Baltic Countries Tour: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - Overview

Baltic Countries Tour: Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - Itinerary

Day 1 (Friday)
Arrive in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and check in at Hotel Reval Olympia It is a 4 star hotel, only a short stroll from the medieval old town, the business area, tourist sights and Tallinn museums. Day 2 (Saturday)
After breakfast, head south to Tartu, a quaint little university town. The city is the second largest in Estonia and is about 1000 years old - the oldest in the Baltics. See the very charming Old Town with its wooden buildings, beautiful Town Hall Square and many beautiful churches.

From Tartu in Estonia, travel to Cesis in Latvia, a Hanseatic city with winding streets, castle ruins and beautiful gardens. See the ruins of the Castle of the Livonian Order and St John’s Church.

Check in at Hotel Kolonna Cesis It is a three star hotel, situated in the very center of the town, near the city park. Day 3 (Sunday)
Drive through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, a very popular holiday resort. See the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword. Drive around Riga, the capital of Latvia before getting on to the highway to the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius.

En route, see the magnificent Rundale Palace. This palace, the former residence of the Duke of Courland, is one of the most outstanding monuments of Baroque and Rococo art in Latvia.

On reaching Vilnius in the late afternoon, check in at Hotel Real Lietuva It is a 4star hotel, situated on the bank of the River Neris, it is a short distance from the medieval old town where you can discover the historic part of the capital including monuments and museums. Day 4 (Monday)
Go on a morning tour of the city of Vilnius. Then go on a walking tour of the Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will see:

• Vilnius Cathedral: Standing at the foot of the Gediminas Hill, it is the main Roman Catholic Cathedral of Lithuania where the coronations of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania took place.
• Gediminas Tower: The tower houses an exhibition of archaeological findings from the Gediminas hill and surrounding areas.
• Peter and Paul Church: The church has Baroque interiors, stuccoed figures in the vaults and a huge chandelier made from brass and glass beads fashioned in the shape of a ship.
• St. Anne’s Church: It is a prominent example of both Flamboyant Gothic and Brick Gothic styles.
• Old University: The architecture of the university buildings reflects a great variety of styles - Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Classic styles.
• The Gate of Dawn (Aušros vartai) : This is a part of the defence fortifications of Vilnius. The Chapel in the Gate of Dawn contains a renowned miraculous icon of The Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of Mercy.

After the tour, proceed to Kaunas, the former capital of Lithuania. Take a short stroll in the Old Town and see the elegant Old Town Hall and the majestic Gothic cathedral.

Then travel to Klaipeda and check in at Hotel Klaipeda A 4 star hotel, it is the biggest seaside hotel and ideally situated in the city center at a walking distance to the old town. Day 5 (Tuesday)
You have the option of going on a tour to the Curonian Spit, a thin 100 kilometre stretch of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fishing villages, pine forests and beautiful sand dunes.

This optional tour also takes you to the resort town of Nida and the high dunes and Thomas Mann’s summerhouse. On the way back to Klaipeda, stop at the Hill of Witches in the resort town of Juodkrante.

Enjoy an optional Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Anikes in the evening. Day 6 (Wednesday)
Go on a morning sightseeing tour of Klaipeda’s quaint Old Town with its narrow cobblestone streets and old guild houses. Visit the Theatre Square and the Aennchen von Tharau Fountain.

Travel north into Latvia to the port city of Liepaja. After a short stroll in the Old Town where you can see the Trinity Church, drive through the former Duchy of Courland.

Reach Riga, the capital of Latvia and check in at Reval Hotel Latvija. The Reval Hotel Latvija is located within the commercial district of Riga. This hotel is situated 400 metres from the historic old town. The National Opera and Ballet House are located at 500 metres from the hotel, and the Skonto Exhibition Centre is located at one kilometre. Day 7 (Thursday)
Begin the day with a walking tour of the Old Town in Riga. The city, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts of a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. On this tour, visit:

• The Riga Castle: The official residence of the President of Latvia and home to several museums, the castle is located on the spot where the first fortifications of Riga used to stand.
• The Dome Cathedral: The Dome Cathedral is the largest cathedral in the Baltics. It id famous for its magnificent pipe organ with 6768 pipes, dating from 1844.
• St. Peter’s Church: One of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Riga, the edifice used to be the tallest wooden building in Europe before World War II. One can enjoy panoramic views of the city from the tower.
• The Swedish Gate: It was built during the Swedish occupation of Riga in 1698 and is the only gate to survive and retain its original look. The city executioner lived in the rooms above the gate at that time. Legend has it that there would be a red rose in his window above the gate every night before an execution.
• The Three Brothers: An architectural ensemble of three medieval buildings –The White Brother (which houses The Latvian Museum of Architecture), The Yellow Brother and The Green Brother.
• The Large and Small Guilds: These magnificent Gothic buildings on Guild Square represent the former glory of Riga as a Hanseatic City and belong to families of two trading houses of Riga.
• The Freedom Monument: The image of Liberty holding three stars in stretched hands crowns the monument and symbolizes unity of the country. The monument is dedicated “To Fatherland and Freedom”.

In the afternoon, you have the option of visiting the Ethnographic Open Air Museum. The biggest museum in Latvia and one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe, it has a rich collection of more than 90 historical structures. There are authentic Latvian dwellings, peasant houses, churches and windmills which represent life in Latvia between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Enjoy an optional Baltic Seafood dinner at the Restaurant La Boheme in the evening. Day 8 (Friday)
Depart from Riga along the coastal highway to cross the border to Estonia. Visit the very popular Estonian health resort of Parnu. Go on a short tour of this famous summer retreat and take a leisurely stroll along the beach.

The travel across the north Estonian forests to Tallinn - the capital of Estonia.

Check in at the Hotel Reval Olympia, a 4 star hotel in the centre of Tallinn. Day 9 (Saturday)
Spend the day sightseeing around Tallinn – the beautiful capital city of Estonia. The medieval Old Town with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafes and restaurants makes for an interesting day. On this tour of the Old Town, see:

• Toompea Castle: A Danish castle that founded the city in 1219. Part of the castle now houses the Riigikogu, Estonia's Parliament.
• The Dome Church: The Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin also known as Toomkirik or Dome Church is one of the main Lutheran churches in Estonia and one of three functioning medieval churches.
• Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: Tallinn’s largest and grandest orthodox cupola cathedral, it is dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky.
• Old Town Hall: A splendid example of Gothic architecture dating back to the 15th Century, it is two-storied, built of local limestone with a tall saddle roof and an octagonal console tower.

In the afternoon, you have the option of going on an excursion to Kadriorg Park and Palace. The palace was intended to serve as a summer residence for Tsar Peter I and his family. The galleries contain paintings, prints and sculpture by mainly Flemish, Dutch and Russians artists of the 16th -19th centuries.

You can opt for a medieval dinner at the Restaurant Peppersack in the evening. Day 10 (Sunday)
Optional transfer to airport.

Child Policy :

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Inclusions, Exclusions and Other Useful Information

Inclusions

Breakfast Portage at hotels English and German speaking guide Welcome meeting with champagne, cocktail or juice 9 nights accommodation at centrally located 3 or 4 star hotels. 1st class motor coache or 1st class minivans throughout the tour Entrances to Palmse Manor House, Rundale Palace, Old University in Vilnius, St. Peter’s Church in Riga and medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn

Exclusions

Lunch Dinner

Additional Info

The confirmation voucher includes the local activity operator’s contact details and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you may have.

Please Note

8-hour excursion to the Curonian Spit: EUR 75 pp. Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Anikes in Klaipeda: EUR 32 pp. Seafood dinner at Restaurant La Boheme in Riga: EUR 38 pp. 3-hour excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to Kadriorg Palace: EUR 32 pp. Medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack: EUR 38 pp. Optional arrival transfer Airport – Hotel or vice versa: EUR 50 (1-3 passengers) Half board at hotels (9 x 3 course dinner with coffee/tea):EUR 207. Please call the activity operator at least 24 hours prior to start of the tour for reconfirming the departure details.

Dos & Don'ts

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How to Book and Cancel

How to book Select from available dates and enter number of passengers to see your total price.  Click on confirm price and book. Once you are happy with the price,proceed to checkout to our secure payment page.  Enter your details and click on confirm and pay. A confirmation voucher for your activity will appear on your screen and a copy will be sent to your mailbox. You can easily change your dates,number of travellers and tour options during and after the booking process. If your tour status is On Request we will not charge your card until we have been able to confirm your booking with our supplier.  If your tour status is bookable online, your card will be charged when you click confirm and pay.Please note that you don't have to pay anything at the destination. What happens after you book Please print the electronic voucher sent to you and give them to the operator on the day of the activity. The voucher also includes the operator's complete contact details, and local telephone numbers at the destination. They will happily answer any logistical questions you have. We have a dedicated team of expert Destination Managers who select the most professional and reliable operators to make sure you have a hassle-free and enjoyable experience! You can always find out more by viewing our faq'sor contacting us via email. How to Cancel Log on to your my isango! account to view the list of your existing bookings. Click on view details for the booking you wish to cancel, then click on cancel selected service. Your credit card will be refunded with the amount due, according to the cancellation policy. For help with cancellations you can email us (support@isango.com) or call us 24x7. Cancellation Policy More than 30 days prior to the day of the tour – No cancellation charge Between 16 – 30 days prior to the day of the tour – 15% cancellation charge Between 8 – 15 days prior to the day of the tour – 50% cancellation charge Less than 7 days prior to the day of the tour – 100 % cancellation charge