Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
Baltic Explorer Group Tour

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – Baltic Explorer Tour – a 14 day Small Group Tour.


Suffering under both German and later Soviet occupation, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union the once more independent states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were enthusiastic proponents of the European project and have since joined the NATO alliance.

The miserable grey of Soviet conformity has gone, in some cases quite literally as new paints and colours arrived from the west to once more embellish traditional wooden houses.

The capitals of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius once subdued under communist authoritarianism are now lively cultural hubs, hives of economic activity, eager to further progress and expand.

This Baltic group tour travels by land and sea to explore three different countries with diverse national characteristics which not only share a seashore but also a major segment of their contemporary history.

Explore the enchanting States of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on Undiscovered Destinations small group Baltic tour. We start in cosmopolitan Helsinki before moving on to explore the magnificently preserved old towns of Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.

The Baltic group tour also gets off the beaten track to see some areas of outstanding beauty away from the capitals including national parks and the stunning Curonian Spit. A great example of one of the places we explore is Lithuania’s third-largest city , Klaipeda. A mix of old and new, this former Prussian capital (when it was named Memel) has retained a distinct German flavour in the architecture of its heavily cobbled Old Town and one remaining tower of its red-brick castle. It’s also a vital sea link for cargo and passenger ferries between Lithuania, Scandinavia and beyond.

Tour ratings.

  • Fitness
  • Off the beaten track 
  • Culture
  • History
  • Wildlife

Tour Pace

Moderate

Tour style

Traveller

Relaxed Pace

Relaxed tours are easy paced with plenty of leisure time built in. The tour will in all probability still be off the beaten track, with the occasional early start and there may still be occasional long drives. In general on a relaxed pace tour you can enjoy easy-going activities and experiences with opportunities to absorb the sights and immerse yourself in the local surroundings.

Moderate Pace

Moderate pace tours are ideal if you want a tour experience that combines activities and experiences with some time to relax. Typically you will be active and busy for part of the day but then also have time to rest and recharge your batteries. In general on a moderate paced tour there may be some long journeys involved but the tour is not an expedition or a road trip. On a moderate paced tour it will be necessary to have some early starts.

Busy Pace

A busy paced tour means that you can expect to be doing, seeing or experiencing something new almost every day, and moving on from place to place to pack in as much as possible. There may be early starts, long journeys and tiring days along the way, but you’ll return home feeling you’ve really experienced as much as you possibly could.

Pioneer Class Tours

On our Pioneer tours, you will be amongst an elite group of intrepid travellers and some of the first to explore a country that few have been privileged enough to discover. Of course, exploring such areas of the world will come with its challenges; it may mean several nights camping, long journeys by 4WD and the need to maintain a degree of flexibility for when carefully laid plans change. These are challenging tours in countries and areas that may have poor infrastructure, high levels of poverty and illiteracy. This can translate in to low standards in hotels, bad roads and poor driving standards among other issues. We try and smooth out as much of these issues as we can but you should be prepared to experience the bad with the good.

Traveller Class Tours

Our Traveller itineraries are at the core of our programme. These journeys are designed for travellers who still want to discover a land away from the tourist crowds but expect minimum standards. Accommodation will be primarily hotel based, although you could still find yourself camping, or the guest of a local family. Depending on the destination and itinerary, you’ll likely be travelling in a private vehicle, with occasional use of public transport. This is adventure travel with some of the rough edges smoothed out.

Itinerary.

Arrive in Helsinki and transfer to your hotel. Depending on when you arrive there may be some time for you to explore the city or you may wish to just relax after your journey. The tour briefing will either take place this evening or tomorrow morning at breakfast by your local Helsinki guide. Overnight at Hotel Glo Kluuvi or similar. No meals nor guiding arrangements are included today.

This morning starting at around 08:45am we explore some of the key sights of Helsinki. We visit the Market Square and Market Hall, the Uspenski Orthodox Church, Senate Square and Cathedral, the Church in the Rock and Sibelius Park. This afternoon will be at leisure until you are transferred to the port for the ferry to Tallinn. Your Estonian guide will be accompanying you on the ferry to answer any questions you may have. On arrival in Tallinn you will be transferred to the hotel. Overnight at Hestia Hotel Barons or similar. (B)

Note – We recommend today that you have your evening meal on the ferry between Helsinki and Tallinn. Your luggage will be taken care of on the ferry so you can take the journey just with your essentials and enjoy the ferry journey.

Meet the guide at 08:45am. This morning we explore the city of Tallinn. Visits include Pirita with St. Briggita’s convent ruins, Kadriorg Park and Palace and Russalka Monument. We take a guided walk of the old town and see the medieval city walls of the upper city of Toompea with Toompea Castle, Aleksander Nevsky Orthodox Church, Dome Cathedral and the lower city including the Town Hall Square, the Black Head’s House, Fat Margarita Tower and Viru Gates. The sightseeing will finish around 1pm and you then have the rest of the day to enjoy Tallinn at leisure. Overnight at Hestia Hotel Barons or similar. (B)

(Approximate driving time: three-hours)

Meet the guide at 08:45am. Today we visit Lahemaa National Park and Palmse Manor. We take a walk on Viru Bog on a marked 4km boardwalk trail which passes through a forest and marsh environment typical of Lahemaa National Park. On the walk we learn about the flora and fauna of the area. We can climb a viewing tower which affords a scenic view of the landscape. We also visit the manorial estate of Palmse dating back to the 18th Century containing remarkable pieces of period furniture and clothing. Both the manor itself and the grounds are a delight. Lunch will be taken here and afterwards it will be possible to take a walk in the grounds. Finally, today we visit Altja fishing village, first mentioned in the mid-15th Century and containing many reconstructed traditional buildings. Later return to Tallinn. Overnight at Hestia Hotel Barons or similar. (BL)

(Approximate driving time: four-hours)

This morning we depart early at 07:45am and transfer to Parnu, a coastal city of Estonia famous for its beautiful coastal scenery and white sand beaches. After a short stop in Parnu we continue south along the coast of the Baltic Sea towards Latvia. We visit Munchausen’s Museum, located in the picturesque seaside town of Vidzeme in Dunte, 55km from Riga and take one of the short walking trails to learn about the history of the place. Continue to Saulkrasti and take a walk on the fine stretch of beach and admire the natural dunes. Continue to Riga and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at Hotel Semarah Metropole or similar. (BL)

Meet your guide this morning at 08:45am. We start by visiting the art nouveau district and visit the fascinating museum. Later this morning visit the old town including the National Opera House, the Freedom Monument, the big and small guildhalls, the Dome Cathedral, Riga Castle, Three Brothers’, St Jacobs’s church, the renovated house of the Brotherhood of the Black Heads and St Peter’s church. The tour will finish around 1pm and then lunch and the afternoon are at your leisure for you to further explore Riga. You may wish to visit stroll in the old town or take a river trip on Daugava River for nice views of Riga city. Overnight at Hotel Semarah Metropole or similar. (B)

(Approximate driving time: three-hours)

Meet your guide this morning at 08:45am. Our first stop today is the busting central market of Riga where fresh produce and arts and crafts are for sale in one of the most notable structures in Latvia, constructed using old German Zeppelin hangars. The structure is UNESCO listed and is a fascinating and atmospheric place to wander around. Continue inland to the picturesque green valleys of the National Park of Gauja River, also known as North Switzerland. We make a special visit to the workshop of a master Amber craftsman who will explain to us how to distinguish real amber from fake, teach us about different amber crafts and show you his unique family collection of different coloured amber stones. Visit Sigulda city and take a tour around the authentic medieval castle of Turaida, Gutman’s Cave and Sigulda Castle ruins. Later we return to Riga. Overnight at Hotel Semarah Metropole or similar. (BL)

(Approximate driving time: two-hours)

Meet your guide this morning at 08:45am. Firstly take a drive on the left bank of Daugava River to see the old wooden style houses and visit Kipsala Island. From Riga we drive a short distance to Ragaciems, a fishing village situated on the Baltic Sea gulf after the Jurmala border. You will have the opportunity to see authentic and modern fishermen houses. You may get the chance to chat with one of the local fishermen. Continue to Kaniera Lake where we take a stroll on the boardwalk and for those that have an interest in ornithology there is a bird watching tower to observe species from. For lunch we visit a traditional smokehouse and enjoy a tasting experience. Continue to Jurmala, a summer resort town with a lovely white sand beach and authentic wooden houses which are included in UNESCOs heritage list. This afternoon is at your leisure to stroll along the fine stretch of beach and later, return back to Riga. Overnight at Hotel Semarah Metropole or similar. (BL)

Please kindly advise us at the time of booking if you have any fish or seafood allergies for the visit to the smokehouse.

(Approximate driving time: four to five-hours)

Meet your guide this morning at 08:30. This morning we depart for Klaipeda. En route we stop at the Hill of Crosses where pilgrims over the years have left crosses on the hill. The number of crosses is estimated to be over 100,000 and it is a quite remarkable sight to behold. After a picnic lunch, continue to Klaipeda and on arrival transfer to the hotel. We should arrive in Klaipeda by mid-afternoon. Check in to the hotel and then later this afternoon take a city tour and visit the old town with its ‘Fachwerk’ and interesting neo-gothic buildings. If time allows we can visit the Blacksmith Museum which has a particularly interesting local story.  Overnight at Hotel Old Mill or similar. (BL)

(Approximate driving time: two-hours)

Meet your guide today at 08:00 as we depart to explore the Curonian Spit. A short distance from the centre of Klaipeda we take the short car ferry over to the Spit. Once on this wonder of nature we will take in a number of places of interest. Firstly, we will stop to admire the fabulous stretch of Baltic Sea coast and take a short stroll on the sands. Visit the ‘Hill of Witches’ where your guide will regal some of the local fairy tales of this region. Stop to observe a remarkable site where a huge colony of black cormorants has taken residence of a stretch of the pine forest. Continue to the Parnida dune with its spectacular views of the lagoon to one side and the Baltic Sea to the other across the forest. Visit the Thomas Mann Museum, a former residence of the famous German writer and winner of the Nobel Prize. His former summer residence has magnificent views over the lagoon. Continue to Nida close to the Russia border to explore the town and take a short boat tour to admire the dunes from the Curonian lagoon. Finally visit the Great Dune for stunning panoramic views over an amazing landscape. For those that wish, it is possible to take a scenic 40-minute walk from the Great Dune back to Nida where you can meet up with your transport. Later return to Klaipeda once again taking the short car ferry journey across from the Curonian Spit. Overnight at Hotel Old Mill or similar. (BL)

(Approximate driving time: five-hours)

Meet your guide at 08:45am. This morning we travel to Palanga where we will visit the Botanical Garden and tour the magnificent Amber museum which is particularly notable specimens with inclusions of fossils such as mosquitos, insects and even lizards! After a picnic lunch, continue to Vilnius and on arrival transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Hotel Congress or similar. (BL)

Meet your guide at 08:45am. This morning we explore the city of Vilnius including a visit to Peter and Paul Church, the old town and Cathedral Square, Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Castle and Tower, Gediminas Statue and St. Anne’s Church. We also visit Subacius Hill where you get a panoramic view of Vilnius (note that this involves walking up a hill and up some steps to the top). Finally we visit the Dawn Gate, one of the most important symbols of Vilnius City. The tour finishes around 1pm and this afternoon is at leisure time and those who wish to do more sightseeing may like to visit the KGB museum (own expense) or continue to wander at a slow pace through the atmospheric old streets. Overnight at Hotel Congress or similar. (B)

(Approximate driving time: one-hour)

Meet your guide at 08:45am. Take the short journey from Vilnius to Trakai Castle, a picture-postcard medieval castle located on an island on Lake Galve. After crossing the drawbridge and moat, take a tour of the castle which has been painstakingly restored. Explore the many halls and rooms which chart the history of the castle. After the tour, drive back to Vilnius where you will have some leisure time this afternoon to do some final exploring or search for souvenirs in the many charming shops and boutiques of the old town. Overnight at Hotel Congress or similar. (B) 

Day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your flight back home. (B)

Dates & Price.

Tour Notes

This Baltic group tour operates subject to a minimum group size of 3 travellers.

Flights into Helsinki and back from Vilnius from London start from around £200 per person – please contact us for a quotation and advice on best routes

If you wish to do the extension to St Petersburg then flights from Vilnius to St Petersburg start from around £100 per person.

We know that for many of our destinations flying cannot be avoided. But we believe that for some of our tours, taking the train is a practical, affordable and most of all a very enjoyable alternative. Even flying in just one direction will have a very positive benefit on the environment. To compare the emissions for your next trip take a look at this easy to use emissions calculator – https://uic.org/ecopassenger.

One-way fares from London to Helsinki to join the Baltic group tour by train and ferry or vice versa start at £270.

Please note that the journey will normally involve overnight stops in Hamburg and Stockholm. The cost of accommodation is not included. We can book a wide choice of hotels and will be pleased to provide further details.

For a quote to travel from a European city other than London please contact us. We will advise you of the options, including routes and fares.

Contact us for further details about how we can help you plan the perfect environmentally friendly addition to your holiday. As well as train tickets, we can arrange stopovers along the way, including hotels and guided tours.

Airport transfers are included if you are booking pre and/or post tour accommodation at the hotel mentioned in our tour dossier or located in the city center.

Extra night accommodation for the Baltic group tour pre tour in Helsinki (central location) costs from £58 per person per night sharing a twin/double room and £95 per person in a solo occupancy room.

Please note that the prices quoted above are for the category of accommodation and hotel used for this particular tour. Depending on the hotel eventually confirmed there may be some difference in the rate advertised by the hotel, and the prices available through Undiscovered Destinations. It should be noted we will not apply a surcharge should more expensive accommodation be used. At the same time in the event that a lower rate is available for the confirmed hotel we are unable to offer a refund.

Mapped itinerary.

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Download PDF.

Download the full tour dossier for this trip here.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - Baltic Explorer Tour Map

For expert advice get in touch now with our passionate,
well-travelled team.

+44(0) 191 296 2674 from THE UK
1-800-614-2967 from THE US & CANADA
1-300-956-415 from AUSTRALIA

Tour inclusions.

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • All accommodation on twin/double share (unless single supplement paid)
  • Services of English speaking guides
  • Meals as listed (B – Breakfast, L – Lunch, D – Dinner)
  • Entrance fees where mentioned)
  • Helsinki – Tallinn ferry ticket
  • All ground transport on tour

Tour exclusions.

  • International flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas if applicable
  • Meals not mentioned on the itinerary
  • Drinks
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Tips

This trip was so well thought out as are all the trips I’ve taken with you before with excellent guides, good accommodation and really comfortable transport.

 

Patricia Smith, UK