Jim's Tour from Vilnius to Trakai and Hill of Angels
Description
This isn't a typical castle day trip. Join me for a journey through Lithuania's layered identity — Teutonic Knights, the Polish union, Soviet rule, basketball obsession, and the quiet pride of a country that refused to disappear. My commentary is personal, the history is real, and the route takes you through both the Soviet-era blocks and the UNESCO-listed Old Town before heading out to Trakai. I will play music along the journey, from eurovision to songs of the forest by the fire, and then in Trakai there is free time to explore including optional castle entrance (14€ in high season) as well as lunch with me at a classic traditional spot! On the way home we will stop by the Hill of Angels, a site built in 2009 devoted to spirituality and to celebrate Lithuania’s ‘anniversary’. Looking forward to hosting you!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Understand the founding of the city and it's medieval history that shaped the crossroads nation Lithuania became
Delve into the modern culture of Lithuania and the Soviet era of the 20th century which has shaped it so, including the site of the 1991 Uprising
We will explore Trakai town, with the option for self-exploration and a visit to the castle (10€) or to join me at a famous restaurant to experience the local cuisine.
Visit a place of spirituality & devotion, built to honour the 1000-year anniversary of Lithuania
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(57)
Informative and fun! Enjoyed learning about Lithuania and the freedom to explore Trakai. Lunch with Jim and fellow explorers was another highlight!
A very nice tour. Jim is a wonderful guide. He is very personable, with many great stories to keep everyone engaged and entertained. The tour was very well paced and never felt rushed. Highly recommend it!
This is a great small group tour with a great guy! Jim is a truely delightful young man, entertaining and knowledgeable. I did this tour the day before I flew out, otherwise I would have signed up for more of his tours! I have no hesitation in recommending Jim’s tours. You’ll have a fantastic day out!
Great trip with Jim and Patricija. Both are super knowledgeable about Vilnius, Trakai, Lithuania and the region as a whole and shared lots of interesting and real stories on our travels. It’s a small group tour (no more than 5-7 people) so it’s easy to ask questions and by the end of the trip, it feels like everyone is friends. You’re given plenty of time to look around Trakai Castle and Jim and Patricija went out of their way to show us other sites close by (The Hill of Angels) as well as key sites in Vilnius on our drive out and back in again. I highly recommend this trip because of the personable nature of the tour leaders and am gutted I’m not in town to do some of their other trips! THANK YOU JIM AND PATRICIJA!
We joined Jim for the trip to Trakai and Hill of Angels, and as a family group over 3 generations, we all enjoyed Jims perpective of history and life in Lithuania.
Unfortunately the weather was really terrible, however the tour was well worth braving the elements. The tour guide was very informative and gave a comprehensive history of Lithuania, from early times, through the Soviet occupation and gaining independence. We started with a tour of Vilnius which gave an insight into the history of the various districts. Trakai Castle was interesting, and although it is not a huge building it has several excellent exhibitions. Be prepared for lot of stairs. The route to the castle takes in 2 wooden footbridges, which give some great opportunities for photos. On the day of our visit we had to endure a monsoon, with the rain coming in sideways! Oh well, the luck of the draw when it comes to weather. We met with the rest of the group and the guide for lunch, which gave us time to interact with the various nationalities - a nice experience. On the way back to Vilnius we stopped at the Hill of Angels for a wander round the various statues. This was quite an experience and of course produced a lot more photos. Overall an excellent tour with a very informative guide. We would definitely do it again, but pray for the preceding weeks weather.
Awesome tour - highly recommended
Great guide & very comfortable drive. Lot of extremely interesting information on history & culture of the country. Highly recommended tour.
The tour was interesting and engaging from start to finish. Jim is an attentive tour guide who took great care of all the participants.
Very good guide, well planned and good organisation. We went to visit castle in Trakai and had linch afterwards. An extra hour in Trakai would have been gold, to vidit churches or just have an icecream by the water… Recommended!
