Two Week Discovery Tour In Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania

Arrive in Tallinn and check into hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel

Only 57 miles across the water from Helsinki and midway between St Petersburg and Stockholm, Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, has come under several different cultural influences since the first stronghold was built in the 10th century. Linguistically and economically, Estonia's closest ties are to Finland. As a trading port, Tallinn's coveted wealth expanded and in 1561 it was seized by the Swedes and held for 150 years until the Russians took over and industrialised much of the medieval town. We'll explore on foot the cobbled Old Town which sits perched on a hill overlooking the sea. The colourful houses of the crooked streets reflect the German, Scandinavian and Russian periods of Tallinn's history. We'll walk through the quarter where merchants once traded, and see the 16th century ‘Fat Margaret Tower’ housing the Maritime Museum. The busy Town Hall Square is a hectic mix of pavement cafés and shops, dominated by the 14th century gothic Town Hall. The pink Parliament buildings and Toompea Castle lie near the imposing deep yellow Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which is topped with 11 bells. Estonia is well known for its traditional handicrafts such as knitted mittens and lacy woollen shawls, along with colourful hand embroidered linen products, so you might choose to shop this afternoon.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We catch a morning public bus to Tartu, the oldest town in Estonia. A walking tour introduces us to this university city with its classical architecture and active cultural life. We’ll visit Raekoja plats, ‘Town Hall Square’, wuth its now famous ‘kissing students’ statue. The square contains many shops, restaurants and offices and is dominated by the Town Hall, which is crowned with a tower and weather vane. Behind this impressive building, Toomemagi, ‘Cathedral’ Hill, is visible. This was an Estonian stronghold in the 5th and 6th centuries and is now the site of several university buildings and a beautiful park.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we travel on an early public bus to Riga and we pass through an area which has many protestant links – one of the legacies of its German connections from the days of the Crusaders. On their return from the holy wars in the North of Africa in the 13th century, the Knights of the Sword were sent to convert the Baltic people who, despite 1000 years of Christianity in nearby areas, were still 'pagans'. Much blood was shed in days gone by, but today northwest Latvia provides some of the most attractive scenery in the country, rich in archaeological sites, agricultural land and tranquil villages, dotted with rivers, forests and lakes. We plan a walking tour of Riga in the afternoon. Although one-third of Latvia's population live in Riga, most of the important sites are concentrated in a small area. The old Hanseatic city on the banks of the Daugava river is arguably the most beautiful in the Baltics. Its skyline is pierced with spires, towers and weather vanes making the streets a joy to amble through. We will take in the Freedom Monument, Gunpowder Tower, St. Jacob's Church and the city’s cathedral. Buildings have been painstakingly restored over the last twenty years and solemn gothic buildings are juxtaposed with baroque architecture. Art Nouveau from the turn of the century reflects that period's affluence with decorative architecture making every corner a delight. Riga also has a lively market, which sells traditional produce such as smoked fish, sauerkraut, pickled garlic and crusty cheeses.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we suggest a drink at one of Riga’s lively street cafés; there are also a number of restaurants to choose from, so this is the place to try some local dishes. Latvian cooking, as in other Baltic states, is wholesome, making use of the abundant dairy products such as sour cream and yoghurt. Caraway seeds are often used but otherwise food is hardly spiced. Cheese and meat filled pastries served with wild berry preserves are popular washed down with the local beer, which is sold from the tanker to the jar, bucket or bottle! Alternatively you may decide to visit Jurmala, a series of coastal villages with long sandy beaches, and pretty cottages. The fascinating ethnographic museum of wooden architecture is also worth a visit.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Heading south we'll visit Rundale Palace built in the 18th century by Anna, Empress of Russia, for her lover Count Birons, later Duke of Courland. The architect, Bartholomeo Rastrelli, also built the Hermitage in St Petersburg. The 138 room palace is richly decorated with some fine paintings and period piece furniture and represents a classic example of the fusion of German and Russian society. The over ambitious Duke had to wait more than two decades to see the completion of the palace, as he was banished to Siberia on the Empress' death. We then cross into Lithuania, the largest of the three republics and distinguishable from its neighbours by its Catholicism, which acted as the mainstay of Lithuanian nationalism. Although Lithuania converted to Christianity almost 200 years later than its northern neighbours, the Church retained its power and today most people are devoutly religious. Everywhere are wooden shrines and lavish churches. We visit the ‘Hill of Crosses’ near Siauliai where rosaries and crosses adorn a small hill. In more modern times German and Soviet troops tried to crush this symbol of national and religious fervour but images of the Virgin and literally thousands of crosses always reappeared. Our next port of call is Palanga, famous for the amber gleaned along the nearby coastline. We continue to Klaipeda, a major port and the third largest city in Lithuania.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We spend the morning exploring the area around Neringa Spit, where the forests are inhabited by moose, wild boar and many bird species. We visit the wooden sculptures at the ‘Hill of Witches’ and the little fishing town of Nida, situated on drifting sand dunes. Consequently the community has had to move with nature over the centuries. Walking along the beaches you may be lucky enough to find a piece of amber, especially after a storm. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Kaunas.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Kaunas is in the heart of Lithuania and is often regarded as the most typical city in the country. Lithuania has always had strong ties with Poland, but in 1920 Vilnius, the capital, fell to the Poles and Kaunas became the capital until 1939. About 80% of the inhabitants of Kaunas are ethnic Lithuanian, whereas Vilnius' population is only 50% Lithuanian with 20% Polish. Many of Kaunas' buildings date back to the 17th century when the Jesuits bought tracts of land here and built a large monastery. Some buildings are older, as Gothic architecture abounds. In the afternoon we drive to Vilnius via Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The splendid red brick castle, set on an island in a lake, dates back to the 14th century. The castle houses some interesting museums including an exhibition on pre-war Lithuania, and an unusual collection of tobacco pipes.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The Catholic influence on Vilnius is very evident from the numerous baroque churches. By the turn of the century Vilnius also had an 80,000 strong Jewish community, though by the end of the Second World War, the synagogues and community were completely decimated. During our morning sightseeing of the capital we'll visit the ancient University founded by the Jesuits, a centre of the Counter Reformation and a source of Lithuanian culture. In the newer part of Vilnius lies the main shopping street with the Opera, cafés and at the end, the Parliament building. The afternoon is left free for personal exploration.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we return to Latvia, and on to Madona. We drive through simple villages and attractive agricultural areas,stopping at the Aukstaitijos NP for an optional botanical walk. We then drive northeast through Latvia eventually arriving at Rezekn in the Latgale region where we spend the night.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

We continue to Cesis, a 13th century town with yellow and white two-storey buildings and wide open cobbled streets, one of the oldest and prettiest towns in Latvia. We’ll visit the baronial parks and old castle ruins before continuing into Gauja National Park to the high red brick Turaida Castle, an ancient fortress. Gauja National Park was created to protect a river valley and set amidst the pine and silver birch woods are many historical buildings and towns. Finally we stop at Sigulda in the heart of the park.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive towards the Gulf of Riga, heading for the largest of the offshore islands, Saaremaa, reached by a short ferry ride from the mainland. The island remained isolated during the years of Soviet domination as it was a strategic military outpost and was perceived to be a possible escape route to the west. It therefore retains its own culture, traditions and simple way of life. En route, we’ll break our journey on Muhu Island and visit the Koguva Ethnographical museum and the impressive 4000 year old Kaali Crater, which provides a great insight into the old way of life.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Widely regarded by many Estonians as having a reputation for a crime free society, Saaremaa naturally attracts many summer visitors from the mainland. We plan to spend the day on this relaxed and fertile island, where old windmills, solid churches and juniper groves provide an appealing landscape. Kuressare is the main town, with a fine 14th century castle and picturesque centre. We’ll visit the Town Hall, Bishop’s Palace and St Laurentius Church.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we return to Tallinn and have the afternoon free for some last minute exploring or souvenir hunting.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast