Baltic Highlights and Scandinavia

ITINERARY

• DAY 1

  Welcome to Vilnius, Lithuania

  Welcome to the capital of Lithuania. Upon arrival, meet with your English-speaking driver and transfer to your accommodating hotel. After meeting and greet with your guide and some refreshing welcome drink, spend the day at leisure day to relax and rest after your overseas flight.

  What's included?

  • Accommodation
  • Transfer
• DAY 2

  Vilnius - Walking tour in Vilnius Old Town and visit Trakai town

  In the morning you will have a walking tour in Vilnius Old Town. Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. Walking tour (3 hours) includes visiting the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, St. Anne’s Church, Old University, the Gates of Dawn, Uzupis district which is known as the independent republic of Vilnius city. After the sightseeing, the guide will lead you to the famous and oldest Vilnius food market – Hales market where you will have an opportunity to meet local food producers and sellers, ask them questions, and bring home the real flavor of Lithuania. You will visit 4 or 5 different places and try the best taste of Lithuanian handcrafted cheese, rustic meat products, bagels, and juice. Keep in mind, all products are created according to authentic recipes and tastes cherished by Lithuanian farmers. An experience takes around 1-1,5 hours.
  
  In the afternoon we will drive to Trakai town - a historic, picturesque place with a castle in the middle of the lake. Locals take a day trip there and we invite you for one as well. See Trakai Castle, lakes and beautiful views around. For lunch - supplementary- try out the special Karaim dish ‘kibinai’ which is only typical for Trakai town because it is a home for the oldest ethnic group of Karaims living to this day in Lithuania. Trakai trip takes around 4-5 hours including a lunch break.
  
  Overnight in Vilnius

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 3

  Klaipeda - Explore the Fisherman's Village Neringa Curonian Spit Peninsula

  Early in the morning, we will be heading to a beautiful Neringa town on the Curonian Spit peninsula which we will reach by a short ferry ride from Klaipeda. Prepare for picturesque sand dunes, forests, and tiny resort towns that used to be fishermen's villages. We will show the full authenticity of this tiny, yet favorite piece of the land. We will make sure you will taste smoked fish from the local fishermen. And to make your trip more memorable – take some photos from the breathtaking Parnidis dune.
  
  In the evening, we come back to Klaipeda, the charming port town of Lithuania.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 4

  Riga - En-route stop in the Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest sites of Catholic, Lithuania and visit the magnificent Rundale Palace

  On this day we will move to Latvia. On our way, we will stop at the Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest sites of Catholic Lithuania. The exact number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 100.000. The tour will last around 1 hour. After crossing into Latvia we will soon reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, our second stop. The former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour (2 hours) of the palace, we will travel through the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to reach Riga in the late afternoon.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 5

  Riga - Explore Gauja National Park and visit the Old Town of Riga

  In the first half of the day, we will explore Latvian nature and will go to Gauja National Park, the largest national park in Latvia. The guide takes us to the stunning scenery of the Gauja river valley where we will visit a unique Gutman’s cave – the largest in the Baltics sandstone cave which is also a geological protected monument. We will hear the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Turaida castle a former Livonian order settlement that is the most pictured monument in the area. We will have a guided walking tour in the park (1.5- 2 hours).
  
  After exploring the fascinating nature of the Latvian countryside we will head back to Riga where we will have a 2 hours walking tour in the Old town. 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.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 6

  Tallinn - Explore in the Estonian summer resort of Parnu

  After breakfast, we will go to Tallinn with a stop in 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 in the afternoon.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 7

  Tallinn - Visit charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life

  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, 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 KUMU, the award-winning new Estonian Art museum, with its collections of classic and contemporary fine art.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 8

  Tallinn - Discover the Lahemaa National Park and visit a picturesque small town Viru Bog

  After breakfast, we are going to Lahemaa National Park the largest and very first protected nature reserve in the country. This day is to explore stunning Estonian nature with its forests, lakes, and wetlands. We will visit Jagala juga – the biggest natural waterfall in Estonia. Following the road we will visit the Sagadi manor house – a good example showing how Estonian nobles used to live in the 18th century. The manor estate itself dates back to the 15th century and is one of the best-preserved manors throughout the country.
  
  Later we will drive the narrow roads through the forested area where we will have a chance to stroll around the fishermen's villages along the Gulf of Finland.
  
  On the way back to Tallinn we will visit a picturesque Viru bog where we will take a walk through the path directing through the middle of the bog (4 miles long).

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
• DAY 9

  Helsinki - Take a ferry across the Gulf of Finland and visit Finland’s capital city Helsinki

  Early in the morning we will say goodbye to Tallinn and take a ferry that will sail us across the Gulf of Finland, through the Helsinki archipelago into Finland’s capital city.
  
  Helsinki is truly located at the crossroads of Western and Eastern culture and this is reflected everywhere in the green and lively Finnish capital. The sightseeing tour takes us around the harbors and the Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, up central Mannerheim Street, and by the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall, and the Sibelius Monument, and for a visit to the famous Church-in-the-Rock. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, an oasis amid the city with cottages, farmsteads, and manors from all around Finland.

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Accommodation
  • Tour
  • Cruise/Boat
• DAY 10

  Depart to Airport Helsinki to Back Home

  Today is the departure day. After breakfast at the hotel and check out, transfer to the Helsinki International Airport for your home flight.
  

  What's included?

  • Breakfast
  • Transfer