Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

A Road Trip through the Baltic States

Price

1,975 EUR

Duration

8 Days

Level

easy

Date

June 29, 2023

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Overview Itinerary Details What’s Included Get Inspired

8 days

1,975 EUR / 725 KWD / 8,695 AED / 8,955 SAR

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Overview

The three Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – are often perceived as a homogeneous group, mainly because of their medieval past, the imprint left by the Soviet rule, and their amazing growth trajectory since their independence. However, each country hides secrets and unique qualities, and a road trip, facilitated by the short distances that separate the states, allows a traveler to understand the similarities, the differences, and, above all, the beauties of each nation.

All three countries are mostly covered in forests – their “green gold” – while they enjoy long sandy beaches and beautiful rivers. The old, medieval towns are well-preserved, offering to each visitor the opportunity to travel back in time and feel as if part of a movie. Located on the commercial routes that connected the East with the West, the current capitals and several other cities experienced for centuries significant growth, now visible in the legacy of their monuments. Do not let, though, the medieval and Hanseatic heritage trick you: the three Baltic states have embraced technology and education to such an extent that their citizens are considered among the most literate in Europe, while their numerous technological projects have turned this small geographical area into some kind of “European Silicon Valley”.

Prepare to stroll through cobblestone alleys and forested paths in a unique itinerary that combines the urban and rural landscapes of the three countries, creating the perfect blend for a memorable vacation.

Trip Highlights:
Get ready to...

Visit in one week the three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, discovering their most famous and beautiful corners.
Explore the three capital cities: Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, all of them recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, renowned for their stunning architecture, medieval ambience, and picturesque streets.
Hike through Lahemaa National Park: Estonia’s largest national park with sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls and pine forests.
Visit an Estonian farm to learn about the delicious local products and sample some of the most typical tastes.
Enjoy a bread-baking workshop in one of Latvia’s most traditional and famous bakeries.
Spend a day in Jurmala, relaxing by the long, white beach, or indulging in spa treatments using the local therapeutic mud.
Hike through the beautiful landscapes of the Gauja and the Kemeri National Parks of Latvia.
Explore the medieval town of Cesis in Latvia, the Hill of Crosses (a Guinness Record site with more than 100,000 crosses), and Trakai: the former capital of Lithuania.

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Activities: cultural interactions, cultural sightseeing, hiking/trekking, nature watching, Birds Watching, Bread making workshop

Itinerary Details

Day 1 (29th June 2023): Starting point: Estonia - Arrival at Tallinn – Walking tour in Tallinn (D)

Upon your arrival at the Tallinn Airport (TLL), you will be welcomed by a Rahhalah representative, and you will be transferred to your hotel.

Note: There will be only 2 group transfers upon arrival, and their respective timings will be announced closer to date. You may choose the most convenient one, depending on your flight details, or arrange an additional one at an extra cost.

If the whole group assembles early enough, you will embark on a walking exploration around Tallinn. If there is no time for this tour today, it will take place tomorrow morning. The tour (around 2 hours) will offer you the opportunity to connect with the medieval aura of the capital city of Estonia, strolling through a maze of medieval walls, churches, and towers. You will pass by the city’s main landmarks like the Toompea Palace and Castle, the Town Hall Square, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and Tallinn Dome Church.

The day will end with a welcome dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel L’ Ermitage (4-star) or similar, Tallinn.

Day 2 (30th June 2023): Exploring Estonia: A visit to an Estonian farm – The stunning Lahemaa National Park (B)

After breakfast, you will start your day with a visit to a nearby farm where you will have the opportunity to learn about the production of several, delicious local products while tasting some of them and exchanging stories with the friendly owners.

You will then proceed to Lahemaa National Park – the best and largest park of the country – and you will spend the next few hours discovering its secrets, from the pristine sandy beaches to the cascading waterfalls and the mossy pine forests. Soon, you will realize that this, apparently simple, walking activity is nothing less than an adventurous exploration: you can observe 200 species of birds and animals inhabiting there, visit an elegant Estonian manor and the beautifully preserved 400-year-old fishing hamlet of Altja, follow the ‘Beaver Trail’ in search of beavers, or walk along the Oandu riverbank.

Hiking details:
Hiking distance: 4-5 km.
Hiking time: approx. 2 hrs.
Terrain: Hilly then flat, forested.

Accommodation: Hotel L’ Ermitage (4-star) or similar, Tallinn.

Day 3 (1st July 2023): Next stop: Latvia - The Gauja National Park – The medieval town of Cesis (B)

After breakfast, you will check-out and cross the borders into Latvia. You will head to the town of Cesis (approx. a 3.5-hour drive), passing through the Gauja National Park: Latvia's biggest park, also known as 'Latvian Switzerland,' due to its rolling landscapes. The park includes the valleys of the Gauja River and its tributaries, and over 500 historical sites like hill forts, stone castles, churches, watermills and windmills.

Cesis is a beautiful medieval town, over 800 years old, and its 13th-century castle was the main stronghold of the Livonian knights who ruled most of Latvia and Estonia during the medieval era.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a pleasant walk along a forested trail that leads to Gauja River and Gauja Rocks: a site famous for its serenity and natural beauty and a beloved destination for locals and visitors alike.

Hiking details:
Hikind distance: 5-6km.
Hiking time: approx. 2 hrs.
Terrain: Hilly then flat, forested.

Accommodation: Hotel Cesis (3-star) or similar, Cesis.

Day 4 (2nd July 2023): Exploring Latvia: Hiking in Sigulda – Strolling through the Old Town of Riga (B)

After breakfast, you will check-out, preparing for a full day of exploration around Latvia.
You will first drive towards Sigulda to hike on a nature trail that will take you through the forests and river valleys of the Gauja National Park. You will walk past the ruins of several Livonian medieval fortresses and a neo-gothic castle, you will take a cable car to enjoy the views from above, and you will finish at the 13th-century Turaida Castle, from where you will continue your trip towards Riga.

Hiking details:
Hiking distance: 8-9 km.
Hiking time: approx. 3.5 hrs.
Terrain: Hilly, forested.

You are expected to arrive at Riga, the Latvian capital, in the afternoon, just in time for a brief orientation tour around the city (1-2 hrs, around 3 km). Lying at the mouth of the Daugava River on the Gulf of Riga, Riga’s 'Old Town' is also a UNESCO Heritage Site, particularly known for its Art Nouveau and 19th-century wooden architecture. You will pass by the Freedom Monument, the Gunpowder Tower, Saint Jacob's Church and the city's cathedral, before choosing one of the picturesque restaurants or cafes for dinner.

Accommodation: Hotel Wellton Riga Hotel & Spa (4-star) or similar, Riga.

Day 5 (3rd July 2023): Exploring Latvia: Hiking in the Kemeri National Park – The spa city of Jurmala (B)

After breakfast, you will drive west to the Kemeri National Park that was founded in 1977 to preserve the local wetlands, coastal lakes and dunes. You will enjoy an easy hike on a raised boardwalk above the wetlands, discovering the distinctive mosses, bog pine trees, small pools and lakes.

Hiking details:
Hiking distance: 4-5 km,
Hiking time: approx. 1.5 hrs.
Terrain: Flat.

You will then return to the seaside and the spa town of Jurmala, known for its curative mineral waters, therapeutic mud, and impressive, multi-style architecture.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy one of the most authentic experiences you can have in Latvia: you will visit the well-known Laci Bakery for a bread-baking workshop (around 2hrs), some bread-tasting, and a lot of bread-related traditions. The specific bakery is one of the most traditional places in Latvia, where you can taste real, hand-made bread, learn about the ancient traditions that are still followed there, and relax with several fun activities.

Accommodation: Hotel Jurmala Spa (4-star) or similar, Jurmala.

Day 6 (4th July 2023): Exploring Latvia: A full day in Jurmala (B)

Today you will spend the entire day in Jurmala: the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic States, with 33 km of white sandy beaches waiting for you to enjoy them. The town is known for its unique natural resources such as its curative mineral waters, medicinal mud, pine forests and dunes. At the same time, all visitors are impressed by the local architecture that combines many styles, including the unique wooden architecture of the late 19th-early 20th c., classicism, Art Nouveau, and national romanticism.

Accommodation: Hotel Jurmala Spa (4-star) or similar, Jurmala.

Day 7 (5th July 2023): Final stop: Lithuania - Hill of Crosses – Trakai – Vilnius (B, D)

After breakfast, you will leave Latvia behind, heading to the third Baltic country and the final destination of this road journey: Lithuania.

On the way, you will briefly stop at the Hill of Crosses (near Siauliai, around a 2-hr driving distance from Jurmala): a mystical pilgrimage site with more than 100 000 crosses from all around the world. Its uniqueness led to its inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records.

Your next stop will be Trakai (a 2.5-hr drive from the Hill of Crosses): the former formal capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Located on a peninsula in Lake Galve, Trakai is now famous for its 15th-century castle which sits on a small island outside the town.

After a scenic walk around the lake and a visit to the castle, you will continue towards Vilnius, the present capital of the country (a 30-min driving distance).

There, you will go on a walking tour around the Old Town – another UNESCO World Heritage Site – to visit the old university founded by the Jesuits, the cathedral, the Church of the Dawn, and the modern districts of the city with the shopping streets, the opera house, the parliament building, and numerous, picturesque cafes. You will end the day with a delicious, Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.

Accommodation: Artis Centrum Hotel (4-star) or similar, Vilnius.

Day 8 (6th July 2023): Departure from Vilnius (B)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Vilnius airport for your flight back home.

Note: There will be only 2 group transfers to the airport, and their specific timings will be announced closer to date. You may choose the most convenient one, depending on your departure details, or you may arrange an additional one at an extra cost.

Notes

This cost is based on Double Occupancy. Single Supplement amounts to 535 EUR.
The cost is based on a group of min 4 people. Rahhalah reserves the right to change the price if the trip runs with fewer participants.
All services stipulated above are subject to availability at the time of booking/reservation. All prices are subject to change.
All accommodation is subject to change to a similar one depending on availability.

The Price Includes:

7 nights’ accommodation at 3- or 4-star, centrally located hotels as described in the itinerary.
7 breakfasts.
2 dinners (tourist menu: 3 courses, table water, coffee/tea incl.) at local restaurants (as indicated in the itinerary).
English-speaking tour leader escorting the group throughout the trip.
Private transportation as described in the itinerary (Day 2- Day 7).
2 private group airport transfers from Tallinn airport to the hotel in Tallinn and 2 private group airport transfers from the hotel in Vilnius to Vilnius airport.
Entrance fees to Trakai Castle.
Cable car (one way) in Gauja National Park.
Bread-making workshop.
Farm visit with local products’ tasting in Estonia.
All other tours and activities as described in itinerary.

The Price Excludes:

International airfare.
Airport taxes.
PCR test and Covid-related quarantine expenses, if needed.
Travel insurance.
Visa fees.
Beverages.
Single supplement cost.
Meals not included above.
Optional/additional activities.
Tips and gratuities.
Personal expenses.

Important: he itinerary and schedule are subject to change due to weather, road challenges or operating conditions. At any moment, the guide has the RIGHT to change the program for the safety and convenience of the travelers.

Also, the trip's price does not cover expenses that may occur due to conditions beyond Rahhalah's control (force
majeure). Such cases include but are not limited to extreme weather conditions, flight cancellations or delays, and natural phenomena (earthquakes, volcano eruptions, hurricanes, etc.). We, the Rahhalah team, both in our HQ and on the ground, will do our best to assist you with alternative arrangements (like new accommodation and/or transportation arrangements, revised itinerary and activities etc.), but ALL NEW COSTS incurred because of force majeure are to be covered by the traveler.

We strongly recommend that, before your departure, you purchase travel insurance that covers trip cancellation costs, loss of baggage or personal items, medical emergencies, and other unexpected circumstances that cannot be controlled by Rahhalah or any traveler.