Baltic Treasures: Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania

Day 2 Tallinn

Our day begins with a walking tour through Tallinn's UNESCO-listed Old Town, where whole districts transport you back to the Middle Ages. We’ll wander along narrow cobblestone streets lined with magnificent Gothic merchants' houses, each one telling tales of times gone by. Our journey through time includes the imposing Toompea Castle, the heart of Estonian power for over 800 years, and the striking Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its distinctive onion domes. We’ll discover the 15th-century Town Hall Square, and admire the Old Guild buildings that celebrate Tallinn's membership of the Hanseatic League.
Our exploration continues as we pass the 13th-century Dome Church and St. Olaf's Church, once the world's tallest building, before heading to the Song Festival Grounds, where Estonia's path to independence through song was born, the scenic Pirita recreation area, the Olympic Yachting Centre, and the hauntingly beautiful ruins of St. Bridget's Monastery. This afternoon, you could choose to join our optional excursion to the magnificent Kadriorg Palace, a baroque masterpiece built by Peter the Great as a testament of love for his wife Catherine I in the 1720s. The palace houses an exquisite collection of European art spanning four centuries, showcasing paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts that rival the finest museums in Europe.
Meals included: B

Day 3 Tallinn - Riga

The next leg of our journey takes us on to Latvia, which reveals landscapes steeped in legends and history. Our first stop is the reconstructed medieval Turaida Castle, standing proudly within the Turaida Museum Reserve. This historical treasure trove encompasses monuments dating back to the 11th century, including one of Latvia's oldest wooden churches, crafted by local rural artisans with extraordinary skill. Here, beneath an ancient linden tree lies the legendary tomb of the Rose of Turaida, commemorating a young woman who chose death over dishonour – a tale that has captured hearts for centuries.
We then head on to Sigulda, often called 'Latvian Switzerland' for its stunning natural beauty. Nestled within Gauja National Park, this picturesque town combines breathtaking scenery with thrilling winter sports heritage, famous for its bobsleigh track and skiing routes. We’ll also visit the Ligatne Soviet Bunker, a classified facility built 9 metres underground in the 1980s for Latvia's Communist Party elite. Declassified only in 2003, this remarkably preserved bunker offers a unique glimpse into Cold War tensions and the preparations made for nuclear warfare. The original equipment remains intact, creating an authentic time capsule of Soviet-era paranoia and preparation. Later, we’ll arrive in Riga for our first night in the Latvian capital. Meals included: B

Day 4 Riga

Today, we’ll explore Riga's remarkable architectural heritage during a guided walking tour of this medieval Hanseatic jewel. Marvel at the imposing Dome Cathedral, home to one of the world's largest pipe organs, whose majestic sounds have filled the sacred space for centuries. Explore the historic Guild Houses and discover why Riga boasts Europe's greatest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings – over 750 magnificent structures that transform the city into a living architectural museum. Our morning tour includes the impressive Riga Castle, seat of Latvia's president, as well as the Dome Cathedral, where regular organ concerts take place.
This afternoon, why not join our optional tour to Jurmala, Latvia's premier seaside resort famous for its long beaches facing the Gulf of Riga and romantic wooden houses in the Art Nouveau style. This former collection of fishing villages was transformed over 100 years ago when boulevards were laid and picturesque wooden towered villas were constructed as summer residences for Riga's wealthy elite. The resort stretches over 25 kilometres of soft golden sand, where gently lapping waves and fresh sea air create ideal conditions for relaxation, while pine forests and dune parks provide beautiful backdrops for gentle strolls.
Meals included: B

Day 5 Riga

We continue our exploration of Latvia today and the highlight is an excursion to Rundale Palace, the most magnificent baroque masterpiece in the Baltic States. Located 70 kilometres from Riga, this architectural jewel was created by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the Italian genius who also designed St. Petersburg's Winter Palace. The professionally restored palace interiors dazzle with authentic 18th-century furniture, priceless paintings, and exquisite china. We’ll walk through the breathtaking Golden Hall, the elegant White Hall, and the opulent bedroom of Duke Ernst Johann Biron, feeling the grandeur of a bygone era. The palace gardens, designed in French style, provide a perfect complement to the architectural splendour, where geometric patterns and carefully manicured landscapes create a harmonious outdoor gallery.
Our memorable day includes lunch at Restaurant Rozmalas, a truly special destination that epitomises Latvian hospitality and tradition. Set within a beautifully restored recreation complex spanning 4 hectares, Rozmalas combines a design hotel, restaurant, historic Ribbe windmill, and traditional craftsmen's house surrounded by ancient apple orchards. This enchanting location, lovingly maintained by two farming families who honour old Latvian traditions while embracing modern hospitality, offers an authentic taste of Latvia's agricultural heritage in an atmosphere of rustic elegance.
Meals included: B,L

Day 6 Riga - Liepaja

On our way to Liepaja today we’ll stop at Kuldiga, considered one of Latvia's most beautiful towns and the only one to have preserved its traditional wooden architecture through centuries of wars and fires. This remarkable 16th and 17th-century time capsule showcases authentic Latvian provincial life, enhanced by the dramatic Venta Rumba – Europe's widest natural waterfall. The historic brick bridge spanning the Venta River, built in 1874, remains one of Europe's longest bridges of its type, designed to accommodate two horse-drawn carriages passing simultaneously.
We’ll continue to Liepaja for a city tour that includes Rose Square and the historic House of Peter I. Our exploration culminates in Karosta, a surreal northern neighbourhood occupying one-third of the city. This extraordinary district represents a unique fusion of Tsarist Russian military elegance and Soviet militarism, creating an environment unlike anywhere else in the world. The area's architecture and atmosphere provide a fascinating glimpse into two very different eras of military power and social control.
Meals included: B,D

Day 7 Liepaja - Klaipeda

Today we cross into Lithuania for one of the tour's most spectacular experiences – exploring the Curonian Spit National Park. This extraordinary 98-kilometre sand dune peninsula, washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the tranquil Curonian Lagoon on the other, creates a unique ecosystem recognised by UNESCO. The towering sand dunes, some reaching 60 metres high, shift and change with the winds, creating an almost desert-like landscape in the heart of Northern Europe. Whilst there, we’ll visit the charming fishing village of Nida, where traditional Lithuanian culture thrives amid this stunning natural setting. Our day also includes a lunch at a local restaurant, featuring fresh-caught fish, showcasing the region's maritime culinary traditions, followed by a peaceful boat tour that offers unique perspectives of this remarkable landscape from the water. We’ll continue on to Klaipeda, with dinner at our hotel this evening. Meals included: B,L,D

Day 8 Klaipeda - Vilnius

Our day begins with a morning tour of Klaipeda, Lithuania's principal seaport and 'Gateway to the Sea.' We’ll explore the atmospheric Old Town with its cobblestone streets, historic Old Post Office, traditional handicraft shops, the restored Old Theatre, and charming Simon Dach Square, named after the 17th-century German poet who celebrated the region's cultural diversity.
Our journey to Vilnius includes a deeply moving stop at the Hill of Crosses, located 12 kilometres north of Siauliai. This extraordinary pilgrimage site features hundreds of thousands of crosses of every size and description, creating a powerful symbol of Lithuanian faith, hope, and national identity. The hill represents Christian devotion and serves as a memorial to Lithuanian independence, with each cross telling a personal story of faith, remembrance, or gratitude. We travel on to the Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. Meals included: B

Day 9 Vilnius

We’ll discover Vilnius, Lithuania's captivating capital founded in 1323 when Grand Duke Gediminas built his castle here today. Our guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town – one of Europe's largest and most charming medieval centres – reveals a stunning architectural blend of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. We’ll walk along narrow ancient streets to the magnificent Cathedral and Cathedral Square, pass the prestigious Vilnius University (one of Europe's oldest), and admire St. Anne's Church, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture that Napoleon supposedly wanted to carry back to Paris. The Gate of Dawn, one of nine original defensive gates built between 1503 and 1522, is not to be missed and we’ll also admire St. Peter and Paul's Church with its incredible baroque interior featuring over 2,000 stucco figures.
This afternoon, you may choose an optional excursion to Trakai Castle, Lithuania's former capital situated on an island in the middle of a pristine lake. This 14th-century red brick fortress, now housing the Trakai History Museum, represents one of Lithuania's most impressive defensive structures.
Our Baltic adventure concludes with a farewell dinner featuring traditional Lithuanian cuisine accompanied by authentic folk performances, celebrating the music, dance, and traditions that define this proud nation.
Meals included: B,D

Day 10 Departure

Today it is time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Meals included: B