Helsinki To Warsaw New Year
Helsinki To Warsaw New Year
Helsinki To Warsaw New Year
10 Days Starting in Helsinki and ending in Hotel in Warsaw
Visiting: Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Gdansk, Warsaw
Tour operator:
Tour code:
HWNY
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
10 - 51
Age range:
10-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
From celebrating New Year’s Eve in Finland to uncovering the wonders of the Baltics and Poland, this 10-day Helsinki to Warsaw tour ticks all the boxes! After ringing in the New Year in Helsinki, Finland’s charming capital, travel through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Embark on tours in each of the Baltic capital cities: Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. Finally, explore the colourful city of Gdansk and enjoy a free day in Warsaw, Poland’s capital. Admire awe-inspiring architecture, experience true winter wonderlands, uncover fascinating history and make memories for years to come!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Of Tour In Helsinki (New Year’S Eve)
Location: Helsinki
Meals Included: Dinner
HeiHelsinki! Your festive adventure begins today in Finland’s charming capital city. Look forward to an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in this scenic coastal city. Start your adventure with an orientation tour before checking into the hotel for the next two nights. Then, join an expert local guide for a tour of Helsinki’s top attractions such as the Havis Amanda, Senate Square and the Helsinki Cathedral. Soak up the city’s laidback atmosphere, quirky design culture and crisp winter air! Enjoy some free time to explore on your own before tonight’s included New Year’s Eve dinner. The rest of the evening is yours to celebrate the end of the year with your fellow travellers!
See the sights on a driving tour of Helsinki; Finland’s capital city
Join a local guide for a walking tour of Helsinki
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a local Helsinki dinner
Day 2: Helsinki: Free Day
Location: Helsinki
Meals Included: Breakfast
Hyvää uutta vuotta!Happy New Year! This New Year’s Day, immerse yourself in Helsinki with a free day to experience this creative, cultural and culinary hub. Spend this day however you wish. Find a cosy café - Finland consumes more coffee than any other country in the world, meaning they make a good brew! Explore the last of the Christmas markets with their festive decorations or warm up in a Sauna where this rejuvenating pastime was invented. Alternatively, venture a little further out of the city and take a ferry to Suomenlinna island. However you choose to spend the first day of the New Year, you’re bound to remember it for years to come.
Day 3: Helsinki - Tallinn
Location: Tallinn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, journey to a new country - Estonia! Hop aboard a ferry and cross the Gulf of Finland. Enjoy a comfortable ride as the ferry makes its way to Tallinn, Estonia’s enchanting capital and a true winter wonderland. Arrive in the city and check into the hotel. Then, indulge in a delicious lunch at a medieval restaurant in the heart of the old town before setting off on a locally guided walking tour. Learn more about this fascinating medieval city and be captivated by its stunning architecture. Marvel at the Tall Hermann Tower, St. Olav’s Church and various viewpoints. Tonight is free to explore the city more on your own.
Catch a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn
Enjoy lunch at a medieval restaurant in Tallinn
Discover Tallinn with a local guide
Day 4: Tallinn - Pärnu - Latvian Military Cemetery - Riga
Location: Riga
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, wave goodbye to Tallinn as the coach makes its way towards Riga, capital of Latvia. Make one more stop in Estonia on the way and visit Pärnu, a coastal resort town. Upon arrival in Riga, learn about Latvia’s role in WWI with a visit to the Latvian Military Cemetery. Afterwards, check into the hotel for the evening. Then, set off on an orientation walking tour and discover some of the city’s most famous attractions such as the Riga Dome Cathedral and the exquisite House of the Blackheads. Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you’ll understand why when you encounter its spellbinding Art Nouveau architecture!
Sightsee in Pärnu; a resort city in Estonia
Learn about Latvian history at the Latvian War Cemetery
Discover Riga; Latvia’s vibrant capital
Day 5: Riga - Hill Of Crosses - Vilnius
Location: Vilnius
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Next up on this tour of the Baltic states is beautiful Lithuania! Leave Latvia behind this morning and cross the border into this fascinating country. First stop is the intriguing Hill of Crosses in Northern Lithuania. Then, it's on to Vilnius, Lithuania’s vibrant capital city. Arrive and look forward to an orientation tour. Discover the UNESCO-protected Old Town which is renowned as one of Europe’s largest. Admire the exceptional Baroque architecture and tick off top sights including the impressive Cathedral and St. Anne’s Church before arriving in Užupis, an independent artists republic which you can explore during free time. Tonight, taste traditional Lithuanian cuisine with an included dinner at a local restaurant.
Visit the famous Hill of Crosses in Lithuania
Explore Vilnius; capital of Lithuania
Day 6: Vilnius - Trakai - Gdansk
Location: Gdansk
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Before leaving Lithuania and the Baltics behind, visit the fairytale Trakai Castle in the quaint town of the same name. This island castle is a sight to behold, especially in winter when Lake Galvė is likely to freeze. After snapping some memorable pictures, hop back on the coach and head towards Poland. Relax aboard the coach as you watch the wintery scenery from your window. Later, arrive in Gdansk, a picturesque port city. After some time to freshen up at the hotel, join your tour leader on an orientation tour of the city’s top sights. Take in its unique and colourful architecture! Tonight, sit down for an included buffet dinner.
Marvel at Trakai Island Castle
Discover Gdansk, a charming Polish city
Day 7: Gdansk: Free Day
Location: Gdansk
Meals Included: Breakfast
Gdansk has a myriad of highlights, and today, you get to explore them on a full free day! Start with a walking tour with an expert local guide, discovering how this stunning city was reconstructed after WWII. Delve into Gdansk's rich history and tick the must-see sights off your bucket list, including the Old Town and Long Market Square. Explore as you wish for the rest of the day. You could wander along the banks of the Motława river, inspect Gdansk Town Hall's elaborate interiors or soak up panoramic views from the Amber Sky ferris wheel. Whichever way you choose to spend the day, it's bound to be magical!
Delve into Gdansk’s history with a local guide
Day 8: Gdansk - Malbork Castle - Toruń - Warsaw
Location: Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast
More Polish highlights await on today’s journey to the capital, Warsaw. After saying goodbye to Gdansk, get ready to explore the world’s largest castle! Embark on a guided tour of the UNESCO-listed Malbork Castle, a magnificent 13th-century fortress. Next stop is the town of Toruń, another UNESCO site. This medieval city was the birthplace of famed astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and is home to the charmingly festive Museum of Gingerbread. Here, enjoy a memorable gingerbread presentation! Finally, travel to Warsaw and settle into the hotel for the next two nights. The evening is free to spend as you wish.
Explore Malbork Castle; the largest castle in the world
Visit Torun; a mediaeval town in Poland
Enjoy a gingerbread workshop in Torun
Day 9: Warsaw: Free Day
Location: Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Delve deeper into Warsaw this morning and join a locally-guided walking and driving tour. Learn all about Warsaw’s turbulent history and marvel at the city’s historic highlights and modern marvels. Admire the Royal Castle and explore the Old Town (which was restored post WWII). The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish. Visit a museum such as the Warsaw Rising Museum, the National Museum or the Museum of Fryderyk Chopin. To experience Warsaw’s architecture, cuisine and culture, join the Highlights of Warsaw optional excursion! Spend the last evening on tour enjoying one last included group dinner.
Explore Warsaw with a local guide
Day 10: End Of Tour In Warsaw
Location: Warsaw
Meals Included: Breakfast
With 10 days of unforgettable adventures all the way from Finland to Poland completed, this Helsinki to Warsaw group tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Bid farewell to your new travel buddies, swap pictures and be sure to stay in touch. Expat Explore wishes you a year full of adventures and hopes to see you on tour with us again soon!
What's Included
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Accommodation
9nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability) -
Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days) -
Meals
9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners*Vegetarian options available for all meals on request
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Tour Leader
Fully guided tour with experienced tour leader
Tour leader will accompany group throughout and manage all logistical details
What's Not Included
International flightsTravel to the start point and from the end point is not included. We recommend using Skyscanner to find the best deals on international flights.Travel insuranceFor a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries.
All passengers travelling on an Expat Explore tour are required to have valid travel insurance cover and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance.
Mode of Transport
Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
Accommodation
9nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
Traveller Comfort - *COACH* tours
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
For more information regarding traveller fitness please see our Terms and Conditions.
Health and Fitness
We welcome all travellers on our tours but we would like to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. In light of this, please ensure that you are happy with the below information and level of fitness required.
Expat Explore tries to be as accommodating as possible, however, our tours are unfortunately not designed for people travelling with wheelchairs or severe mobility issues.
Our tours are fast paced because they are designed for you to see the most a destination has to offer. We also want to ensure that you explore as much as possible, which may require long periods without stops on the coach as we drive to a new destination.
We offer walking tours in most cities (up to 3 hours), and a wheelchair is not always a practical option as there are often cobbled streets and stairs on these tours.
For travellers in wheelchairs, you will only be able to store your wheelchair under the coach with the other luggage. Thus, on the long drives between cities you will not necessarily have access to your wheelchair if we make a quick bathroom stop along the way. Please note that travelling with a wheelchair could prove difficult as our coaches don't have wheelchair lifts, as such you will need to be able to board and alight the coach on your own.
With regards to our accommodation, not all hotels have lifts and this means potentially having to carry bags up and down stairs.
Experiences
See the sights on a driving tour of Helsinki; Finland’s capital city
Join a local guide for a walking tour of Helsinki
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a local Helsinki dinner
Catch a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn
Enjoy lunch at a medieval restaurant in Tallinn
Discover Tallinn with a local guide
Sightsee in Pärnu; a resort city in Estonia
Learn about Latvian history at the Latvian War Cemetery
Discover Riga; Latvia’s vibrant capital
Visit the famous Hill of Crosses in Lithuania
Explore Vilnius; capital of Lithuania
Marvel at Trakai Island Castle
Discover Gdansk, a charming Polish city
Delve into Gdansk’s history with a local guide
Explore Malbork Castle; the largest castle in the world
Visit Torun; a mediaeval town in Poland
Enjoy a gingerbread workshop in Torun
Explore Warsaw with a local guide
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. Please see the meeting point information for details on how to reach the meeting point.
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No, entrance fees are not included.
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No, visas are each traveler’s personal responsibility, and we recommend that plenty of time is allowed for visas to be applied for. When applying for your visa, please ensure that the proper research is carried out before you apply, and that you deal directly with the embassies or certified agents with regard to acquiring correct and timely information. We cannot take responsibility for customers
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All our tours are conducted in English.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
We are committed to curating excellent travel experiences and to do so we need all of our travelers to feel safe.
In order to ensure the peace of mind and safety of our travelers and staff on board the coach, we are still requesting that all travellers, regardless of their vaccination status, produce a negative Covid test. This test can be a PCR test -
Do you require a visa for this holiday?
Certain nationalities may require a visa(s) for this tour.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
All of the hotels on this tour offer Wi-Fi, which is available free of charge as part of your Expat Explore tour.
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes, Full air-conditioning
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Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?
Due to weight and space limitations, you are allowed to bring one main piece of luggage weighing no more than 20kg, and one small soft bag for hand luggage weighing a maximum of 7kg. On all tours, you will have to carry your own luggage (e.g. into hotels and up to your room if hotels don’t have elevators). Please bear this in mind when you are deciding what to pack
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our customer services team. Please note that the room provided may be a single room with a single bed.
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
Yes, As detailed in the itinerary
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What is the fitness level required to do this tour?
All travellers are required to carry their own bags, get on and off the coach, and use public transport. Our city walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down lots of steps. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
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What is the maximum group size?
It depends on how many other people book! There could be up to 51 other passengers, so you will have the opportunity to make lots of friends!
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
We have searched and invested in excellent accommodation options, either located in cities or well placed with public transport connections. Clean linen, towels is always included. Toiletries (shampoo, shower gel etc) and hair dryers are not always included, so you may wish to bring these with you. Accommodation is provided in twin share en-suite rooms. We use a mix of mostly 2, 3 & 4-star hotels.
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What is the tipping policy?
Whilst we fully understand that some nationalities are not accustomed to tipping, this is a normal part of the culture in many of the countries we visit. Tipping has become an increasingly accepted practice in all areas of the service industry, but particularly in restaurants, bars and taxis worldwide. Expat Explore crew members
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
A full list of confirmed accommodation names and addresses for your particular departure will be emailed to you around 1 week before the tour starts.
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Our travelers come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests.
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Our tour leaders come from all walks of life, with different backgrounds and interests. They are all confident and well-travelled with an in-depth knowledge of the destinations they are working in, and a passion for helping you make the most out of your Expat Explore tour.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
If you are travelling alone there is no compulsory charge - you will share a twin room with another passenger of the same gender. There is an optional single supplement/private room upgrade available for single travellers who wish to have a private room. This can be added at the time of booking or by contacting our team.
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Children on tour?
Our tours are not suitable for young children which is why we have a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email. Minors (between 10 and 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. Unaccompanied minors will not be accepted on tour. Expat Explore reserves the right to decline any booking at our discretion. Any minor (between 10 and 18 years of age) is priced the same as an adult.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
The health and safety of our travellers and employees are our top priority. Which means, when you travel with us, our enhanced hygiene protocols will ensure you do so in a safe and responsible way - ask for details of current policies.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2005
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
At Expat Explore we value responsible travel and are committed to exploring the world consciously and kindly. We are proud to make responsible travel possible with a number of our sustainable travel practices!
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
Relate is a South African based not-for-profit organisation that Expat Explore supports. The group aims to help those less fortunate create better lives for themselves through a variety of fundraising initiatives. On our South Africa tours, each passenger will receive an Expat Explore branded Relate bracelet. We donate the cost of these bracelets to our chosen Relate charity: the Nelson Mandela Sc
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Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Expat Explore Travel allows you to make 5 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 91 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Expat Explore Travel requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of expat explore travel charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 59 days before tour starts: Forfeit 20% of booking price.
At 44 days before tour starts: Forfeit 40% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.