Compare Discover the Baltics by Exodus Travels vs Warsaw, The Baltics & Helsinki With St. Petersburg & Moscow by Tours4Fun
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
5 | Excellent
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 12 days | 15 days |
| Price From | $ 2,160 | $ 4,569 |
| Price Per Day | $ 180 | $ 305 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included | There will be buffet breakfasts in the hotels offering plenty of choice including cold meats, cheese, eggs, bread, jams, juice and coffee. Lunches will be a mixture of picnics bought from local shops and cafe stops. Dinners will be taken in the hotel restaurants or in local restaurants and will be hearty meals. Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut, and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup – in Lithuania this is also served cold). Dumplings are also popular and in Trakai, large and delicious baked dumplings called kibinai are traditionally served. | N/A |
| Description |
The countryside, national parks and coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are varied and stunning, adding a touch of wilderness to the history and culture of the cities and towns we visit on our journey from Tallinn to Vilnius. With street art, sculpture, incredible architecture and fascinating historic sites, this trip will undoubtedly satisfy your hunger for culture. However, wild, open settings and picturesque landscapes will also feed your imagination. This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.Adventure through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania over 12 highlight-filled days |
Explore the highlights of following cities: Vilnius, Warsaw, Helsinki, Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Tallinn, Riga |
Day 1 Start Tallinn
The tour starts at our hotel in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. There’s a welcome briefing with our leader in the evening and free time to explore the city after. There will also be an optional welcome group meal; a good chance to get to know the group. Accommodation: Go Shnelli Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 Tallinn guided tour and free time to explore this fascinating city at your own pace
Today we explore vibrant Tallinn, the largest city in Estonia. The Old Town, framed by ancient city walls, is full of architectural wonders. In the morning, we have a guided tour of the city taking in some of the main attractions, including the Toompea palace and castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dome Church and St Nicholas church. We then have a free afternoon to explore the picturesque Old Town, which happily lacks an invasion of modern architecture. Dive into the past as you explore cobblestone alleys with spluttering torches and secret stairways; the old town holds new surprises around every corner, even for residents. We overnight in Tallinn old town. Accommodation: Go Shnelli Hotel (or similar)
Day 3 Explore the pine forests and sandy beaches of Lahemaa National Park before a guided tour around Tartu
In the morning, we leave Tallinn and journey to Tartu, stopping at Lahemaa, the largest national park in Estonia. It’s a popular tourist destination with sandy beaches, waterfalls and mossy pine forests; it also has a variety of cultural sites, including Palmse Manor and the 400-year-old fisherman’s village of Altja. After lunch, we transfer to Tartu for a guided tour. Tartu, the capital of southern Estonia, is the second-largest town in the country, with lots of local culture, including festivals, concerts and theatre exhibitions. We spend the night in a hotel in the centre of Tartu. Accommodation: Hotel Tartu (or similar)
Day 4 Tour of Cesis and Gauja National Park; transfer to Riga
Historic Cesis, on the Gauja River valley, is now a celebrated art-and-culture hub. However, it’s also home to one of the finest old towns in Latvia, where red-roofed buildings with restored facades line cobbled streets. The star attraction here is undoubtedly the Medieval castle, a partly preserved fortification knocked down and rebuilt in various forms. There will be option to visit the museum in the morning. We then transfer to Gauja National Park, a region known as Latvian Switzerland. After, we transfer to Riga. Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)
Day 5 Guided tour of Riga Old Town; free afternoon to explore at your own pace
This morning, the magnificent old town of Riga awaits. We will have a guided city tour taking in winding alleys, elegant boulevards and 800 renovated art nouveau buildings. We then have a free afternoon to soak up the romantic atmosphere of the city and enjoy a relaxing lunch before exploring some of the great shops. Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)
Day 6 Explore the seaside town of Jurmala
In the morning, we transfer to Jurmala, the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic states and known for its unique natural resources, including healing mineral waters, pine forests and dunes. The town is also home to unique wooden art nouveau architecture. After exploring the town, we will transfer back to Riga for the night. If you wish to stay a little longer, a train back to Riga costs €2-€4 per person. Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)
Day 7 Explore Rundale Palace, the Hill of Crosses and the port of Klaipeda
Firstly, we visit the 18th-century Rundale Palace, which was designed for the Duke of Courland by Italian architect Rastrelli, who also designed the winter palace in St Petersburg. Today, the palace is the most magnificent piece of architecture in the Baltic states, surrounded by impressive gardens. We then cross the border to Lithuania and have time to explore the Hill of Crosses before transferring to Klaipeda Port for a short tour around the small old town taking in reconstructed merchant houses and the remains of Klaipeda Castle. Accommodation: Green Park Hotel (or similar)
Day 8 Transfer to the Curonian Spit and explore the dunes
We start the day with a short ferry ride across the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a Unesco World Heritage site between the Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea. Here, we have the day to explore the largest drifting dunes in Europe. We will also visit the Hill of Witches and the Lithuanian sea resort of Nida to climb the Great Dune for the views. We transfer back to Klaipeda where we spend the night. Accommodation: Green Park Hotel (or similar)
Day 9 Visit the Plokstine Cold War Museum; city tour around Kaunas
We transfer to the Plokstine forest and visit the Cold War Museum, which is housed in a once-secret Soviet Union missile base. We can view the internal control facility, see decommissioned missiles, and learn more about the five-decade-long period. We then travel to the town of Kaunas, and take a walking tour of the beautiful old town, which includes the 13th-century castle, old town hall, Cathedral Basilica and Church of St Francis Xavier. We stay overnight in Kaunas. Accommodation: Best Western Santaka Hotel (or similar)
Day 10 Visit Trakai Castle and transfer to Vilnius
We stop in Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Here we will go on a tour around the incredible 14th-century castle, which occupies a small island in the middle of the lake. We then transfer to Vilnius where we stay the night. Accommodation: Comfort Hotel LT - Rock'n'Roll Vilnius (or similar)
Day 11 Guided tour of Vilnius; free time to explore
We have the whole day to explore Vilnius. There is a guided city tour in the morning and then plenty of time to explore at your own pace. The city was developed around its Town Hall and there is a great deal of diverse architecture to see. There are many narrow streets that lead to intimate courtyards, plus the larger landmarks of the castle complex, cathedral square and Royal Palace. There are also plenty of museums to dip into. We overnight in Vilnius. Accommodation: Comfort Hotel LT - Rock'n'Roll Vilnius (or similar)
Day 12 End Vilnius
The tour ends after breakfast in Vilnius. Begin your return trip home or, if you’d like a bit more time to explore this fascinating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.
Day 1 ARRIVE IN WARSAW, POLAND
Welcome to Warsaw! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Day 2 WARSAW
WARSAW Guided sightseeing includes Stare Miasto (Old Town) and St. John's Cathedral. Free time this afternoon before attending a [LF] private Chopin concert. Free time this evening. (B)
Day 3 WARSAW - VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
Scenic drive to Vilnius.VILNIUS Dinner at your hotel. (B,D) 298 mi / 480 km
Day 4 VILNIUS
VILNIUS Guided walking tour includes the Old University, the KGB Museum, and [LF] U?upis (Vilnius' artist quarter). (B)ENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Vilnius with an excursion to Trakai Island Castle. This and many more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.
Day 5 VILNIUS - RIGA, LATVIA
Photo stop at the Hill of Crosses en route to Riga. (B,D) 214 mi / 345 km
Day 6 RIGA
RIGA Guided walking tour of the Old Town includes the Art Nouveau quarter. [LF] Riga Balsam (a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur) and Laima chocolate tasting. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
Day 7 RIGA - TALLINN, ESTONIA
Scenic drive along the coastline of the Gulf of Riga en route to Tallinn.TALLINN Guided sightseeing includes a visit of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and St. Nicholas' Church. (B) 211 mi / 340 km
Day 8 TALLINN - HELSINKI, FINLAND
Scenic ferry crossing from Tallinn to Helsinki.HELSINKI Guided sightseeing includes the Lutheran Cathedral, Sibelius Monument, and the open-air market.Farewell dinner at your hotel this evening. (B,D) 56 mi / 90 km
Day 9 HELSINKI - ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
Scenic drive to St. Petersburg.ST. PETERSBURG Guided walking tour includes a visit to St. Isaac's Cathedral. Welcome dinner at the hotel with local specialties such as caviar, blini (Russian pancake), pickled cucumber, and vodka. (B,D) 249 mi/ 400 km
Day 10 ST. PETERSBURG
ST. PETERSBURG Guided sightseeing includes the Hermitage Museum. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
Day 11 ST. PETERSBURG
Morning drive to visit Catherine's Palace in Pushkin. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
Day 12 ST. PETERSBURG - MOSCOW
ST. PETERSBURG Sapsan train ride to Moscow.MOSCOW Free time this afternoon and evening. (B) 404 mi / 650 kmENHANCE YOUR FREE TIME in Moscow with an excursion to the Moscow Underground. This and many more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.
Day 13 MOSCOW
MOSCOW Guided sightseeing includes the Red Square, the Kremlin, and the Armory Museum. Free afternoon and evening.(B)
Day 14 MOSCOW
MOSCOW Visit the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and the Novodevichy (New Maiden) Convent and Cemetery. Farewell dinner this evening with Russian champagne and local specialties. (B,D)
Day 15 MOSCOW
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
