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. Hotel (9 nights), Homestay (2 nights)

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip. EUROPEAN LEADERS: Intrepid trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. We also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Others

Sigulda - Gauja River Cable Car Sigulda - Day Trip Sigulda - Turaida Castle Guided Tour Siauliai - Hill of Crosses Curonian Spit - Bike Ride Curonian Spit - Full Day Trip to the National Park Aukstaitija National Park - Guided Kayak Trip

Meals

11 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Transport

TRANSPORT IN EUROPE: Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that’s why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city’s public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action. Public bus , Ferry , Canoe , Private vehicle , Train , Tram , Cable car

Not included:

Others

Other activities and services not included

Flights

International flights not included.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (https://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

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Day 1 Day 1: Helsinki
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Helsinki

Tervetuloa! Welcome to Finland. Your adventure kicks off in Helsinki with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe check out the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Senate Square or catch a performance at the National Theatre. You may want to consider purchasing the Helsinki Card – which is both an economical way to travel on Helsinki City Transport (HKL) services and free admission to the main Helsinki sights and nearly 50 museums. After your meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner with your group.
Day 2 Day 2: Tallinn
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Tallinn

Leave Helsinki after breakfast and catch a ferry across the Gulf of Finland to the Estonian capital of Tallinn. Arrive mid-afternoon, check into your hotel and head out for a short orientation walk through the city. The rest of your day is then free to enjoy this exceptionally preserved medieval city and all it has to offer. Perhaps head out and enjoy some of the region’s culinary specialties or stop for a drink and people watching on the main square. With its steep red roofs, spires, pastel-coloured buildings and new restaurants and bars, Estonia’s capital is a real treat to explore. Seeing the vibrant streets of Tallinn now, it’s difficult to fathom that Soviet occupation only ended in 1991.
Day 3 Day 3: Tallinn
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Tallinn

Today is free to do as you wish, but an exploration of the Old Town is recommended – home to the last remaining gothic town hall in northern Europe, Old Thomas as well as the Raapteek, which has housed a pharmacy since the 15th century. You can also see St Olaf Church. Maybe head to Upper Tallinn, home to the noble families, to see amazing views of Lower Tallinn and the medieval spires of the town walls. The 13th-century Toompea Castle, where the Estonian Parliament sits, and the 19th-century orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are some of the main attractions. Alternatively, head to Pirita to chill out at Tallinn’s most popular beach, or visit Kadriorg Palace – a palace built by czar Peter the Great for his second wife Catherine I.
Day 4 Day 4: Riga
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Riga

Depart by bus after breakfast, cross the border and arrive in the Latvian capital of Riga in the early evening. Riga is renowned for its welcoming locals and a fascinating art nouveau heritage. Tonight, perhaps grab a drink at one of the many bars in the Old Town after you’ve settled into your lodgings.
Day 5 Day 5: Riga
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Riga

Travel by public transport to Sigulda – a pretty town with medieval history that backs onto Gauja National Park. Take the cable car across the river to Turaida Castle, which began construction in 1214 and is made from striking red bricks. Take a guided tour, then explore the castle grounds which feature sculptures set in evergreen woodland. Take a hike along the winding Gauja River with your leader, taking in the clear air and thick Latvian forest. Return to Riga for a free evening.
Day 6 Day 6: Riga
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Riga

Today, you’ll get the chance to explore Riga. Take an orientation tour and see the Doma Cathedral, St Peter’s Basilica, House of Blackheads, the Swedish Gate, The Great Guild & Small Guild and the Cat House. There is nothing scheduled for the rest of the day, so you are free to explore at your own pace. Perhaps pay a visit to The Museum of Occupation of Latvia, which offers insight into the hardships suffered by Latvians during its occupation by, the Germans and the Soviets. The Central Market Halls are a great place to haggle for supplies for a picnic lunch if it takes your fancy. Make sure you give the (bitter but reputedly healthy) Riga Black Balsam a try. The recipe is secret, but it contains rare ingredients such as Valerian, Wormwood, Black Pepper, Ginger, Gentian and Linden flower.
Day 7 Day 7: Curonian Spit
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Curonian Spit

Set off by private bus after breakfast and cross the border into Lithuania. After a stop at the famous Hill of Crosses at Siauliai, continue onto the former Prussian city of Klaipeda, the city of sculptures and jazz. Klaipeda used to be a member of the Hanseatic League and is the gateway to the Curonian Spit – a long and narrow sand dune peninsula separating the Curonian lagoon from the Baltic Sea. When you arrive, check into your hotel, then head out to the waterfront and explore the Old Town centre, which features 18th-century wooden buildings and other historic monuments.
Day 8 Day 8: Curonian Spit
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Curonian Spit

Today, take a day trip to explore the unique World Heritage-listed Curonian Spit National Park – the second-oldest national park in the former Soviet Union. This area is full of beaches, sand dunes and forested areas. The peninsula is only 400 m wide in parts but 98 km long. It formed only 5000 years ago by strong winds and currents which constantly change the shape of the landscape to this day. Only recently a whole village was swallowed by the inexorable sand. According to legend, the spit was formed by the girl giant Neringa, who poured sand into the Baltic Sea to protect the bay from storms and create an embankment for fishermen to live. Explore the tiny village of Nida and the surrounding beaches by bike and look in the distance to see the Russian border. Then for lunch, maybe try the smoked pike for which the spit is famous.
Day 9 Day 9: Aukstaitija National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Aukstaitija National Park

After breakfast, travel by bus, train and car to the town of Ignalina, then on to Aukstaitija (pronounced owk-sty-chee-ah) National Park and the charming village of Ginuciai – your home stay for the night. As one of the best national parks in the Baltic states, Aukstaitija has 126 lakes, an abundance of waterways, hills and woods. Enjoy the hospitality and home-cooking of our host family for the next two days.
Day 10 Day 10: Aukstaitija National Park
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Aukstaitija National Park

This morning, you’ll take a guided kayak ride through the lakes and rivers, past villages and through forests, to an ancient pagan site on top of a hill with a wishing tree. The top affords great views across the surrounding forests and lakes. The rest of the day is free to visit some of the local attractions, such as the nearby villages that date from the 14th century and consist of traditional wooden houses and farmsteads. The 19th-century Ginuciai Watermill is another point of interest. You can hike to lookouts, fish, swim in the lake or river rapids, or relax. Perhaps ask your host family to fire up the sauna for the ultimate relaxation and cleansing experience.
Day 11 Day 11: Vilnius
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Vilnius

Continue your journey today by local train to the capital of Lithuania – Vilnius. Having once been occupied by Sweden, Poland, France and Russia, each occupier has left its mark in some way. Vilnius offers a different picture of the Baltics than Riga and Tallinn, but it’s every bit as interesting. Take an orientation walk with your leader when you arrive, seeing Cathedral Square and its free-standing belfry and the length of pedestrianised Pilies Gatve, lined by baroque churches. The rest of the day is free. Maybe visit to the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights, previously called the Museum of Genocide Victims and better known under the name KGB Museum, as it is located in the former KGB headquarters of Vilnius. If you’d like a break from Vilnius’ historic monuments, maybe take a walk through some of the charming gardens around the city.
Day 12 Day 12: Vilnius
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Vilnius

Your adventure comes to an end today. There are no more activities planned and you’re free to depart the accommodation at any time after you check-out. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

12 days tour

Baltic Experience

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Baltic Experience

Day 1: Helsinki

Day 2: Tallinn

Day 3: Tallinn

Day 4: Riga

Day 5: Riga

Day 6: Riga

Day 7: Curonian Spit

Day 8: Curonian Spit

Day 9: Aukstaitija National Park

Day 10: Aukstaitija National Park

Day 11: Vilnius

Day 12: Vilnius

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