Baltic Highlights

Our escorted small group tour of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, three former Soviet republics, is filled with the contrast of centuries of history, medieval towns with cobblestone streets and stunning natural beauty. We begin our tour in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, whose old town is one of the largest surviving medieval old towns in Northern Europe. We take a day trip to Trakai, a small town located on a narrow stretch of land between several lakes and explore the picturesque medieval Trakai Island castle. En-route to Riga we’ll visit Rundale Palace which, often referred to as the “Versailles of Latvia”, stands elegantly amidst acres of elaborately manicured gardens. We finish our tour with 2 nights in the breathtaking capital of Estonia,Tallinn which is possibly one of the most beautiful cities in Northern Europe. The encompassing medieval stone walls, sky-scraping church bell towers, and winding cobblestone streets opening into squares and courtyard will be a fitting finale to our wonderful highlights of the Baltic. Come and join us – you’ll be so glad you did.

*Escorted from Vilnius
Guaranteed SINGLE room throughout
Commencing 20 September, 2020
POSTPONED – new dates coming soon

Day 1 20 September, 2020 Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania Make your own way to Vilnius. Use your frequent flyer points or we can find the best fare for you and team you up with others in the group who may be on the same flight. On arrival make your own way from airport to hotel. Remainder of day is at leisure and tonight meet your tour companions over dinner. Dinner is included tonight. Accommodation: Hotel Congress Avenue (or similar) 3 nights The 4-star Congress Avenue is centrally located on Vilnius’ main street, Gedimino Avenue, only a few steps from the National Theatre and Government Palace. All air-conditioned rooms of Congress Avenue offer an LCD TV with satellite and cable channels, as well as a bathroom complete with a hairdryer and either a bath or a shower. At the reception of the property, guests can book city tours or buy tickets for the nearby National Opera and Ballet Theatre. There is a terrace on the top floor of the hotel, where guests can enjoy views of the city. The Cathedral of Vilnius is a 5-minute walk away. All main shops as well as the finest bars and restaurants are located in the immediate proximity of Congress Avenue.

Day 2 21 September, 2020 Vilnius
After breakfast we commence our city tour of Vilnius. Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, contains one of the largest surviving medieval quarters in Europe. Included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Old Town contains almost two thousand medieval, gothic, renaissance, and baroque buildings, all centred on the neo-classical cathedral and town hall. During the city tour you will see the Cathedral Square, the bell-tower of the Cathedral, the Gediminas Castle, St.Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Pilies Street, Uzupis district and more. Remainder of the day and evening is at leisure.

Day 3 22 September, 2020 Vilnius–Trakai–Vilnius
After breakfast we begin our half day tour to Trakai. The old town of Trakai – which is extremely popular with the residents of Lithuania and foreign guests – is situated west of Vilnius between the hills, forests and lakes. The shores of the peninsula on which it is located are washed by the waters of Lakes Galvė, Totoriškių and Bernardinų (Lukos). This town, famous for its picturesque landscape and the legendary Trakai Castle, was a cradle of the Lithuanian statehood, an important military and political centre, headquarters of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the capital of Lithuania. Remainder of the day and evening is at leisure.

Day 4 23 September, 2020 Vilnius – Hill of Crosses – Rundale – Riga, Latvia
After breakfast we travel towards Riga with a stop en-route in the countryside at Lithuania’s legendary Hill of Crosses. The hill is covered in more than 100,000 crosses placed there by those who have lost loved ones. Kryžių Kalnas, translated as “Hill of Crosses,” has become somewhat of a holy mecca for the country’s Lutherans and Catholics who make the pilgrimage to bring new crosses to the hill. We continue on to Rundale and visit Rundale Palace. With its elegantly manicured French-style gardens and ornate Baroque interior, Rundale Palace has been called the Versailles of Latvia. Dinner is included tonight. Accommodation: Avalon Hotel (or similar) 2 nights. The 4-star Avalon Hotel & Conferences is located in Riga’s Old Town, only 500 m from the Opera House and Freedom Monument. It offers spacious, air-conditioned rooms with a flat-screen cable TV, breakfast buffet and free WiFi. The rooms at the Avalon Hotel & Conferences feature an elegant and classic interior design in bright colours with wooden furniture. All feature a laptop safe, coffee/tea makers, a minibar, ironing facilities and a work desk. Each has a hairdryer and toiletries in the bathroom. Situated in Riga’s UNESCO-listed historic city centre, the hotel is within a few minutes’ walk from the city’s most important landmarks, including the Dome Cathedral, the Guild of the Blackheads and the National Library. Riga Central Station and Central Market are 300 m away.

Day 5 24 September, 2020 Riga – Jurmala – Riga
With its narrow cobblestone streets, colorful squares and Medieval-era buildings, Riga’s Old Town is full of architectural treasures. It features over 500 buildings that reflect different architectural styles including gothic, baroque, modernism and art nouveau and it’s been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Highlights include Riga cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltics; St Peter’s church for stunning skyline views from its observation platform; and the Three Brothers, a series of three neighbouring houses, each built in a different century. Take a stroll down Rozena Steet, a narrow alley where you can touch the opposite walls with both hands, and stop for a coffee at one of the pavement cafes on Dome Square.

After breakfast we begin our city tour of Riga where you will see the Cathedral, St.Peter’s Church, the Powder Tower, the Small and the Great Guild, the House of Blackheads, the “Three Brothers“ and many more. This afternoon we travel to Jurmala 25km from Riga. Known as the Pearl of Latvia, Jurmala is a 20-mile strip of fine white sand home to a string of beach towns facing the Gulf of Riga. It’s the largest resort in the Baltics and a popular weekend escape with its wooden guesthouses, art nouveau villas and spa hotels.

Day 6 25 September, 2020 Riga–Sigulda–Parnu-Tallinn, Estonia After breakfast, and en-route to Tallin in Estonia, we visit Gauja National Park, the largest and oldest of the national parks in Latvia, characterized by great biological diversity, picturesque views and unique natural, cultural and historical monuments. We visit one of the oldest visible castles in Latvia, Turaida castle, built in 1214. Few buildings in Latvia are located in such a splendid landscape – the castle is set on a 80 metres high strip of land between two ravines at Gauja River. There is marvellous view from its 27 metres high tower over the forested Gauja valley. We’ll have time to walk around the gardens with its 26 sculptures dedicated to epic Latvian heroes immortalised in the dainas, poetic folk songs which are a major Latvian tradition. We have a brief stop in Parnu en-route to Tallinn. Dinner is included tonight. Accommodation: Nordic Hotel Forum (or similar) 2 nights Only 150 m from the Tallinn Old Town, a modern Nordic Hotel Forum of 4+ star category offers spacious air conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The hotel has a leisure centre on the top floor.The Nordic Hotel Forum’s guests can enjoy a variety of amenities, which are available to them for free. It includes a sauna, steam bath and a hot tub. There is also a gym to work out in, as well as a business centre that guests can use. The restaurant serves Estonian and international cuisine. Guests can also enjoy the Summer terrace and a lobby bar with an open fireplace. Tallinn’s Old Town is about 150 m from the Forum, and Freedom Square is within 600 m.

Day 7 26 September, 2020 Tallinn After breakfast we begin our city tour of Tallinn, one of Europe’s newest capitals, which boasts a rich mix of architecture and culture in a small geographic area. Its Old Town was almost untouched by war and remains perfectly preserved. And outside the city walls there are beguiling districts of brightly painted wooden houses, parks, redeveloped docks, beaches and forests. At the historical and medieval heart of the city is the hill of Toompea, covered in cobbled streets and filled with medieval houses and alleyways. The lower town spreads out from the foot of the hill, still protected by the remnants of a city wall. During our city tour you will see Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dom Cathedral, Viru Gates, St. Catherine’s passage, Town Hall, Toompea castle, Kohtuotsa viewing platform and etc. This afternoon we’ll visit Rocca al Mare Ethnographic Museum. Located just a 15 minute drive from the centre of Tallinn, this open air museum showcases the country’s rural architecture and way of life. The 14 farms in the museum provide an overview of how families from different strata of society lived in the 18–20th centuries. At the museum, you can buy handicrafts, ride horses, and try traditional Estonian dishes at the inn.

Day 8 27 September, 2020 Tallinn Sadly our tour has come to an end this morning. After breakfast we have the morning at leisure. Those joining our St. Petersburg to Moscow with Volga cruise tour today will be transferred to the airport in Tallinn for our flight to St. Petersburg. (Flight is additional expense). We would be happy to assist with your onward travel arrangements.

Tour price: $AU3590 includes:

*Services of an Australian tour escort from arrival into Vilnius
(*subject to minimum group size of 12)
Services of local English speaking guides
First class accommodation:
- Vilnius – 3 nights
- Riga – 2 nights
- Tallinn – 2 nights
- Accommodation in SINGLE room (double room for single use) with private facilities throughout
Meals as per itinerary:
Breakfasts – 8 included
Dinners – 3 included
Sightseeing as per itinerary with entrances to:
Trakai castle
Rundale Palace
Turaida Castle
Dom Cathedral in Tallinn
Open air museum in Tallinn

Tour cost does not include:

International airline tickets
Air ticket taxes
Meals or visits not detailed on the itinerary
Gratuities
Porterage
Items of a personal nature
Transfers at any time that differs from main group arrangements
Anything not stated in ‘inclusions’
N.B. A number of European cities are likely to increase or impose a new tourism tax in the near future. These vary from Euros 1 to 6 per person per night and some have to be paid directly at the hotel locally.
Many cities may introduce these at the last moment without warning, and we have to pass on this cost. We will always pass on details to you as soon as we are advised these taxes will be imposed.

Please note: This tour involves services which are settled in a number of currencies and the exchange rate has been calculated on rates current at the time of uploading this tour onto our website.
Should there be a fluctuation of exchange rates of more than 3% from this time to the time we receive payment, we reserve the right to pass on an exchange rate surcharge.

Destination World Travel