Excellent Baltic tour covering three countries and popping over to Bosnia for lunch. anne higgins, 2017 See more reviews
The trip was very good. We had 11 in our group and were a mix of American, British, Australian... Linda Romalin, 2017 See more reviews
This tour covered a lot of ground in a short time. We learned so much of the history of this area... Jean Brouwer, 2017 See more reviews
Nearly two weeks travelling through the Baltic countries, this tour was a nice mix of historic... Susan Blake, 2016 See more reviews
We arrived at the airport and Jolita the rep met us, but then we had to wait for the transport to... Marion Strangways, 2016 See more reviews
This was a 12 day holiday covering three countries,Estonia,Latvia and Lithuania, so quite full on... Wendy Powell, 2016 See more reviews
An introduction to the present day Baltic states and to their long and complex histories. ... James Thomson, 2016 See more reviews
An excellent trip.Most hotels of a very good standard. Very interesting sights. A few long drives... Andrew Johnston, 2016 See more reviews
This was an interesting trip providing a good overview of the region with lots of variety. ... Margaret Boland, 2016 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Depart London. Arrival in Tallinn; transfer to hotel.Comfortable Hotel Day 2 Tallinn guided tour and free time to explore this fascinating city at your own pace. Today we will explore the vibrant city of Tallinn, Estonia's capital and largest city. The Old Town, framed by old city walls, is full of architectural gems. In the morning we will have a guided tour of the city taking in some of the main attractions like the Toompea palace and castle, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Dome church and the St. Nicholas church. We then have a free afternoon to explore the picturesque old town. Unlike most European cities, Tallinn's old town is completely free from modern buildings. You can leave modern life behind as you explore the cobblestone alleys with spluttering torches and secret stairways; the old town holds new surprises around every corner, even for its old residents. We overnight in Tallinn’s old town.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Explore the pine forests and sandy beaches of Lahemaa N.P. before a guided tour around Tartu City. In the morning, we leave Tallinn and start the journey to Tartu stopping off at the Lahemaa National Park, the largest in Estonia. The park is a popular tourist destination due to its untouched sandy beaches, waterfalls, cascades and mossy pine forests, and it offers a variety of cultural sights like Palmse Manor and the 400 year old fisherman’s village of Altja. After lunch, we transfer to Tartu for a guided tour. Tartu is Estonia’s second largest town and the capital of Southern Estonia and is rich with Estonian culture offering festivals, concerts and theatre exhibitions. We spend the night in a hotel in the centre of Tartu.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Tour of Cesis and the Gauja N.P. Cesis is an old town with a long history and is now known as a centre of art and culture. Situated on the Gauja River valley, its old town is one of the finest in Latvia. Its cobbled streets have retained a timeless appearance since the middle ages as the fine buildings have kept their red-tiled roofs and restored their facades, making this a charming place to while away some time. The city is famed for its Medieval castle, a partly preserved fortification which has been knocked down and rebuilt in various forms. We will visit the castle and the museum in the morning and take a guided tour of the buildings. We then transfer to the Gauja National Park where we will enjoy a guided walk, and here we will visit the Turaida castle and its adjoining sculpture gardens before making our way to Riga, the Latvian capital. There will also be the option to take the cable car (5 euros paid locally) across the Gauja river so we can then walk down to the Gutmanis caves. Hotel PK Riga Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Guided tour of Riga Old Town; free afternoon to explore at your own pace. This morning the magnificent old town of Riga awaits! We will have a guided tour of the city to discover its winding alleys, elegant boulevards and 800 renovated art nouveau buildings. We then have a free afternoon to soak up the charming and romantic atmosphere of the city and enjoy a relaxing lunch before exploring some of the town’s great shops. Hotel PK Riga Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Explore the seaside town of Jurmala. In the morning we transfer from Riga to Jurmala. Jurmala is the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic States and is known for its unique natural resources such as its healing mineral waters, pine forests and sand dunes. The town is also famous for its unique wooden Art Nouveau architecture. After exploring the town we will transfer back to Riga for the night.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Explore Rundale Palace, the Hill of Crosses and the port of Klaipeda. Firstly we visit Rundale palace which was designed for the Duke of Courland in the 18th century by Italian architect Rastrelli, who also designed the winter palace in St. Petersburg. Today, the palace is the most magnificent piece of architecture in the Baltic States. We then cross the border to Lithuania and have some time to explore the famous Hill of Crosses before transferring to Klaipeda Port for a short tour around the small old town. The tour is a perfect chance to explore the old town with its reconstructed merchant houses and the magnificent ruins of Klaipeda Castle. We spend the night in the centre of Klaipeda – the hotel is a ten minute walk from the Castle and other attractions.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Transfer to the Curonian Spit and explore the sand dunes. We start the day with a short ferry ride across the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO world heritage site situated between the Curonian lagoon and the Baltic Sea. Here we have the day to explore the largest drifting sand dunes in Europe. There will also be a visit to the Hill of Witches and an excursion to the Lithuanian sea resort of Nida to climb the Great Dune for the spectacular views. We transfer back to Klaipeda where we spend the night.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Visit the Plokstine Cold War Museum; city tour around Kaunas. We transfer to the Plokstine forest and visit the Cold War Museum located in the former Soviet Union’s complex of ballistic missile launch. Today, this secret base is open to the public. We can view the internal control facility and see former missiles as well as listen to expositions about the five decades of the Cold war, one of the most famous and dangerous military conflicts in human history. We then travel to the town of Kaunas, and here we take a walking tour around the beautiful old town. The old town of Kaunas has a collection of important monuments like the 13th century castle, the old town hall, the Cathedral Basilica and the church of St. Francis Xavier. We stay overnight in Kaunas.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Visit the Pazaislis monastery and Trakai Castle. The first stop is the Church and Monastery of Pazaislis to see one of the most wonderful Baroque architectural masterpieces in north-eastern Europe. The monastery is located on the picturesque bank of the Kaunas lagoon. We then stop in Trakai, the former capital of Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Here we will go on a tour around the incredible 14th century castle. Situated on a small island in the middle of the lake, it is known as the town on the water. We then transfer to Vilnius where we stay the night.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 Guided tour of Vilnius; free time to explore. Today we have the whole day to explore Vilnius. There is a guided tour of the city in the morning and then plenty of time to explore the city at your own pace. The city was developed around its Town Hall and there is a great deal of diverse architecture to explore. There are many narrow streets which lead to intimate courtyards, in addition to the larger landmarks of the castle complex, Cathedral square and the Royal Palace. There are also plenty of museums to while away some hours. We overnight in Vilnius.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 Fly to London. End Vilnius, fly to London. Meals included: Breakfast
Hotels There are some fantastic hotels on this trip. All are 3 or 4-star rated and ideally located for access to the key sights. A real highlight is the hotel in Kaunas where you have access to the pool and sauna.
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Reviewed September 2017 anne higgins Trip: Discover the Baltics Excellent Baltic Tour Excellent Baltic tour covering three countries and popping over to Bosnia for lunch. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Great culture tour, very varied with city tours and history together with village life. Completely different. What did you think of your group leader? Evelin Balta was an excellent tour guide and very attentive, going out of his way to make sure all the group enjoyed their holiday. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Weather was good and only needed rain mac for one day. Nice and warm for this time of year. There is a swimming pool in Hotel Park Lakeside, Ohrid but it is very cold and you have to pay extra for your sun bed, so make sure you swim and relax around the lake. Make sure you visit Bunk Art 2 in Tirana, an excellent museum, very interesting some of the group said. It was a shame i didnt have time to visit, so an extra day may be advisable at the end of your trip. Is there anything else you would like to add? Small group and lovely leisurely tour. Most of the group were retired, but you still need to be fit to walk on the city tours.
Reviewed June 2017 Linda Romalin Trip: Discover the Baltics Discover the Baltics The trip was very good. We had 11 in our group and were a mix of American, British, Australian and an Italian. Hotels were pleasant and transport was comfortable with pleasant bus drivers although some of the trips were long. There were enough stops along the way to keep things interesting. The major areas of the three countries were covered with a variety of cities, culture, nature and sea although the main focus was cultural even in the national parks. I would have preferred some walks on the many trails and boardwalks we were told about. The guided tours and time on our own was evenly divided. In Riga, there was plenty of time to see the Old Town, visit museums, relax in parks and cafes, and shop. In Tallinn and Vilnius, not so much. Overall, the trip was true to the itinerary. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Not sure if I would call these inspirational moments but the museums in Riga (Occupation, Jews in Latvia, and Barricades) were all extremely interesting as well as The Cold War and KGB Museums in Lithuania. The Hill of Crosses was pretty amazing and the Curonian Spit was a nice break from the cities. What did you think of your group leader? Our group leader, Jolita, was personable and knowledgeable; she did her very best to take care of each persons's needs and interests. She went out of her way (and above the itinerary) to take us out each evening when we arrived at a new city to give us an orientation and suggest places for dinner. We went to dinner (mostly) as a group 5 times. We didn't need a local guide in Lithuania as Jolita as a Lithuanian was the expert. I really enjoyed her upbeat personality and genuine excitement to teach us about the Baltic's turbulent history. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are interested in visiting museums you will have a hard time except for in Riga as there is not enough time during the day and you arrive in the cities at the time when museums are closed or are closing. I would suggest an extra day in Tallinn and an extra day in Vilnius. Is there anything else you would like to add? Exodus changed the Tallinn hotel 3 times without telling anyone about the third hotel. This one was outside of the Old Town on the seaport which was not very well located. They also changed the group flight from Lufthansa to Air Baltic without telling us. This changed the departure time from afternoon to morning. The only reason I took the group flight was to have some additional time in Vilnius so I was disappointed about that change.
Reviewed June 2017 Shona Tudor Trip: Discover the Baltics Discover the Baltics We had 12 days touring through the baltics at the end if May. The hotels, coaches and food were similar standard to the UK. There is usually an English menu. The tour guide was mostly interested in history which was not my interest in so much detail. The three countries are really small so the sights are not as good as other countries but the flip side of that is that it isn't as busy. The weather was similar to the UK. Take warm clothes for the evenings. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing all the storks and cormorants nesting. I went at the end of May so this would only apply to this time of year. I liked the hill of witches which shows the artistic spirit from the last few years. Also we happened on to a folk dancing festival and they are so much better than our folk dancing. What did you think of your group leader? Jolita was enthusiastic, especially about the history of the region. She was really scatty in terms of giving us information we NEEDED. I had to ask others when my flight was 30 mins late. She wittered on and on and although she thought she spoke English she didn't bother trying to get the words in the correct order. I understand it is difficult though as all three countries have different languages so she had to speak Russian as well. It made it really hard to get the crucial information when she was going on and on. She kept saying da da da. We went out as a group the first and last night. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Advice would be to take a travel kettle as only one hotel supplied one also decaf coffee wasn't available. The hotels had wi-fi without passwords so I would recommend installing hotspot vpn before you travel so no-one else can access you phone etc. I have damaged my ankles walking so much on cobbles so I would recommend hiking boots with ankle support. There are lots of opportunities to go to mini supermarkets so don't worry if you forget anything. I took binoculars as there are alot of birds esp storks nesting. The leader wasn't interested which was a shame. Is there anything else you would like to add? It would be nice to have a few more things that weren't just about history and churches.
Reviewed June 2017 Jean Brouwer Trip: Discover the Baltics Great tour with very interesting history This tour covered a lot of ground in a short time. We learned so much of the history of this area and its people. It was good to have mix of activities in the cities and country areas. We visited old castles and palaces, national parks, museums, cities and small towns. There was a very good balance of organized activities and time to explore on our own. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? There are so many churches still in existence and used for artistic activities such as music and art, as well as for worship. Many have been extensively renovated in a variety of styles. Despite difficult times, people retained their cultural background and creativity and are proud of their countries. Everywhere there are memorials to celebrate writers, poets, musicians. What did you think of your group leader? Migle was outstanding. She was totally involved with the countries we visited and her knowledge of the history and current events was conveyed in a way which kept our interest throughout the trip. Her personality and charm, and her professionalism shone through. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for lots of walking over cobbled roads and pavements. You may have to haul your bags up a couple of flights of stairs in some hotels. Read the trip notes before you travel and as you go so that you spend your free time most efficiently and don't cover ground which you will be covering in the guided walks. Is there anything else you would like to add? We were fortunate to travel with a group of like-minded people who, while from different backgrounds, got on really well together. Thanks team!
Reviewed October 2016 Susan Blake Trip: Discover the Baltics Beautiful Baltics Nearly two weeks travelling through the Baltic countries, this tour was a nice mix of historic cities and national parks. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Should I ever be lucky enough to own a palace, I would like to decorate it like Rudland Palace, one of the many beautiful places we visited. I really like the rococo stucco decorations. I was also inspired by all the public art, especially the sculptures I saw in all sorts of random places. What did you think of your group leader? Jolita, our group leader was fantastic, Nothing was too much trouble for her and she did everything she could to make sure everyone had a good time and a hassle free trip. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? During our city stays, there was plenty of free time so read your guidebook in advance to come up with a plan of how to make the best use of your time, The food in all three countries was excellent and good value although vegetarians might struggle to find much variety. On the other hand, chocoholics will do well. Luckily, we did a lot of walking to make up for all the great food. Is there anything else you would like to add? I very much enjoyed this tour. As well as seeing some amazing sights and paddling in the Baltic sea (it was way to cold for swimming), I learnt a lot about the three countries, especially their turbulent history. I would definitely recommend this tour and would like to go back to and see more of Riga, Vilnius and Talinn.
Reviewed August 2016 Marion Strangways Trip: Discover the Baltics The Baltics We arrived at the airport and Jolita the rep met us, but then we had to wait for the transport to come and collect us! She had to ring him to ask him where he was..... The first hotel was being renovated, the room was OKish, but I opened the window and being short couldn't manage to close it without standing on the chair in the room. The breakfast room was far to small for all the guests. All the other hotels were OK, except for the last one, bright lights, music and a bit too far out of town, the room was dull even with the light on, but it had no main light just side lights, and no carpet, it was OK to walk into town during the day but on an evening even though there were street lights it was dim. This was a cultural trip, but towards the end I was a bit "cultured" out. I also got bit/stung by either mosquitoes or horse flies, not nice. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The Occupational Museum, The KGB Museum and the former Missile Site were amazing, as I was involved with the Cold War in the 80's. The Palaces and city/town tours were really good. What did you think of your group leader? Jolita the tour guide was exceptional, a walking encloypedia, her knowledge, the history of the places we visited, she gave us so much information, she really is a credit to your company. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Make sure you wear insect repellent every day even though you think you might not need it as it wasn' that hot, but the bites I got were nasty, I only applied repellent on a night but after the bites/stings I put it on every day. Is there anything else you would like to add? It was a good trip, but for me I got a bit cultured out.
Reviewed August 2016 Wendy Powell Trip: Discover the Baltics Discover the Baltics. This was a 12 day holiday covering three countries,Estonia,Latvia and Lithuania, so quite full on. Be prepared for living out of a suitcase as you stay in 7 different hotels. However it's worth it as you travel through these beautiful countries,full of character,history and amazing architecture. Tallinn for it's pretty cobbled streets, Riga for its fantastic Art Nouveau architecture and Vilnius for its quaint and Old Town. You need a good pair of walking shoes as you can do up to 3-4 hours wandering around cobbled streets,or through forests. I would so suggest you carry an umbrella as the weather can be quite changeable even in the summer months! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Visiting the Holocaust museum in Vilnius left me reflecting how we as humans can be so destructive and cause so much pain. It made me realise just how much the people of Lithuania had suffered at the hands of others,so afterwards feeling rather low a few of us visited the Cat cafe,for coffee and a a little cuddle with a few moggies! What did you think of your group leader? Migle was a great group leader, not only was she was a mind of information she had a great sense of humour and made the trip a very memorable one. She was great with time-keeping and extremely well organised. One chap got rather lost when venturing out on his own and she managed to find him and bring back safely. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? I think the 'trip notes' were slightly misleading as you were lead to believe there might be longish walks; well I certainly thought so. However, we rather sauntered through the various towns we visited, and the walk in The Forest of Witches was not very tiring an only took about an hour. On this walk I recommend insect repellent though. Also don't be put off by the thought of a swim in the Baltic Sea it was 18 degrees and I wish did brought my swimming stuff with me! Also take an umbrella; I went in July and it rained a fair bit,but when the sun came out it was extremely warm , so have your sun cream to hand. Is there anything else you would like to add? It's a great way to see 3 countries, and so very different from each other. Tiring, but worth it!
Reviewed August 2016 James Thomson Trip: Discover the Baltics Discover the Baltics An introduction to the present day Baltic states and to their long and complex histories. Despite many wars and invasions much of their heritage survives for you to admire. They cherish their freedom - when you see the evidence of the Soviet occupation you can understand why! The tour covers a lot of ground but at a sensible pace leaving time for your own sightseeing. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The three old towns of Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius are fascinating. What did you think of your group leader? Jolita was very good. An excellent leader, knowledgeable guide, and ever willing to answer questions and offer advice. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Expect changeable weather! This is northern Europe. Tallinn old town can be a bit crowded in the middle of the day due to cruise ship parties so do your own exploration early and late in the day Meals in "international" restaurants can be pricey. Go to the local restaurants which are just as good and are cheaper. Is there anything else you would like to add? The costs given in the trip notes may be an underestimate - see the comment above on restaurants. If you visit many museums, clock towers, and the like the costs can mount up. Expect to pay €2 - €5 each time.
Reviewed July 2016 Andrew Johnston Trip: Discover the Baltics Discover the Baltics An excellent trip.Most hotels of a very good standard. Very interesting sights. A few long drives but no early starts. Very relaxing and enjoyable. The trip gave an excellent insight into these Baltic States. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The art nouveau buildings of Riga but the warm sunny day on the Curonian Spit was also very enjoyable. What did you think of your group leader? The tour leader Jolita was superb. Gave us a wealth of detail on local history. Knowledgeable and helpful and always enthusiastic and good-humoured. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? The trip I went on was end June. It was a lot warmer than I anticipated (28-33C on most days). Take a blindfold if you need the dark to sleep during that time of year. A good meal out can be a bit expensive. Trip notes say 15 euros for a 3 course meal. Budget nearer 20 euros. Inspect repellent in some places is necessary. Is there anything else you would like to add? I arranged my own flights. Flew Stansted to Tallinn with Ryanair. It was a very early flight and I reached the hotel at noon. They would not allow check-in until 3pm though I was allowed to drop off my suitcase. Flew back Vilnius to Luton with Wizz Air. Check-in at Vilnius was a bit chaotic (too few check-in desks and a luggage conveyor belt which broke down regularly - NB: this is an old Russian-built airport). Luton airport is undergoing major work (2016) and there are often long traffic tailbacks to reach the airport. Avoid if you can until the work is finished.
Reviewed May 2016 Margaret Boland Trip: Discover the Baltics Tour of the Baltics This was an interesting trip providing a good overview of the region with lots of variety. I felt very safe walking around on my own and the people were very friendly and approachable. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I was inspired by the spirit of the Lithuanians exemplified by the Hill of Crosses, the sculptures on the Hill of Witches and the work of the ARKA gallery in Vilnius that I visited independently. What did you think of your group leader? Jolita was practical, knowledgeable and usually good humored. She organised suitable restaurants for group meals and was at hand to assist individuals each evening if needed. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Try to travel a day before the tour begins as there is lots of interesting things to do in Tallinn. Bring an eye mask as some hotel rooms have roof windows without curtains/blinds Plan what you want to do, the official trip to Jurmala is for a half day only Bring clothes suitable for colder days If you wish to save money you can buy salads etc in the supermarkets some of which are located close to the hotels Is there anything else you would like to add? You do not need a guide book as you will be offered information through Jolita and the local guides. The guide in Riga was particularly good, she had a personal approach to the group.