Grand Tour Baltic Countries

Visit the three independent Baltic Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on this escorted motor coach tour.

Itinerary

Arrive in Tallinn - capital of Estonia. Transfer to the Hotel Blu Olumpia or similar. Check-in at hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Time to explore Tallinn on your own. Welcome meeting.

After breakfast we drive to the Lahemaa National Park, where we visit the Manor Houses in Palmse and Vihula. We continue south to Tartu, the famous university town, where Estonia gained its statehood. We see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632. From Tartu we drive onwards into Latvia to Cesis, a Hanseatic city with winding streets, castle ruins and beautiful gardens. Check in at Hotel Kolonna Cesis or similar.

Today we drive through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, a popular holiday resort. We see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the ruins of the of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we continue to Vilnius. En route we reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. After a guided tour of the palace, we travel through Lithuania to reach Vilnius late afternoon to check in at Hotel Blu Lietuva.

Vilnius is known for its more than 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Annas Church, Old University and Gates of the Dawn. After the city tour we drive to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, and we visit the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. The balance of the day is spent en route to Klaipeda, where we arrive late afternoon and check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Klaipeda or similar for a two night stay.

The day is reserved for a full day tour to the Curonian Spit, a thin 60 mile stretch of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fishing villages, pine forests and endless sand dunes. We stop at the Hill of Witches in the resort town of Juodkrante. We continue to the resort town of Nida with its High Dunes and Thomas Manns Summerhouse before we drive to Klaipeda, In the evening we enjoy a Lithuanian dinner at the traditional Restaurant Luja in Klaipeda.

Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and had a long history as a German town called Memel. The morning's sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with its narrow, cobblestone streets and old guild houses and we visit the Theatre Square and Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. We now continue to Samogitia National Park where we embark on a walking tour around the picturesque Lake Plateliai. Then we continue to Siauliai and Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest sites of Catholic Lithuania. We head north into Latvia and reach Riga in the late afternoon and check-in at Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija or similar. In the evening, an organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Riga founded in 1,201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peters Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for a visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. In the evening we enjoy a Latvian gourmet dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.

After breakfast, we continue via the Coastal Highway to the Estonian summer resort, Parnu to view the city. Then we continue through Estonian forest land to Tallinn to check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Olumpia or similar.

Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, out-door cafes and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Cathedral, the Alexander Nevsky Church and the medieval Old Town Hall. In the afternoon we take a tour to Kadriorg Park and visit the Kadriorg Palace and its art collection.

Tonight a medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

As of July 1, 2012 the Kadriorg Palace is closed. You will have an excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU museum.

Tour ends after breakfast and a departure transfer.