Explore The Baltics

Lets' begin our Baltic adventure. Make your way independently to our hotel in Vilnius. Relax and get to know your surroundings ahead of tomorrow's guided tour, along with fellow group members.

Let’s begin our Baltic adventure! Upon our arrival into Vilnius, we will meet our expert local guide who will assist us as we travel to our hotel in the centre of Lithuania’s capital.

Let’s explore more of Lithuania with a guided walking tour of Vilnius. Vilnius is a modern city a colourful history, where a cultural past meets a vibrant future. Our guide will take us through the city’s medieval and historic past with must-see sites such as Vilnius Cathedral, the Gates of Dawn and the Gediminas Tower.  We will also discover the eclectic Uzupis district, filled with colourful street art and a bohemian spirit.

You will have the afternoon at leisure to discover more Vilnius at your own pace. Why not hear more about Vilinus’ wartime past with a visit to KGB museum or explore the city’s pebbled streets, filled with cafes and small boutique shops hidden down every corner.

Lets’ get to know each other! There will be a welcome meal included tonight with our fellow group members in a local restaurant so we can dine together ahead of our action-packed group holiday.

Let’s uncover more of Lithuania with a kayaking tour around Trakai, the former Royal Capital of Lithuania. From our unique viewpoint on the water let’s admire the splendid 14^th century red brick castle and paddle around the three interconnected picturesque lakes that surround it.  We will also stop for a light picnic lunch on one of the small lake islets where we can take in the tranquillity of the surrounding area. (Kayaking distance: 11km / Total Paddling time 2.5 hrs).

In the afternoon we will drive to the seaside town of Klapedia for our overnight stay. (Approximate driving duration: 3.5 hours. Approximate driving distance: 300km) Your local guide will be happy to suggest local restaurants where you can eat dinner at your leisure.

Today let’s experience Lithuania from a different perspective as we take to the saddle for a full day e-bike cycling tour of the Curonian Spit. Prepare for picturesque sand dunes, forests and former fishing villages as we explore this narrow sandy peninsula from top to bottom, a highlight of any trip to the Baltics. Look out for the numerous wooden statues that dot the scenic landscape telling stories of the local legends and folklore.  (Cycling Distance: 50km / Difficulty: Moderate / Elevation: Flat)

This morning let’s discover a lesser-known traditional Lithuanian activity and meet with a local amber hunter who will take us on a journey into the magical world of amber. We will first learn about the origin and properties of amber and see our hunter’s own unique amber collection. They will then show us how they catch and gather amber on the Lithuanian coast. Then we will have a chance to try our luck in amber catching in the sea ourselves!

Our journey to uncover more of Lithuania’s culture continues with a visit to a local Samogitian Homestead. The Samogitians are among one of the traditional ethnic groups of Lithuania with their own individual language, culture and history. Let’s indulge in some authentic food and enjoy some traditional music and experience a unique glimpse into the Samogitian way of life.

At our final stop today we will visit the Hill of Crosses, one of the most extraordinary sites in Lithuania. This 14th century hillfort is covered in more than 100.000 crosses that symbolise Lithuanian nationalism and beliefs. The crosses vary from religious crosses to memorials to those who suffered during Lithuania’s difficult past.  We will have some time here to explore and gain an insight into the Lithuanian people’s resilience and faith. We will then travel on, crossing the border into Latvia and arriving to Riga where we will be based for the next two nights.

Let’s embark today on a guided walking city tour that will cover all of Riga’s iconic highlights with our local expert guide. Discover sights in this city filled with Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau styles of architecture such as Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gates, the House of Blackheads, the Large and Small Guild Houses and the Freedom Monument.

The rest of the afternoon is free to explore Latvia’s fascinating capital at your leisure.

Riga’s Central Market is the biggest indoor market in Europe and constructed in the arches of former WW1 German Zeppelin Hangers. Here our local guide will lead us through the maze of streets between the stalls of this historic market, filled with sellers of local produce from Latvia. We will visit 4 or 5 different places and try the best taste of Latvian handcrafted cheese, rustic meat products, bread, and drink and have a chance to talk to the local suppliers. (Subject to minimum numbers)

Let’s adventure more today with a hike in Latvia’s largest National Park, Gauja National Park. Get off the beaten track and admire the natural scenery filled with forests, sandstone cliffs and caves for which the park is known.  We will explore by hiking from Turaida to Gutman’s Cave, with stunning views of the Gauja valley river on the way.  (Difficulty: Leisurely / Distance: 5 km / Duration: 2 hours / Incline: 15 m / Decline: 60 m)

After our active morning we will leave Latvia behind and cross the border into Estonia towards the coastal town of Parnu. (Approximate driving duration: 2.5 hours. Approximate driving distance: 170km) Nicknamed Estonia’s ‘summer capital’, with sandy beaches and mild waters, it makes an ideal spot to revitalise for the evening.

After a brief orientation tour, we will check into our hotel and have the evening to spend as you desire. Embark on an evening stroll and soak up the atmosphere of this charming town or watch the sunset over the sea. The choice is all yours! You may end your evening at one of the local restaurants or bars to soak up some authentic Estonian culture.

Let’s discover more of Estonia with a full day guided tour of the island of Saaremaa. Cut off from the rest of Estonia as a Soviet military outpost during the Cold War, its enforced isolation has translated into unspoilt countryside and a unique traditional local culture today.

We ‘ll begin our adventure with a visit to the Angla Windmill Hill and see the charming windmills that are one of the symbols of Saaremaa. We will spend some time here examining the traditional engineering and explore the lock folk culture museum.

Next we will travel onwards to the Kaali Meteorite crater. The Kaali meteorite fell on this area around 7500 years ago, breaking apart and leaving large crater indents in the ground. Here we will visit the largest of these craters and marvel at this physical phenomenon.

This afternoon the oldest microbrewery in Estonia is waiting for us! Pihtla brewery and taproom are famous for legendary Saaremaa farmhouse beer. Let’s visit the brewery, learn how this beer is made and taste some of it for ourselves.

Our final stop of our day is to Kurressare, the capital of Saaremaa Island. Famous for its spas and castle, our guide will bring us for a walk through the Old Town and point out some of the historic landmarks before checking into our hotel for the evening. Your evening is then free to spend as you wish. Your local guide will be happy to suggest activities to pass your time.

After a morning drive from Saaremaa to Tallinn (Approximate driving duration: 4.5 hours. Approximate driving distance: 220km) we will arrive into Tallinn, the historic capital of Estonia in the early afternoon. After taking some time to settle into our hotel let’s embark on a guided Tallinn walking tour. Take in highlights such as Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall with our local expert guide and discover why this fairy tale city is so popular with visitors.

You will have the full day at leisure to explore Tallinn’s cobblestone alleys and hidden streets at your own pace. Why not visit the medieval restaurant under the Old Town Hall to try some traditional Estonian cuisine or explore some of the city’s viewpoints and admire Tallinn from above? Your local expert guide will be happy to make recommendations to suit your taste.

Let’s uncover more of Estonia with a day exploring Lahemma National Park, a showcase of Estonia’s natural charms, taking in coastal beauty, pine forests, stunning lakes and rivers and wild bogland. We will start the day with a visit to Jugala waterfall, Estonia’s largest natural waterfall, before continuing to two local fishing villages where we will have a chance to explore this coastal and forest scenery for ourselves with two short hikes. (Difficulty: Leisurely / Distance: 6.5 km / Duration of two hikes: 2-3 hours / mostly flat)

On the way back to Tallinn we will stop at Viru bog where we will embark on a walk through the natural flora and fauna and admire its wild and captivating landscape. (Distance: 3.5 km / Duration: 2 hours / Flat)

Lets’ share a meal together! Join our fellow group members at our hotel for a farewell dinner. This is the perfect time for us to reminisce on the adventures we have shared over the last few days in the Baltics. Once dinner has come to an end you are free to spend the remainder of the evening as you wish. 

It’s time to say goodbye as we transfer from our hotel to Tallinn airport for your flight home filled with wonderful memories of the beautiful Baltic region.

On your final day, enjoy breakfast at our hotel and check out independently. We hope you leave with wonderful memories of your holiday in the Baltics.