Classic Baltics

Classic Baltics

4,563 Views
8 Days From

$1940

Classic Baltics

8 Days Starting in Vilnius and ending in Tallinn

Visiting: Vilnius, Riga, Saaremaa, Tallinn

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

AMKG

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Low, Low, Low

Age range:

15-99 years

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Small Group

From: $1940

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Uncover the cultural wonders and historical riches of three fascinating countries on this eight-day trip through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Wander the beautiful Old Town of Vilnius and learn about its complex modern history. Discover Riga’s Art Nouveau architecture and feast on Latvian cuisine at the city’s vast Central Market. Unwind in a log cabin among evergreen forest on Saaremaa Island, sharing a meal of local favourites with your fellow travellers, and finish in Estonia’s medieval capital, Tallinn. This adventure takes in historic cities, a naturally scenic wooded island and unique Baltic cultures – all while taking you off tourist trail!

Highlights

  • Cruise the historic shipyards and sights of Gdansk on a galleon-style ship, the perfect vessel that reveals the maritime and political history of this port city.

  • Tour the remnants of Wolf’s Lair, an important military headquarters used by Hitler during the battle for the Eastern Front in WWII.

  • Stalk along the ramparts of one of the world’s largest brick castles, Malbork, a beautifully-preserved fortress completed in 1406.

  • Discover the treasures of Riga – both historic and culinary – on a walking tour through the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town with snack stops along the way.

  • Take a breath of pine-scented air during a relaxing and restful stay on Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, which is known for its heavy forest coverage and traditional villages.

  • See the best of the Baltics in a week – soaking up centuries of history, getting a taste of the region’s hearty cuisine and meeting plenty of locals along the way.

  • Join a local guide to discover the best bits of Vilnius, from its legendary beginnings and UNESCO-listed Old Town to its tiny independent republic, Uzupis.

  • Discover the treasures of Riga – both historic and culinary – on a walking tour through the cobbled streets of the Old Town followed by a Latvian lunch at the lively Central Market.

  • Take a breath of pine-scented air during a relaxing stay on forest-covered Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, sharing a dinner of local favourites before snoozing the night away in a log cabin.

  • See some of the region’s finest art and stroll through manicured gardens at Tallinn’s Kadriorg Palace Art Museum, a grand baroque building built by Peter the Great.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Vilnius

Location: Vilnius

Labas! Welcome to Lithuania. Your adventure begins in the capital city of Vilnius with a welcome meeting at 6 pm at the hotel. If you arrive early, spend some time getting to know the city, home to lots of hip bars, cool cafes and street art. After the meeting, you’ll have the option to join your leader and new travel companions for dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 2: Vilnius

Location: Vilnius

This morning, join the group for a leader-led orientation walk through the city. You’ll pass through Cathedral Square and the UNESCO-listed Old Town, learning about the legend of Vilnius' creation and the prestigious history of Vilnius University. Continue to Our Lady of the Gate of Dawn – a famed painting of the Virgin Mary that adorns the 16th-century city gates. You’ll then have some free time to maybe hike to Gediminas Castle Tower or check out the views from the lofty TV tower – Lithuania’s tallest building and the location of where Lithuania gained independence from the Soviet Union. This afternoon, visit Trakai Island Castle – sitting on an island in Lake Galve, the construction of this stone castle began in the 14th century by Kestutis. Around 1409, major works were completed by his son Vytautas the Great, who died in this castle in 1430.

Included Activities:
-Vilnius - Walking Tour with Local Guide

Optional Activities:
-Vilnius - University Museum
-Vilnius - National Museum
-Trakai - History Museum & Castle
-Vilnius - Gediminas Castle Tower
-Vilnius - TV Tower
-Museum

Day 3: Riga

Location: Riga

Hop aboard a comfortable public bus to Riga, Latvia. When you arrive, transfer to the hotel, just a short walk from the symbolic Freedom Monument – or, as she's affectionately known to the locals, Milda. Head out on a guided walk with your leader, navigating the narrow, cobbled streets to discover the key sights of the Old Town. You’ll stop for lunch at the sprawling Central Market, housed within five repurposed Zeppelin hangars. The stalls feature everything from local pastries and traditional Latvian soups to tempura and fried chicken. Maybe try a few of the local specialities – such as Riga black balsam (an herbal liqueur) – before digging into a meal made from fresh, seasonal Latvian produce.

Included Activities:
-Riga - Central Market Visit
-Riga - Leader-led orientation walk

Day 4: Riga

Location: Riga

Today is a free day to get to know Riga at your own pace. Most of the Art Nouveau architecture the city is known for can be found in the neighbourhood known as 'the quiet centre'. You could stroll along the canal that intersects the city's central park or visit one of the many museums. Maybe take in views of the city with a drink at a rooftop cafe (your leader will be able to make some recommendations) or, if the weather is right, make the trip to the popular beach resort town of Jurmala.

Optional Activities:
-Riga - Beer Spa
-Riga - St Peter's Tower
-Riga - Riverboat Cruise
-Riga - Museum of War - Free
-Riga - Mentzendorff's House
-Riga - Latvian National Museum of Art

Day 5: Saaremaa

Location: Saaremaa

Rise early for the trip to Saaremaa Island – the largest island in Estonia. This heavily forested island is known among Estonians as the perfect place to relax in nature, and you’ll see why. Arrive in the island's south by the late afternoon and transfer to your accommodation for the evening. You’ll stay in a cosy locally-owned property, surrounded by forest, in a log cabin. You may like to take a walk in the woods and work up an appetite for dinner tonight, which will feature some hearty local favourites like Baltic herrings and potatoes with dill.

Day 6: Tallinn

Location: Tallinn

After breakfast, head to the biggest town on the island – Kuressaare. One of the biggest draws here is Kuressaare Castle – one of Estonia’s best preserved fortresses, complete with terracotta conical spires and a shimmering moat. Spend some time exploring the castle grounds and accompanying museum to learn more about life on Saaremaa throughout the ages. Then, hop on a public bus to the Estonian capital of Tallinn – now a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its historic Old Town. When you arrive, maybe explore the streets of the Old Town at your own pace and ask your leader for the best spots for some local cuisine.

Day 7: Tallinn

Location: Tallinn

Get you acquainted with the key sights of Tallinn on an orientation walk. Then, head to a marzipan (a sweet made of almonds and powdered sugar) workshop in one of the oldest coffee shops in the city. Marzipan is one of the oldest sweets made in Estonia and locals are convinced that the honour of inventing marzipan belongs to them! During the workshop, you’ll paint your own marzipan figurine under the guidance of your local instructor as you learn about the history of marzipan. This afternoon, maybe hire a bike for some active sightseeing. Tonight, you might like to head out with the group for one last meal together, washed down with a glass of kali (a fizzy drink made from boiled rye bread).

Included Activities:
-Tallinn - Marzipan workshop

Optional Activities:
-Tallinn - Kiek in de Kök Tower Museum
-Tallinn - Estonian History Museum
-Tallinn - City Bike Tour
-Tallinn - TV Tower
-Tallinn - City Museum
-Tallinn - Peter The Great Museum

Day 8: Tallinn

Location: Tallinn

Time to say farewell to your fellow travellers – your trip ends this morning after breakfast. There are no activities planned for today, but Tallinn has a lot to offer and there's plenty to keep you busy for a few more days. If you’d like the extend your time here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

What's Included

  • Saaremaa Island - Home-Cooked Dinner

  • Malbork - Castle Visit

  • Gdansk - Westerplatte and Gdansk Shipyards Boat Cruise

  • Wolf's Lair - Walking Tour with Local Guide

  • Masurian Lakes - Boat Tour on Niegocin Lake

  • Wolf's Lair - Entrance

  • Vilnius - Walking Tour with Local Guide

  • Riga - Central Market Visit

  • Riga - Foodie Walk with your Leader

  • Meals

    7 breakfasts, 1 dinners

show more

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Included Activities

  • Gdansk - Westerplatte and Gdansk Shipyards Boat Cruise
  • Malbork - Castle Visit
  • Wolf's Lair - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Wolf's Lair - Entrance
  • Masurian Lakes - Boat Tour on Niegocin Lake
  • Vilnius - Walking Tour with Local Guide
  • Riga - Foodie Walk with your Leader
  • Riga - Central Market Visit
  • Saaremaa Island - Home-Cooked Dinner

Transport

  • PRIVATE VEHICLES
  • Our private vehicles are locally sourced and are air conditioned and comfortable, which makes travelling enjoyable. On some days we will be covering long distances, which will make these days feel longer, however spectacular views and interesting stops along the way make up for it.
  • PUBLIC BUSES
  • This trip covers some distances by public buses. Buses in the Baltic States can range from high standard coaches with reclining seats and air-conditioning to Soviet era vehicles for shorter distances. But half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, and that's why we like to travel the local way wherever feasible.

Accommodation

  • The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
  • Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.

Important Information

  • 1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 (farmstay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    No

  • Are international flights included in this tour?

    No

  • Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?

    No

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult

  • Is this trip right for you

    We recommend packing light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train and bus stations and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones.

    This trip covers a lot in a week, so there are some long drives. However, all travel is in comfortable private vehicle or public bus, with one ferry ride. Please review the itinerary for details.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    No

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

Just leaving a review to...

24-Aug-2023

Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

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15-Jul-2024

I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

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26-Oct-2022

I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

I recently went on an...

15-Mar-2024

I recently went on an 11 day tour of India with Intrepid and was impressed with every aspect of the tour, the tour leader and the organisation behind the scenes. I always travel alone so it was a big deal to join a tour, I didn't want to feel less independent or ferried about. I loved being part of a group and the things we saw and did on the tour, I would never have known about or seen if I had been by myself. I loved it from start to finish. Yes the overnight trains were not easy to sleep on, but I managed. Meeting locals on board was a high light for me. English is widely spoken in India and its amazing who you strike up a chat with. I had two problems on the tour - one my own fault and one hotel related. The support from Intrepid was amazing. I cannot thank them enough for going the extra mile to support me. I recommend Intrepid 100% and have gone from thinking an organised tour is for people who don't know about Lonely Planet and can't do solo stuff, to realising its a faster, better, more fun way to get to know a country truly and deeply whilst on a bit of a budget. I will book again and again with Intrepid. I loved it that much! Big thanks to tour leader Daddy H. Devender for his help on day one, and Nick in the Oz office for his fab customer care skills. Also the person who staffed the emergency whatsapp in India - you saved my sanity helping me get there a day late! THANK YOU ALL X

Nicole  

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Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

I have just completed a...

29-Feb-2024

I have just completed a 12 day food tour of Vietnam, and had an amazing time. Our tour leader was great, knowledgeable and kind, who helped throughout the trip with recommendations for places on our free days, and spas. All the food we tried was delicious. It is a very fast paced tour, and Bon tried to maximise our experiences for the best.

Henry Guy Robinson   United Kingdom

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Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.