Drive through the central part of Klaipeda to the resort town of Palanga. A stroll through the Botanical Park leads you to the 19th-century Neo-Renaissance-styled mansion that houses the biggest Amber Museum in the Baltics. During your visit, the Amber Museum will reveal the marvel of its Baltic gold; amber's origins, places where it can be found, and amber processing and jewelry-making. You will also have an opportunity to stroll through the gardens, and see the swans and other birds in the ponds, on the way back to your coach. Every visitor to Palanga is drawn to Palanga's Basanavicius Promenade. Cafes, bars and restaurants line both sides of the street as well as many souvenir stalls. You will have a little free time here to enjoy this pedestrian precinct and its lively atmosphere. Enjoy an orientation walk through the narrow streets of Klaipeda’s Old Town. See the old Fachwerk construction buildings, along with the houses where shoemakers, blacksmiths, bakers and other craftsmen lived. Stop at Theater Square where you’ll find a symbol of romantic love and the story behind it; the sculpture of Annchen from Tharau adorns the fountain. Then, you will have a few minutes of free time before returning to your ship or you may also choose to stay in town and make your way back to the pier on your own.

OVERVIEW

Follow a winding trail through ever-shifting sand dunes and pine forests to the oldest fishing village on the Curonian Peninsula. After ferrying to the peninsula, you will soon arrive at the Nagliai Nature Reserve on a long narrow spit of sandy land often called the Lithuanian Sahara. The wind constantly shapes and reshapes the terrain to such as extent that entire villages have been buried beneath the sand. The reserve’s stark natural beauty will be especially breathtaking and otherworldly as you pass through yawning ravines and the Dead Dunes, also known as the Gray Dunes for the sparse vegetation that lends them a grayish-silver hue. The trail eventually leads to Judokrante, a small seaside village that is one of the oldest settlements on the peninsula. There you will see a neo-gothic Lutheran church and a collection of painted weathervanes that mirror signs that fishing boats once had to display to identify their village of origin.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the ferry across a sheltered lagoon to the long, thin Curonian Peninsula.
• Follow a winding trail and wooden boardwalks through the Nagliai Nature Reserve.
• Walk through pine forests, ravines and shifting sand dunes much like those in a desert.
• Browse the oldest village on the peninsula and see its famed weathervanes.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Get a taste of rural life while touring a family-run bee farm and enjoy an enlightening walk through Klaipeda’s atmospheric Old Town. The farther you drive into the countryside, the more beautiful the scenery. Chances are, you will see countless white storks – the national bird of Lithuania – in massive stick nests atop houses and telephone poles. The idyllic farm is equally enchanting as the third-generation beekeepers follow traditional and sustainable practices to produce honey, some of which is used for products such as beeswax candles and cosmetics. At the apiary, they will show you each of the steps involved and offer tastings of homemade dark bread slathered with sweet honey and a glass of fresh-brewed honey-based mead. Back in Klaipeda, the guide will show you around the heart of Old Town, beginning in vibrant Theatre Square, where you will find the sculpture of a young girl that 17th-century Klaipeda-born poet Simon Dach immortalized.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a panoramic drive into the bucolic Lithuanian countryside..
• See how honey and various honey-based products are made at a family-run bee farm.
• Visit the apiary and snack on farm-fresh treats in the apple grove.
• Follow the guide on an enlightening and entertaining walk through Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a tour that reveals Klaipeda’s history, including the years under Soviet rule, and then discover how fossilized amber has shaped the city’s fortunes. Pass several of Klaipeda’s architectural gems such as the Clock and Watch Museum, the neo-Gothic post office and a former military barracks that now houses Klaipeda University. Like the rest of Lithuania, Klaipeda was ruled by the Soviets from the end of World War II until 1991, when the country gained its independence. Drive through residential areas that the Soviets built. The scenery and guide’s commentary with offer great insight into the nearly 50 years that the Soviets controlled Lithuania. As influential as that period was, the production of items made with amber has also had a huge impact on Klaipeda. Since ancient times, this organic substance from pine trees has been used for medicinal purposes, as an ingredient in perfume and for jewelry. During a visit to an amber workshop, you will learn about the importance of this fossilized tree resin and see how natural amber turns into one-of-a-kind jewelry. Find out from the craftsmen themselves the remedial qualities of 50 million years old Baltic amber. Back in Old Town, you will visit the Amber Antiques Museum and sip a cup of herbal tea while listening to tales of the ancient amber trade route that passed nearby, stretching as far as Rome. Enjoy an orientation walk through the narrow streets of Klaipeda’s Old Town. See the old Fachwerk construction buildings, along with the houses where shoemakers, blacksmiths, bakers and other craftsmen lived. Stop at Theater Square where you’ll find a symbol of romantic love and the story behind it; the sculpture of Annchen from Tharau adorns the fountain.

Klaipeda's world of fairy tales and legends awaits your arrival during this scenic visit to the Black Shore, and Witches Hill.

A short drive through Klaipeda, then a 10-minute ferry ride across the Curonian lagoon takes you to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which captivates visitors with its unique natural beauty. Your destination is the Black Shore, or Juodkrante, the oldest fishing village on the Curonian Spit. This picturesque village, now a resort, still retains its Old World charm. Drive by Amber Bay, a 19th-century amber-mining site, along with traditional fishermen's houses typically decorated.

The highlight of your visit to Juodkrante is Witches Hill, which features 80 sculptures carved from oak along the edge of a forest path. See the giant Neringa and Egle, the queen of grass-snakes, a dragon slain by the prince, the thunder, poacher and many witches performing their devilry. You will also hear some of the stories and legends related to them, and understand why Lithuania is renowned as Europe's last pagan state.

The stop in the town of Joudkrante, will also give you a chance to walk on the quay of the lagoon, decorated with modern sculptures or stop to see the Evangelical Lutheran Church and visit the gallery of weather vanes. In the 19th century, weather vanes were used as a special marking system on the top of the flat fishing boats, or kurenas. Later, they became particularly colorful and artistic symbols of the Curonian Spit.

On your return drive, stop for photos at the long honey colored shores which have been awarded the Blue Flag and are considered one of the best beaches of the Baltic Sea.

Explore the beauty and tragedy of Lithuania’s past and present during visits to Kretinga's Church of the Annunciation and monastery, and the historic mansion and museum of Count Tiskevicius. A scenic drive takes you to Kretinga, a quaint little town north of Klaipeda. Upon arrival, you will visit the 17th-century Church of the Annunciation. On the grounds surrounding the church lie the Stations of the Cross. You will visit the church, and explore the cellars below. The adjoining Franciscan monastery combines Renaissance and Baroque elements. The Franciscan friars, who lived in the monastery, made a great contribution to education in Lithuania. They opened the first school, and later began publishing books and newspapers. The Franciscan monastery was closed by the Tsarist government, and again later in Soviet times. After Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1992, the Franciscans returned again. Today, they look after the church, and hold heavily-attended services. One of the brothers will lead your tour of the church if they are not at prayer. Drive through the center of Kretinga en route to Count Tiskevicius' 19th-century estate. This historic mansion houses a museum displaying spiritual and cultural treasures of Kretinga. During your visit you will see a collection of Lithuanian wooden art and countless pieces of equipment used in authentic Lithuanian living. You You will also learn about a tragic period in Lithuania's history when thousands of people, including the Franciscan monks from the monastery, were deported to Siberia soon after the Soviet occupation in 1940. Today, the museum is also renowned for its beautiful winter garden, which showcases a wide variety of exotic plants from all over the world. Back in Klaipeda, enjoy an orientation drive before stopping in the Old Town for a stroll in the handicrafts and amber market.

Discover Lithuania's natural beauty, and the former nuclear threat imposed by its Soviet neighbors, during this visit to the Plokstine Forest and Soviet Nuclear Weapons Site.

A stark reminder of the Cold War, the Soviet Nuclear Weapons Site was constructed in Zemaitija National Park under great secrecy in 1960, and became operational in 1963. Soldiers working around-the-clock excavated the silos by hand. Four silos housed the R 12 surface-to-surface missiles. The nuclear missiles were targeted towards the biggest European cities, including Berlin, London, Madrid and Paris. From this very same site in 1962 similar missiles were deployed to Cuba, in what became known as the Cuban missile crisis. The Nuclear Weapons Site was closed in 1979, but four silos and the central control complex remain.

In sharp contrast to this apocalyptic site, the Plokstine Forest is filled with an abundance of scenic vistas, and you will stop to view the most beautiful sites of the national park, including the crystal-clear waters of Plateliai Lake, and three spectacular islands.

During your visit to the nuclear weapons site, you will follow your guide through the 88.5-foot-deep corridors, mineshaft and underground tunnels of this old Soviet launch site. Along the way, you will see some of the symbols of the Soviet Army, and have an opportunity to climb through the narrow hatch and view one of the silos.

On your way back to Klaipeda you will stop for a light lunch of traditional national dishes and a local beer, in authentic Lithuanian restaurant.

Ride a ferry across the lagoon that separates Klaipeda from the Curonian Spit, where you will bicycle along its sand dunes and discover how this rare ecosystem has been preserved.

After departing from the pier on a bicycle, you will soon board the ferry that crosses the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a sand dune peninsula that has been inhabited since prehistoric times. UNESCO declared the spit a World Heritage site because its lagoon settlements reveal how humans have adapted to the ever-changing environment over the centuries.

Once you disembark from the ferry, you will bicycle to Hagen’s Dunes, where a stone obelisk commemorates the work of 19th-century Prussian physicist Ludwig Hagen. He is credited with preventing the dunes’ erosion by planting native flora. From the bicycle trail that winds through the dunes, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Klaipeda across the lagoon.

The trail continues through a forest, parts of which Hagen planted, and on to a beautiful beach where you will pause to rest for a few minutes. There is a beach café nearby where you might purchase refreshments. Later, you will bicycle past 19th-century Nerija Fort, a six-sided defensive complex that now houses a maritime museum and aquarium.

Time permitting, you will pause for photos one last time at the breakwater before retracing your route back to Klaipeda. During free time in popular Theatre Square in the compact Old Town, be sure to notice the German-style architecture. It reflects the influence of Germany on Klaipeda, which was founded in 1252 around a castle that Teutonic knights built.

OVERVIEW

Learn to prepare a traditional Lithuanian dish in a hands-on cooking class and enjoy a selection of beers after touring the brewery that produced them. At the pier you will be met by a guide who will accompany you in your discoveries and tell you about the history of Klaipeda. Before you taste Lithuanian beer, you learn Lithuanian cuisine in one of the cooking studios in Klaipeda. During the visit and cooking class, the chef will greet the group and together you will prepare one of the traditional Lithuanian dishes. During the cooking class the chef will explain the basics of typical Lithuanian dishes, ingredients and culinary traditions. After sampling this freshly prepared treat, you will head for Svyturys Brewery for an inspiring tour and another tasting. Svyturys brewed its first beer in 1794 and has since become a beloved brand. The esteemed brewery offers a remarkable variety of beers that includes hefeweizen, dortmunder, German-style bock and Scottish ale. Following the tasting, hop back on the bus for a transfer back to the port. Alternatively, enjoy a guided walking tour through Klaipėda’s charming Old Town. After the tour, you may walk back to the ship or stay in the city for self-guided exploration.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Participate in a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare Lithuanian-style Virtinukai with blueberies.
• Enjoy an appetizer of cold cherry soup before dining on the freshly made Virtinukai.
• Tour Svyturys Brewery, an iconic Lithuanian brand dating to 1794.
• Sample a selection of the brewery’s most popular and representative beers.
• Enjoy a guided walking tour through Klaipėda’s charming Old Town.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.