Depart From: Your home airport

Note: IMPORTANT INFORMATION: walking up to 2 miles daily on cobblestone and uneven surfaces and some standing in museums. Wheelchair facilities are not available. Group meals are preset and cannot be changed on demand or ordered from menus. Luggage limit: 1 pc/1 carry-on. Porters are not always available. All personal and medical expenditures must be paid directly by participants. The Group Leader is not authorized to make any payments on participants' behalf. Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Arrive To: Arrival in Vilnius in the early afternoon. Transfers to the hotel are arranged for all travelers holding air tickets issued by Road Scholar. Independent participants are welcome to use group transfer (schedule to be announced 5 weeks prior to program).

Afternoon: Orientation meeting at the hotel.

Dinner: Welcome Dinner.

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Trakai Castle / Museum of Rural Life in Rumsiskes / Cultural event

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles, comfortable shoes are a must

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Theme of the day: "Lithuania as a Baltic country with a 1000-year history". Drive to historic Trakai 9 (about 1 hour) for an educational visit to the Trakai Castle and a presentation on Lithuanian history at the Museum of History. See the castle, built in 1406 by Grand Duke Vytautas and beautifully nestled on an island in the middle of Lake Galve. The museum curator will talk about Lithuania's medieval history and the important events associated with Trakai, a one-time capital of Lithuania.

Lunch: Lunch

Afternoon: Continue on to the town of Rumsiskes (about a 1-hour drive) for an educational visit to an open-air museum to learn about rural life, national crafts, local customs and traditions from a museum expert. Return to the hotel (a 1-hour drive).

Dinner: Dinner in a local restaurant in the city

Evening: Evening cultural event (exact performance to be announced in the final mailing).

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles, be prepared to walk up several flights of stairs in the University library

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning we have an expert-led city excursion, focusing on the history and architectural highlights of Vilnius. We walk through the university campus and have an inside visit to the university library, dating from the Middle Ages.

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: The city overview continues. Have an inside visit to see the rich interior of the Peter and Paul Cathedral and St. Anna's Church. Continue your walk through the Gates of Dawn and stop at the site of the ancient synagogue. See numerous medieval baroque buildings.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Evening: This evening we spend with local residents at their homes for a cultural connection.

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: All inter-cities transfers are done by comfortable, air-conditioned motorcoach with facilities on board. Rest stops are made every 2 hours (expected total travel time is 5-6 hours).

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Attend a lecture on "Lithuania's integration into the European community" (presented by a government official). After the lecture drive to Riga, Latvia, via the town of Pilsrundele and participate in an organized excursion to the baroque palace of Rundele, the former summer estate of the Duke of Courland.

Lunch: Lunch en route to Riga.

Afternoon: Late afternoon arrival in Riga. Founded in 1201 by the German Bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals; it boasts a kaleidoscope of architectural styles, a busy seaport, and a rich cultural life. Check in at the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: Evening free to relax; or, have an independent walk to enjoy the Old Town near your hotel.

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Political discussion / Museum of Latvian Occupation / Walking excursion in Old Town / Cultural event

Note: Expected walking in Old Town up to 2 miles.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Lecture at hotel: “Latvian identity; political and economic situation, and Latvia's socio-demographic structure.” After the lecture begin an expert-led walking excursion to explore the 800-year old UNESCO-listed Old Town. See the medieval Riga Castle and Dome Cathedral. Enjoy an organ recital in the Dome Cathedral.

Lunch: Lunch in town.

Afternoon: Visit the Museum of Latvian Occupation, featuring many items and documents related to Latvia’s struggle for independence. Free time.

Dinner: Dinner on your own.

Evening: Attend a concert.

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Be prepared to spend all day outside the hotel.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: A presentation on Latvian national music: learn about Latvian folklore traditions and musical instruments. After the lecture participate in an expert-led excursion in the district of the city regarded by specialists as the capital of Art Nouveau architecture, known as New Style ("Jugendstil" in German). Art Nouveau appeared in architecture and furniture in the 1890s, and nearly half of the buildings in the center of Riga were built in this striking, flamboyant style. Following the excursion drive to the resort town of Yurmala (driving time approx.1 hour).

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in Yurmala.

Afternoon: Spend part of the afternoon in Yurmala, a seaside resort famous for its music festivals, concerts, art galleries, and health spas. Admire the stunning city skyline on the way back to Riga, an unforgettable sight! Upon your return to Riga, drive through the area of the former Jewish ghetto, and visit the Ghetto Museum.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected travel time is about 4-5 hours.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel in Riga.

Morning: Spend part of the morning at a local market before driving to Tallinn, Estonia. Enjoy the beautiful Estonian countryside and the picturesque Baltic coastline, numerous hills and lakes on the way to Paarnu, a seaside resort town where a short stop is planned.

Lunch: Lunch en route to Tallinn.

Afternoon: Continue on to Tallinn with a late-afternoon arrival at the program hotel. Rest.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: Evening cultural even (to be announced in the final mailing, 5 weeks before the program).

Lodging: Park Inn Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Discussion on the politics and economy of modern Estonia / Walking excursion in Old Town / Cultural event

Note: Extensive walking up/down hills, be prepared to walk on cobblestones and uneven terrain

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Discussion: "Estonia today: the Estonian economy, and social and political issues in the aftermath of Estonia's entry into the European Union''. Following the discussion, have a short city orientation and begin a city walk to learn about the history of Estonia and the architectural treasures of Old Tallinn. See the Toompea Castle, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dome Church, and other sites in the Upper Town.

Lunch: Lunch on your own in Old Town.

Afternoon: A city walk led by an expert continues in the Lower Town of Tallinn. Spend time at Catherine's Arts and Crafts Center. Free time.

Dinner: Dinner at a restaurant in the hotel or in Old Town (TBA). The evening is free to relax, or to take an independent walk in the Old Town to enjoy this charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life.

Lodging: Park Inn Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer from Tallinn to St. Petersburg, Russia / Arrival in St. Petersburg

Note: Expected travel time is about 7-8 hours on an air-conditioned motorcoach with facilities on board.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Morning motorcoach transfer to St. Petersburg, Russia, with a stopover in Narva for customs and border-crossing formalities (expected travel time about 7 hours by air-conditioned motorcoach with facilities on board).

Lunch: Boxed lunch en route to St. Petersburg.

Afternoon: Late afternoon arrival in St. Petersburg. Hotel check-in. Rest.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Oktyabrskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Theme of the Day: "The History and Architecture of St. Petersburg": architectural highlights led by an expert. Participate in an expert-led visit to the Peter and Paul Cathedral -- the birthplace of the city and the burial place of the Romanovs. See the Winter Palace, the Bronze Horseman statue, St. Isaac's Cathedral (exterior), St. Petersburg University, the Summer Garden, and many other historic sites and architectural treasures of this magnificent city.

Lunch: Time for lunch on your own

Afternoon: Drive through Nevsky Prospekt (the main boulevard), and enjoy the sights of numerous canals, palaces, and bridges.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel or city restaurant.

Evening: Transfer to an evening performance ( the exact performance will be announced in the final mailing, 5 weeks prior to the program. Note: a Mariinsky theater performance is not part of this program. We reserve the right to finalize the date for the performance 5weeks before the program).

Lodging: Oktyabrskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: All day excursion. 1-2 hour drive each way. Extensive walking (up to 2 miles) including up/down stairs.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: This morning we drive to see the summer estates of the Romanov tsars, who ruled Russia for over 300 years. En route to Peterhof hear the story of the Romanov dynasty. Arrive in in Peterhof, the favorite summer estate of Peter I (the Great). Walk with an expert to admire the famous golden fountains, the palace grounds, and other constructions in the park. See (exterior only) the Grand Palace (known as the "Russian Versailles", now a museum), the Mon Plaisir Palace, Peter's more humble villa, the Grand Cascade, which is the centerpiece of the palace grounds, other pavilions, and the spectacular Lower Park itself, stretching along the Gulf of Finland and featuring over 150 fountains (note: excursions to palaces and other museums on site are not part of the visit).

Lunch: Lunch

Afternoon: Continue on to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) to visit Catherine's Palace in Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin). This is an elaborate baroque and rococco palace built in 1752 for Tsarina Elizabeth to honor the memory of her mother, Catherine (not "the Great"). See the eighth wonder of the world -- the extraordinary Amber Room, decorated with six tons of solid amber carved and framed in gold leaf. The original room was lost or confiscated by the Nazis during World War II and meticulously reconstructed in 2003 by Russian specialists.

Dinner: Dinner upon return.

Lodging: Oktyabrskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected walking (up to 2 miles), up/down stairs, also some standing in the museum. Comfortable shoes are a must.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: A morning visit to the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's greatest art galleries. View the dazzling collection of Old Masters, French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, as well as numerous items of all eras, from all corners of the world (3 hours to be spent with a licensed expert).

Lunch: Lunch on your own

Afternoon: Enjoy the Hermitage collection independently, or spend this afternoon exploring the city on your own.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel or nearby restaurant.

Lodging: Oktyabrskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Lecture: "Russia Today: an overview of Russian society, the political system, and issues of religion and ethnicity in modern Russia" (presented by a university professor). Q&A session.

Lunch: Lunch.

Afternoon: Travel to Moscow by hi-speed train late in the afternoon (travel time, depending on train, 4-4.5 hours). Note: seats on the train are similar to those on a motorcoach, with plenty of legroom but limited space for luggage; facilities are available on board.

Dinner: Dinner snack and water are provided on the train.

Evening: Arrival in Moscow. Transfer to the program hotel.

Lodging: Marriott Tverskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Walking up to 1-2 miles in the museum

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Begin your exploration of Moscow with an expert-led drive through the city. Learn about Moscow's heroic past and vibrant present reflected in the city's history and architectural treasures. Stops are made at Moscow University, the New Maiden (Novodevichy) Convent where famous Russians are buried (view the exterior only), the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Russia's White House, Gorky Park, and the legendary Bolshoi Theater.

Lunch: Time for lunch on your own

Afternoon: This afternoon participate in an expert-led visit to the Tretyakov Picture Gallery, housing the world's finest and most extensive collection of Russian paintings of all periods. Learn about Byzantine-influenced medieval icons, paintings by the Peredvizhniki (a group of 19th-century Russian artists) and admire masterpieces by Surikov, Kramskoy, Repin, and other talents.

Dinner: Dinner.

Lodging: Marriott Tverskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Extensive walking -- up to 2 miles.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: An educational trip to the legendary Kremlin compound: this is a self-contained, walled city (fortress) with an armory, churches, and a palace, which for hundreds of years has been the symbol of the powerful Russian state. You will see the exterior of the Kremlin Palace, its cathedrals, and the legendary Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell. Cathedrals in the Kremlin compound include the golden-domed Cathedral of the Annunciation and the majestic Cathedral of the Archangel, a harmonious melange of Italian Renaissance and traditional Russian architecture. The walk through the Kremlin grounds is led by a licensed expert.

Lunch: Time for lunch on your own

Afternoon: Continue on with a visit to the Armory Chamber, featuring a unique collection of arms and armaments used through the Middle Ages, as well as various Russian royal treasures, including famous Faberge eggs commissioned by the Romanov tsars. Later have free time in Red Square, where all rulers of Russia left traces of their reign; see the ancient Kremlin wall, the striking Kremlin Clock Tower, GUM department store, and take pictures of St. Basil's Cathedral -- a multi-colored architectural wonder of the 16th century commemorating Russia's victory over the Tatars at Kazan.

Dinner: Dinner.

Evening: Evening performance (the exact performance to be announced in the final mailing, 5 weeks prior to program. Note: a Bolshoi Theater performance is not part of this program. We reserve the right to finalize the date for the performance 5 weeks prior to program)

Lodging: Marriott Tverskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Be prepared to spend all day outside the hotel.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: This morning have a drive in the city to see more city landmarks and take a Metro ride (if desired)

Lunch: Time for lunch on your own

Afternoon: Transfer to the Center for Preservation of Ethnic Arts and Crafts from all corners of the multi-ethnic Russian state. See the museum and showrooms (no purchases are expected from you). Attend a political discussion

Dinner: Farewell Dinner

Lodging: Marriott Tverskaya Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Program ends, transfers to airport for all participants holding air tickets from Road Scholar. Independent travelers are welcome to join the designated group transfer bus to Domodedovo Airport (DME).

Meals Included: Breakfast