March 20, 2018 FINAL ITINERARY Prepared especially for: Westfield High School Choirs John Brzozowski, Conductor April 2-10, 2018 Mrs. Ieva Kalcheva, Tour Manager cell: 011 371 295 490 72 Monday, April 2 WESTFIELD, NJ Meals provided Today: Dinner on plane 2:00pm 6:00pm Assemble at Westfield High School Load your two (2) coaches and transfer to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Coaches provided by: Panorama Tours (973) 470-9700 *Please call 60-mins prior to pick-up Flight departs NEWARK on Lufthansa flight # 403 to Frankfurt, GERMANY 72+1 people Dinner and Overnight on plane Tuesday, April 3 FRANKFURT, GERMANY HELSINKI, FINLAND Meals provided Today: Breakfast (on plane) and Welcome Dinner 7:30am 9:40am Flight arrives at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) 72+1 people Flight Departs Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on Lufthansa Airlines flight # 848 72+1 people Flight arrives at Helsinki Airport (HEL) 72+1 people Claim your luggage and clear customs. Meet your Tour Manager, Mrs. Ieva Kalcheva, and Sechrist Travel Executive Director, Sean Berg outside the baggage claim and customs hall Look for the Westfield High School Choirs sign! 2:00pm Welcome to Helsinki - board your double-decker coach (78 seats); transfer to the Helsinki City Center Helsinki, the capital of Finland, retains a small-town feel: there are no high-rise buildings and the market square is still surrounded by 19th-century architecture. Its green parks and waterways, fresh sea winds with seagulls flying over the busy market square, and many open-air cafes make it a perfect summer destination. ON YOUR OWN 5:00pm Estimated arrival and check-in at Original Sokos Hotel Pasila Helsinki (4*) 7:45pm 10:00pm Time to refresh and rest in your room Transfer to restaurant, Weeruska Welcome Dinner at Weeruska (3 course dinner) The hotel in Helsinki is a little bit further away from the center, but it is possible to wander the streets nearby Overnight at Original Sokos Hotel Pasila Helsinki (*4) - https://www.sokoshotels.fi/en/helsinki/sokos-hotel-pasila Maistraatinportti 3, 00240 Helsinki, Finland Tel: + +358 201 234 613 E-Mail: pasila.helsinki@sokoshotels.fi *FREE WIFI *The program may change for today, in accord with your flight itinerary. PLEASE NOTE: Most of the public toilets have fee which ranges from 20-euro cents to 1 EUR with the exception of Hotels, Restaurants, and Museums. Make sure to carry some change with you for those moments!
Wednesday, April 4 HELSINKI, FINLAND 8:45am 3:00pm 5:00pm-6:30pm 6:30pm 7:00pm- 8:45pm 9:00pm 10:30pm Meet your two (2) local guides in the lobby of the hotel and prepare for your guided tour of Helsinki Enjoy a 3 hour-guided city tour by bus and on foot of Helsinki. During the tour you will learn more about Helsinki and see the Lutheran Cathedral by the Senate Square, the Uspensky Cathedral, the Governmental Palace and the University of Helsinki. The Sibelius Monument, a huge steel structure resembling a set of organ pipes, symbolizes the music of the greatest Finnish composer. An absolute must on a tour of Helsinki is a visit to the "Rock Church". The walls are of natural Finnish rock and the ceiling is faced with copper wire. ON YOUR OWN; in the city center followed by some free-time to explore in your chaperone groups We can decide, on the spot, how to organize transfers to/from hotel during free-time today Return to hotel to change into formal concert attire - *Formal Concert Attire Transfer from your hotel to Temppeliaukio Church (Rock Church) Afternoon rehearsal at Temppeliaukio Lutheran Church (Rock Church) Change into formal concert attire at the church- *Formal Concert Attire Formal Concert at Temppeliaukio Lutheran Church (Rock Church) 60 minutes max. *GRAND PIANO Available Transfer to restaurant, Harald Group Dinner provided at Harald (3 course dinner) Thursday, April 5 HELSINKI, FINLAND 9:40am- 6:45pm 7:00pm 9:00pm Meet in the lobby of the hotel, transfer to the Market Square for a short visit to see the Market life Meet your two (2) local guides and enjoy an excursion to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. The excursion begins with a short boat trip from the Market Square to the fortress island of Suomenlinna. Built in the 18th century to defend Helsinki against attacks from the sea, Suomenlinna was known as "the Gibraltar of the North". This over 250-year-old sea fortress is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and its walls, fortifications and museums are today a popular tourist attraction. ON YOUR OWN, followed by free time to explore Helsinki in your chaperone groups Possible transfers from the hotel to the city center/museums/back to the hotel Free of charge museums: Bank of Finland Museum - http://www.rahamuseo.fi/en/ Paid entrance: Helsinki Music Centre (Musiikkitalo) - https://www.musiikkitalo.fi/en/aukioloajat-ja-yhteystiedot Transfer from your hotel to restaurant, Mestaritalli Group Dinner provided at Mestaritalli (3 course dinner) Friday, April 6 HELSINKI, FINLAND TALLINN, ESTONIA 8:30am 10:30am Check-out of hotel and load luggage onto the coach Depart for the Port of Helsinki - Katajanokka Terminal Depart for Tallinn, ESTONIA on a fast hydrofoil ferry REMINDER to have Passports available Security check and passport control ON YOUR OWN 2
3 Friday, April 6 continued 1:30pm 2:30pm 3:00pm-4:00pm 4:10pm Evening Estimated arrival in Tallinn, ESTONIA (Tallinn Reisisadam A terminal), disembark and transfer to your hotel Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and is the oldest capital in Northern Europe. Even though Tallinn dates back to the 12th century, it is a high-tech city and a center for technological development in the Baltic Region. Internet banking, Skype, Kaaza, and Hotmail are all technologies and companies that originated in Tallinn. Estimated arrival at PK Ilmarine Hotel for check-in Meet in the lobby of your hotel and transfer to the House of the Blackheads Enjoy attending a rehearsal of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tõnu Kaljust, as they prepare for a big Gala concert scheduled for April 7th. This is an amazing opportunity. It will most likely be attending the rehearsal for an hour only and an amazing opportunity to see these two world-class ensembles together. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir - https://www.epcc.ee/en/ Concert Info: https://www.epcc.ee/en/concerts/tallinna-kammerorkester-25-galakontsert/ Meet your two (2) local guides outside of the House of the Blackheads Enjoy a 3-Hour Guided Tour of Tallinn, ending at your hotel To include the Old Town Center with the upper (Toompea fortress and Parliament, Orthodox and Lutheran cathedrals, panoramic viewpoint) and the lower (Town Hall square, Merchant Guild Houses) parts of the Old Town. We will also see the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds where the famous song festivals take place. Group Dinner provided at PK Ilmarine Hotel (3 course dinner) Free to relax and enjoy the Old Town Center of Tallinn; followed by overnight at hotel Overnight at PK Ilmarine Hotel (4*) - *The hotel is 5 minutes, on foot, from the old town Overnight at PK Ilmarine Hotel (4*) - https://www.hestiahotelgroup.com/hestia-hotel-ilmarine/ Põhja pst 21b, 10414 Tallinn Tel: +372 6140 974 E-Mail: info.ilmarine@hestiahotels.ee *FREE WIFI Saturday, April 7 TALLINN, ESTONIA 8:00am- 9:45am Walk as a group to the Estonian Maritime Museum 10:00am-12:00pm Visit to the Estonian Maritime Museum The Historic Seaplane Hangars display genuine maritime items: A real submarine called Lembit, a century-old icebreaker called Suur Tõll, a short 184 Seaplane, and the remains of the oldest ship found in Estonia. 12:15pm Board your coach and transfer to the City Center ON YOUR OWN, followed by free time to explore Tallinn in your chaperone groups Possible transfers from the hotel to the city center/museums/back to the hotel to be arranged with Tour Manager 4:30pm Return to your hotel - *change into Formal Concert attire 5:15pm Walk to Tallinna Jaani kirik (St. John s Church) 4:00pm Rehearsal at Tallinna Jaani kirik (St. John s Lutheran Church) 6:00pm-7:00pm Formal Performance at Tallinna Jaani kirik (St. John s Lutheran Church) - 60-minutes maximum *GRAND PIANO Available 7:15pm Walk to restaurant, Maikrahv 7:30pm Group Dinner provided at Maikrahv 9:30pm Overnight at PK Ilmarine Hotel (4*)
Sunday, April 8 TALLINN, ESTONIA PÄRNU, ESTONIA RIGA, LATVIA 8:00am- 11:30am 3:00pm 3:30pm 5:45pm 6:00pm Check-out of hotel and load luggage onto the coach and depart for Riga, LATVIA *REMINDER to have Passports available Our first stop today will be the summer capital of Estonia, Pärnu ON YOUR OWN; in the old town Continue on to Riga, LATVIA Estimated arrival in Riga, LATVIA Riga is the capital of Latvia and its largest city. Riga was founded in 1201 and has long been an important city in the Baltic Sea region. Situated in the Gulf of Riga on the Daugava River it was on one of the main trading routes of the Vikings and was developed as a settlement in the early Middle Ages. Over the centuries Riga has had many influences and occupiers that have left traces of their culture behind. Visit the Ethnographic Open Air Museum The museum houses authentic homes, farmsteads, windmills, wooden churches and fishing villages which represent different regions of Latvia through the last three centuries. Possible Informal Performance opportunity in the Museum Church 2 to 3 songs (a cappella) Transfer to local restaurant, Priedes Krogs Group Dinner provided at Priedes Krogs Board coach and transfer to the Avalon Hotel (4*), for check-in and overnight Overnight at PK Ilmarine Hotel (4*) - *The hotel is in the old town Avalon Hotel (4*) - https://hotelavalon.eu 13. Janvara str. 19, Riga Tel: +371 67 169 999 E-Mail: reservations@hotelavalon.eu *FREE WIFI Monday, April 9 RIGA, LATVIA 4 7:00am-8:30am 8:45am 5:15pm 4:30pm 6:30pm-7:30pm 7:45pm 9:30pm Meet your two (2) local guides, Ieva & Aija, in the lobby of your hotel to begin your Guided City Tour Enjoy a 3-Hour Guided Tour of Riga, ending at your hotel To include the Old Town Center, surrounded by a water channel, with the famous Dome Cathedral, St. John and St. Peter Churches, the Freedom Monument, National Opera House, Parliament, Castle, and the spacious squares in the remarkable Art Nouveau district. ON YOUR OWN, followed by free time to explore Riga in your chaperone groups Possible transfers from the hotel to the city center/museums/back to the hotel to be arranged with Tour Manager Return to your hotel - *change into Formal Concert attire Walk to Svētā Jāņa Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca (St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church) Rehearsal at Svētā Jāņa Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca (St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church Formal Joint Concert Performance with Balsis Choir at Svētā Jāņa Evaņģēliski luteriskā baznīca (St. John s Evangelical Lutheran Church) - 60-minutes maximum *ELECTRIC PIANO Available Balsis Choir Latvia (18-21 years) - http://www.balsis.lv/en/ Walk to restaurant, Kalku Varti Group FAREWELL Dinner provided at Kalku Varti (walk) Overnight at Avalon Hotel (4*)
5 Tuesday, April 10 RIGA, LATVIA WESTFIELD, NJ - USA Meals provided Today: Breakfast Boxes 3:30am 4:00am 6:05am 7:25am 1:20pm 3:45pm Breakfast boxes provided at Hotel Reception; load luggage onto your coach Board coach and depart for Riga International Airport (RIX); check into flight - 72+1 people Depart on Lufthansa Airlines flight #893 to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) - 72+1 people Flight arrives at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) ON YOUR OWN; at the Airport Flight departs Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on Lufthansa Airlines flight #402-72+1 people Flight arrives at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Clear Passport Control, claim your luggage and clear customs Transportation Home provided by: Panorama Tours (973) 470-9700 o Call dispatch once you are in baggage claim and again once ALL baggage is collected o Panorama Tours coach will come to the PICK-UP Zone once you call WELCOME HOME! EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS Tour Manager: Ieva Kalcheva Mobile: 011 371 29 549 072 from a US phone Sechrist Travel Director: Sean Berg Mobile: (917) 279-6629 Sechrist Travel ON CALL Emergency # - Mobile: (425) 501-6942 (Tom Price) Sechrist Travel Office Headquarters in Seattle, WA (425) 357-0245 WEATHER for the BALTICS in the month of April HELSINKI, FINLAND: 30-40 F - Expect April to be a very pleasant time to visit. It will be COLD and can be rainy TALLINN, ESTONIA: 32-52 F - Expect April to be a very pleasant time to visit. It will be COLD and can be rainy RIGA, LATVIA: 34-48 F - Expect April to be a very pleasant time to visit. It will be COLD and can be rainy