Baltic Highlights: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia & Russia - 16 Days

Day 1: Arrival to Vilnius

Your journey begins in the beautiful Lithuanian capital of Vilnius. Once a place of refuge for religious minorities, the city continues to have an open spirit that will welcome you upon arrival. 

A representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation. Depending on your time of arrival, you may have the afternoon or evening to explore on the city on your own. We recommend simply walking around and letting yourself get lost in its small streets.

Day 2: Vilnius & Trakai Tour

Today, you'll visit Vilnius, which is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. Spend the morning on a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town, passing through Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anna’s Church, the Old University and the Gates of Dawn.  

In the afternoon, you'll leave Vilnius and drive to Trakai Peninsula, the medieval capital of Lithuania. You'll also visit the well-preserved Trakai Castle, which is  located on an island in Lake Galve.  After that, you can explore the Trakai Historical National Park, walking through a gorgeous nature trail that goes through naturally formed and human-planted forests all the way to a swamp. 

Drive back to Vilnius in the late afternoon.

Day 3: Tour Unique Museums

This morning, you'll visit one of the most unique museums in the world: the Devils’ Museum. This collection houses more than a thousand funny, clever, interesting and even terrible devils. Most of the devils are sculptures in wood, ceramic, stone, or paper. Others are masks or paintings on silk or canvas. The devils, collected from all over the world, are diverse in style. Many of the devils are art objects, for display only, but other devils have been incorporated into useful objects such as pipes and nutcrackers.

In the afternoon, quench your thirst with a tour of  STUMBRAS Brewery, the first and perhaps only distilled beverage museum in Lithuania. The museum provides an overview of the history of the STUMBRAS distillery and the company’s role in the development of Lithuanian industrialization. The tour is followed by a tasting, where you can sample beverages presented by the people who know them best, STUMBRAS technologists.

After the tour, you will drive to Klaipeda and stay overnight.

Day 4: Curonian Spit Day Trip

From Klaipeda, a ferry will take you to the Curonian Spit. This thin, 328m (100 km) stretch of land sits between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It  boasts small fishing villages, pine forests and endless sand dunes.

Your first stop will be the Hill of Witches in Juodkrante, an outdoor sculpture gallery full of figures representing characters of Lithuanian folklore. After that, you'll continue to Nida, where you'll visit the High Dunes and Thomas Mann’s summerhouse.

Drive back to Klaipeda for an overnight stay.

Day 5: "Fish Trail" Culinary Cruise

Today, you'll enjoy an exceptional gastronomical experience on a "Fish Trail" Culinary Cruise that begins at Jonas Gižas Ethnographic Farmstead. You'll learn about shipbuilding, the history of fishing in the Curonian Lagoon, and other traditions related to the industry. Later, you will taste a unique local fish soup and learn about fish farming in closed systems.

Then, you'll take a boat from Dreverna towards Ventainė, where you will enjoy more of the gastronomy of the Pamarys region and Lithuanian Minor. Continue the journey by bus towards Ventė Horn. There, you will visit a Ornithology Station established in 1929, do a bit of bird watching, and see the Ventė Lighthouse. You will stop at Minija Village, the so-called Lithuanian Venice, where instead of streets you'll find the Minija river.

The adventure continues by boat as you transit to Kniaupas Bay and the Curonian Lagoon, eventually reaching Uostadvaris. Climb the lighthouse, and visit the water pumping station and museum. Cruise towards Dreverna, your final destination, before returning to Klaipeda.

Day 6: Transfer to Latvia

After breakfast, it is time to leave Lithuania behind and continue your trip into Latvia. Before crossing the border, you'll stop at the Hill of Crosses, one of the holiest sites of Catholic Lithuania. Over the generations, crosses and crucifixes, as well as statues of the Virgin Mary, carvings of Lithuanian patriots and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. 

Afterward, your first stop in Latvia will be the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. You'll spend the night at Pilsrundāle Village, not very far from the castle.

Day 7: Relax in the Latvian Countryside

Today, you'll be able to enjoy a day full of tranquility in the Latvian countryside. This presents a unique opportunity to get to participate in local experiences such as tasting Latvian moonshine, walking in the woods, and even watching night forest cinema.

For your overnight stay, you'll be at a traditional sauna—the perfect way to end an already peaceful and relaxing day.

Day 8: Bobsleigh Adventure

After breakfast, you'll continue your journey to Sigulda. You will have the opportunity to ride a cable car across the astonishing Gauja Valley, getting views of castles, the bobsleigh track, the river, and the woods.

You'll then be able to ride a professional bobsleigh, an activity only available in a handful of places worldwide. This particular track was built during Soviet times and is still used by teams from all over Europe as a training base. The track is also where Latvian skeleton hero Martins Dukurs trains—if you're lucky, you might run into him!  

After a day full of adrenaline, you'll drive to Riga.

Day 9: Riga Market & Opera Tour

Wake up bright and early to explore the gorgeous Latvian capital. You'll start with a tour of the Riga Central Market. Try smoked meats, pickled vegetables, Latvian bread, seasonal treats, and other delectable local fare. The market opened in 1930 and consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars. Today, it is one of the largest covered markets in Europe. 

In the afternoon, tour the Latvian National Opera and Ballet House, a unique architectural masterpiece of the 19th century. Your guide will lead you through the interior of the building and tell you about the history of the opera.  The tour finishes with a refreshing glass of sparkling wine.

Day 10: Riga Highlights

Start your morning with a tour of Riga's picturesque Old Town. You'll see Riga Castle and the Three Brother's houses, which are the oldest dwellings in the city. You'll also stop at St. Peter's Church, where you can enjoy a view of the city from the tower, and the medieval Dome Cathedral, which was originally built in the early 1200s. Of course, you can't miss Riga's most iconic building, the House of the Blackheads, whose orange and white facade seems to plays with the organic lines of its contour.

After exploring Riga's beginnings, you'll move on to the Central District. Here, you'll see some of Latvia's more modern landmarks, such as Freedom Monument, which honors the soldiers who fell in Latvia's War of Independence from Soviet Russia from 1918 to 1920. End the tour with a stroll down Alberta, Antonijas and Elizabetes Streets to see the most magnificent Art Nouveau buildings in the city.

Day 11: Lahemaa National Park

Today, you'll say goodbye to Latvia and begin making your journey along the coastal highway towards Estonia. This beautiful country will give you a warm welcome, as your first stop is the magnificent Lahemaa National Park. Embark on a delightful walking tour through the park and visit the Palmse Manor House, considered one of the country's most impressive examples of Baroque architecture.

Continue on to Tallinn for the night.

Day 12: Tallinn Old Town & Soviet Tour

After breakfast, you'll begin a tour through Tallinn's Old Town, park tracks and the seaside. You'll pass through highlights like the picturesque Kadriorg Park, run along the scenic seaside promenade, and see the orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. 

Follow this up with a Soviet lifestyle tour. Explore the Lasnamäe residential area, visit the 1980 Olympic Village, and get cultured at the KGB Museum. During the tour, you'll have a coffee break in a former soviet café, whose recipes have been used since 1947.

Day 13: Transfer to St.Petersburg

Today, you'll spend the day on a long train or coach (your decision!) ride across the Russian border and into the imperial city of Saint Petersburg. You will arrive at your destination at night, but the entire ride will be filled with scenic views of the Baltic region.

Day 14: St.Petersburg City Tour

St. Petersburg is an amazing city. Its imperial palaces and museums enjoy worldwide fame, while its Neva River and its many canals have earned it the title “The Venice of the North.” During the morning sightseeing tour, you'll get acquainted with all the splendors of the city: the Peter-Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, the Nevsky Convent and much more.

The afternoon offers an excursion to Zarskoye Selo, the city's opulent royal palace. Walk through the impressive Catherine’s Palace and the Amber Room, which was destroyed during World War II and restored for St. Petersburg’s tri-centennial celebrations.

Take a break by having a tea party at a traditional apartment in the city center, before continuing on a walking tour to Tauride Palace & Gardens, Smolny Cathedral, and other landmarks.

Day 15: Imperial Tour & Matryoshka Class

The morning is reserved for a visit to Peterhof, an uncontested masterpiece of the time of Peter the Great, with the impressive Grand Palace, Grand Cascade, and Water Avenue. You will also take a hydrofoil to enjoy a half-hour ride on the Neva River.

In the afternoon, you'll do a Matryoshka Master Class. These traditional wooden dolls are the most famous Russian souvenir, and you'll be able to make your own to take home. Learn from local artisans during this unique cultural experience.

Day 16: Depart from St.Petersburg

Your adventure ends today in beautiful St. Petersburg.