Depart From: Depart from the U.S. Overnight flight.

Note: IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THE PROGRAM: walking up to 2 miles daily on cobblestone and uneven surfaces. Standing in museums can be unavoidable. No wheelchair facilities are available.Group meals are preset and cannot be changed on demand. 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 cooperation.

Afternoon: Arrival group transfers (2) as per schedule listed in this mailing , for all holding airline tickets from Road Scholar. Independent travelers are welcome to join group transfers. Please look for the arrival agent holding a Road Scholar sign in the airport arrival area.

Dinner: Welcome Dinner.

Evening: Orientation meeting and group introductions.

Lodging: Park Inn Central Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Lecture / Talk on historic Estonian connections / Walk in the Lower Town.

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles on cobblestone surfaces in Old Town and up/down hills.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Lecture: "General overview of the Baltic States. Modern Estonia as a new member of the European Union". Q&A session (presented by university staff). After the lecture drive to the historic area of Piriita to see the site of the Song Festivals; and to Kadriorg where we learn about the history of Estonia and its historical ties with Russia and Finland during a visit to the Kadriorg Palace and park.

Lunch: Lunch

Afternoon: Participate in an expert-led walk in the Lower Town of Tallinn. Tallinn was founded in 1154 and, at 850 years old, is the oldest of the three Baltic capitals and is the historical, cultural, and political center of Estonia. The Old Town, on the World Heritage List of UNESCO, has all the features of a 15th-century trading town and the general look of a typical, prosperous Hanseatic town. The medieval Old Town is a busy place with shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafes and restaurants. Explore the Old Town Hall, called Raekoja Plats, and the Tower, both dating back to the 15th century, go inside St. Nicholas Church and enjoy an organ recital. Spend time on your own in the Town Hall Square and at St. Catherine's Art Center.

Dinner: Dinner on your own in Old Town.

Lodging: Park Inn Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles on cobblestone surfaces in Old Town and up/down hills.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: This morning participate in an excursion to Al Maar -- an open-air museum. This visit is led by a loal expert. Return to Old Town.

Lunch: Lunch on your own .

Afternoon: This afternoon join a local expert for a walk in the Upper Town of Tallinn. Hear about its medieval history and unique architecture, and enjoy the stunning skyline accented by towers, spires, and red-tiled roofs. See the Toompea Castle, go inside Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Dome Church. *****Attend a cultural event***** . (a concert)

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Park Inn Central Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Expected travel time 2.5 -3 hours. Throughout the itinerary we travel on an air-conditioned motorcoach with facilities on board.

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, check out of the hotel. Drive to the city of Tartu, Estonia's second largest city and an important educational center. Tartu is famous for its long history, medieval architecture, and the well-established Tartu University founded in 1635, one of the oldest in Europe. Participate in a discussion on "Estonia - Russia relations, past and present", led by a university representative. Q&A.

Lunch: Lunch.

Afternoon: An expert-led walk in the Old Town of Tartu and a visit to Tartu University. Meet with university staff who will escort you through this prestigious school. Learn about its history and its exciting present, in which old traditions are being revived in the new era of freedom and democracy.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Palace Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected travel time 3.5 hours

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: A motorcoach transfer to Riga, Latvia. Latvia is located between Estonia and Lithuania on the shore of the Baltic Sea. Pass by beautiful fields, flatland pastures, massive forests, lakes, and villages on the way to Riga. Stop in Sigulda, Latvia's largest ski resort, near the Gauja National Park and the Turaida Castle.

Lunch: Lunch in a restaurant in Segulda

Afternoon: Afternoon arrival in Riga. Riga, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel restaurant

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected walking up to 2miles, on cobblestone surfaces and up/down hills.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Lecture: “Latvia today, the political and economic situation in Latvia, and its socio-demographic structure.” After the lecture begin an expert-led city walk in the Old Town of Riga, which is a living museum of well-preserved medieval architecture on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Riga was a major center of the Hanseatic League and prospered from its trade with Central and Eastern Europe in the 13th to 15th centuries. See many traces of Riga's Hanseatic prosperity in the city's layout and well-preserved architecture. Among medieval architectural treasures see the 13th-century St. Mary’s Church (the Dome) and St. Peter's Church.

Lunch: Lunch in Old Town

Afternoon: Later in the afternoon visit the Museum of Latvian Occupation, featuring many items and documents related to Latvia’s struggle for independence thoughout Latvian history. Free time in Old Town. Walk back to hotel.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to sample local fare.

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Latvian national music / Art Nouveau architecture in Riga / Cultural event

Note: Expected walking up to 2 miles on cobblestone surfaces.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Today we learn about Latvia's cultural heritage. Attend a talk on Latvian music and national musical instruments (all presented by a university staff specialist on the subject). After the talk, drive to the Art Nouveau district of Riga: your licensed escort will introduce you to the unique architectural treasures of the late Art Nouveau style, also known as New Style ("Jugendstil" in German). Art Nouveau appeared in architecture and furniture in the 1890s. Art Nouveau buildings often have asymmetrical shapes, arches and decorative surfaces with curved designs. Nearly half of the buildings in the center of Riga were built in this flamboyant style, the most notable being the buildings of the Riga Law School and the Swedish School of Economics, which we see during this walk (see the exteriors only).

Lunch: Lunch on your own.

Afternoon: Drive through the former Jewish area of Riga before returning to the hotel. After a short rest at the hotel, walk(10-15 minute) to a cultural event -- a classical concert . Enjoy a drink to toast the 4th of July.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant near the hotel.

Lodging: Avalon Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Note: Expected total travel time 5-6 hours, including stops.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Drive to the Baltic seaport of Klaipeda. We cross the Latvian-Lithuanian border and arrive at the Hill of Crosses -- one of the most impressive sanctuaries in Europe. It looks like a truly extraordinary forest of more than 100,000 crosses, which come in all shapes, sizes and forms. Among them is a monumental cross donated by Pope John Paul II on his visit here in 1993. It is believed that the first group of crosses was erected here in memory of citizens killed over a hundred years ago in rebellions against Russian rule. Later crosses were erected here during the Soviet era in memory of deportees to Siberia. In the Soviet era the crosses were destroyed more than once but were put up again and again in the darkness of night to stand tall the next morning. Today the Hill of Crosses and a new monastery nearby attract many pilgrims.

Lunch: Lunch en route to Klaipeda

Afternoon: Arrival in Klaipeda in the late afternoon. Hotel check-in.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel or city restaurant

Lodging: Navalis Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Be prepared for a full day excursion. Expected walking up to 2 miles on uneven terrain.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Drive to the Curonian Spit (a UNESCO World Heritage site of cultural landscape preservation). Crossing the Curonian lagoon by ferry, we learn about the history and strategic importance of the unique geography of the area and enjoy the breathtaking landscape and dunes. We continue on to Nida,once a small fishing village, now the municipal center and an ocean resort famous for its original maritime architecture, with many buildings protected by the state as historical and architectural treasures. See a breathtaking view of the Curonian Spit, its dunes, and the waves of the Baltic Sea.

Lunch: Lunch in a Nida restaurant

Afternoon: Continue exploring the fishing village of Nida and numerous stands with local arts and crafts on display. On the way back to Klaipeda, stop to visit the memorial museum of the famous German writer Thomas Mann, who spent many summers here. Upon our return to Klaipeda, have a short city drive before returning to the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

Lodging: Navalis Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive to Palanga, visit the Botanical Gardens and Amber Museum / Transfer to Kaunas

Note: Expected walking up to 1 mile.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel in Klaipeda.

Morning: Hotel check-out after breakfast. This morning we first drive to Palanga, a famous summer resort in Lithuania. See the palace, constructed in 1897, which once belonged to Count Felix Tishkevich. Walk through the Botanical Garden to the Amber Museum to discover various types of amber and to learn about the extraction and processing of this 'gold of the Baltics'. Continue on to the town of Kaunas, arriving in the afternoon (expected travel time, including the visit to Palanga, about 6 hours). Hotel check-in.

Lunch: Lunch en route to Kaunas

Afternoon: Take an independent walk in the Old Town of Kaunas (a vibrant historic town and a one-time capital of Lithuania) .

Dinner: A special dinner at the hotel restaurant, featuring local specialties.

Lodging: Park Inn Kaunas Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

History of Kaunas / Visit the Fort Museum / Transfer to Vilnius / Cultural connection

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: After breakfast, check out of the hotel. Learn about the history, architecture, and cultural traditions of Kaunas during an expert-led drive through the city: see the ruins of the 14th-century Kaunas Castle, spend time in the town square, and visit the Kaunas Cathedral and Vytautas Church, founded by Grand Duke Vytautas in the 14th century. Hear of the city’s rich past and its contemporary life.

Lunch: Lunch in Kaunas

Afternoon: En route to Vilnius stop to see the Fort IX Museum - a WWII memorial. Hotel check-in.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel in Vilnius.

Evening: Evening with local families -- a cultural connection.

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Note: Expected walking up to 1-2 miles, on cobblestone surfaces in Old Town.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Lecture: "Lithuania's integration into the European Union". Meet with a government official and a political adviser to the PM of Lithuania. Q&A session.

Lunch: Lunch in a restaurant in Old Town.

Afternoon: The rest of the day is spent enjoying the Old Town of Vilnius during a city walk led by an expert. See the interiors of the Peter and Paul Cathedral and the Church of St. Anna. Walk through the Gates of Dawn and see the site of the ancient synagogue. See stunning baroque buildings dating from the Middle Ages and now beautifully restored. A special visit includes a walk through the Vlnius Jesuit University grounds and a visit to the university library dating from the 17th century. Free time in Old Town.

Dinner: Dinner on your own to sample local fare.

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Note: Expected walking up to 1 mile.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Theme of the day: Lithuania, a country with a thousand-year old history. Drive for an excursion of the historic Trakai Castle, where we learn about the history of Lithuania and the historic events associated with Trakai Castle (presented by the museum curator). The 15th-century castle, constructed in 1406 under Grand Duke Vytautas, is strategically situated on three islands in the middle of Lake Galve. Trakai itself was the capital of Lithuania in the Middle Ages. The area offers a magnificent view of more than 30 glacier-made lakes. Trakai's pride is the Castle History Museum, which features many medieval objects and Lithuanian period furniture of the 18th-20th centuries.

Lunch: Lunch on your own in Trakai.

Afternoon: Retrun to Vilnius. Free time in Old Town to see favorite sites or to make independent museum visits: consider visits to the Amber Museum, the KGB Museum, or the Jewish Museum.

Dinner: Farewell Dinner

Evening: Folklore show during the Farewell Dinner.

Lodging: Radisson Blu Lietuva Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Program ends. Transfers to the airport for flights home.

Meals Included: Breakfast