The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, formerly Königsberg, offers a unique mix of German, Soviet, and Russian history. In addition to discovering the architecture and monuments of the city, you’ll explore the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts the largest sand spit in the world and interesting flora and fauna, visit an amber factory to learn how the famous “Baltic gold” is processed, and admire the fairy tale buildings on a stroll around the picturesque seaside resort of Svetlogorsk.
Morning flight to Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad is a strategically important Russian exclave located between Poland and Lithuania, famous for its Prussian/German and maritime history, as well as its amber. Established in the 13th century, the region was part of Prussia and then Germany under the name “Königsberg”. After becoming part of the Soviet Union at the end of the Second World War, it was renamed “Kaliningrad”. Upon arrival at Kaliningrad airport, meet your driver and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, tour the highlights of Kaliningrad city with your guide. Admire the city’s unique character, where modern, German, and Soviet architecture are intricately intertwined, and see the old city gates, bridges, ancient churches, defensive structures, the “Fishing Village” complex, and various interesting public buildings. Take a walk around Kant (formerly Kneiphof) Island, where you’ll find the Cathedral and the tomb of Immanuel Kant, the famous German philosopher who was born in and spent most of his life in Königsberg. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the World Ocean Museum.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 4 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the World Ocean Museum.
After breakfast, drive to the Curonian Spit (83 km). This is the largest sand spit in the world and boasts the world’s second highest sand dunes. These moving dunes, originally formed by sands and wind several thousand years ago, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Curonian Spit, which separates the huge Curonian Gulf from the Baltic Sea, offers magnificent landscapes and rich history. It is 98 km long, of which 46 km belong to Russia and 52 km to Lithuania, and between 400m and 3.8 km wide. Rare plants such as the lunaria rediviva grow here and badgers, moose, and roe deer can be found in the local forests. The Curonian Spit is also sometimes called the “Bird Bridge”. Due to its geographical location and orientation from northeast to southwest, it serves as a corridor for 150 species of migratory birds that fly between the northwest regions of Russia, Finland, and the Baltic countries, and Central Europe, Southern Europe, and northern Africa. Annually, in spring and autumn, 10-20 million birds fly over the spit. Your excursion includes a walk through the “Dancing Forest”, a pine forest famous for its twisted trees; a walk along the wooden walkways to the observation deck on top of the Efa sand dune, which offers stunning views of the surrounding dunes; a visit to an ornithological station (May-September) or the Forest Museum (November-March); and a packed lunch. After exploring the Coronian Spit, return to Kaliningrad. Free time. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the famous Amber Museum;
Concert in the Cathedral on Kant Island.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 6 hours
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
Visit to the famous Amber Museum;
Concert in the Cathedral on Kant Island.
After breakfast drive to the picturesque seaside resort of Svetlogorsk (52 km). On the way, visit Schaaken Castle, an order castle located in the village of Nekrasovo. This castle, founded on the site of a Prussian fortress around 1270, is one of the few surviving monuments of ancient times. In the basement, visit the Museum of the Inquisition, which presents stylized instruments of torture used in the 14th century. In the Armoury Room, see various swords, axes, other weapons, and shields. After visiting the Museum of the History of the Castle, continue to Svetlogorsk (formerly Rauschen). Take a walking tour of the town to learn about its history and admire the architecture. Almost all the houses seem to be from a fairy tale, with red tiled roofs, turrets, and weathervanes. See Hermann Brachert’s famous sculptures – “Carrying Water” and “Nymph”, a monument to Thomas Mann, the Makarov Company Organ Hall, and Svetlogorsk’s famous Water Tower. Then visit an amber manufacturing facility to learn about the full cycle of processing the famous “Baltic gold”. Kaliningrad is the centre of global amber trade and the region is said to hold about 90% of the world’s amber reserves. Return to Kaliningrad. Overnight at the hotel.
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7 hours
Duration of sightseeing tour: 7 hours
After breakfast, check-out of the hotel. Free time until your transfer to Kaliningrad Airport. End of the tour.
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
River cruise on the motor ship ‘Flotilla Radisson Royal’ (from May to October);
Ride on the funicular.
During your free time, we offer the following optional activities (at additional cost):
River cruise on the motor ship ‘Flotilla Radisson Royal’ (from May to October);
Ride on the funicular.
- All transfers (1-2 pax by sedan type car, 3-7 pax by minivan, 8-13 pax by 30 seat bus, 14+ pax by 40-50 seat bus)
- Accommodation based on double/twin room sharing, breakfasts included
- Sightseeing tour programme in each city with local, English-speaking guides
- Entrance tickets to sights as per itinerary
- Lunch on Day 2
- Economy class tickets for flights Moscow – Kaliningrad – Moscow
- Visa support for Russian tourist visa
- In groups of 11 or more travellers, 1 person travels free of charge and is accommodated in a single room.
- Tour leader to accompany the travellers for the whole tour
- Full board (lunches and dinners)
- Hotel charges for additional services
- Consular fees for Russia tourist visa
- Tips/gratuities for guides and drivers (although these would be appreciated)
- International flight tickets before and after the tour
- Personal travel insurance.
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