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Welcome to the one of the biggest events of the commemoration of the Centenary of the Restoration of Lithuania’s Independence! The Song Festival is a unique example to the whole world of how dances and songs unite the nation scattered all over the world. Listed in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the event is equal to the Olympic Games in spirit. A total of 30 000 participants: a choir of 15 000 voices singing as one, 9000 dancers, dancing as one and the best artists! Get ready for a lifetime experience!

Itinerary

VILNIUS. Arrival to Vilnius. Private transfer to the hotel in central Vilnius. Time to relax and Welcome dinner to meet your group members. Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

VILNIUS – KERNAVE - RUMSISKES - PAZAISLIS - KAUNAS. Morning departure to Kernave, where you will climb a 5 mound complex, UNESCO site and learn the story of the first capital of Lithuania. Later you will travel to unique open air country life museum in Rumsiskes, depicting the 18-19th century architecture, traditions, crafts and the way of life of different ethnographic regions. Next stop at Pazaislis church & monastery - one of the most impressive architectural examples of late Italian baroque in the North East Europe. Free afternoon in Kaunas. Overnight at 4* Hotel “Best Western Santaka” or simi

KAUNAS - PANEMUNE ROAD – RAMBYNAS MOUNT - VENTE's HORN - KLAIPEDA. Along the most picturesque road – Panemune Castle Road – you will visit Renaissance Panemune castle, unique Stork colony hosting up to 40 birds at one place & Rambynas mount. Rambynas mount – a sacred place, believed to be protected by main Pagan Gods: Perkunas and Laima. Enjoy the views of beautiful loops of Nemunas river as well as Tilze and Ragaine towns (Kaliningrad, Russia). Vente‘s Horn – a unique place at the Curonian Lagoon, one of the most important points for birds concentration in the Northern Europe. Short tour and overnight at Klaipeda – the only seaport of Lithuania. 4* Hotel “Amberton” or similar

KLAIPEDA - JUODKRANTE - NIDA - KLAIPEDA. You will take a ferry and will travel to Curonian Spit – the pearl of Lithuania. In Juodkrante you will visit weatherwane gallery & climb an authentic Hill of Witches, decorated with numerous wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian legends and folk tales. In Nida you will see majestic seashore sand dunes, unique wooden architecture, neo-gothic church and old ethnographic cemetery. Trip to Klaipeda for overnight. 4* Hotel “Amberton” or similar.

KLAIPEDA- PALANGA- HILL OF CROSSES- KAUNAS. You will visit the most popular sea resort in Lithuania – Palanga. Walk the iconic Palanga Sea Peer, pass by beautiful Botanic garden, visit Amber museum, housing 25,000 pieces of amber. Later continue to Kaunas with en route stop at the holy site of Catholic Pilgrimage – The Hill of Crosses. It is an expression of a spontaneous religiousness of people, and a symbol not of grief and death but of Faith, Love and Sacrifice. From here the Pope blessed people of Lithuania and Christian Europe. Afternoon arrival to Kaunas. Song Festival celebration in Valley of Songs, Kaunas. Overnight at 4* Hotel “Best Western Santaka” or similar

KAUNAS – VILNIUS. Spend most of the time in Kaunas. While where, visit Kaunas IX fort, a museum dedicated to the works of Ciurlionis, Lithuanian most celebrated artist, Zilinskas Art Museum. Enjoy beautiful Kaunas Old Town. See the castle, wonderful churches, Town Hall, known locally as White Swan, Perkunas house and the longest bridge in the World. Afternoon trip to Vilnius. Opening Ceremony of the Song Festival in the Cathedral Square. Overnight at 4* hotel “Artis” or similar

VILNIUS. Today you will explore Vilnius: UNESCO listed Old Town with it‘s main historical and architectural monuments. Pass by Vilnius Cathedral, Grand Duke Palace, get up to Gediminas Castle tower, walk Castle street – the oldest and most flamboyant street in the Old Town, see baroque Vilnius University and Gothic St. Ann’s church, say a prayer at the miraculous Gates of the Dawn. Surprises await in quirky neighbourhood of artists also known as Republic of Uzupis. Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

Song Festival events to be visited independently:

Opening of the Children traditional crafts town at the Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania

Opening of the Folk Arts exhibition at the Museum of Applied Art

VILNIUS. Free time to enjoy Vilnius on your own. Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

Song Festival events to be visited independently:

Vocal Ensembles' Evening in Lithuanian National Philharmonic Hall. Paid event, ticket prices 20, 30 EUR.

Folklore day at the Castle's territory, Bernardinai garden

Kanklė’s concert in the St. John’s church

ILNIUS – TRAKAI – VILNIUS. Today you will visit Trakai – the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a majestic insular castle of 15th century and learn about local ethnic minority – karaites. Here you will have a chance to taste traditional karaite’s dish – kybins and try traditional liqueur. Afternoon return to Vilnius. Later tonight – Ensemble’s Evening in Kalnai Park. Paid event, ticket prices:

10, 20, 40, 60 EUR.

Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

Song Festival events to be visited independently:

Theatre day in Bernardinai Garden, The Old Town, the Cathedral square

VILNIUS Half a day tour in Vilnius. Visit KGB museum – learn about the loss of independence in the middle of the 20th century, repressions by Soviet authorities, and the self-sacrificing and persistent fight for independence. Later continue toward Vilnius TV tower. Here you will hear the story of the 13th January 1991, when Soviet Military attacked freedom defenders. Last but not least - one of the most beautiful churches in the world, baroque masterpiece – church of St. Petras and Povilas. Dance day event in the Stadium of Lithuanian Football Federation. Paid event, ticket prices 10, 20, 30, 50, 80 EUR.

Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

Song Festival events to be visited independently:

Wind Orchestras’ concert in “Siemens arena”. Paid event, ticket prices 10, 20, 30, 40 EUR.

VILNIUS. Free time to enjoy Vilnius on your own. Evening event –Song day in Vingis park. Paid event, ticket prices 10, 30, 40 EUR.

Overnight in Vilnius, 4* hotel “Artis” or similar.

Transfer to the airport. Departure flight. End of the tour.

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