Self-drive tours

All around the Baltics I

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia (9 days, 2100 km)

If you have a bit more than one week of time, then this is the trip for you if you want to get a sense of all three Baltic States. The capital cities of the three countries, with their enchanting old towns. Four national parks - Gauja in Latvia, Lahemaa in Estonia, and Aukštaitija and Trakai in Lithuania. Your route will pass through the most beautiful highlands of the Baltic States, the seashore of Northern Estonia, and Estonia’s largest and most interesting island – Saaremaa. You will visit small towns and ethnographic villages, as well as the larger towns of Tartu and Kaunas.

1st day / Kaunas

Arrival in Kaunas airport/ Pick up the hired car at the airport.
Check-in in the guest house / Pick up the map and detailed itinerary from the hotel reception.
In the afternoon free time in Kaunas - the second largest city in Lithuania with charming Old Town. A visit to the Devil’s museum is recommendable.
Overnight in a guest house in Kaunas.

2nd day / Kaunas - Panevežys - Riga (300 km)

Breakfast in the guest house. Sites and attractions en route:
- Bauska - a town on the hill between the Mūsa and the Mēmele rivers. Picturesque ruins of a Livonian Order castle (15th cent.).
- Rundāle palace - a renovated baroque palace built by one of the Dukes of Kurzeme. The architect was the Italian Bartolemeo Rastrelli who has also designed the Hermitage in St Petersburg.
In the evening free time in Riga - sightseeing of the the Old Town and Art Nouveau buildings is recommendable. Overnight in a hotel in Riga (outside the city centre).

3rd day / Riga - Cēsis - Valmiera (170 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Sites and attractions en route:
- Ethnographic open-air museum in the suburbs of Riga - where old traditional Latvian houses and housekeeping utensils can be seen.
- Sigulda - Latvia’s most beautiful landscapes in the Gauja National park and the Turaida castle museum reserve with an observation tower and sculpture park. Numerous hiking trails along the Gauja river valley.
- Nature trails at Līgatne - watching wild animals in open air enclosures.
- Āraiši - an authentic reconstruction of log buildings of a 9th century settlement on a lake. An old wind mill.
- Cēsis - a medieval town with castle ruins (a candle-lit tour up the castle’s tower, visiting a jewellery-smith who makes copies of ancient ornaments is possible).
In the evening free time in Valmiera - sightseeing of the St. Siman’s church representing a mixture of church design styles of almost all traditional confessions in Latvia is recommendable. Overnight in a hotel in Valmiera.

4th day / Valmiera - Pärnu - Saaremaa (330 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Sites and attractions en route:
- Pärnu - the most popular Estonian seaside resort town.
- The ethnographic Koguva village on Muhu island - an authentic coastal fishing village with old wooden houses.
- Valjala - the Valjala church and hill fort.
- Kaali meteorite craters - the most prominent meteorite craters in Europe (the main crater is 110 meters in diameter and 22 meters in depth)
In the afternoon free time in Kuressaare a visit to the bishopric castle, where there is a museum dedicated to the islands history and nature, is recommendable. Swimming possibilities in the Baltic sea at the Kuressaare’s beach. Overnight in a guest house in Kuressaare.

5th day / Saaremaa - Haapsalu - Tallinn (280 km)

Breakfast in the guest house. Sites and attractions en route:
- Panga rocks - the highest and most impressive rocks on Estonian islands.
- Haapsalu - a nice seaside town; a castle with a phantom - the White Lady - in residence.
In the evening free time in Tallinn - sightseeing of the medieval old town. A visit to the open-air museum Rocca al Mare is recommendable.
Overnight in a hotel in Tallinn (outside the city centre).

6th day / Tallinn - Lahemaa - Tartu (280 km)

Breakfast in the hotel. Sites and attractions en route:
- Jagala juga - one of the most impressive waterfalls in the Baltics.
- Kolga estate - is among the most prominent examples of estate architecture in the North Europe.
- Jaani-Tooma kivi - one of the largest single-standing boulders in the Baltics. A landscape with these boulders at the Baltic sea shores is typical for the Lahemaa National park.
- Käsmu fishing village - a walk in the „land of bays“ - the former Estonian naval centre.
- Palmse estate - a beautiful 18th century estate with a park.
- Rakvere castle ruins - the castle was built by Danish crusaders
Overnight in a guest house in Tartu.

7th day / Tartu - Alūksne - Rēzekne - Preiļi - Aglona (330km)

Breakfast in the guest house.
In the morning free time in Tartu – visiting the oldest Baltic university, the old observatory, the Tartu Dome church and the hill Toomemägi is recommendable.
Sites and attractions en route:
- Alūksne town - the Bible museum and the castle ruins on the island in the lake Alūksnes (swimming possibilities).
- Rēzekne - the „capital” of Latgale region, the Eastern part of the country. Lots of churches and a famous sculpture „Latgale’s Māra“, the symbol of the region.
- Visiting the workshop of the traditional Latvian potter A. Ušpelis, who is working in accordance with ancient pottery methods and is famous for his black ceramics. Possibility to see the pot making procedure.
- Aglona - the Aglona’s basilica is one of the most popular pilgrimage destinations in the North of Europe. There are many lakes in the area with nice swimming possibilities. Overnight in a guest house in Aglona.

8th day / Aglona - Daugavpils - Vilnius (270km)

Breakfast in the guest house. Sites and attractions en route:
- Daugavpils - the second largest city in Latvia, visiting the fortress, built in the 19th cent is recommendable.
- Visaginas - the youngest town of Lithuania, built in the Soviet times for the workers of the Ignalina nuclear power station.
- Aukštaitija National Park - the Palūše church and ethnographical villages (many lakes with swimming possibilities).
- The centre of Europe - one of the many versions on where the actual centre of Europe is.
- European park - a park containing sculptures and untraditional installations by artists from more than 30 countries.
Overnight in a hotel Vilnius (outside the city centre or close to it).

9th day / Vilnius - Kaunas (120km)

Breakfast in the hotel.
In the morning free time in Vilnius - sightseeing in the Old town with the numerous churches and the Gediminas hill and the tower is recommendable. Sites and attractions en route:
- Trakai - a caslle built on an island in a lake (14th - 15th) cent.
- Rumšiške - open air museum of country life in Lithuania.
Return to Kaunas / Give back the hired car / Flight back home.

Package prices (in EUR):

Number of Persons	2	3*	4	5*
Rate per person in EUR (Renault Clio, 1,2 l)	650,00	535,00	470,00	-
Rate per person in EUR (Renault Megane 1,4 l)	705,00	570,00	500,00	460,00
Rate per person in EUR (Renault Megane Sedan, 1,6 l)	725,00	585,00	515,00	470,00
Rate per person in EUR (Renault Laguna 1,8 l)	760,00	605,00	525,00	485,00

*Single supplement for 1 person needed. Single supplement per person during the whole tour (8 nights): 120,00 EUR

Services included in the package price:

8 overnights in hotels or guest houses (double or TWIN room with WC, shower and breakfast): in Kaunas (1x), Riga (1x), Valmiera (1x), Kuressaare (1x), Tallinn (1x), Tartu (1x), Aglona (1x), Vilnius (1x)
Hired car** 9 days (without fuel)
Maps and description of the itinerary

Extra costs not included in the package price:

Tickets and entrances to the attractions and sites
Fuel
Road tax in Lithuania
Extra car insurance

**The hired cars are 1-3 years old. In the car rental price are the following services included:
- Unlimited mileage
- Basic car insurance against damage and theft (Liability Damage Waiver, Theft Protection)
- Non waivable excess - 360,00 EUR

Information & booking - tel: +371 26433316, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv