Guaranteed Departure Group Tour: 10-day Baltic Impessions Tour

Itinerary

Day 1: DAY 1 (FRIDAY): ARRIVAL TALLINN

Pass By: Estonia, Estonia
Arrival in Tallinn, transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar

Day 2: DAY 2 (SATURDAY): TALLINN-CESIS

Pass By: Latvia, Latvia
After breakfast we drive to the Lahemaa National Park, where we visit the Manor Houses in Palmse and Vihula. We continue to Tartu, the 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 Cesis*** or similar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Cesis*** or similar

Day 3: DAY 3 (SUNDAY): CESIS-VILNIUS

Pass By: Lithuania, Lithuania
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 Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we drive around Riga to hit the highway down to Vilnius. En-route we reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through Lithuania to reach Vilnius at late afternoon. Check in at Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva**** or similar

Day 4: DAY 4 (MONDAY): VILNIUS-KLAIPEDA

Pass By: Lithuania, Lithuania
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 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. Anna’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. After the tour we continue to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania and we see 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 at late afternoon. Check-in at Hotel National**** or similar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel National**** or similar

Day 5: DAY 5 (TUESDAY): KLAIPEDA

Pass By: Lithuania, Lithuania
The day is reserved for a full-day optional tour to the Curonian Spit, a thin, 100 km stretch of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fishing villages, pine forests and endless sand dunes. Our first stop is the Hill of Witches in Juodkrante. After that we continue to Nida, where we visit the High Dunes, Thomas Mann’s summerhouse and get acquainted with the charming resort town before we drive back to Klaipeda. The evening offers an optional Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Fredericho Pasazas.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel National**** or similar

Day 6: DAY 6 (WEDNESDAY): KLAIPEDA-RIGA

Pass By: Latvia, Latvia
Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and had a long history as a German town called Memel. A short sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with its narrow, cobblestone streets and old guild houses and we visit the Theatre Square and the Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. We now continue to the Samogitia National Park, where we embark on a walking tour around the picturesque Lake Plateliai. After that 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 afternoon, check-in at Hotel Wellton Riverside**** or similar. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Wellton Riverside**** or similar

Day 7: DAY 7 (THURSDAY): RIGA

Pass By: Latvia, Latvia
Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant Forest.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Wellton Riverside**** or similar

Day 8: DAY 8 (FRIDAY): RIGA-TALLINN

Pass By: Estonia, Estonia
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar

Day 9: DAY 9 (SATURDAY): TALLINN

Pass By: Estonia, Estonia
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU, the award-winning new Estonian Art museum, with its collections of classic and contemporary fine art. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia**** or similar

Day 10: DAY 10 (SUNDAY): TALLINN DEPARTURE

Pass By: Estonia, Estonia
Departure transfer to Tallinn airport.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.