LITHUANIA, LATVIA, ESTONIA, FINLAND (10 days)

LITHUANIA, LATVIA, ESTONIA, FINLAND Sightseeing and culinary experience (10 days)

Not only hospitable Baltic and Scandinavian culture, futuristic modern architecture and extravagant gourmet food but also amazing shopping with affordable prices! All of this and little more awaits you in capital cities of Northern Europe. During the summer’s “white nights”, when night does literally does not exist and daylight is almost during whole night, music and another culture festivals take place at any time. If you feel doing shopping at the middle of the night, shopping malls and another stores are open for you, any time you like!

1^st day: Flight to Vilnius

Meeting at the airport, departure to Vilnius.

Dinner on board.

2^nd day: Flight to Vilnius – Vilnius

Arrival in Vilnius – capital of Lithuania, transfer to the hotel, welcome dinner. Overnight in Vilnius.

Hotel: Novotel City Centre or similar.

Breakfast: on board. Lunch: – Dinner: traditional Lithuanian bread with butter, pink soup, pierogi with meat, cabbage and cheese, traditional cheesecake.

3^rd day: Vilnius – Trakai – Vilnius

In the morning walking tour of Vilnius Old Town: we visit Cathedral, famous Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and Gates of Dawn. In the afternoon we go to Trakai – the medieval capital of Lithuania. We visit Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island of Galve Lake. Traditional Lithuanian dinner. Overnight in Vilnius.

Hotel Novotel City Centre or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: traditional cabbage soup,  potato pancake with sour cream, poppy seed roll. Traditional beer, tea, coffee.

4^th day: Vilnius – Hill of Crosses – Rundale – Riga

Drive to Hill of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Lithuania. After crossing into Latvia stop at Rundale Palace – the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland and one of the best preserved and the most famous palaces of Latvia. Transfer to Riga – capital of Latvia. Traditional Latvian dinner. Overnight in Riga.

Hotel Guthenbergs or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: Sour eal, cabbage with meat, tender grilled venison liver, apple cake, kvas as a drink.

5^th day: Riga – Jurmala – Riga

Discovering medieval Riga. Town, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a real kaleidoscope of architectural styles. Walking tour of the Old Town: on our trail we see buildings of Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds. In the afternoon we visit Jurmala, Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and beautiful sandy beaches. Traditional Latvian dinner. Overnight in Riga.

Hotel Guthenbergs or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: beetroot soup, blood sausage, Latvian chicken with potato, chocolate cake, balzam as an drink.

6^th day: Riga – Parnu – Tallinn

Drive along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. Short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forest and arrive in Tallinn. Check in at the hotel and half day walking tour of medieval Tallinn’s Old Town. Visiting Toompea Castle, Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval Old Town Hall and Great Guild Hall. Free time for shopping in the best shopping malls of Tallinn. Dinner in a traditional Estonian restaurant. In the evening relaxing in a local hot water SPA (thermal baths). Overnight in Tallinn.

Hotel Tallink or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: pumpkin soup, beef tenderloin with blubbery sauce, juustukook as a desert, tea, coffee or fresh juice. During winter Gloogi (hot wine) is served.

7^th day: Tallinn – Lahemaa National Park – Tallinn

Early in the morning we leave Tallinn and drive to Lahemaa – the oldest and biggest national park in Estonia. Lahemaa protects Northern European landscape of pine forests. Lahemaa is one of Europe’s most important forest conservation areas, where many large mammals live. South of the national park are the large Kõrvemaa areas covered by mires and forests, which expand the living space of moose, boars, brown bears, lynxes, and foxes even more. You can find out about the lives of beavers on the beaver trail, located in a picturesque valley between the Oandu and Altja Rivers. Among the common birds seen here are the Ural Owl (Strix uralensis) and Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius); the Common Crane (Grus grus) comes to feed on the fields around Sagadi in autumn. Short nature walk in the park. In late afternoon drive back to Tallinn.

Hotel Tallink or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: ukhaa fish soup with many kinds of fishes, handmade dumplings with mushroom stock, Pavlova with passion fruit cream, strawberry ice cream and fresh berries as a desert, Sea Buckhtorn juice, tea or coffee.

8^th day: Tallinn – Helsinki

Transfer to the ferry and enjoying refreshing tour through Gulf of Finland to Helsinki. On the luxurious ferry you can enjoy shopping in one of local duty free shops. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel and city tour of Helsinki – the town located at the crossroads of West and East. The sightseeing tour around green and lively Finnish capital: harbour, Senate Square with the Lutheran Cathedral, Mannerhim Street, Parliament Building and Finlandia Hall. Dinner in a traditional Finnish restaurant. In the evening free time. In the evening relaxing in a hotel with traditional Finnish sauna. Overnight in Helsinki.

Hotel Sokos Presidentti or similar.

Breakfast: at the hotel. Lunch: – Dinner: hernekeitto soup or salmon soup, reindeer meat with potato, laskiaispulla as a dessert, tea or coffee.

9^th day: Helsinki – flight back

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport, departure to your destination.

10^th day: Flight back

Arrival to your destination.