as interactive expositions at the Kernave Archaeological Site Museum.

In the late afternoon, you will return to Vilnius. Enjoy your evening in the beautiful capital of Lithuania.

Overnight: Vilnius

DAY 8: DEPARTURE FROM VILNIUS

Departure day. Check out from the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to the airport.

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Price in double occupancy

In 4-star hotels:

  • 2 people traveling: 1890 EUR per person
  • 4 people traveling: 1190 EUR per person
  • 6 people traveling: 960 EUR per person
  • 8 people traveling: 840 EUR per person

In 3-star hotels:

  • 2 people traveling: 1775 EUR per person
  • 4 people traveling: 1075 EUR per person
  • 6 people traveling: 840 EUR per person
  • 8 people traveling: 730 EUR per person
Single supplement

Single room supplement: 340 EUR

Services included
  • Accommodation in centrally located hotels with breakfast
  • English-speaking driver and tour leader throughout the program
  • Transportation in a private car or minivan per program
  • Walking tours in Vilnius, Trakai, Kaunas and Klaipeda
  • Curonian Spit sightseeing tour
  • Cepelinas Culinary Master Class
  • Entrance tickets for Trakai Island Castle, Palanga Amber Museum, Nagliai Nature Reserve, Pakruojis Manor, Kernave Archeological Site Museum
  • Gediminas Hill Funicular and Aleksotas Hill Funicular
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What travelers say about us

EXCELLENT
36 reviews on
SisterBliss66
SisterBliss66
2024-11-02
Great day out - lovely walk in Gauja - Līgatne trail - in the crisp autumn air followed by the paper mill. Then on to Sigulda Castle and Gutman Cave. Valdis was very knowledgeable and we had some interesting conversations about the places visited, history, culture and lots more besides. Friendly guy, fluent in English. It was awesome getting out of Riga to see more of the country.
Jane Bower
Jane Bower
2024-09-30
My partner and I (69 and 75) are just back from a 17 day self-drive tour put together with the help of Valdis from Baltic Nature Travel. It was an absolutely delightful and fascinating experience. We asked for quirky or unusual accommodation and a mix of hotels and self-catering - great fun. We went at our own pace and chose what to see. Everything was beautifully organised - a couple of small hitches were dealt with straight away on the phone. We are well-travelled but didn't know these stunning countries at all. Our overall impression is CLEAN and GREEN. Thank you, thank you for such a unique and special holiday.
Andrew Golding
Andrew Golding
2024-09-16
First Class Personal Tour of the Baltic Republics organised by Valdis: a bespoke, friendly, intelligent, safe and varied introduction to this wonderful part of the world. Wholly recommended.
David Morris
David Morris
2024-09-10
Excellent booking experience - very easy and all the information we needed. Hire car arrived at the hotel as arranged and the handover was excellent. All the hotels that were booked for us were great and the itinerary was really wide-ranging and interesting. Estonia people were almost always friendly and helpful, and the restaurant food was great. Would definitely recommend Baltic Nature Travel and Estonia as a destination
Karen Green
Karen Green
2024-07-23
Valdis, the owner of Baltic Nature Travel, is a terrific tour organizer. His advance communication and arrangements were unfailingly responsive, prompt and helpful. On the trip, we had different guides as well as drivers in the different cities (Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.) In each case, they were well-informed and on time at the meeting point. We never needed to worry or contact the guide (though we were provided with their information.) Every hotel Valdis chose for us was of a very good standard, well-run, clean, exceptionally well located, and with wonderful breakfasts. The restaurants he recommended were also excellent – we learned to just go where he suggested! The tour was an exceptionally good value. In sum, we couldn’t have been more pleased. Our trip was wonderful and we left wanting to see more of the Baltics' beauty. If we do go again, we would unquestionably work with Valdis. In the meantime, we will recommend him to all of our friends.
Lucía Gómez
Lucía Gómez
2024-07-17
Fantastic Self-Guided Hiking Experience! We recently completed a self-guided hike in Gauja National Park, which was wonderful. The trails were serene, and we rarely encountered other hikers. The provided materials and app were excellent and highly accurate. The hotels, luggage transfer, and overall transportation arrangements were flawless. Highly recommend this experience!
Paul Green
Paul Green
2024-07-12
Anna Brish was a fantastic tour guide for understanding Jewish history and culture in Vilnius. She was friendly, deeply knowledgeable, eager to answer our questions and accommodate our specific interests. Anna does other tours and we would take any of them, she’s amazing!
James Cornez
James Cornez
2024-07-11
Myself and my best friend came across this company whilst researching options to travel in Latvia and we are very pleased we did. Valdis was very amenable during the planning process by arranging video calls with both of us so we could better understand what was on offer for us to do. He compiled an 8 day itinerary for us that did not disappoint starting in Riga for 2 days. We paid for an optional 3hr walking tour which was very worthwhile to see the main sites of the city. Janis took us on the tour who is a great guy that gives you plenty of interesting information, ready to answer any questions regarding Latvian history/culture. We chose the self driving option to see as much of Latvia as possible which I would definitely recommend if you want to have more than just a city break. It took us to varied places ranging from the heavily forested and pretty areas of Sigulda (where we did a fun kayaking tour on the Gauja river) and Cesis to the pleasant coastal cities of Liepaja and Ventspills. Overall, definitely the company to approach if you want to authentically explore Latvia!
Esther A
Esther A
2024-06-21
Valdis and his team helped us to organise a guided 16 day trip across Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Helsinki. We had a very enjoyable experience! Coming from Singapore and not knowing Valdis beforehand, we were initially worried about language and logistical challenges. All these were unfounded as Valdis and his guides were not only knowledgeable but also responsive, helpful and flexible. We had some minor hiccups during the trip but Valdis was able to resolve them very promptly. I would highly recommend engaging Valdis for your next trip!
Annette Ihrman
Annette Ihrman
2024-06-16
The tour was very versatile and a good addition to our trip to Riga. We can recommend it!

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