Baltic Highlights

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia9 days

About

A tour of three beautiful ancient Baltic cities and to the magical strip of land that is Lithuania’s Curonian Spit, now a World Heritage Site and National Park. From Vilnius - one of the oldest European baroque cities, to the Baltic Capital, Riga -with a rich kaleidoscope of architectural styles, and to Tallinn, with one of the best preserved medieval town centres in the world. This is a remarkable tour that takes you to castles, cathedrals, forts and palaces that are more than five centuries old.

You should experience it because...

Be immersed in medieval experiences, pagan culture and folklore traditions on this journey through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Be overwhelmed by incredible art and architecture, be inspired by baroque-styled buildings and medieval charm, and discover rich history and fascinating customs.

Pagan culture, folklore traditions, medieval past

Medieval Trakai Castle, near Vilnuis, is the only castle in Europe that is surrounded by water on all sides.

Enjoy delicious Russian fare and historical folklore atBelmontas Restaurant in Vilnius.

Take the flat cycling trail along the Curonian Spit that runs all the way from Nida to Smiltyne and see elk or other wildlife along the way.

Smoke fish at the Jurmala Open Air Museum in Latvia, it’s what the locals have been doing for centuries.

Places covered 9 Days

Day 1 Arrival Vilnius, Lithuania
Day 2 Vilnius, attractions and sightseeing
Day 3 Vilnius – day trip to Trakai Castle
Day 4 Travel to the Curonian Spit and Nida
Day 5 Curonian Spit and Nida, sightseeing and attractions
Day 6 Travel to Riga, Latvia - via Palanga
Day 7 Riga sightseeing – Rundale and Jurmala
Day 8 Arrive Tallinn, attractions and sightseeing– old town
Day 9 Day trip to Lanemaa Nature Reserve

Days Details
1 Arrival Vilnius, Lithuania Check in to hotel.
2 Vilnius, attractions and sightseeing Bizarre, beautiful and bewitching, Vilnius is a fascinating mix of Old Town charm, fairy-tale baroque splendour, and an underlying uniqueness that creates it soul. Unesco has declared this, Europe’s largest baroque old town, a World Heritage site. There are more than 1,200 medieval buildings and 48 churches in the city. See some of these in the panoramic sightseeing tour that also takes in the Old Town and Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, the Old University and the Gates of Dawn.
3 Vilnius – day trip to Trakai Castle Trakai Island Castle is the only Eastern European castle that has been built on an island. Surrounded by the waters of Lake Galve this well-preserved 15th century castle held great strategic importance in its time. Learn more about the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Battle of Grunwald, and Vytautas the Great (1392 – 1430) on a Trakai Castle and Museum Tour. And learn about the customs and traditions of the Karaites, a Turkish ethnic group who came to Lithuania from the Crimea in the 14thcentury, and are today the country’s smallest ethnic minority with under300 members.
4 Travel to the Curonian Spit and Nida This magical pigtail of land dangling off the western rump of Lithuania hosts some of the worlds’ most precious sand dunes. Lithuania’s share of the spit is protected as the Curonian Spit National Park with two visitor centres at Smiltyne and Nida. Pick up lots of information on walking, cycling and boating activities at the information centres and head off in to the spit for sightings of elk and other wildlife.
5 Curonian Spit and Nida, sightseeing and attractions Learn about Nida’s tale from the Stone Age to 1939 at the Neringa History Museum, and the custom of local hunters biting a crow’s neck to kill the bird, followed by them taking a shot of vodka to dull the taste. The Weathervanes Gallery at Nida marks the village’s southern end. The town’s seafaring roots and customs are reflected on top of the 19th century wooden cottages lots of weathervanes that speckle these spit villages. A Prussian ruling in 1844 saw weathervanes or cocks used to identify fishing vessels. In the woods is Witches’ Hill, where devils, witches, ghouls and other fantastical and grotesque wooden carvings from Lithuanian folklore skulk along a sculpture trail. The Ethnographic Museum is a peek at Nida in the 19thcentury, with original weathervanes decorating the garden, and rooms inside arranged as they were a couple of centuries ago.
6 Travel to Riga, Latvia – via Palanga Palanga is a seaside resort in Lithuania with a split personality – a lively tourist spot in the summer and a peaceful haven in the winter. A 10km sandy beach is backed by sand dunes and scented pines. In February each year, the custom of catching tiny fish called ‘seals’ is celebrated with a 3-day festival when the fish are prepared around town in all their glory. Here, the Amber Museum showcases 20,000 examples of Baltic gold, and the Amber Processing Gallery highlights how the amber products were transported first to Russia and from there to the rest of the world. Heading for Riga, stop at the Hills of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. Next stop is Rundale Palace, a unique treasure of baroque and rococo architecture and designed by a famous Italian architect –Francesco Rastrelli – in the 18thcentury. Take in the fascinating history of this beautiful palace in a guided tour. Travelling through the lush rolling hills of southern Latvia, reach Riga late afternoon.
7 Riga surroundings, attractions and sightseeing Riga is overflowing with architectural gems and architectural styles. Its toy-town feel of medieval steeples and turrets mixes with modern European designs. Wander through the cobbled streets of Riga Old Town – now a Unesco World Heritage Site. Take a walking tour of the Old Town past Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument. Visit the Ethnographical Open Air Museum – a spacious exposition of 18thcentury country life. Listen to organ music at Riga Cathedral, one of the oldest sacral buildings in the entire Baltic region. And take a trip to the vibrant Latvian sea resort of Jurmala, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. Every Thursday the Open Air Museum invites you to see the age-old tradition of smoking the fish, as well as tasting the result free of charge!
8 Travelling from Riga to Tallinn, Estonia Travelling along the beautiful Estonian coast to the summer resort of Parnu with its white sandy beaches, shallow waters and rich cultural scene. Continuing through the land of forests of north Estonia and arriving in Tallinn – a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life – in time for a walk through the Old Town, famous for its authentic Hanseatic architecture. Take a sightseeing tour around the medieval city walls. Take in Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, and the Aleksand Nevsky Cathedral with its golden onion roof-tops and luxurious interiors. Kadriorg Palace is considered to be the grandest example of palace and park design in Estonian architectural history. The palace, originally an imperial summer residence has been extremely well preserved since the early 18thcentury. Enjoy dinner sitting under the Gothic arches of the cellar at the Pepper sack Restaurant where everything is prepared right before your eyes in the open kitchen.
9 Tallinn – day trip to Lahemaa Nature Reserve – fishing folklore Laheema is the first and largest national park in Estonia. Laheema (Land of Bays) was named after the bodies of water between its peninsulas. Stroll along stone and sandy seashores, through picturesque bogs and pine forests, past old-growth forests and cliff forests, and along the shores of rivers that have cut into the limestone cliff. There are many historical and architectural monuments along the way, and many erratic boulders that were brought over from Finland by continental ice in the Ice Age. Learn about the legends and stories connected to these boulders, It is said that mythical national hero Kalevipoeg threw his spear at an enemy and the speak fell into Odakivi, situated on Loksa beach – now a boulder. The shoreline and cultural heritage of Lahemaa are intertwined with ancient tales of fishing folklore and smuggling of salt and spirits – learn more about these at the Altja Art Museum.

€ 1,800 per person	(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
Price Per Person in Twin Sharing Accomodation
(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
All rates mentioned are an approximate price per person on a twin-sharing basis, and are based on a minimum of 6-9 adults travelling together. Rates are subject to change based on the number of passengers and the time of year. (Flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches & dinners, personal expenses not included. There may be some itinerary activities not included also – please ask). Inclusions : - Traditional ,Boutique or Heritage accommodation where possible or Quality accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) in centrally located 4*Hotels . -Meals – breakfast in all destinations - Internal Travel as applicable -Guided sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary as applicable -All arrival and departure departure transfers -Entrance and excursion costs as indicated Travel is based on private coaches and is inclusive of Expert Local guides ..Get in Touch to discuss on how we could tailor the trip to suit you .

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The Best time to visit the Baltics is from May to October during Late spring , Summer and Autumn This is when the flowers are beginning to bloom and you can begin to explore the outdoors and enjoy gloriously sunny days .Most Locals head to the woods or the Lakes to make the most of ideal weather and enjoy barbeques after soaking up the sunshine . Winters can be cold and temperatures as low as -20 degrees in December or January

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Freedom Holidays is passionate about creating inspirational tailor-made travel to Europe and beyond. Our business is your pleasure and our expert and dedicated team is here to listen to your travel needs down to the ‘nth’ degree, leaving you ‘free’ to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime with no gimmicks, no hassle, and no stress. What makes us different? With 14 years experience of providing quality tailor-made customised holidays with an ‘off-the beaten-track’ themed approach, we take you to well-known destinations as well as far flung locations (or a mixture of both), leaving you safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after every step of the way.

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