3 BALTIC COUNTRIES: LITHUANIA, LATVIA, ESTONIA and HELSINKI 8 days

An 8-day cultural journey across the three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and combined with Helsinki – capital city of Finland. The programme includes the following countries, cities and places: Lithuania (Siauliai, Vilnius and Trakai); Latvia(Sigulda, Riga and Rundale); Estonia (Tallinn); Finland (Helsinki).

Day 1 Arrival in Vilnius

After being met at the airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Vilnius. Upon your arrival, you check in before having dinner and staying overnight.

Day 2 Vilnius – Trakai – Vilnius

08h00 You have breakfast at the hotel.

09h00 You explore Vilnius – an encounter ‘between the Orient and the Occident’ – on a walking tour through the magnificent Old Town – a quarter with numerous churches and narrow streets with tiny houses. Owing to its uniqueness, the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sightseeing includes a visit to the Cathedral in the city centre, St. Anne's Church – built in the Gothic style, the Gate of Dawn with its Chapel and the painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, the University and the Market Square.

12h30 Departure for Trakai, just 27 kilometres away.

13h30 Lunch at a restaurant in Trakai.

15h00 Sightseeing tour in Trakai - the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania with its beautiful lakeside setting and the insular red brick castle on Galve Lake.

The Castle Museum of Trakai offers an exhibition of the history of Lithuania and its pre-historic findings. Located 27 kilometres away from Vilnius, Trakai is a wonderful place to rest. It is a small and very quiet town: there is no heavy traffic. Trakai Castle enchants with its magic: upon entering the main gates to the castle, you will feel like you are going back to ancient times. You will have the opportunity to admire a spectacular view of the Trakai area. You will hear interesting legends and stories about Trakai and its famous castle.

20h00 You return to Vilnius for dinner at your hotel or at a restaurant. You spend your last night in Vilnius.

Day 3 Vilnius – Siauliai – Rundale – Riga

07h00 You have breakfast at your hotel.

08h00 You depart for Siauliai / a distance of 230 kilometres.

11h00 After your arrival in Siauliai, you visit the pilgrimage site - the Hill of Crosses – which is on the UNESCO Heritage List.

Over the centuries, not only crosses but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. It is estimated that 100,000 - 200,000 crosses can be found on the mountain. In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the Hill of Crosses, declaring it a place for hope, peace, love and sacrifice.

13h00 You have lunch at a local restaurant.

14h30 You depart for Rundale - a distance of 95 kilometres.

16h00 You have a sight-seeing tour in Rundale. It is famous for its splendid Baroque Palace, which was built in 1736 – 1767 as the summer residence of Duke Ernst Johann of Courland. The palace was regarded as a Latvian counterpart to the French Versailles and the German Sans Souci.

18h30 You depart for Riga – only 80 kilometres away.

20h00 After your arrival in Riga, you check-in at your hotel before you have dinner and stay overnight.

Day 4 Riga

08h00 You have breakfast at your hotel.

09h00 You leave for a sight-seeing tour of Riga – the capital city of Latvia. Riga is one of the biggest cities in the Baltic states and is situated at the mouth of the Daugava River. It once belonged to the Hanseatic League. Riga is known for its Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture. Your sight-seeing tour includes the Old Town, the University, the Opera House and the cathedral.

13h00 You have lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

15h00 You leave for the second part of your sightseeing tour to see Jurmala and its beautiful, wooden Art Nouveau architecture.

Jurmala is situated 25 kilometres west of Riga and it is a resort town stretching for 20 miles, placed between the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. Jurmala has also gained a reputation as a health spa.

20h00 You have dinner at your hotel and spend a last night in Riga.

Day 5 Riga – Sigulda – Tallinn

08h00 You have breakfast at your hotel.

09h00 You depart for Sigulda – a distance of only 53 kilometres.

10h30 After your arrival into Sigulda, you have a sight-seeing tour in the city. Sigulda is situated in the heart of the Gauja

National Park, where you can admire the ruins of medieval castles.

Sigulda was formerly called the 'Livonian Switzerland', because of its beautiful landscapes with cliffs, hills and valleys. Your sight-seeing will include the Turaida Castle.

12h30 You have lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

14h30 You depart for Tallinn - 255 kilometres away.

20h00 After your arrival into Tallinn, you check-in at your hotel before you have dinner and stay overnight.

Day 6 Tallinn

08h00 You have breakfast at your hotel.

09h00 You depart for a sight-seeing tour in Tallinn - a so-called Museum Town, which has preserved the features of a 15th Century trading city and which has the general look of a typical Hanseatic town.

Your sight-seeing tour takes in the city's most charming places, including the Dome Hill, the Dome Cathedral, the Town Hall, and St. Nicholas' Church.

13h00 You have lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

14h30 You will have a visit to one of Tallinn's museums.

20h00 You have dinner and a final overnight stay at your hotel in Tallinn.

Day 7 Tallinn – Helsinki – Tallinn

08h00 You have breakfast at your hotel.

09h00 You depart by boat for Helsinki – a distance of only 82 kilometres.

10h00 You have a whole day of sight-seeing in Helsinki. The capital of Finland offers lots to see, do and experience for visitors from all over the world. It is a vibrant sea-side city of beautiful islands and great green parks. The city offers a

variety of cultural opportunities such as the National Museum of Finland, the Helsinki City Museum and the Finnish Art Gallery.

During your visit, you will pass through the Senate Square, the heart of the city, the Presidential Palace, the Town Hall, the Parliament Building and the Opera House of Finland, among others.

You will make a special stop at the monument to the composer Sibelius and to the church Temppeliaukio, excavated in a rock.

14h00 You have lunch at a restaurant in the city centre.

17h30 You return to Tallinn.

20h00 You have dinner at an excellent restaurant called Olde Hansa in Tallinn.

Day 8 Tallinn – departure

08h30 After breakfast at your hotel, you check-out from your hotel in Tallinn before you are transferred to the airport for your

flight home or to your onward destination.

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Services included:

Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary with buffet breakfasts included
All other meals as indicated in the itinerary. Every lunch/ dinner includes 3 courses. Water and bread are also included
Local English-speaking guides with visits and entrance tickets as mentioned in the itinerary:

Vilnius – with a local guide and free entrance fees
Trakai – with a local guide and entrance fees included
The Hill of Crosses in Siauliai – with the tour guide and free entrance fees
The Palace of Rundale – with a local guide and free entrance fees
Riga – with a local guide and free entrance fees
Sigulda – with a local guide and entrance to the Turaida Castle included
Tallinn – with a local guide, entrance fees to St Mary’s Cathedral included and free entrance to the Orthodox Cathedral
Helsinki – with a local guide and entrance fees to the Rock Church included

Earphones for the visits during the whole trip
Transportation in a private vehicle (according to the party size) with air-conditioning, all the drivers' expenses and tolls.

Services not included: