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Grand Tour of the Three Baltic States (12 days)
This tour gives a good insight into the three Baltic states, featuring their bustling capital cities, tranquil nature parks, white sandy beaches, pine forests and charming provincial towns. It will introduce visitors to their varied landscapes, local traditions and historic sites.
Highlights:
- Three Baltic capitals - Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius with their enchanting Old Towns
- Three National Parks - Gauja in Latvia, Lahemaa in Estonia and Austaitija in Lithuania
- Picturesque Trakai Lake Castle
- Majestic sand dunes of the Curonian Spit
- Saaremaa island with its intact Bishop's Castle, medieval churches and windmills
- Historic university town of Tartu
- Unspoiled Latgale lake district with traditional pottery workshops and gastronomy
- Liepaja, a city with a great atmosphere and distinctive military heritage
General information:
- Route: Riga – Sigulda - Valmiera - Saaremaa – Tallinn – Tartu – Daugavpils – Vilnius – Kaunas – Klaipeda – Nida - Riga
- Individual
- Recommended season: May - September
- Hire car
- Length of route: approx 2,600 km
- 12 days
Read more about protected nature areas en route in the description below.
To read feedback about this tour please click here
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1st day / Arrival in Riga
- Arrival in Riga/pick up hire car at the airport. Check-in at hotel and collect map and detailed itinerary from hotel reception.
- In the afternoon, free time in Riga. Attractions include Hanseatic Old Town, the Art Nouveau district, the wooden buildings of Pardaugava, Ethnographic open-air museum and an excellent opera house.
Overnight in Riga.
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Breakfast. Sites and attractions en route:
- Ethnographic open-air museum located in a beautiful lakeside spot in pine forest.
- Sigulda - Latvia’s most beautiful landscapes in the Gauja National park and the Turaida castle museum complex with its observation tower and sculpture park. Numerous well-marked walking trails along the Gauja river valley.
- Ligatne nature trails where indigenous wild animals can be seen.
- Araisi Lake Fortress is an authentic reconstruction of a 9th century lake settlement. An functioning windmill is nearby.
- Cesis – a charming medieval town with impressive medieval castle ruins.
- In the evening free time in Valmiera. Attractions include St. Simon’s church, original Soviet cinema, castle ruins and the river Gauja.
Overnight in Valmiera.
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3rd day / Valmiera - Pärnu - Saaremaa island (330 km, 100% asphalt) Breakfast. Sites and attractions en route:
- Parnu, historic Estonian seaside spa resort town.
- The ethnographic Koguva village of Muhu island.
- Valjala church and hill fort.
- Kaali meteorite lake – perhaps the most impresive meteorite crater in Europe (main crater is 110 m in diameter and 22 m in depth).
- In the afternoon free time at Kuressaare. Attractions include impressive and well preserved medieval Bishop's Castle, art galleries, craft shops and cafes, beach and spas.
Overnight at the guest house in Kuressaare.
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4th day /Drive Saaremaa island ferry - Haapsalu island - Tallinn (~280 km, 80% asphalt) Breakfast. Sites and attractions en route:
- Panga cliff- the tallest cliff in Estonia.
- Haapsalu – charming seaside town with castle with the legendary 'White Lady' ghost, open-air ethnographic museum.
- In the evening free time in Tallinn. Attractions include Old Town, Kadriorg Park, KUMU art museum.
Overnight at the hotel in Tallinn. |
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5th day / Tallinn - Lahemaa - Tartu (~280 km,
100% asphalt) Breakfast. Sites and attractions en route:
- Jagala juga waterfall.
- Kolga Landgut – one of the leading examples of estate architecture in Northern Europe.
- Jaani-Tooma kivi – one of the largest freestanding boulders on Baltic sea shores is typical of the Lahemaa National park.
- Käsmu fishing village – former Estonian naval center.
- Rakvere castle ruins - the castle was built by Danish crusaders.
Overnight at the guest house in Tartu. |
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6th day / Tartu - Aluksne -Rezekne- Preili - Aglona (~330km, 100% asphalt) Breakfast.
In the morning free time in Tartu. Attractions include the oldest Baltic university, the old observatory, Tartu Dome church and the hill Toomemägi.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Aluksne town - Bible museum and the castle ruins on the island of Lake Aluksne.
- Rezekne - capital of Latgale region, which is famous for its lakes and pottery.
- Visit to the workshop of the traditional Latvian potter A. Uspelis, who uses ancient pottery techniques to make his signature “black ceramics”. Chance to to see the pottery process.
- Aglona - the Aglona’s basilica is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in the North of Europe.
Overnight at the guest house in Aglona. |
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7th day / Aglona - Daugavpils - Vilnius (~270km, 90% asphalt) Breakfast. Sites and attractions en route:
- Daugavpils - the second largest city in Latvia and birthplace of artist Mark Rothko. Reproductions of his works can be seen in the city's museum. Daugavpils fortress is one of the mightiest in Europe.
- Visaginas - the newest town in Lithuania, built in Soviet times for the workers of the Ignalina nuclear power station.
- Aukstaitija National Park - Palusee church and ethnographic villages (many lakes for swimming)
- The Centre of Europe – the spot that claims to be the geographical centre of the continent.
- European Park contains sculptures and nontraditional installations by artists from more than 30 countries.
Overnight at the hotel in Vilnius. |
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8th day / Vilnius - Trakai - Kaunas (~120km, 100% asphalt) Breakfast.
In the morning free time in Vilnius. Attractions include the Old Town with its numerous churches, university buildings and Gediminas Hill.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Trakai – picturesque castle built on an island (14th-15th cent).
- Rumsiske - open-air museum of country life in Lithuania.
Overnight at the hotel in Kaunas. |
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9th day / Kaunas - Jurbarka - Silute - Rusne - Vente - Klaipeda (~350km, 90% asphalt) Breakfast.
In the morning free time in Kaunas - the former Lithuanian capital with a charming Old Town.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Valley of the river Nemunas with beautiful vistas from various castle mounds.
- Cape Vente - a popular bird observation point, lighthouse.
- Delta of the river Nemunas and the island Rusne with a small ethnographic open-air museum.
- In the afternoon free time in the port city of Klaipeda.
Overnight at the hotel in Klaipeda. |
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10th day / Klaipeda - Nida - Klaipeda (~110 km, 100% asphalt) Breakfast. Ferry to the Couronian spit. Drive through the Curonian Spit national park with sand dunes up to 60 m tall.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Walking trail at Juodkrante forest with the hill of witches.
- Dolphinarium located within a former Prussian fortress.
- Ferry back to Klaipeda.
Overnight at the hotel in Klaipeda.
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11th day / Klaipeda - Palanga - Liepaja - Saldus - Riga (~330 km, 100% asphalt) Breakfast. Drive along the Baltic sea coast through the Pajurio Regional Park to Palanga. Cross the Lithuanian/Latvian border.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Nature trails of Lake Pape with several bird observation towers and wild horses in meadows.
- Sightseeing in Liepaja with many nice pubs and a fine white sand beach. Visit to the former military port in Liepāja. This territory was off limits during Soviet times and contained a military town and port for ships and submarines.
Overnight at the hotel in Riga. |
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12th day /Riga Breakfast.
Return the car at Riga International Airport.
Departure. |
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Rate per person in a double room: from 425 EUR**Minimum number of persons - 2.
*A price of the tour can change in case the planned guest houses/hotels are fully booked and we have to choose other accommodation sites.
*Prices may change due to changes in national tax legislation or other independent reasons.
Services included in the package price:
- 11 overnight stays at hotels or guest houses with breakfast (double or twin rooms with shower, WC)
- Maps and detailed itinerary
Extra costs not included in the package price:
- Hired car
- Single supplement per person in total for 11 nights: from 195 EUR
- Additional night in the accomodations in cities as Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius: from 60.00 EUR (DBL/ night)
- Additional night in guest houses on the countryside: from 40 EUR (DBL/ night)
- Ferry tickets and entrances tickets to the attractions and sites
- Ecological fee for visiting the Curonian Spit
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