Highlights of the Baltics
Explore the best of the Baltics: Historic Vilnius in Lithuania; beautiful Riga, the “Paris of the North” in Latvia; Tallinn, the medieval capital of Estonia.
Overview
Style | Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. (Some exceptions, including special promotional packaged, may accommodate up to 24.) More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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Departures | April – October 2024 | Group Size | 16 travelers max |
Themes | History & Culture, Nature & Wildlife | ||
Activity Level | Moderate | ||
What to Expect | This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking and requires an average level of physical fitness Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
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Explore the absolute best of northeast Europe on our 11-day journey to the Baltics: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Although small, these countries are full of unforgettable experiences, picturesque landscapes, delectable cuisine, and much more. Start your adventure discovering the timeless charm and unique architecture in Vilnius, Lithuania, home to one of the oldest preserved Old Towns in Northern Europe. Be sure to complete your trip with a visit to the fairy-tale Trakai Castle and enjoy a traditional Lithuanian pastry, the Kibinai! Wander your way through the treetops in Anyksciai before arriving in Riga, Latvia. Known as the “Paris of the North,” Riga is home to cobblestone streets lined with intricately designed buildings in its ornate Art Nouveau district, open-air museums, and marvelous cathedrals. Venture outside of the city to Gauja National Park, a hidden gem recognized as the “Switzerland of Latvia.” The last stop on your journey is Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia. Step back in time as you walk along the winding streets past 14th and 15th-century walls, towers, and soaring church spires. Then, leave the city behind for the breathtaking natural landscape covering over half of Estonia with wetlands, bogs, and forests. Visiting this region offers travelers sights and activities not found anywhere else in Europe, so get your bags packed, cameras ready, and meet us in the Baltics!
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round-trip flights from NYC (JFK or EWR) including taxes & fees
- All ground transportation and transfers
- 9 nights accommodation in superior first class hotels
- 15 Meals: 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners including welcome and farewell dinners
- Professional, English-speaking tour director and local guides
- Comprehensive touring program and entrance fees
Optional add-ons
- Flights from other cities are available. Request pricing when making your reservation.
- Private guided tour of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights
- Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
- Gauja National Park, Turaida Castle & a secret Soviet bunker with lunch
Why you'll love it
- Discover the Old Town, Cathedral Square, the Orthodox Cathedral of All Saints, and Vilnius University on a walking tour of Vilnius.
- Learn how to create a a traditional Kibinai, a Lithuanian pastry.
- Take a walk on Laju Takas, a spectacular treetop walking path in Anyksciai.
- Tour Riga, the "Paris of the North", including the Old Town, the Swedish Gate, the Monument of Liberty, Riga's Castle, and the Art Nouveau district.
- En route to Tallinn, Estonia, visit an eco-farm and engage in an organic horticulture workshop.
- Stop at a cider house in Kaelase, enjoying a tasting as you learn about the process of making cider.
- See the Town Hall, Dome Cathedral, and the Toompea Palace in Tallinn.
- Visit Kardriorg Palace, the jewel of Tallinn.
- Enjoy the fresh air as you walk along the boardwalks of an Estonian bog at Lahemaa National Park.
- Explore the enchanting 400-year-old fishing village of Altja.
Itinerary at a Glance
![Highlights of the Baltics map](https://res.cloudinary.com/friendly-planet/image/fetch/q_auto,f_auto,w_520,c_limit/https://www.friendlyplanet.com/media/gallery/maps/highlights-of-the-baltics.png)
- 1 Depart USA
- 2 Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania
- 3 Vilnius
- Optional Excursion: Museum of Occupations & Freedom Fights, $45
- 4 Vilnius
- 5 Anyksciai, Birzai & Riga, Latvia
- 6 Riga, Latvia
- Optional Excursion: Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, $50
- 7 Riga
- Optional Excursion: Gauja National Park, Turaida Castle & a secret Soviet bunker with lunch, $255
- 8 Pärnu, Kaelase, Tallinn, Estonia
- 9 Tallinn, Estonia
- 10 Tallinn, Lahemaa National Park
- 11 Depart Tallinn/Arrive USA
Dates & Prices
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Depart USA
- Depart the United States on your overnight flight to Vilnius, Lithuania
Day 2 Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania
- Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel
- Enjoy a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers at a local restaurant
Hotel Vilnia or similar Dinner
Full Day ItineraryUpon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your centrally located hotel for check-in. Join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Day 3 Vilnius
- Discover Vilnius on a walking tour through the city
- Visit the city's Jewish Quarter, and unique Užupis District
- Optional visit to the Museum of Occupations & Freedom Fights
Hotel Vilnia or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, join your guide on a walking tour of Vilnius. Your tour begins in one of the oldest preserved Old Towns in Northern Europe. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Old Town boasts a rare mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical architecture. Visit the Gates of Dawn, which opened in 1522 and is the city's only remaining defensive wall still standing. With the splendid image of the Virgin Mary painted to protect the city, the wall stands as an essential spiritual landmark. Your tour continues to Cathedral Square, the outstanding Orthodox Cathedral of All Saints, and Vilnius University, one of the oldest schools in Europe.
Later this afternoon, continue your walking tour and learn more about two distinct areas that makeup Vilnius: the Jewish Quarter and the Užupis District. Learn more about Lithuania's strong connection with Jewish heritage, and discover why Vilnius was once referred to as the "Jerusalem of the North." Then, explore the city's Užupis District, a self-proclaimed "republic" inside the Old Town thriving as a creative and artistic community with its constitution, anthem, and president.
The rest of your afternoon is free at leisure, or you may choose an optional visit to the Museum of Occupations & Freedom Fights.Optional Excursion: Museum of Occupations & Freedom Fights, $45Reflect on Lithuanian history with a guided tour of the Museum of Occupations & Freedom Fights. Once a former gymnasium, it was the headquarters of the Gestapo during the occupation in WWII and was then taken over by the Soviet KGB. Learn more about Lithuania’s complex history of occupation that only ended in 1990, when Lithuania declared independence from the USSR.
Day 4 Vilnius
- Pay a respectful visit to the Memorial of Paneriai
- Visit Trakai Castle, picturesquely situated on the middle of a lake
- Sail the surrounding waters of the castle by boat
- Learn how to create a traditional Kibinai, a Lithuanian pastry
Hotel Vilnia or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, pay a respectful visit to the Memorial of Paneriai on the outskirts of Vilnius, the same site where over 100,000 Jews lost their lives during WWII. Today it is a place of commemoration and remembrance.
Continue to Trakai Castle, which is picturesquely situated in the middle of a lake. Standing tall with a medieval-style appearance, the castle exudes a fairy-tale-like essence and can only be accessed by a wooden drawbridge. Explore the castle grounds, visit the museum, and view the myriad of ancient artifacts.
Afterward, discover the magical blue waters surrounding the castle by boat. Relax to the sound of the calming waters as you pass through the neighboring islands. Following your time on the water, go to a local restaurant where you will learn how to make a traditional Lithuanian pastry called Kibinai. Follow time-tested Lithuanian cooking methods with your host before sitting down to taste your wonderful creation! Return to Vilnius and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.Day 5 Anyksciai, Birzai & Riga, Latvia
- Depart for Riga, en-route stop in Anyksciai & Birzai
- Take a walk on Laju Takas, a treetop walking path overlooking the beautiful forests and river
- Enjoy lunch at Birzai Castle and learn about traditional Lithuanian beer making followed by a tasting
- Arrive in Riga, Latvia and check into your hotel
Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItinerarySay goodbye to Vilnius and begin your journey to Riga! En route, stop in the town of Anyksciai and take a walk on Laju Takas, a spectacular treetop walking path. This one-of-a-kind structure meanders through the trees and offers a unique perspective of the surrounding area.
Continue to the town of Birzai and visit Birzai Castle for an included lunch. After lunch, visit the castle's cellar to learn more about traditional beer-making traditions accompanied by a tasting and songs. Afterward, continue to Riga and check into your hotel.Day 6 Riga, Latvia
- This morning, discover Riga on a walking tour of the city
- Explore the medieval architecture of Riga's Old Town
- Walk through the ornate Art Nouveau district
Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, depart on a walking tour of Riga. Hailed as the "Paris of the North," immerse yourself among the cobblestone streets and magnificent architecture of this grand Baltic capital. Embrace Riga's most exciting sites, including the Old Town, the Swedish Gate, the Monument of Liberty, and Riga's Castle. Continue to the Dome Cathedral, home to one of the largest organs in Europe (6,768 pipes!). Next, enjoy a wonderful walk through the Art Nouveau district, a staple of any visit to Riga. Look out for the brilliantly decorated facades and intricately designed buildings as you take in one architectural masterpiece after another.
Following your walking tour, the rest of the afternoon is free at leisure to explore on your own or take an optional excursion to the Latvian Open Air Museum.Optional Excursion: Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, $50Transfer from Riga to one of the largest and oldest open-air museums in all of Europe. Explore the vast array of historical buildings dating from the 17th century through the 1930s. Stroll through traditional farmsteads and reflect on the tools and crafts that made up everyday living.
Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.
Day 7 Riga
- Free day to explore Riga on your own, or take part in a full-day optional excursion to Gauja National Park!
Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel or similar Breakfast
Optional Excursion: Gauja National Park, Turaida Castle & a secret Soviet bunker with lunch, $255Swap the city for the crisp fresh air of Gauja National Park, also known as the "Switzerland of Latvia." Visit the incredible Turaida Castle situated in the heart of the park. Built in the 13th century as a residence of the Bishop of Riga, the castle stands firm today, welcoming visitors and offering a great view of the surrounding landscape. Next, visit a formerly secret underground Soviet bunker. Built as a place of refuge in case of a nuclear war, step back in time and witness a piece of history only recently discovered in the early 2000s. Today's optional excursion also includes lunch at a local restaurant.
Note: This private tour requires a minimum of 4 passengers to operate.
Day 8 Pärnu, Kaelase, Tallinn, Estonia
- Transfer to Tallinn, Estonia
- En route, visit a local eco-farm and engage in an organic horticulture workshop
- Continue to a cider house and enjoy a tasting of five different ciders accompanied by cheese and snacks
Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn or similar Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, depart for Tallinn, Estonia. En route, visit an eco-farm that specializes in organic gardening. Meet the friendly owners who will take you to their herb yard and greenhouse. During this time, learn more about the difference between eco-growing and chemically fertilized plants and how each affects human health. Then, partake in planting seeds in their greenhouse before sitting down and enjoying homemade smoothies and lemonade made with herbs picked from their garden.
Next, continue towards Tallinn and stop at a cider house in the town of Kaelase. Tour the factory and apple orchards and learn more about the process of making cider. Enjoy a tasting of five different delectable ciders with accompanying cheese and snacks. Later this evening, arrive in Tallinn and check in to your hotel.Day 9 Tallinn, Estonia
- Visit the magnificent Kadriorg Palace and National Art Museum
- Walking tour of Tallinn
Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn or similar Breakfast & lunch
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, take a short drive to Kadriorg Palace. Founded in 1718 by Russian Tsar Peter I in honor of his wife Catherine I, it is considered a crown jewel of Tallinn. Stroll through the colorful gardens and flower park before entering the National Art Museum. Wander through the halls of the exquisite interior and admire an assortment of brilliant pieces from international artists.
This afternoon, return to the center of Tallinn for a walking tour of one of the best preserved medieval cities in Northern Europe. Feel the aura of the 14th and 15th-century walls, towers, and soaring church spires as you walk along the winding streets. Visit the 14th-century Gothic Town Hall, the Dome Cathedral, and the magnificent pink Baroque-style Toompea Palace. Then, stand in awe at the outstanding architecture of the Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Cathedral.
The balance of the afternoon is at leisure.
Day 10 Tallinn, Lahemaa National Park
- Venture outside the city to Lahemaa National Park
- Walk along the boardwalks of an Estonian bog
- Visit a 400-year-old fisherman's village
- See the Baroque-style Palmse Manor and walk through the Open-Air Museum
- Enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers
Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn or similar Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, leave the city behind for the breathtaking natural landscape of Lahemaa National Park. Wetlands, bogs, and forests cover nearly three-quarters of Estonia. Today allows you to step outside and enjoy the fresh air that comes with it. Visit a traditional Estonian bog and walk along the boardwalks while taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Listen to the relaxing sound of water cascading at the Jägala waterfall. Enjoy the view of the shore and explore the enchanting 400-year-old fishing village of Altja. Then, visit the Baroque-style Palmse Manor and walk through the Open-Air Museum. This afternoon, return to Tallinn and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner with your fellow travelers this evening at a local restaurant in Tallinn.Day 11 Depart Tallinn/Arrive USA
- Transfer to the airport for your return flight
- Arrive in the USA later today
Breakfast
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
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Trip Details
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What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
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Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
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Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Depart from another city? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
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Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
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Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
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What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
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What should I know about Estonia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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What should I know about Latvia? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.
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What should I know about Lithuania? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.