No 50009
Self drive tour
Self drive tour Individual Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

From Gdansk to Helsinki through the Baltic States

from 810 EUR / pers
19 days

 The tour starts at former Hanseatic port town Gdansk with its pretty Old Town, then continues to Malbork, an impressive fortified medieval castle and on to laid-back Formbrok with a magnificient Gothic cathederal. The route crosses the Mazurianlake district where hundreds of lakes are connected to rivers and canals, best expereinced from the deck of a boat.

 Continue to Wigry National Park with walking trails and interesting archaeological and cultural remains. Further into Lithuania, Dzukija National Park has several well preserved traditional farmsteads and villages which are well worth a visit. It's a good place to experience Lithuanian crafts and traditions, for instance bee keeping. Then the route goes via Kaunas to the Curonian Spit formed by shifting sand dunes between its lagoon and the sea. Pretty little villages are located along its length. Next the route goes to the sea resort Palanga with a great Amber Museum and on to Latvia.

 Stop at Pape Nature Park, a diverse mosaic of nature’s ecosystems, where wild horses and oxen breed. Slītere National Park shows the historical development of the Baltic Sea. Cape Kolka is a prime spot for bird migrations, Slītere lighthouse provides a great view of the surrounding forests and traditonal Liv villages, one of the smallest ethnic groups in the world. The Ķemeri National Park includes different types of wetlands and vast bogs. It is famous for its sulphur springs. Walk a Great Heath trail there and try the curative spring water.

 Further on Gauja National Park is formed around the ancient valley of the Gauja river with picturesque sandstone cliffs from the Devonian period. Here are many historic monuments – medieval castles, churches and ancient settlements which you can see crossing the valley on a cable car. Ligatne Nature trails offer a chance to observe local wild animals.

 Saaremaa's landscape is characterised by large juniper growths, dolomite cliffs, windmills, medieval churches and the famous Kaali meteorite lake. It also retains a very Estonian soul. Sooma National Park has contrasting swamps. Walk a beaver trail there and try 'bog-shoeing'. Lahemaa National Park has a rugged coastal andscape with big boulders, traditional fishing villages, forest trails and romantic manor houses. From Tallin take a ferry to Helsinki, from where it is an easy trip to Nuuksio National Park, home to an endangered flying squirrel. The landscape here is dominated by valleys and gorges, rocky hills covered by lichen and sparse pine forest that is very different to the previous parks. Well-equipped walking trails have several scenic views.

Local lifestyle Season1-12