Fully escorted tour
7 nights from £849pp
You'll love this tour if you like:
- Small groups - capacity limited to 30
- Experiencing a vareity of cultures
- Medieval old towns - in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius
- Historic castles and palaces
- Exploring regional cuisine - in 3 separate countries
The three Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia offer a wealth of interest to the visitor and now is a great time to visit before they become overdeveloped. The three capitals of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn each offer a distinctive character, whilst the warm welcome you will recieve is common to all three.
Our tour includes a stay in each city with transfers between each by coach, allowing time to see the surrounding countryside, including visits to Pilsrundale Palace and the seaside spa town of Parnu.Itinerary
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Tallinn.On arrival transfer to hotel in central Tallinn for check in for 3 night stay.
Day 2: Morning guided tour of Tallinn with afternoon free for further individual exploration
Day 3: Full day tour to Lahemaa National Park, the fishing villages of Altja, Kasmu and Jagala Waterfall
Day 4: Transfer from Tallinn to Riga with en-route visit to Parnu, Estonia's "summer capital" and a delightful seaside spa resort with several museums and galleries. On arrival check in to hotel for 2 night stay.
Day 5: Morning guided walking tour of Riga with afternoon free for further individual exploration.
Day 6: Transfer from Riga to Vilnius with en-route visits to Pilsrundale Palace, an ornate Italianate palace dating from the 18th century designed by Rastrelli who was also responsible for the Winter Palace in St Petersburg. On arrival check in to hotel for 2 night stay.
Day 7: Morning guided walking tour of Vilnius with afternoon visit to the attractive lakeside town of Trakai, located 28km west of Vilnius and formerly the capital of Lithuania. Sights here include Russian Orthodox Church, Church of the Assumption and Island Castle dating from 1400, which has been painstakingly restored.
Day 8: Transfer to airport for return flight to Gatwick via Tallinn.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
INCLUDED
- Return scheduled flights with Air Baltic from London Gatwick to Tallinn, returning from Vilnius to Gatwick via Tallinn, including all payable taxes
- 7 nights' bed and breakfast at 4-star city centre hotels, based on shared occupancy of twin/double room
- Transfers, tours and visits as detailed in the itinerary
- Tour manager throughout
NOT INCLUDED
- Insurance
- Single room supplement
- Porterage and gratuities
- Personal items such as drinks, meals, laundry, telephone calls etc
- Meals other than those stated
| Departure Date | Duration | Status | Per Person | Single Supplement | Board Basis |
| 21-May-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 04-Jun-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 11-Jun-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 18-Jun-2012 | 7 | Limited Availability | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 02-Jul-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 16-Jul-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 27-Aug-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 03-Sep-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 17-Sep-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
| 24-Sep-2012 | 7 | Available | £849 | £189 | Bed and Breakfast |
Places of Interest
TallinnMost tourists base their visit to Tallinn around the old town, a charming muddle of historic buildings dating back to the 13th Century. Its narrow, cobbled streets are unsuited to modern vehicles, and are, therefore, perfect for leisurely strolling and soaking up the atmosphere. There is lots to see and do here, with plenty of restaurants serving a huge variety of cuisines from around the former USSR and beyond, with excellent quality at very reasonable prices. Some of the main sights that should not be missed include the Estonian Parliament Building, a simple, pink, functional building dating from 1921 and the contrasting Russian Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, an elaborate, powerful onion-domed structure completed in 1900 as a symbol of the Russian Empire.
Riga
The majority of sights in Riga are located in the old town situated between the Daugava river and the city canal. This area contains a wealth of historic buildings dating back to the 13th century and is best explored on foot as much of it is closed to traffic. Highlights include the Powder Tower which dates back to 1330, the Swedish Gate, Excecutioner’s House, Riga Castle which now houses three museums, Our Lady of Sorrows, John’s, St Saviour’s Churches, 15th century Three Brothers houses on Maza Pilsiela, Parliament Building, House of the Cat, Cathedral, St Peter’s Church, House of the Blackheads and many attractive medieval streets and squares. Riga has one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe and its new town is distinguished by this distinctive style. From 1896 - 1913 around a third of the buildings in Riga were built in the Art Nouveau style, the most extravagant of which are located on Alberta lela, some of which were designed by Mikhail Eisenstein, father of the famous film director, Sergei. Other sights in this part of the city include the massive Freedom Monument, the tallest of its kind in Europe, Laima Clock, National Opera House, National Theatre, Orthodox Cathedral and several gracious parks. Further afield, the Ethnographic Open Air Museum, Motor Museum and beaches of Jurmala also reward exploration.
Vilnius
Lithuania’s historic capital, Vilnius, is a wonderful destination for a brief visit with the largest old town in Eastern Europe the focal point for any visit. Much of this area is pedestrianised, making it perfect for exploring on foot. Main sights include the majestic Cathedral, dating from the 13th century but drastically updated in the late 18th century, and Cathedral Square, the focal point of the city that is dominated by the 16th century Belfry. The largest complex of buildings in the Old Town is the University, dating from 1570, which boasts a series of fine buildings including the Library, Astronomical Observatory, Littera Bookshop, Church of St John, Belfry and Great Courtyard. At the top of the 48-metre high Gediminas Hill lies the Higher Castle which offers wonderful views of the city from its observation platform. Further down is the Lower Castle, transformed in the 16th century into a Royal Palace. It is worth visiting, too, the 19th century new town and further afield for some remnants of the Soviet era.
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