Baltic Impressions
Tour Itinerary
Welcome! Your exciting Baltic Tour begins today. Arrival in Riga, optional transfer to Hotel Radisson Blu Latvija**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.
Radisson Blu Elizabete 4*
Optional Transfer
Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of Riga Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument.
The afternoon we offer an optional visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, a spacious exposition of 18th century country life.
Breakfast- Radisson Blu Elizabete 4*
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia 4**** or similar.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia 4*
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall.
In the afternoon we offer an optional excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to KUMU, the award-winning new Estonian art museum, with its collections of classic and contemporary fine art.
The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Maikrahv.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia 4*
Today we offer an optional day excursion to Lahemaa National Park, where we visit Palmse Manor, a memorial to the von Pahlen family, and Sagadi Manor. The tour ends with a visit to the charming 16th century Vihula Manor and the Vodka Museum.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Radisson Blu Olympia 4*
We continue to Tartu, the University Town, where Estonia gained its statehood. We see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632. Check in at Hotel Dorpat*** or similar.
In the afternoon, we offer an optional visit to Estonia National Museum, dedicated to Estonian cultural history and everyday life and stretching out on a timeline from the present day to the Ice Age.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Dorpat 3*
Departing from Tartu, we head south and in Latvia our first stop is in Aluksne. From there soon we reach Stameriena - the pearl of European romanticism having close links with Italian writer Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.
After the visit, we continue to Cesvaine where we visit the small, private Cesvaine beer brewery and are invited to test the produce.
Later in the afternoon we arrive to Grasi Manor***, a picturesque classicism style estate in the middle of Latvia.
This evening offers a dinner at Grasi Manor.
- Breakfast / Dinner
- Hotel Grasi Manor 3*
Leaving Grasi our first stop is in Aglona, where we visit Aglona Basilica built in late baroque style and a ceramics workshop, an important symbol of Latgalian culture.
From here, our tour continues to Daugavpils, Latvia’s 2nd largest city. We tour the historical centre of the city and visit the 19th century Daugavpils Fortress and the Mark Rothko Art Centre, the only place in Europe, where the original masterpieces by the famous founder of abstract expressionism can be seen.
Just outside the city we find the lovely Sventes Manor and we check in at Hotel Svente Manor****.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Svente Manor 4*
Today we continue southwards into Lithuania and an in the middle of the day we arrive at Aukstatija National Park with its many lakes, rivulets and streams scattered between forests and hills. We explore the park on a light walk through the scenic landscapes and visit the pretty lakeside town of Paluse, famous for its wooden church.
Late in the afternoon, we head towards Vilnius. Upon arrival we check in at Hotel Neringa**** or similar.
- Brecfast
- Hotel Neringa 4*
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning walking tour takes us to the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn.
The afternoon offers optional tour to The Palace of Grand Dukes of Lithuania where you will learn about the fortifications and the collection of armaments of the castle and palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania.
- Breakfast
- Hotel Neringa 4*
After breakfast, optional transfer to the airport.
- Breakfast
- Optional Transfer
Customer reviews
We're back from our Baltic trip and wanted to give your company a nice review. Thanks for helping us plan this tour and for answering our many questions the day before we left. (I'm glad we were able to get my passport situation figured out in time!) The tour itself was lovely of course. I love Europe so I was really excited to see three countries I've never visited before. Only small downfall - I had a terrible sinus infection when we got to Tallinn. It was awful! I was miserable, but Alma (our guide) quickly found some medication for me and made sure I was comfortable in my hotel room before everyone left for the tour on day 6. I was sad to miss it, but I needed to rest. The beginning of our trip was just fine though, and we have great memories from Vilnius and Riga. Thanks again for your help. If I travel to the Baltics in the future, or even just to Vilnius to see what I missed out on, I'll give you a call!
Thanks,
Terry Masterson
We are back from our Baltic tour and wanted to thank you for your expertise and all of your help planning this amazing tour. We got to see really amazing sights in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania which was a lot for just a seven day tour! I felt our time was spaced out really nicely though and we never felt rushed in any location. The hotels were all beautiful and the staff at each place always made us feel really welcomed. My personal favorite spot was the Hill of Crosses. I took so many pictures there. Thank you for making our Baltic tour so special.
Georgia Hansen
The guides managed the various language requirements seamlessly.
And the local guides were well informed.
Everyone was on time!
Very good value too
I think because it was so well organized and so interesting the mood within the group was good; no complainers to marr the pleasure!
The only thing i can think of is that it would have been reassuring to know that the local carrier was "Baltic Visions."
It was a little difficult the first evening finding the right group in Vilneus.
Thanks again; I'll definitely check your offerings when I decide on my next trip ?Caucases!
helen Gowans
I just returned from the 10-day “Baltic Impressions Tour”, more than 1200 miles across three countries. It was a fantastic trip! The bus was comfortable, with adequate stops for pictures, food and restroom breaks. The local guides in each city - Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius - were knowledgable and friendly. Our 10-day tour guide, Janis, was great! He gave all explanations for the 9 English and 12 German participants easily in both languages. Everyone commented how the timing of the trip was “just right” - we didn’t feel rushed at any location, and we didn’t feel like tapping our fingers to ‘move on.’ Leaving at 9am each day allowed time for wonderful breakfast - or a little extra sleep! And we were blessed with great weather. If I could change anything about the trip, it would be an additional day in Riga! Thank you again for your attention to all the details and communications prior to departure. I will definitely be touring through Nordic Saga Tours again next summer!
Additional comment: It is only a 10 minute, 7Euro taxi ride from the airport in Tallinn to the Radisson Blu hotel. The Tallinn airport is new, small and easy to navigate. Taxis are plentiful and very safe; paying for the transfers is not necessary. ~~Dr Sherri Tenpenny, Cleveland, Ohio
Thank you for helping us book our trip to the Baltics! We had a great time with the family and couldn't have done it without you. From St. Peter and Paul's Church in Vilnius, to Toome Hill Park in Tartu, there is so much history in these countries and we all feel fortunate to have had the chance to experience such deep history and to explore the halls of the ancient buildings in each place. I've always felt at home in Europe in a strange way. I love the lifestyle there and the food always seems to taste just a little bit better than anything back home. :) Our hotels were all great except for the hotel in Nida. The location was beautiful but the a/c didn't work in our room which was a bit inconvenient. The hotel staff was nice and brought fans to the room which helped a little. (They were really booked that night so they were unable to move us.) It was okay though and the temperature cooled off the later it got anyway. Other than that, no complaints about any of the restaurants or activities along the way. Our Baltic tour was delightful!
Cheers,
Joan Anderson
I thought I'd write a review for the Baltic Impressions tour my husband and I took part in back in July. We really enjoyed ourselves and I think you did a great job suggesting the perfect tour for our schedule and our personal interests. I visited Latvia when I was a teenager, so it was really fun visiting again and seeing how the city has grown. Our dinners in Latvia were really special and reminiscent of my time here way back when. I think the hotels were all great, though the hotel in Cesis was a bit too rustic for me. It was neat, but I'm a sucker for the newer hotels and all the accommodations they offer. Other than that, our guide was wonderful, the weather was nice, and I don't really have any complaints! It was a really nice trip and I'm glad we decided to go through with booking it. Touring the Baltics will always be in my top 5 favorite travel memories.
Pam Tierney
Thank you for helping us plan and book our Baltic tour last month! We had a great time together and really enjoyed getting to know the other people in our group, too. Our guide, Eriks, was very intelligent and knew a lot about each country. His English was also spectacular. We made an instant connection and now I think I've made a friend for life! :) The tours in each new place were all very interesting and educational. I felt there was a great mix of things, like seeing the beautiful architecture and learning about the history of the churches and buildings, but we also spent plenty of time outdoors, too, experiencing the nature and scenery of each city. Thanks again for your help and guidance, if I travel the Baltics in the future, you'll be the first to know.
Janet Fulrich
Your recommendations on this trip were spot on! Thank you for helping us plan such a wonderful Baltic tour. The four of us had a great time. Seeing Peter and Paul Church, the Gates of Dawn, and Trakai Castle were pretty exciting for a history buff like my husband. I'm pretty sure he was in heaven the entire trip! Klaipeda was a nice surprise. We visited the Curonian Spit and WOW - really, really beautiful. I didn't really realize how gorgeous this part of the world was until we were there and had a chance to get out and explore. I don't have any complaints, I'm just happy we were able to arrange this getaway because we desperately needed it! If we travel back to this region and want to head out on another Baltic tour, I won't hesitate to seek out your advice once again. :)
Thank you,
Julie and Melvin Barts
