Historic Baltic Republics

Our tour of the Baltics starts in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. The city itself is something of fairytale wonder, perched on a hill overlooking the sea and with a charming medieval old town that's earned itself UNESCO World Heritage status. For those arriving in time today, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting followed by the option to go for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive at any time. If you\ d like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Tallinn Airport (TLL), around a 10-minute drive from our hotel. If you miss the meeting, our tour leader will catch you up ASAP. Tallinn is a walkable city so if your flight arrives earlier, you might like to stretch your legs and explore. Take a stroll down the cobbled streets that lead to the bustling town square and marvel at the 14th-century town hall.

Today, we'll spend some time uncovering the enchanting streets of Tallinn. Less than 100 kilometres across the water from Helsinki and midway between St Petersburg and Stockholm, Tallinn has fallen under a multitude of cultural influences over the centuries. In 1561, it was seized by the Swedes and held until the Russians overtook it, industrialising much of the medieval town. The town itself is something of fairytale wonder, perched on a hill overlooking the sea. We'll begin to explore it on foot, starting in the picturesque Old Town. Walking through the cobbled streets, the colourful houses show off influence from the German, Scandinavian and Russian periods of Tallinn's history, we'll pass by them and wander towards the old merchants\ quarter and the busy town square, which is always bustling with tourists and locals sipping coffee or beer at the many pavement cafes. We'll tick off all the highlights, from the Gothic town hall to the pink Parliament buildings and the Toompea Castle and yellow Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This afternoon is free for you to explore more at your own pace.

Today, we'll drive toward the Gulf of Riga before heading for the largest of the offshore islands, Saaremaa, by ferry. En-route, we'll stop off on Muhu Island where there'll be the option to visit the Koguva Museum - an open-air museum that offers a fascinating look at the old way of life. Once we arrive on Saaremaa, we'll stop at the Karja Church with its rich medieval stone sculptured decoration and photogenic Angla Windmills. We'll also visit the 4000-year-old Kaali Crater, which was created by a meteorite with an impact comparable to the Hiroshima bomb, incinerating the forests around it. Please note, between mid-September and mid-April, the Koguva Museum is closed on Mondays so our optional visit will take place on day four.

We'll spend today on Saaremaa, taking in the relaxed atmosphere and landscape strewn with windmills, churches, and juniper groves. The main town on the island is Kuressaare and we'll spend some time exploring the town hall and St Laurentius Church. In your free time, there'll be the option to visit Bishop's Palace, one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe.

Today, we'll take a short ferry ride back to the mainland before driving to Tartu, the oldest town in Estonia. On the way, we'll stop at the old town of Parnu for lunch and to stretch our legs. Then, this evening, we'll have free time to explore the vibrant university city of Tartu.

This morning, we'll have another opportunity to explore the 18th-century architecture of this cultural city on a walking tour. We'll head to Raekoja Plats (the town square) with its famous kissing students statue before visiting Toomemagi Cathedral Hill, a 5th-century stronghold come university. Later, there'll be more free time to uncover the beautiful city further. If your feet need a rest, you might like to try one of the restaurants in the main square.

Today we'll journey to Riga, the capital of Latvia. Along the way, we'll pass through an area that has many protestant links - one of the legacies left from the days of the Crusaders. On their return from the Holy Wars in the 13th century, the Knights of the Sword were sent to convert the pagan Baltic people. As well as being rich in history, northwest Latvia offers abundant scenery, too. The area is dotted with quaint villages, forests, and lakes. We'll make a stop at Cesis in the Gauja National Park, where there'll be the chance to visit the ruins of the 13th-century Order of Knight's Castle, as well as the Church of St. John. Before arriving in Riga, we'll also visit Turaida Castle. The medieval castle sits on the banks of the Gauja River, and its redbrick structure is imposing amongst the trees.

Today, we'll explore Riga's enchanting, cobbled streets. Though one-third of Lativa's population lives in the capital, the must-see sites are in a small area, so they\ re easy to see on foot. We'll take a walking tour of the old city, sitting on the banks of the Daugava River, it's one of the most picturesque places in the Baltics and it's easy to see why it's graced many a travel guide front cover. Our walk will take us via all the highlights, from the Freedom Monument to Gunpowder Tower and St. Jacob's Church to the cathedral. In this area, gothic buildings are juxtaposed with baroque architecture and there are art nouveau masterpieces at every turn. Riga also has a lively market, located in several disused Zeppelin hangers, with stalls upon stalls of local produce, including smoked fish, sauerkraut, pickled garlic, and crusty cheeses. It's a great spot to get a flavour of the local cuisine.

As Riga is such a charming spot, we\ ve left today free for you to explore more of it at your own pace. You might choose to relax with a long lunch at one of the traditional restaurants. Latvian cooking, as in all Baltic states, is wholesome with a focus on soups, stews, cheese, and meat-stuffed pastries. There are plenty of street cafes, too, if you fancy a spot of people watching while you sip a locally brewed dark beer. Alternatively, you might like to visit Jurmala, a series of coastal villages with long sandy beaches and pretty cottages.

Heading south this morning, we'll visit Rundale Palace. This 18th-century palace was commissioned by Anna, the Empress of Russia, for her lover, Count Biron and designed by the very same architect who built the Hermitage in St Petersburg. With its 138 rooms, furnished with exquisite art and furniture, it's a classic example of the fusion of German and Russian society. After our visit, we'll cross into Lithuania. The largest of the three countries is distinguished from its neighbours by its Catholicism. Although Lithuania converted to Christianity almost 200 years later than its northern neighbours, the church retained its power and even today most people are devoutly religious. We'll stop at the Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, where a vast number of rosaries and crosses adorn a small hill. In the past, both German and Soviet troops have tried to destroy the monument, but each time, thousands of crosses and images of the Virgin reappear. Eventually, we'll journey on to Klaipeda, a major port and the third-largest city in Lithuania, where we'll spend the night.

We'll spend this morning exploring the area around Curonian Spit National Park, where the forests are inhabited by moose, wild boar and many bird species. While there, we'll also visit the wooden sculptures at the Hill of Witches and the little fishing town of Nida. Situated on drifting sand dunes, Nida is constantly shifting, meaning the community has had to move with nature over the centuries. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk along the beach for amber, which is often found here after a storm. Depending on the weather, we'll either spend more time at the beach or drive back to Klaipeda to explore more of the city.

Today we'll journey to Kaunas, which was the country's capital between 1920 and 1939, while Vilnius was annexed by the Poles. The city is situated right in the heart of Lithuania and is home to centuries\ old buildings that date back to the Gothic period and the 17th century. After a tour of the town, the rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace.

On the way to Vilnius today, we'll stop at the Pazaislis Monastery, the largest monastic complex in the country and a great example of baroque architecture. We'll also visit Trakai, the former home of the Grand Duchy, and its 14th-century castle set on its own island. Once we reach the capital, Vilnius, we'll have the evening free to explore.

Today, we'll set about ticking off all of the capital's must-sees. The catholic influence in the city is evident from the numerous baroque churches and we'll take a tour to see some of them. We'll also visit the ancient university - founded by the Jesuits. Another highlight is the Gates of the Dawn chapel, which is home to the Madonna of the Gates of Dawn. This afternoon is left free to explore at your own pace.

Our tour of the Baltic capitals ends at our hotel in Vilnius. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Vilnius International Airport (VNO), around a ten-minute drive from the hotel.