Trakai Castle

Depart Vilnius, and then journey by air-conditioned minibus to the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the pretty lakeside town of Trakai. Listen to an informative audio commentary on the 28-kilometer (17-mile) journey, and then get 2.5 hours to explore the historic Old Town at leisure.  See the amazing Insular Castle and well-preserved ruins of Peninsula Castle, constructed in the 14th century before falling into disrepair in the 17th century. Rebuilt after World War II, Insular Castle is now considered a major landmark of Lithuania. Learn about the small ethnic Karaites people who settled in Trakai, along with the Tartars, Russians, Jews and Poles who followed. Enjoy panoramic views of Lake Galvė - the deepest of the region’s 200 lakes - before your return journey to Vilnius.

During this private day tour you will be able to explore the most interesting sites in the surrounding areas of Vilnius. The tour will start from Paneriai memorial park, where thousands of Jews from Wilna were killed.  The Paneriai or Ponary massacre was the mass murder of up to 100,000 people by German SD, SS and Lithuanian Nazi collaborators, during World War II. The murders took place between July 1941 and August 1944 near the railway station of Ponary, now known as Paneriai, a suburb of what is today Vilnius, Lithuania. After the tour in the park, you will head to the second capital of Lithuania, where today you can see the most beautiful castle, on the island in the lake. Here, you have the possibility to enjoy lunch in traditional Karaim restaurant or take boat trip around the lake. After, the group will head to the temporal capital of Lithuania - Kaunas, which is second largest town in Lithuania today. You will also visit Pazaislis monastery. After this, you will head back to your accomodation in Vilnius.

Once you are picked up by your guide at your accommodation, you will head to Gediminas tower in Vilnius to take a look at the Old Town of Vilnius. Later you will take a stroll in the Old Town. Then you will head to Kernave, the first Lithuanian capital, located 40 minutes drive from Vilnius. Upon reaching Kernave (a medieval capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and today a tourist attraction and an archaeological site) you will explore 5 hill forts, archaeology museum and hand-made souvenirs shop. Afterwards you will head to Trakai. Trakai prides a magical castle, located on an island. You will be able to visit castle museum, to take a boat trip (additional charge), and have lunch in traditional restaurant owned by the Karaim family. After lunch you will head back to Vilnius, where you will do some more sightseeing in the Old Town

After pick-up from accommodation in Vilnius start the tour with Paneriai memorial park, where thousands of Lithuanian Jews were killed. Learn about the Paneriai or Ponary massacre where up to 100,000 people were murdered by German SD, SS and Lithuanian Nazi collaborators during World War II. After the tour of the park visit Trakai castle, once a major centre of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and where today you can see one of Europe's most beautiful castles on the island in the lake. Here you will have the chance to have lunch in a traditional Karaim restaurant or enjoy a boat trip around the lake. After Trakai visit the first capital of Lithuania, Kernavė. Kernavė is highly significant in Lithuanian history and boasts five hill forts and historic churches. A Lithuanian state cultural reserve was established in Kernavė in 1989 and it was in 2004 that Kernavė Archaeological Site was included into the UNESCO world heritage list. After enjoying this site you will be returned to your accomodation in Vilnius.

Enjoy a hot air balloon flight over Vilnius or Trakai and leave with indelible impressions. Take off from Vilnius or Trakai and soar over the city or the castle, depending on the wind direction. Balloons are the oldest and most romantic air vehicle. Invented in 1783, balloons are still widely used today. Due to their aristocratic nature, hot air balloons are considered a privilege of the rich, and hot air ballooning is considered to be an aristocratic occupation. Vilnius is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and one of the few capitals over which you can still enjoy a balloon flight. Recently flights over Vilnius have been restricted due to the intensive traffic at the Vilnius Airport. Flights over Vilnius are possible if the wind direction is from the East, Southeast, or Southwest and if the visibility is more than 5 km. In any case, permission from the Air Traffic Control is required before take-off. Sometimes it happens that the Air Traffic Control doesn‘t grant permission to fly balloons and the flight has to be canceled at the last minute. As for flights in Trakai – they leave an indelible impression to all who has seen Trakai Castle from above at least once, passing it slowly and proudly or who has „soaked“ their feet in the Lake Galvė. Trakai is a very favorable place for hot air balloon flights because here you can fly in any wind direction. Balloons usually rise from the „Senoji Kibininė“ over the Lake Galvė or by the Trakai bypass and try to fly over Trakai Castle.

Enjoy this tour and take the opportunity to see town vital for the history of Lithuania. You will explore Trakai with its wonderful Island castle, traditional Karaim food at the restaurant, Uzutrakis mansion, and Hill of the Angels. You can also enjoy a Boat trip in Trakai (for additional charge). Lunch and entrance fees are not included in the price. The castle is famous for its gothic architecture and its special location – it stands on an island on Lake Galve, one of the deepest lakes in Lithuania. The view of the historic structure is straight out of a fairy tale. You can reach the castle by crossing the long wooden bridge. In the winter the lake freezes over and becomes a natural skating rink. You can also take in a special view of the castle from a yacht. Visit the museum inside the castle to explore the exhibitions of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, various archaeological findings and artefacts, as well as a collection of art. In the summer there are medieval festivals as well as various events and concerts in the castle’s courtyard. Užutrakis Manor is one of the brightest and best-preserved manors in Lithuania. Established and restored on the shores of Lake Galvė, the ensemble of the manor and the park reflects the spirit of 19th century Lithuanian nobility. Count Juozapas Tiškevičius, together with his wife Jadvyga, established Užutrakis Manor at the beginning of the 20th century after being inspired by the unique Trakai landscape. Hill of Angels - the place for fostering human devotion and spirituality. It is spotted with plenty of finely crafted wooden angel sculptures, wrought sun-like crosses and life trees decorated with traditional national symbols. 18 angel sculptures found a new home on the Hill.

Following pick-up from your hotel or apartment in central Vilnius, drive to the Paneriai Memorial Park, built at the site of the Ponary massacre where up to 100,000 people were murdered by the Germans during World War II. Pay your respects to the fallen heroes and see historic photographs and documents that detail the tragedy.  Move on to the former medieval residence of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes at Trakai. Take a guided tour of the legendary castle and learn more about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania during its golden age. See historical artifacts inside the fortress, built on an island on beautiful Lake Galvė.  Enjoy up to an hour of free time to explore on your own and purchase souvenirs, or use the time to taste some traditional dishes from Lithuania and of the Jewish Karaite faith at your own expense. Drive back to Vilnius and get dropped off at your hotel or apartment on arrival.

During this day tour you will be able to explore the most interesting sites located in the surrounds of Vilnius. After pick-up from your hotel, the tour will start at Paneriai memorial park, where thousands of Jews from Wilna were killed. The Paneriai or Ponary massacre was a mass murder of up to 100,000 people by German SD, SS and Lithuanian Nazi collaborators, during World War II. The murders took place between July 1941 and August 1944 near the railway station of Ponary, now known as Paneriai, a suburb of what is today Vilnius, Lithuania. After the tour in the park, the group will head to the second capital of Lithuania, where today you can see the most beautiful castle in Europe, Trakai Castle, located on an island in the lake. Here you can have the lunch in a traditional Karaim restaurant, or take a boat trip around the lake. After Trakai, the group will head to one of the largest ethnographic open-air museums in Europe that stretches across an area of 195ha. The museum was established on the picturesque shores of Kaunas Lagoon in Rumšiškės in 1966. The exhibitions at the museum are intended to introduce the ethnographic regions of Lithuania, i.e. Dzūkija (Dainava), Aukštaitija (Highlands), Suvalkija (Sudovia), Žemaitija (Samogitia) and Lithuania Minor, as they looked at the end of the 18th century and the first half of the 20th century. After this visit the tour will head back to your accomodation in Vilnius.

After collection from your location in Vilnius, you will disembark near one of Trakai lakes. You will begin your tour with learning basic strokes, how to handle a canoe and the safety rules. After paddling for a while you will reach Lake Galve where Trakai Castle, the main point of interest is located. Some amazing photos of you paddling in the cedar strip canoe will be taken for you and you will also get some aerial pictures with the castle in the background. You can then enjoy the rare opportunity to enjoy paddling through nature and historical heritage all in one canoe. After visiting a couple of beautiful landmarks, you will make a stop at one of the uninhabited islands for a picnic. Once you've finished, you will head back and if you're lucky enough, enjoy a picturesque peaceful sunset at Trakai Castle.

Discover the main objects of Vilnius city, such as: The Classic Town Hall, the  bohemian Uzupis district (visiting the Angel of freedom, the Constitution), the Gothic St.Anne's Church and its famous Gothic ensemble, the magnificent Cathedral Square, old Vilnius University, and baroque masterpieces of the 17th century - Church of St. Peter and St. Paul.  The second part of the tour is dedicated to the Trakai district. There you'll have free time for lunch at a local restaurant, where you can try traditional Karaites dishes like 'kibinai' (pastries filled with mutton and onion). The excursion continues to Trakai Castle, which was a cradle of the Lithuanian statehood, an important military and political center, headquarters of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the capital of Lithuania.  At the end of the tour, you'll drive back to Vilnius and be dropped off at your hotel around 16:00.