Beautifully preserved medieval towns, fascinating history, spectacular natural beauty and exceptionally friendly people are just some of the reasons why the Baltic States have, in recent years, become one of the most popular destinations in Europe.
Our tour begins in the wonderful old medieval town of Tallinn, Estonia’s largest city. Situated on the northern coast of the country on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, Tallinn's old town has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Tallinn we will, of course, tour the historic sites and enjoy a day at leisure to explore on our own. While in Estonia we also visit the National Park of Lahemaa with its wonderful views of the rugged Baltic Coastline, the “Summer Capital” of Parnu and the beautiful and lush Gauja Valley with its dense forests and rolling landscape.
Our first introduction to the next country on our itinerary, Latvia, will be Sigulda - a uniquely beautiful preserved medieval town situated on a picturesque stretch of the Gauja River with red sandstone forming steep cliffs and caves on both banks of the river. Latvia’s capital, Riga, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city is notable for its extensive German Art Nouveau architecture, which UNESCO considers to be unparalleled anywhere in the world. In Latvia we also visit Rundale and its baroque palace, one of the major tourist destinations in the region.
We spend the final part of our tour in Lithuania’s beautiful capital, Vilnius. Although it is a modern city, this capital has also been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named the European Cultural Capital in 2009. We will enjoy 3-nights in this glorious city, with its historic synagogues, churches and impressive monuments. Our city tour and a free day here will make a wonderful finale to our tour of the Baltic States.
*Those joining any of our tours to Europe must be able to walk fairly long distances and climb stairs easily.