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7 days - Independent tour from Tallinn to Vilnius with three day tours
The Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia offer warmth, charm and a fascinating history. The Old Towns of their magical, medieval cities represent the kind architectural beauty that can move you without you quite understanding why.
This independent tour offers all the highlights, with private guided tours of the capitals, private airport transfers, and luxury bus transfers between the countries.
As a Certified B Corporation, 50 Degrees North has designed this tour using handpicked local hoteliers and suppliers who share our ethos of delivering services and activities of high social and environmental standards.
The CO2-e per person per day of all tours is carefully measured following each season. We fully offset all emissions of our tours on your behalf, and we constantly look at ways to reduce emissions where possible.
Service of 1st class public motor coach (reclining seats, TV, wifi and drinks) between Tallinn and Riga , and Riga and Vilnius. Transfers from the airport and private transfers from the bus terminals to your hotel. We can arrange for private transfers between the capital cities if you would prefer.
Arrive on the morning ferry from Helsinki or airport and have a private transfer to your hotel to drop off luggage.
After, meet your private guide for a 3-hour walking tour which goes through the two sharply contrasting parts of the Old Town: the Lower Town, once a free trading town and member of the Hanseatic League with its guild houses, warehouses, a unique Gothic Town Hall, dwellings of prosperous merchants, and churches with charming slender towers; and Toompea or the Upper Town, the seat of German landlords and their houses from the 18th-19th centuries. You also visit the biggest churches: the Alexander Nevski cathedral, an active Russian orthodox church, built just over 100 years ago, and the Dome church, the church of the local German nobility for centuries, which contains a valuable collection of their family coats of arms. The church itself is one of the oldest in Estonia and is built in the Gothic style. From the viewing platform you can see a panoramic view of not only the Old Town but also the rest of the city.
After breakfast, discover the peaceful life of the countryside and explore the historic Estonian manor houses and coastal villages on this full-day excursion by car with a private guide to Lahemaa National Park.
Spend a perfect day in peaceful, unspoiled nature surrounded by rural charm, explore the historic Estonian manor houses, and discover the peaceful life of the countryside at the former coastal fishing villages of Altja and Käsmu.
Depart Tallinn and travel by car to Lahemaa National Park, one of the oldest and largest national parks in Estonia. It is a home to beautiful coastline, picturesque bogs, pine and cliff forests, and habitat for moose, brown bear, fox, and lynx. We start our day with a morning walk to the Viru bog on a wooden trail over the wetland. Bogs are important in Estonian folklore, as they are seen as places of of mystery and peace. The flora and fauna in these areas is like nowhere else, with many unique animal and plant species present.
Our next stop is the baroque-style Palmse Manor estate. During our visit to this beautifully restored Baroque mansion complex, you will see the main house, distillery, a large boating pond, fragrant gardens and a network of nature trails. You will get an overview of Estonian manor life and architecture throughout the ages.
From Palmse, visit the small coastal village of Altja. Here you can still see the fishing net sheds reconstructed based on traditions passed down through generations. The village also has its own tavern, where you can stop for a lunch and try the local dishes.
After lunch (not included), enjoy a scenic coastal drive to the village of Käsmu where many large sailing ships were built. It was home to a maritime school, and virtually every family had its captain or coxswain. That is why Käsmu was known as the “captains’ village”. Käsmu`s rich history is showcased beautifully in the unique private exhibitions of the Maritime Museum.
Return to Tallinn in late afternoon.
This morning, private transfer to the bus station for a four-hour drive to Riga. On arrival, private transfer to your hotel.
Rīga, founded in 1201, has always been the political, economic, and cultural centre of Latvia. Nowadays, around one third of Latvia's population lives and works there. The Historical Centre of Rīga is listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most important cultural and architectural sites.
This afternoon, head out on a 3-hour private walking tour of Riga. Central Riga with its medieval dwellings, quaint 19th century wooden structures and prime examples of Art Nouveau architecture is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Enjoy a walk in the charming Old Town of Riga, which is a popular entertainment district featuring cobblestone streets and large number of architectural gems including Dome Cathedral and St. Peter’s church.
After a coffee break and Riga Black Balsam tasting, the walk continues towards the beautiful Art Nouveau district where you can admire Riga's famous Alberta street buildings. Riga is one of the few cities in Europe where numerous examples of Art Nouveau architecture, art and design objects have lasted through the years.
Today, enjoy a wonderful day out by car with a private guide, visiting castles and enjoying the picturesque natural surroundings of the Gauja National park
Travel by car from Riga into the Latvian countryside to the red brick Turaida Castle, seamlessly integrated into the landscape. “Turaida” means "God's garden" in the ancient Livu language, and the site lives up to its name. Some walls and two towers of the medieval castle have been reconstructed in the 20th century and offer great views of the Gauja National park.
The Livonian Order Castle of Sigulda was built in 1207 as a Castellan type castle; however, it was later rebuilt into a convent-type building. There is an option to take a walk on the walls of the ruins to enjoy the pristine atmosphere and the beautiful views of Gauja River Valley and the nearby historical monuments.
Prince Kropotkin built the nearby Sigulda New Castle in the 19th century. Explore the nearby manor buildings, featuring craftsmen, artists and designers' workshops.
Gutman's Cave is the largest and highest cave-like niche or grotto in Latvia and the Baltics which started forming in the post-glacial period. The sandstone bears inscriptions of the names of nobles, years, and coats of arms engraved by craftsmen. The sandstone marvel still bears inscriptions from as early as the 17th century.
Return to Riga in the late afternoon
This morning, private transfer to the bus station for your luxury coach connection to Vilnius. Travel for approx. 4 hours, and arrive around midday for lunch. Private transfer to your hotel and check in.
Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, is known for its baroque architecture, seen especially in its medieval Old Town. But the buildings lining this district's partially cobblestoned streets reflect diverse styles and eras, from the neoclassical Vilnius Cathedral to Gothic St. Anne's Church. The 16th-century Gate of Dawn, containing a shrine with a sacred Virgin Mary icon, once guarded an entrance to the original city. Join your guide for a 3-hour private guided tour of the old town.
Today, visit two ancient capitals and a medieval castle and enjoy local cuisine on this day trip by car and your private guide.
There are as many as four cities and towns in Lithuania which have held the title of the capital of the state. This tour by car leaves the current capital of Vilnius behind to visit two ancient ones : Kernavė and Trakai. The road to Kernavė, considered the epitome of Baltic archeology, will wind past lush valleys and ancient forests. Kernavė will offer a fascinating walk through a unique complex of hill-forts and mounds surrounded by the River Neris.
The tour continues to the town of Trakai, famous globally for its medieval castle and its exceptional variety of ethnicities and heritages. See the remains of the Peninsular Castle, continue along the lake, across two wooden bridges towards Trakai Island Castle that tells the story of legendary Lithuanian leader Grand Duke Vytautas who expanded the territory of Lithuanian Dukedom from the Baltic to the Black Sea in the 14th century, making it the largest state in Europe.
Enjoy a lunch celebrating the ethnicities who have shared the life in Trakai for centuries – Lithuanians, Karaites and Tartars. The menu comprises of cold beetroot soup Šaltibarščiai as an appetizer, followed by traditional pastry with meat or cottage cheese Kibinai and sweet and buttery cake with an abundance of poppy seeds Šimtalapis.
Return to Vilnius late afternoon.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport with private van.
All prices listed are per person, based on two people sharing a room. Prices are indicative due to the current uncertainty across Europe with increasing energy and volatile fuel costs.
If you would like to add the ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn, this is easily done.
More than 100,000 people are expected to travel to the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds in Estonia next July to experience an extraordinary celebration of music and dance. Taking place just once every five years, the Estonian Song and Dance Festival will return in early July 2025, promising to be an event you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
The first thing that comes to mind about Estonia is the infinitely charming medieval Old Town in Tallinn, the country’s capital city. The cobblestone streets and medieval buildings are a whole world away from what you can expect from, say, Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, or Copenhagen.
History is alive in the Old Towns of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius. It is no wonder that each of them has been granted the status of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our tailor made itineraries allow you time to explore the backstreets of these lovely cities.
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