Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader's ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 7 Breakfasts

Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Transport

Bus, Ferry

Accommodation

7 nights standard hotel

Not included:

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately.

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

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Day 1 Day 1: Join Trip In Tallinn
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Trip In Tallinn

Arrive in Tallinn, Estonian capital city. Situated on the coast, in the Gulf of Finland off the Baltic Sea, Tallinn is also a major port. Its 'Old Town' is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city was a European Capital of Culture in 2011. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Tallinn at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Tallinn Airport (TLL) which is around 20 minutes' drive from the hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. The city is easy to explore on foot, if your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to discover the medieval architecture strolling through the cobbled streets to the busy town square which is dominated by the 14th century Gothic Town Hall.
Day 2 Day 2: Lahemaa National Park, Look For Beavers And Learn To Bog Walk
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Lahemaa National Park, Look For Beavers And Learn To Bog Walk

This morning we take a brief walking tour of Tallinn's 'Old Town', the colourful houses of the crooked streets reflect the German, Scandinavian and Russian periods of Tallinn's history. We'll walk through the quarter where merchants once traded and take in the historical and architectural highlights. We travel east to Estonia's largest and oldest national park, Lahemaa National Park. As well as its rich nature the park also celebrates Estonia's cultural heritage, encompassing ancient fishing villages and 17th and 18th century manor houses. Today we walk the 'Beaver Trail', discovering the diversity of the plant and animal life of the park and looking for beaver dams and dens along the Altja River Valley. If we are lucky we will see also see the beavers themselves amongst the trees or in the water. This walk ends in the 400 year-old fishing village of Altja. Later, after an optional lunch, we learn to bog walk in special bog shoes. Traditionally used by local villagers, these specially adapted clip on 'shoes' allow us to hike through this fascinating ecosystem. We stay overnight in the national park in a beautiful converted distillery set within landscaped gardens. Today's four kilometre walk along the Beaver Trail is expected to take around two hours, gently undulating and forested. The afternoon six kilometre bog walk is expected to take around three hours.
Day 3 Day 3: Travel To The Medieval Town Of Cesis, Walk To Guaja River
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Travel To The Medieval Town Of Cesis, Walk To Guaja River

Today we cross the border into Latvia, and drive to Cesis in Gauja National Park (approx. 3.5 hours). This is Latvia's biggest park and is known as 'Latvian Switzerland' due to its rolling landscapes. The park includes the valleys of the Gauja River and its tributaries, and also over 500 historical features including hill forts, stone castles, churches, watermills and windmills. Cesis itself is a medieval town, over 800 years old, and its 13th century castle was the main stronghold of the Livonian knights who ruled most of Latvia and Estonia during medieval times. In the afternoon we make a walk in the park along a forested nature trail to Gauja River and Gauja Rocks, a famous local site. Today's five kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours. The terrain is slightly hilly and forested.
Day 4 Day 4: Walk In Gauja National Park, Discover Forts And Castles
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Walk In Gauja National Park, Discover Forts And Castles

This morning we drive to Sigulda to walk a nature trail through the forests and river valleys of Gauja National Park. Walking past the ruins of Livonian medieval fortresses and a neo-gothic castle, the walk ends at the 13th century Turaida Castle. As part of the route we take a cable car and enjoy views down over the forest. In the afternoon we drive to Riga, the Latvian capital, where we have a short orientation tour of the city. Lying at the mouth of the Daugava River on the Gulf of Riga, Riga 'Old Town' is also a UNESCO Heritage Site, particularly noted for its Art Nouveau and 19th century wooden architecture. We will take in the Freedom Monument, Gunpowder Tower, Saint Jacob's Church and the city's cathedral. Today's eight kilometre walk is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours. The terrain is undulating and forested.
Day 5 Day 5: Explore The Wetlands Of Kemeri National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Explore The Wetlands Of Kemeri National Park

We drive west to Kemeri National Park, founded in 1977 to preserve the local wetlands, coastal lakes and dunes. Here we walk on a raised boardwalk above the wetlands discovering the distinctive mosses, bog pine trees, and small pools and lakes. We then return to the seaside and spa resort of Jurmala for an optional lunch. Jurmala is known for its curative mineral waters and therapeutic mud, and its interesting multi-style architecture. After lunch we continue south and cross the border into Lithuania. We continue southwest to Klaipeda (approximately six hours) and take a ferry to Nida on the Curonian Spit, our base for the next two nights. Today's four kilometre walk is expected to take around one-and-a-half hours.The terrain is flat - a raised boardwalk over wetlands.
Day 6 Day 6: Walk Through The Dunes And Pine Forests Of Curonian Spit
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Walk Through The Dunes And Pine Forests Of Curonian Spit

The Curonian Spit National Park is a 98 km long sand dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Chains of sand dunes up to 60m high, breaking waves, pine forests and old Curonian houses make up this UNESCO Heritage Site. Today we walk through the different landscapes of the spit: coastal, pine forests and sand dunes in and around Nida. Today's 11 kilometre walk is expected to take around three-and-a-half hours.. The terrain is mainly flat and sandy, some areas are forested.
Day 7 Day 7: Walk Around Lake Galve And Trakai Castle; Travel To Vilnius
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Walk Around Lake Galve And Trakai Castle; Travel To Vilnius

Today we make a long journey (approximately six hours) southeast to Trakai the formal capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Located on a peninsula in Lake Galve, Trakai is now famous for its 15th century castle which sits outside the town on a small island. We take a scenic walk around the town and lake, and visit the castle. We then make the short journey to Vilnius, and take an oreientation tour of the city. The 'Old Town' of Vilnius is also a UNESCO Heritage Site, we'll visit the ancient university founded by the Jesuits - a centre of the Counter Reformation and a source of Lithuanian culture. We'll also see the cathedral and Church of the Dawn. In the newer part of Vilnius lies the main shopping street with the opera house, parliament building and a number of cafes. Today's four kilometre walk is expected to take around two hours. The terrain is flat and forested in some areas.
Day 8 Day 8: Trip Ends In Vilnius
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Trip Ends In Vilnius

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Vilnius. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Vilnius at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you need to depart from Vilnius International Airport (VNO) which is around 20 minutes' drive from the hotel.

8 days tour

Walk Estonia, Latvia And Lithuania

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Walk Estonia, Latvia And Lithuania

Day 1: Join Trip In Tallinn

Day 2: Lahemaa National Park, Look For Beavers And Learn To Bog Walk

Day 3: Travel To The Medieval Town Of Cesis, Walk To Guaja River

Day 4: Walk In Gauja National Park, Discover Forts And Castles

Day 5: Explore The Wetlands Of Kemeri National Park

Day 6: Walk Through The Dunes And Pine Forests Of Curonian Spit

Day 7: Walk Around Lake Galve And Trakai Castle; Travel To Vilnius

Day 8: Trip Ends In Vilnius

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