Baltic Start to Finnish - 10 Days

Upon arrival at Vilnius airport you'll be met and transferred to our hotel in the heart of the Lithuania's capital. The rest of the day is at free for you to independently explore. A welcome meeting will be held this evening, in the lobby, at approx 7pm.

Historic Vilnius is home to over 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches and this morning we explore the Old Town on a guided tour and discover some of the highlights of this captivating city, which dates back to the early 14th century. Starting with a visit to Vilnius Cathedral, built in 1783, we then continuing to Gediminas Tower, a small castle that has withstood many attacks over the years. We'll also visit the Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne's Church, the Old University and the Gates of Dawn.

This afternoon is free for you to spend at leisure or join an optional excursion to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania. Here you'll visit the magnificent Trakai Castle which stands on an island in Lake Galve.

This evening there's an optional Lithuanian dinner.

Vilnius - Riga (Latvia). Today we travel to Riga, stopping en route to visit the revered Hill of Crosses and Rundale Palace. The Hill of Crosses is a striking pilgrimage site, located in Northern Lithuania, where over 100,000 crosses of varying sizes have been placed on a small hill. Crossing into Latvia we continue our journey north to the magnificent Rundale Palace, built for the Duke of Courland. Started in 1736 and completed in 1768 this Baroque palace is surrounded by manicured gardens. After a guided tour of the palace we travel across the rolling hills of Southern Latvia to Riga, arriving in the capital late afternoon.

This morning we explore Latvia's charming capital, Riga. Founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, it is the largest of the three Baltic capitals. On our walking tour of the Old Town we see Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument.

This afternoon is free for you to explore Riga independently. Alternatively you can join an optional excursion to Jurmala, a vibrant Latvian seaside resort, famed for it's sandy beaches and pretty wooden architecture.

This evening there is an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Today offers free time to further explore Riga independently or join our optional excursions. In the morning you can discover medieval Latvia on an optional tour of stunning Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. We listen to the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before returning to Riga.

In the afternoon there an optional visit to the Ethnographical Open Air Museum, with its spacious exhibition of 18th century country life.

Riga - Parnu - Tallinn (Estonia). We continue along the coastal highway this morning, crossing the border into Estonia and making our way to the beautiful summer resort town of Parnu. We enjoy a short tour of Parnu before making our way through the lush forests of Northern Estonia. Arriving into Tallinn this afternoon the rest of the day is at leisure.

This morning we embark on a sightseeing tour of Tallinn, the third Baltic capital. This picturesque city offers a charming blend of medieval and modern. The beautiful Old Town is a friendly, bustling place during the summer months with locals and tourists sampling the many fantastic cafes, galleries and shops. 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.

This afternoon is free to explore Tallinn independently or you may wish to join an optional excursion to Kadriorg Park and a visit to the KUMU, the award winning new Estonian art museum.

This evening there's an optional medieval dinner in the Old Town.

Tallinn - Helsinki (Finland). This morning there's 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. After a break for lunch we head back to Tallinn to take the ferry to Helsinki. Enjoy the scenery en route as we travel through the Finnish archipelago en route to Finland's seaside capital. Upon arrival we are transferred to our hotel.

This morning we explore Helsinki, the green and lively Finnish capital. Our guided tour takes us around the harbours and Senate Square with its Lutheran Cathedral, we will also see the Parliament Building, the Finlandia Hall and the Sibelius Monument before visiting the famous Church-in-the-Rock.

In the afternoon there's an optional excursion to the 18th century Suomenlinna Fortress, a cultural gem set on an island.

Our tour ends after breakfast today with an included transfer to Helsinki airport.