Name: Discover the Baltics
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.5 (61 reviews)

Discover the Baltics Trip Notes

Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures
Destination: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Programmes: Culture
Activity Level:
1 out of 7 - Leisurely
12 Days: Flight Inclusive
12 Days: Land Only
Ages: 16+
Trip Code: AVV
Carbon Footprint: 18kg CO2e

Trip Overview

Adventure through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania over 12 highlight-filled days

The countryside, national parks and coastal areas of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are varied and stunning, adding a touch of wilderness to the history and culture of the cities and towns we visit on our journey from Tallinn to Vilnius. With street art, sculpture, incredible architecture and fascinating historic sites, this trip will undoubtedly satisfy your hunger for culture. However, wild, open settings and picturesque landscapes will also feed your imagination.

This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample will contribute directly to the eBioAtlas; the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

At a Glance

Travel by bus and ferry
Optional day walks and city walking tours
Group normally 5 to 20 plus leader. Minimum age: 16
11 nights in hotels

Highlights

Discover three Baltic states in 12 days
Visit stunning national parks, castles and museums
Explore the magnificent Trakai Castle
Citizen Science departures available on this trip

Is This Trip for You?

This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Leisurely). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

It has quite a busy itinerary based around sightseeing in the Baltic states. There is a fair amount of walking around towns, cities and parks, but all on good paths, mainly wooden boarded and sometimes cobbled streets in the old towns. The walks are suitable for anyone with a reasonable level of fitness; you will just need a good pair of trainers to be comfortable. To visit all the highlights of the three countries, there are some long bus journeys.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Group

Normally four to 20, plus local leader and driver.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 3

Max group size: 18

Itinerary

Land Only

Start City: Tallinn
End City: Vilnius

Land Only Itinerary

The tour starts at our hotel in the capital of Estonia, Tallinn. There’s a welcome briefing with our leader in the evening and free time to explore the city after. There will also be an optional welcome group meal; a good chance to get to know the group.

Accommodation: Go Shnelli Hotel (or similar)

Today we explore vibrant Tallinn, the largest city in Estonia. The Old Town, framed by ancient city walls, is full of architectural wonders. In the morning, we have a guided tour of the city taking in some of the main attractions, including the Toompea palace and castle, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Dome Church and St Nicholas church. We then have a free afternoon to explore the picturesque Old Town, which happily lacks an invasion of modern architecture. Dive into the past as you explore cobblestone alleys with spluttering torches and secret stairways; the old town holds new surprises around every corner, even for residents. We overnight in Tallinn old town.

Accommodation: Go Shnelli Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, we leave Tallinn and journey to Tartu, stopping at Lahemaa, the largest national park in Estonia. It’s a popular tourist destination with sandy beaches, waterfalls and mossy pine forests; it also has a variety of cultural sites, including Palmse Manor and the 400-year-old fisherman’s village of Altja. After lunch, we transfer to Tartu for a guided tour. Tartu, the capital of southern Estonia, is the second-largest town in the country, with lots of local culture, including festivals, concerts and theatre exhibitions. We spend the night in a hotel in the centre of Tartu.

Accommodation: Hotel Tartu (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Historic Cesis, on the Gauja River valley, is now a celebrated art-and-culture hub. However, it’s also home to one of the finest old towns in Latvia, where red-roofed buildings with restored facades line cobbled streets. The star attraction here is undoubtedly the Medieval castle, a partly preserved fortification knocked down and rebuilt in various forms. There will be option to visit the museum in the morning.

We then transfer to Gauja National Park, a region known as Latvian Switzerland. After, we transfer to Riga.

Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

This morning, the magnificent old town of Riga awaits. We will have a guided city tour taking in winding alleys, elegant boulevards and 800 renovated art nouveau buildings. We then have a free afternoon to soak up the romantic atmosphere of the city and enjoy a relaxing lunch before exploring some of the great shops.

Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

In the morning, we transfer to Jurmala, the largest seaside and spa resort in the Baltic states and known for its unique natural resources, including healing mineral waters, pine forests and dunes. The town is also home to unique wooden art nouveau architecture. After exploring the town, we will transfer back to Riga for the night. If you wish to stay a little longer, a train back to Riga costs €2-€4 per person.

Accommodation: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Firstly, we visit the 18th-century Rundale Palace, which was designed for the Duke of Courland 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, surrounded by impressive gardens.
We then cross the border to Lithuania and have time to explore the Hill of Crosses before transferring to Klaipeda Port for a short tour around the small old town taking in reconstructed merchant houses and the remains of Klaipeda Castle.

Accommodation: Green Park Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We start the day with a short ferry ride across the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a Unesco World Heritage site between the Curonian Lagoon and Baltic Sea. Here, we have the day to explore the largest drifting dunes in Europe. We will also visit the Hill of Witches and the Lithuanian sea resort of Nida to climb the Great Dune for the views. We transfer back to Klaipeda where we spend the night.

Accommodation: Green Park Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We transfer to the Plokstine forest and visit the Cold War Museum, which is housed in a once-secret Soviet Union missile base. We can view the internal control facility, see decommissioned missiles, and learn more about the five-decade-long period. We then travel to the town of Kaunas, and take a walking tour of the beautiful old town, which includes the 13th-century castle, old town hall, Cathedral Basilica and Church of St Francis Xavier. We stay overnight in Kaunas.

Accommodation: Best Western Santaka Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We stop in Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Here we will go on a tour around the incredible 14th-century castle, which occupies a small island in the middle of the lake. We then transfer to Vilnius where we stay the night.

Accommodation: Comfort Hotel LT – Rock’n’Roll Vilnius (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

We have the whole day to explore Vilnius. There is a guided city tour in the morning and then plenty of time to explore at your own pace. The city was developed around its Town Hall and there is a great deal of diverse architecture to see. There are many narrow streets that lead to intimate courtyards, plus the larger landmarks of the castle complex, cathedral square and Royal Palace. There are also plenty of museums to dip into. We overnight in Vilnius.

Accommodation: Comfort Hotel LT – Rock’n’Roll Vilnius (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

The tour ends after breakfast in Vilnius. Begin your return trip home or, if you’d like a bit more time to explore this fascinating city, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

A selection of three-star hotels

On this trip, we stay in three-star hotels, ideally located for access to the key sites. Below are the properties we typically use.

Tallinn: Go Shnelli Hotel (nights 1-2)

Discover the Baltics

We begin our adventure by staying near to the medieval old town of Tallinn and Balti Jaam Market. When you’re not out exploring, the first-floor hotel restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with views over both and serves breakfast plus an à la carte dinner menu.

Tartu: Hotel Tartu (night 3)

Discover the Baltics

In the city centre, Hotel Tartu is within walking distance of the old town and the Vanemuine Theatre (the oldest theatre in Estonia). It also has a 70-seat cafe on the ground floor plus a sauna centre (additional cost) with Finnish and steam saunas. If you plan on using the sauna centre, you need to bring flip flops (or purchase them from the hotel for €3).

Riga: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (nights 4-6)

Discover the Baltics

Occupying an art nouveau building in Riga Old Town, this 116-room hotel is our home for three nights in the capital of Latvia. When you want to relax, there’s a bar plus a small gym with fitness machines.

Klaipeda: Green Park Hotel (nights 7-8)

Discover the Baltics

In the port city of Klaipeda, we stay at the Green Park Hotel, which is ideally located for our ferry ride to the Unesco-listed Curonian Spit. The rooms are relatively simple and there’s a bar for post-exploration drinks.

Kaunas: Best Western Santaka Hotel (night 9)

Discover the Baltics

Our night in Kaunas is spent in the 92-room Santaka Hotel. It’s located between the city centre and old town and, if you have time, there’s a sauna to enjoy.

Vilnius: Comfort Hotel LT – Rock’n’Roll Vilnius (nights 10-11)

Discover the Baltics

With an industrial style and music theme, our Vilnius hotel has plenty of personality. The 80 rooms are all air conditioned with underfloor heating in the bathroom, plus the Mellow restaurant serves a menu packed with local produce. Other nice additions are a free-to-use gym and a lobby shop selling beers, snacks, sandwiches and more.

Single supplement from £ 370

Food & Drink

There will be buffet breakfasts in the hotels offering plenty of choice including cold meats, cheese, eggs, bread, jams, juice and coffee.

Lunches will be a mixture of picnics bought from local shops and cafe stops.

Dinners will be taken in the hotel restaurants or in local restaurants and will be hearty meals. Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut, and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup – in Lithuania this is also served cold). Dumplings are also popular and in Trakai, large and delicious baked dumplings called kibinai are traditionally served.

Transport

Travel will be by private bus and scheduled boat services. The journey times vary and there are some longer distances to cover (up to 211mi/340km), which will mean several hours on the bus. However, we feel this is essential to cover the highlights of the three countries.

Weather & Seasonality

The climate is largely influenced by the Baltic Sea. The summers see temperatures from 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). In the evenings, the temperatures will not drop too much. There is little rain in the summer but, of course, it is always a possibility, so come prepared. The days will be long, with 19 hours of daylight. In spring and autumn, there is the possibility of light rain and temperatures can be cool. Estonia is the furthest north we travel and therefore the coldest, although the temperature range described applies. Lithuania is the furthest south, which makes it the warmest country of the three. Estonia is often described as the more Scandinavian country than the other two.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: GO Shnelli, Toompuiestee 37, 10133 Tallinn
Phone: +372 631 0100
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Tallinn Airport (TLL)

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately a 25-minute drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.

Make your own way

You can book a private transfer, which costs approximately €37 (payable before departure), with your sales representative. Please ensure you provide us with all relevant information at least two weeks before departure. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

There’s a group departure transfer to Vilnius Airport (VNO) for customers who Exodus booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Tallinn
Location end: Vilnius

What To Take

Essential Equipment

Small day bag for water, camera, and guidebook
Water bottle
Sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen
Comfortable pair of trainers or walking shoes – the paths are not difficult but can be slippery when wet
Towel and swimming clothes
Warm jacket or fleece for cool evenings, waterproofs and warm clothes
Insect repellent

Water included

Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.

Practical Information

Passport

Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.

Visa

Estonia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Estonia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/estonia
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/estonia
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/estonia/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Estonia.html

Latvia

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Latvia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Lithuania

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Lithuania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/lithuania
Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/lithuania
United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/lithuania/entry-requirements
USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Lithuania.html

Vaccinations and Health

Estonia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Latvia

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Lithuania

Local Time

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s time zone: UTC +03:00

Electricity

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz

Money

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s currency: Euro (EUR)

ATM Availability

It is best to change your money on arrival as the exchange rates are fair. You will visit lots of large cities and the guide will show you where to exchange money if you need. ATMs and banks are available in the larger cities. You can use credit/debit cards in many shops and restaurants though cash is usually preferred for smaller purchases.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Lunch costs vary depending on the venue. If you buy lunch at a local shop, €10-12 will be enough, but if we stop at a cafe you are likely to spend closer to €15. Dinner will usually be about €23-€35. A beer will cost around €5-€8 and a bottle of wine €20-€35. Budget around €30-40 per day for meals. Entrance fees to sites will be between €6 and €17.

Tipping

Our local staff are paid well and fairly for their work with Exodus. Tipping is at your discretion, but many clients wish to tip their leaders and driver at the end of the trip. We suggest 2€ per day for the driver and €4 per day for the guide. Most groups prefer to present the money to the leader at the end of the week with two separate envelopes (one for the leader and one for the driver). This is completely at your own discretion and to be used as a guideline only.

If you wish to tip hotel staff and local guides, we have found it useful for the group to have a tipping kitty. Your leader can advise you on the amount, but as a guide expect it to be €20 per person for the week.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
This trip includes visits to historical sites, museums, guided park and city tours by local guides where the profits generated from entrance fees and tours not only contributes to the upkeep of the place, but also provides job opportunities to those living in the surrounding communities.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
Some departures of this trip provide the opportunity for you to collect water samples for the International eBioAtlas initiative which collects vital DNA information to assist in essential conservation initiatives.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us and the eBioAtlas.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
On entering the Curonian Spit, we have to pay ecological fees for our vehicle where the money goes to support the municipality of the area.
Going on this trip supports the Beaver Ben Camp Charity Project organized by our local partner. It is a 10-day ecological summer camp to the Curonian Spit National Park for children from disadvantaged families. Through the camp, it aims to raise awareness on the environmental issues faced due to mass tourism and other human caused impacts. This provides a chance for the children to play a part in protecting the nature park and to let them know that they have the responsibility to protect the environment and minimise the negative impacts caused by humans.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Take the train: Consider taking the train to this trip. Not only will it significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your holiday vs. flying, it also extends your adventure! Read more about which train journeys we can book, or how to book your own, here.

Important Information

Water safety

This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.

Important Information

Your safe participation

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.

How to Book

Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.

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