War & Peace Holiday

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Vilnius

Private transfer by car & guide-driver from Vilnius airport to hotel. Check-in at your chosen hotel in Vilnius for a 3-night stay with breakfast. Suggested hotels include: Apia Boutique hotel, 3* (breakfast served at Narutis hotel – 300m), Europa Royale Vilnius hotel, 4* or Stikliai Relais & Chateaux hotel, 5*

Day 2: Walking Tour of Vilnius & Trakai Castle Tour

Breakfast at your hotel. Your private guide-driver will meet you at your hotel for a 3h Vilnius Walking & Driving Tour. During the tour you will visit Skapo Street, Vilnius University, Dominikonu Street, Sv. Ignoto Street, the Jewish district, the Town Hall Square, St Nicholas Church (free admission), Rusu Street, Gediminas Tower, Sv. Dvasios Street and Lukiskiu Square. You will also have an outside view of Franciscan and Lukiskiu Monastery. After a lunch break, you will go on an afternoon visit to Traku Voke Manor Park and the UNESCO-listed Trakai Castle (4h). Sadly, the Traku Voke Manor has lost its former glory and the building is now locked. However, it can be viewed from the outside and it is not a problem to visit its adjoining park. Meanwhile, the medieval Trakai Castle is surprisingly well-preserved and today the castle houses a history museum.

Day 3: Exploring the Lithuanian Countryside

Breakfast at your hotel. Meet your private guide-driver at the hotel lobby to go on a full-day tour to Rumsiskes Open-air Museum and Kernave Site which are both featured in the BBC 'War & Peace' TV series adaption of Tolstoy's novel of the same name. You will have a chance to explore the place where the battle scenes in 'War & Peace' were filmed as well as the villages representing four ethnical regions of Lithuania. Lunch break either in Rumsiskes or Kernave according to your wishes.

Day 4: Witness the Splendor of Rundale Palace

Breakfast at your hotel and check-out. Private transfer by car and guide-driver from Vilnius to Riga via the splendid Rundale Palace that provided many St Petersburg’s interiors for the filmmakers. In Rundale, you will have time for lunch before meeting the local guide that will take you through the palace’s impressive halls and leave you to enjoy its vast garden of roses on your own. Check-in at your chosen hotel in Riga for a 2-night stay with breakfast. Suggested hotels include: Forums hotel, 3*, Europa Royale Riga hotel, 4* or Gallery Park hotel & SPA, 5*

Day 5: Walking Tour of Riga Old Town

Breakfast at your hotel. Your private local guide will meet you at your hotel for a 2h Walking Tour of the historical Riga Old town. Enjoy the beauty of the ancient Hanseatic city while strolling through the cobblestone, picturesque streets of the old town. You will see the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St Peter, the old Guild Houses, the Swedish Gate, the architectural ensemble Three Brothers, St Jacob’s Church, the Parliament House, Old Riga Castle, and view the many wonderfully restored buildings, now housing cosy restaurants, cafes, bars and souvenir shops. Afternoon at your own leisure.

Day 6: Farewell Riga

Breakfast at your hotel. Private transfer by car & driver from your hotel to Riga Airport according to your return flight.

This map uses Google Maps, so you can zoom and interact with it as we hope it is familiar to you.

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The lines shown give you an indication of our destinations and are not the exact route used.

You'll see...

• History of Lithuania »
• Latvia Attractions »
• Latvia History »
• Latvia Weather »
• Lithuania Attractions »
• Lithuania History »
• Lithuania weather »
• Riga »
• Rundale Palace »
• Vilnius »

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.