Baltic Trilogy Tour

Baltic Trilogy Tour: journey to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia

• 5 days in Lithuania; 3 days in Latvia; 3 days in Estonia
• City touring days – Vilnius, Kaunas, Riga, Tallinn
• Nature sights – Trakai National Park, Curonian Spit, Sigulda and Gauja National Park, Kuresaare Island
• Guide vs. Self-guide. We recommend traveling with one of our knowledgeable guides, self-guided tour is also available
• Made-to-Order. You decide what to order: the package including accommodation, transport, guide, meals and entrance fees or just a part of these services
• Fully customizable. There are no online set dates for our tours. You can join groups we organize with our partners or you can make a tour on your chosen days.

The dates for group tours are: 19-29.05 | 15-25.06 | 6-16.07| 11-21.08

The given price is for a group tour. If you are interested in a private tour, please send us an email and we will provide you with the necessary information and offer.

Part I of the Baltic Trilogy Tour: Lithuania

Day 1. Vilnius – Introduction to History and Religion

We will commence our tour of Vilnius from the city’s cradle – Gediminas Castle Hill and remnants of the upper castle. From here, we’ll continue to Cathedral Square for its Neo-Classical Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus. Then, we’ll whisk out through the narrow street to another square for the Presidential Palace and Old Vilnius University, founded in 1579. We’ll walk along the medieval Castle Street in the heart of the Old Town. One of the most breathtaking sights in the area is the “Gothic Triangle,” which includes a magnificent St. Anne’s church.

Day 2. Vilnius  

We will drive out to see the pearl of Baroque architecture in Vilnius – St. Peter and Paul’s Church – which contains more than 2000 statues and bas-reliefs. We’ll follow with some of Vilnius’ Jewish history, such as the unique Vilnius Synagogue, built in 1903, remarkable for its Moorish- Romanesque style. Then we’ll walk in the medieval Jewish Quarter of Vilnius, also known as Lithuanian Jerusalem. We’ll pay a visit to the Benedictine convent, where we’ll learn of the savior of 12 Jewish souls by Lithuanian Righteous Among the Nations.

For lunch, we’ll walk up to the City Hall Square, and afterwards, see the gorgeous Gate of Dawn. This golden Chapel and City Gate contains a famous icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, believed to have miraculous powers. We’ll continue our sightseeing adventures by bus, to the Parliament building and the story of the “Last Revolution,” Gediminas Avenue, a former KGB Building, Constitution Street and new Vilnius.

trakai castle and boats

Day 3. Vilnius – Trakai – Kaunas

We’ll depart Vilnius for a tour of Trakai, the land of lakes and forests. Once the capital and residence of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania, the 14th century insular castle now houses an intriguing museum. Here you’ll learn of the Karaites, an ethnic minority, brought to Lithuania by Grand Duke  Vytautas from the Crimea 600 years ago, and visit a unique Karaite cemetery.

Next, we’ll drive to Kaunas, the second large city in the country. Kaunas’ Old Town is postcard-perfect, with its Catholic churches, narrow streets and cobbled squares, cozy cafes and art galleries. Continue walking along the main pedestrian street, Laisves aleja, which looks much the same as it did before the war. We’ll stop at the Art Gallery of M. K. Ciurlionis, the most famous Lithuanian painter and composer.

Day 4. Kaunas – Kedainiai – Klaipeda

On the drive westward, we’ll stop in Kedainiai, home to a citadel of Radziwill family, one of the most powerful nobility in the late Middle Ages. This town is where the Jewish scholar Vilna Gaon lived and worked, and three synagogues still remain.

Upon arrival in Klaipeda, we’ll walk through the cute Old Town, notable for its German-influenced medieval architecture, the Theatre square, the statue of Annchen von Tharau and Stone Sculpture park.

Day 5. Klaipeda – Nida – Klaipeda

In the morning, we’ll drive to Nida, a little town on the Curonian Spit. On the way, we’ll make a stop at Juodkrante for a walk on the Hill of Witches, a park with vivid wooden sculptures of legends from Lithuanian folklore. We’ll also make a stop to watch one of the biggest populations of cormorants in the area.

Next, we’ll be sure to visit Nida, a lovely artist and vacation colony, with 60-meter-high sand dunes. Here Thomas Mann found a quiet summerhouse to write his books.

Day 6. Klaipeda – Siauliai – Riga

Drive to Palanga – a popular resort on the Baltic Sea, famous for its kilometer-long beaches and the beautiful Botanic Park with the biggest Amber Museum in the Baltic States. Continue driving to the North to Latvia. En route stop at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, with over 100.000 crosses – a symbol of Lithuanians’ resistance against foreign rule.

Part II of the Baltic Trilogy Tour: Latvia

Our first visit in Latvia is at the wonderful Baroque Rundale Palace, built by the famous Italian architect B. Rastrelli for the Duke of Courland. We’ll take a stroll of the grounds and exhibits inside the “Baltic Versailles.”

Day 7. Riga

We’ll kick off our first day in Riga with a city tour of Old Town. First, a visit to the Dome Cathedral built in 1211 and its extraordinary organ and its 6,781 pipes. Next, we’ll check out the Great and Small Guilds’ houses and learn about Riga’s economic history, the Swedish gate and Beer-brewers’ street, the legends of Cats’ House. We’ll see the Three Brothers, an architectural complex of three houses built over different centuries, the House of the Blackheads, a single merchants’ guild, St. Peter‘s church and its tower. Riga is famous for the Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture that stands out on its streets. Visit the biggest market in the Baltics, located in 5 huge hangars used for construction Zeppelin airships.

Day 8. Riga – Sigulda – Saaremaa

We’ll visit Sigulda, a peaceful natural area with ancient castles, historic caves and spring water. So-called the “Switzerland of Latvia”, Sigulda lies on the riverside of the Gauja river. We’ll tour the romantic ruins of Sigulda Castle, visit the legends of the Gutman caves, and wander the Turaida Castle museum and a beautiful stone art park.

Part III of the Baltic Trilogy Tour: Estonia.

It’s time for the third part of our Baltic Trilogy Tour–Estonia. We drive along the Baltic Sea coast northward to Tallinn. On the way, we’ll stop at Parnu, a resort area and cradle of Estonian independence. We’ll hop on a short ferry from Virtsu to Muhu and Saaremaa Islands, to untouched Estonian nature sights. In the little town of Kuressaare, we’ll stay for the night beside the sea.

Day 9. Kuressaare – Tallinn

Visit one of the main medieval attractions of Estonia – 14th-century Kuressaare Bishop’s Castle. Today, it houses a museum on Estonian history and chivalry. Next, we’ll drive to the Kaali meteorite craters on Saaremaa. The largest of these craters measures 110 meters in diameter and contains a small lake and a depth of 22 m.

As we drive to the capital, we’ll stop en route to see the Angla Windmills – 5 historic windmills standing in a row and learn how flour was once made. In the evening, we’ll arrive to Tallinn.

Day 10. Tallinn

Today we’ll immerse ourselves into Tallinn, taking in the Old Town, 15th-century Town Hall, and fortifications with 27 iconic towers. We’ll pay a visit to Toompea Castle, the seat of the government, as well as Tallinn Protestant Cathedral, for panoramic views over the old city. Next, a tour of the Dominican Monastery, Alexander Nevski Orthodox Church, Kiek in de Kok defensive tower, Kadriorg Park and Palace, the Rusalka Monument and Pirita Olympic village. We’ll top it all off with “Rocca al Mare” open-air ethnographic museum.

Day 11. Departure from Tallinn.

Morning transfer to the airport for your return flight, or we can continue on an extension to St. Petersburg, to Helsinki or Stockholm by ferry.

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