Baltic Heritage Odyssey

Day 1 : Tallinn

Upon arrival you will be met and privately transferred to your hotel.

Day 2 : Tallinn

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Old Town. Tallinn has a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a vibrant place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. As you explore the old medieval city walls you will see Toomphea Castle, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and the Great Guild Hall. In the afternoon a private tour will take you to the Kumu art museum and Kadriorg Park.

Day 3 : Tallinn

After breakfast, you will explore Lahemaa National Park on a guided tour. Drive from Tallinn`s city centre to discover Estonia’s most popular nature reserves – jagged coasts, vast forests, wetlands and many hiking trails through typical Estonian wetlands. Stop at Estonian manors like Palmse and Vihula for vodka tasting. Visit beautiful waterfalls and local fishing villages. Lunch is at leisure where you can try delicious food in a traditional Estonian tavern. Later, you will be taken through picturesque forests in Oandu and along the seaside in the Kasmu peninsula. Return back to Tallinn after the tour.

Day 4 : Tallinn > Turaida > Riga

This morning you will be privately transferred from Tallinn to Riga (on the coast of Latvia). On your way to Riga, you will make a short stop at Parnu, Estonia’s seaside city. Continue to Turaida and visit beautiful Turaida castle ruins with a local guide. Arrive in Riga and check in at your hotel. Afternoon at leisure.

Day 5 : Riga

After breakfast you will enjoy a sightseeing guided tour of Riga. Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. The walking tour of the morning takes you to the Art Nouveau district and Old Town including Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument.

After lunch continue your tour to the Art Nouveau Museum. Next enjoy black balsam tasting at the Black Magic Bar Start, considered the most valued drink, which was first made in Riga in the middle of the 18th century. A legend tells us that Empress Catherine the Great of Russia, having fallen ill during her visit to Latvia, was cured after drinking Riga Black Balsam. Continue to the Latvian National Opera House and explore this unique architectural masterpiece of the 19th century. Return to your hotel at the end of your tour.

Day 6 : Riga > Kemeru National Park > Riga

Today join a bog walking experience in Kemeru National Park. Hosting rich deposits of curative muds and a number of mineral springs, this ethereal corner of Latvia has been well-known for centuries. Over the years, several resorts and spas have been established, showcasing the therapeutic qualities of the area’s sulphur water.

After a transfer from Riga, arrive at the park and begin your exploration of the Great Kemeri Bog. The convenient use of bog shoes allows you to get deep into this otherwise inaccessible habitat. Return to your accommodation in Riga after the tour.

Day 7 : Riga > Pilsrundale > Klaipeda

This morning you will be privately transferred from Riga to Klaipeda (Lithuania). On the way visit Rundale Castle, built in the 18th century as the summer residence of the Duke of Courland, Ernest Johann von Biron. As von Biron was favoured by the Russian Czarina, Anna Ivanovna, he succeeded in engaging the famous Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who was the main architect of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg, for designing his palace near Bauska Town. Rundale Palace invites you to explore its impressive interior, artistic masterpieces as well as the charming park.

After the tour continue to the Hill of Crosses, a site of pilgrimage and where it is believed that there was a castle, but it was burned by sword bearers in 1348. You will then be taken to Klaipeda. Check in at your hotel and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Day 8 : Klaipeda > Curonian Spit > Klaipeda

Today visit the UNESCO-listed Curonian Spit, a 98 km long beach stretch that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast. Explore this fragile habitat featuring some of the world’s most precious sand dunes and a plethora of wildlife on a privately guided tour.

Visit places of natural beauty and the local seaside resorts of Juodkrante and Nida. Stop by the Hill of Witches and enjoy a large collection of unique wooden sculptures based on Lithuanian legends and folk tales. Head to Parnidis Dune and take in mesmerising vistas over the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. Visit Thomas Mann Museum and learn more about the life and aspirations of the renowned Nobel Prize winning author. Transfer back to your hotel after the tour.

Day 9 : Klaipeda > Kaunas > Trakai > Vilnius

Today you will be driven to Vilnius with stops in Kaunas and Trakai. Kaunas is the second biggest city in Lithuania, beautifully located at the confluence of two rivers – the Nemunas and the Neris. On arrival in Kaunas, take a walk through the old town square and the Town Hall, known locally as the White Swan. You will also see the beautiful Cathedral-Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. Visit Kaunas Castle, built in the 13th century and one of the oldest historical landmarks in the city. See the 15th century St. George’s Church which is located near the castle’s ruins.

Next you will drive to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania surrounded by lakes. In ancient times it was called the “Town on Water”. You will visit Trakai Castle, the only Eastern European castle that was built on an island. Continue your journey to Vilnius and check in to your accommodation on arrival.

Day 10 : Vilnius

After breakfast at your hotel take a sightseeing tour through the historical streets and sites of Vilnius. During the tour, we will pass by the Vilnius Cathedral, Lower and Upper Castle with the Gediminas Castle Tower – the symbol of the city, St. Anna’s church, a 16th century masterpiece of Gothic architecture, and the old town square with a lot of gift shops and cafes. Along the way you will see the Gates of Dawn and a holy image of the Virgin Mary, which is believed to have spiritual significance. Stop at St. Peter and Paul’s Church and admire its Baroque architecture. Next visit the lively and quirky Uzupis District.

Enjoy your afternoon at leisure before enjoying a seafood dinner at a local 18th century restaurant. Return to the hotel.

Day 11 : Vilnius

After breakfast you will be privately transferred to the airport where arrangements will conclude.