Highlights of the Baltic States

Baltic Trilogy Tour in short:

• 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 how much 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.

Part I. Lithuania

Day 1. Vilnius – Introduction into History and Religion

We will commence our tour of Vilnius from its cradle – Gediminas Castle Hill and the remnants of the upper castle. Will continue to  the Cathedral square where one can observe the beautiful Neo Classical Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Ladislaus. Then we will whisk out through the narrow street to another square to observe the Presidential Palace and  the Old Vilnius University, founded in 1579. Will walk along medieval Castle street in the heart of the Old City. One of most breath taking sights is “gothic triangle” which includes St. Anne’s church.

Day 2. Vilnius  

We will drive to see the pearl of Baroque architecture in Vilnius – St. Peter and Paul’s Church – which has more than 2000 statues and bas-relieves as its interior decoration. Visit  Vilnius Synagogue built in 1903 in Moorish- Romanesque style. Walking in the medieval Jewish Quarter of Vilnius, called Lithuanian Jerusalem. Benedictine convent and story of saving 12 Jewish souls by Lithuanian Righteous Among the Nations. Will have lunch time on the City Hall Square and will proceed to see the “Gate of Dawn” – The Chapel in the City Gate contains an icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy, believed to have miraculous powers. Will continue the sightseeing by bus, including Parliament building and the story of the “last revolution”, Gediminas avenue and a former KGB building, Constitution street and new Vilnius.

Day 3. Vilnius – Trakai – Kaunas

A tour of Trakai – the land of lakes and forests. The ancient capital and the residence of Grand Dukes of Lithuania with its 14th century insular castle – today the museum of Lithuanian history. Karaite museum represents  the story of this small ethnic group, brought from Crimea 600 years ago. Visit unique Karaite cemetery.

Drive to Kaunas, the second large city of the country. The Old Town of Kaunas with its Catholic churches, narrow streets and cobbled squares, cozy cafes and art galleries. Continue walking along the main pedestrian street, Laisves aleja, with its 2-3 storey buildings just as they looked before the war. The Art Gallery of M. K. Ciurlionis, the outstanding Lithuanian painter and composer.

Day 4. Kaunas – Kedainiai – Klaipeda

En route stop in Kedainiai – a citadel of Radzivil family, one of the most powerful nobility in the late middle ages in Lithuania and also a town where the Vilna Gaon lived and worked and where three synagogues have remained.
Upon arrival walk through the Old Town of Klaipeda, former Memel, distinguished for its German influenced medieval architecture, the Theatre square, the statue of Annke von Thorau and Stone Sculpture park.

Day 5. Klaipeda – Nida – Klaipeda

Morning drive to Nida – the little town on the Curonian Spit. En route stop at Juodkrante for a walk on the Hill of Witches, a natural forest park containing  a vivid example of Lithuanian folk wooden sculptures, which tell as plenty of legends and tales. Another stop will be to watch one of the biggest populations of cormorants in the area.  A visit to Nida, a lovely artist and vacation colony with its 60 meter-high sand dunes. One can see where Thomas Mann found a quiet summerhouse to write his books.

Day 6. Klaipeda – Sauliai – 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. En route stop at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, a symbol of Lithuanians’ resistance against the foreign rule with over 100.000 crosses.

Part II. Latvia

Our first visit in Latvia is at the wonderful Baroque Rundale Palace, built by the famous Italian architect B. Rastrelli for the duce of Kurland.  Arrival to the capital of Latvia – Riga.

Day 7. Riga

A city tour of the Old Town including the Dome Cathedral built in 1211 and its extraordinary organ with 6781 pipes. The Great and Small Guilds’ houses and the economical history of the city, the Swedish gate and the Beer-brewers street, Cats’s house and its superstitious legend, the “Three Brothers” – architectural complex of three houses built in different centuries, the House of the “Blackheads” – single merchants’ guild, St. Peter church and its tower. The outstanding collection of Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture built in the streets of Riga at the very beginning of the 20th century. Visit to the biggest Central market in the Baltics located in 5 huge hangars ones used for airships construction;

Day 8. Riga – Sigulda – Saaremaa

Visit Sigulda the “Switzerland of Latvia” on the riverside of the Gauja river. Romantic ruins of Sigulda Castle, Gutmana caves – full of spring water and ald legends; Turaida Castle museum and beautiful stone art park.

Part III. Estonia.

Drive along the Baltic Sea coast to Tallinn. Parnu – resort area in Estonia and a cradle of Estonian independence. Short ferry from Virtsu to Muhu and Saaremaa islands will take us to the most untouched Estonian nature sights. A little town of Kuressaare will provide us accommodation and beautiful sea sights.

Day 9. Kuressaare – Tallinn

Visit one of the main medieval attractions of Estonia – Kuressaare Bishop’s Castle built in 14 century and preserved in its original shape. Today it is a museum showing us both knight’s life and Estonian history. Drive to Kaali meteorite craters on Saaremaa. The largest of the craters measures 110 meters in diameter and contains a small lake. At the altitude of 5–10 km the meteor broke into pieces. The largest fragment produced the main crater with a depth of 22 m.
En route stop to see and picture Angla Windmills – 5 windmills standing in a row showing us the way once the flour  was produced. Arrival in the capital of Estonia – Tallinn.

Day 10. Tallinn

A city tour of Tallinn, including the Old Town with its Town Hall built in 1402, Town fortifications with 27 towers and a lot of survived parts, the Toompea Castle – the seat of the government, Tallinn Protestant Cathedral, beautiful spots of panoramic view of the old city. Dominican Monastery, Alexander Nevski – beautiful Russian orthodox Cathedral, Kiek in de Kok defensive tower. Visit to the Kadriorg Park and Palace. Rusalka Monument and Pirita Olympic village. Visit “Rocca al Mare” open air ethnographic museum.

Day 11. Departure from Tallinn.

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