Taste of Lithuania (9 days/8 nights)

Individual Tour for small group (4-6 persons)

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Overview:

Tour "Taste of Lithuania" offers to get acquaint with traditional cuisine of Lithuania, to meet welcoming people and taste different dishes from different regions and of course to enjoy Lithuanian heritage. "Taste of Lithuania" is amazing experience for everyone who wants to become familiar essentially.

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Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Vilnius
Driver will pick you up from the airport and take to the hotel in Vilnius. Check-in and accommodation. Free afternoon. In the evening you will enjoy welcome dinner in restaurant "Marceliukės klėtis" or similar, where you will hear history of traditional cuisine of Lithuania and taste most known dishes of Lithuania – cold beefs root soup, "cepelinai" – grated boiled potatoes filled with meet. During welcome dinner you will be entertained by Lithuanian Folk ensemble. After dinner transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Vilnius.

Day 2: Full day tour to Druskininkai
After breakfast meeting with your guide and driver.   Drive to Druskininkai – one of the most famous wellness Spring and SPA resorts of Lithuania. You will drive through the biggest Dzūkija National Park – the greenest region of Lithuania. On the way stop at ethnographical homestead, where you will hear history of traditional food of Dzūkija region and will taste buckwheat bread. After lunch trip proceeds to Druskininkai with stop at Merkinė – old small town, where stood Castle of Merkinė. Climb to the mound and enjoy superb view to Nemunas river. Next drive to Druskininkai – SPA and wellness town. Here you will visit main attractions - spring of youth, city park and Church. Overnight in Druskininkai.

Day 3: Full day tour in Kaunas and Rumšiškės
After breakfast meeting with your guide and driver.  Trip to Kaunas – second largest town of Lithuania. Here you will visit old town and its main sightseeing objects – fourteenth century Kaunas castle ruins, the Town Hall and Cathedral, the Church of Vytautas, Perkūnas House (Thunder House), most famous Lithuanian composer M. K. Čiurlionis National art museum. Lunch in restaurant "Bernelių Užeiga" (or similar). Here you will try other traditional dish – grated baked potatoes pancakes. After lunch trip to Rumšiškės – visit an open-air museum of the former folk life of Lithuania with rich exposition of attributes and buildings from ancient times. In the evening trip back to Kaunas for overnight.

Day 4: Full day tour at the seaside
After breakfast meeting with your guide and driver.  Drive to the seaside of Lithuania. Visit Ventė horn - the real pearl of lovers of the nature.  Visit the bird ringing station, ornithology museum, over hundred years running lighthouse.  Next drive to Mingė (Minija) village, which is also known as "Lithuanian Venice" because of its unique landscape. Sailing boat from the Nemunas delta to Nida and taste bouillabaisse (fish soup) – traditional dish of locals. In the afternoon visit Nida – small old fishermen village famous for its majestic seashore sand dunes, Thomas Mann's summerhouse, neo-gothic church and old ethnographic cemetery. On the way to Klaipėda visit Juodkrantė, climb the Hill of Witches decorated with wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian legends and folk tales. In the evening ferry to Klaipėda. Overnight in hotel.

Day 5: Full day tour in Klaipėda and Palanga
After breakfast meeting with your guide. Morning excursion in old town of Klaipėda – visit Theatre square and the statue of a girl Ann from Tharau, “Crafts yard”, Arch, Monument to the United Lithuania, monument to M. Mažvydas and square. For the lunch drive to restaurant " HBH Juozas" in Žibininkai. Here you will taste Žemaičių blynai (boiled and mashed potatoes pancake filled with meat). After lunch trip to Palanga – main Lithuanian seaside resort. Visit Palanga Botanic Park with 22 meters-high dune called Birute Hill, Tiskeviciai Palace better known as Amber Museum, the bridge of Palanga, main Basanavičius street with numerous shops, cafes, etc. Overnight in Palanga.

Day 6: Full day tour in Kretinga and Šiauliai
After breakfast meeting with your guide and driver. Drive to Kretinga to visit the only one in Lithuania orangery called "Winter Garden".  Further drive to local homestead in Beržoras village for a lunch. Taste traditional Samogotian region dish – "kastinis", which is included into the register of protected geographical indications by European Commission. After lunch drive to Šiauliai.  In Šiauliai you will shortly visit main town objects – “seven objects of the Sun”, Sundialmsquare with monument Šaulys (The Archer) and visit Chocolate museum "Rūta" where you will have opportunity to make chocolate sweets by own hands and of course taste them. Overnight in Šiauliai.

Day 7: Full day tour in Šiauliai and Biržai
After breakfast meeting with your guide and driver. Trip to Biržai with stop at Hill of Crosses – unique historical and architectural monument, unique composition of folk art. Next drive to Biržai for visit Biržai Castle and attend the educational program "Žaldoko alus", where you will get acquainted with traditions of brewery and try Lithuanian beer. Here You will have lunch in restaurant and will try traditional food of Aukštaitija region – flour dishes – pancakes, curd pancakes called "varškėčiai" or something similar. After lunch trip to Strigailiškis, where you will see how and by own hands try to bake delicacy "šakotis" (tree cake). After tasting amazing delicacy, trip to Vilnius. Overnight in Vilnius.

Day 8: Full day tour in Vilnius and Trakai
After breakfast meeting with your guide. During the first part of day you will discover Lithuania’s capital Vilnius. Walking on foot you will visit main places of interest – The Cathedral and its square, the Tower of Gediminas, Vilnius university courtyards, Gothic St. Anne’s church and Bernardine’s monastery complex, the Gates of dawn with Virgin Mary painting, Town Hall square. In the afternoon drive to Trakai – the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In Trakai you will visit medieval Insular Trakai Castle surrounded by lakes and housing the exhibition of Sacral Art.  During the excursion guide will introduce you with the Karaites history and heritage, also will invite to try traditional dish of Karaims – kibinai – which are really loved by Lithuanian. In the evening you will come back to Vilnius for overnight.

Day 9: Departure day
Breakfast at your hotel and free time in the morning. Private transfer from your hotel to Vilnius airport for your flight home.

 

Taste of Lithuania Tour price is from 1450 Eur per person based on availability and two people sharing a standard twin or double room.

 

Package includes:

• Accommodation in 3* or 4* hotels: 3 nights in Vilnius, 1 night in Druskininkai, 1 night in Kaunas, 1 night in Klaipėda, 1 night in Palanga, 1 night in Šiauliai;
• Daily breakfast at the hotel;
• Sightseeing as per itinerary;
• Arrival and departure transfers;
• Car / coach services;
• Guide services;
• Entrance fees to museums;
• 8 lunches of traditional Lithuanian cuisine;
• Folk show on the welcome dinner;
• Educational programs – sweets from chocolate making in Chocolate museum, "Žaldoko alus" brewery program, baking of šakotis (tree cake) at Aukštaitija Region village Strigailiškis;
• Trip by boat from Mingė to Nida;
• Ferry to Klaipėda;
• Ecological fee.

 

Additional information:

• Flights are NOT included.
• Tour dates – according to your wishes and flight details.
• Tour could be customized according to your wishes (length, sightseeing objects, hotels, etc.).
• For groups of 1-3 persons there is additional fee. Please, contact us, for more information.
• For groups of 7 people and more, we can offer special discounts. Please, contact us, for more information.