Baltic States Walking Tour 12 days

Tour description

Every day tour includes a major highlight, such as a longer hike or a city tour. Afterwards, according to your wishes, there is the possibility of further sightseeing, going hiking or simply enjoying the surroundings in peace.

For this tour, we will provide you with a tablet PC, that has GPS, internet, and our tour app, which shows you the way to many sights, walking trails, restaurants, cafes and provides tips and information.

Highlights:

• City walks in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius
• Lahemaa, Vilsandi, and Gauja National Parks
• Curonian Spit
• Saaremaa and Muhu islands
• Walking in Marimetsa peat bog

Detailed description

Day 1 Arrival in Tallinn

Transfer from the airport.
Accommodation in a hotel in Tallinn.

Day 2 City tour in Tallinn

In the morning, take a guided walk through medieval Tallinn. You will visit the most intact medieval city in Europe with an original street system from the 13th century. Unlike many other capital cities in Europe, Tallinn has managed to wholly preserve its structure of medieval and Hanseatic origin. Due to its exceptionally intact 13th century city plan, the Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, joining the ranks of the world’s most recognised landmarks. Here you’ll find original cobblestone streets dotted with medieval churches and grandiose merchant houses, barns and warehouses. During the city tour you will get to know the tour app and receive tips from our city guide. Then you can spend the rest of the day as you like. With the help of the tour app it is possible to walk on the beach promenade, to explore the port area, or the sea fortress.

Accommodation in a hotel in Tallinn.

Day 3 Lahemaa National Park

In the morning you will receive a rental car and drive to Lahemaa National Park. Lahemaa is the oldest and largest national park in Estonia. It was founded to protect the coastal landscapes, raised bogs and taiga-like forests, which are characterized by huge boulders. The cultural highlights of the protected area are the beautiful manor houses Sagadi and Palmse and the traditional Estonian fishermen’s houses. The national park has several longer and shorter hiking trails for hikers. Our tour app shows walking trails between 1 and 15 km in length, which lead you along the coast, through old forests, over peat bogs, and to old manor houses. You can decide for yourself how far you want to walk and which sights appeal to you more.

Drive from Tallinn to Lahemaa and back (approx. 80 km or 1 hour drive)
Accommodation in a hotel in Tallinn.

Day 4 Marimetsa peat bog, Saaremaa and Muhu islands

Today we continue to Saaremaa island. Lonely beaches, colorful meadows, juniper pastures and old fortified churches are characteristic of the largest island in Estonia. On the way to Saaremaa you should definitely visit Marimetsa peat bog. The 9 km long walking trail leads through the spruce forest to the centre of the peat bog, where there are several bog pools and an observation tower. The observation tower offers excellent views on this ancient, untouched landscape. From here you can observe and photograph the play of colors of the peat moss, the bog pools and the crooked pines. Nature lovers can spot some rare species of birds and plants in this extreme habitat.
After the walk, you’ll continue your drive to the coast and take a ferry from Virtsu to Kuivastu. In the afternoon there is the possibility to discover the northern coast of Saaremaa, to enjoy a walk on the Panga cliffs with a beautiful view on the Baltic Sea, to visit the Angla windmill park, the Kaali meteorite crater, and the Karja church with pagan wall paintings. Saaremaa offers also many beautiful walking trails.

Approx. 200 km by car, 30 minutes by ferry.
Accommodation in a manor house or guesthouse in Saaremaa

Day 5 Saaremaa and Kuressaare

In Saaremaa, a hike in the Vilsandi National Park on the Harialaid Peninsula is planned for the morning. This 6 or 11 km long route leads along lonely sandy beaches to the lighthouse. During the further course of the day you can explore the island’s capital Kuressaare, visit the imposing bishop’s castle, and sit in a cozy street cafe. Afterwards, there is the possibility to drive to the Sõrve peninsula, to explore the Loode oak forest with its orchid meadows, to visit other sights, or to undertake a longer walk.

Approx. 80 km by car
Accommodation in manor house or guesthouse in Saaremaa.

Day 6 Drive to Riga via the summer capital Pärnu

You can make short stops and stretch your legs during the drive to Riga, for longer or shorter excursions, and get to know the country even better. Culture and bathing enthusiasts in particular, should definitely see Estonia’s summer capital Pärnu. Shallow sandy beaches, beautiful parks, an attractive old town, the long pier between the sea and the river are well worth a visit. For nature lovers, the detour to Nigula Nature Reserve is great. Directly on the road to Riga, there’s Luitemaa conservation area and walking trail, which leads over sand dunes to an observation tower, with a view of the forest, bog, and the Baltic Sea. You can already enjoy the evening in one of the countless restaurants and cafés in Riga.

Approx. 350 km by car, 30 minutes by ferry.
Accommodation in a hotel in Riga

Day 7 Riga and Gauja National Park

If you have not already completely fallen in love with Riga and want to spend the whole day between Art Nouveau buildings, we recommend a day tour to Gauja National Park. In the national park you can either go canoeing on the Gauja River, which is known for its red sandstone cliffs, or walk through the the glacial valley. Elk, bears, owls and lynxes can be seen in the Ligatne zoo. In your tour app you will find several walking trails and sights in Gauja National Park as well as in Riga.

Approx. 80 km by car
Accommodation in a hotel in Riga

Day 8 Palanga and Klaipeda

In the morning you still have time to explore Riga. In addition to the many sights in Riga, the central market is also worth a visit, as it offers culinary experiences. Now the journey to the Curonian Spit begins. On the way you can visit the magnificent Hill of Crosses or make a short swim stop in the beach area of ​​Palanga. In Klaipeda, you take the ferry across the Curonian Lagoon to the Curonian Spit. The Curonian Spit Nature Park is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Before you check in to your accommodation, stop by the famous Great Cormorant colony, or hike through an enchanting fairytale forest with wooden sculptures by Lithuanian artists.

Approx., 350 km by car, 15 minutes by ferry.
Night in Nida in a cozy guesthouse

Day 9 Curonian Spit

Hikes over moving dunes on the 100 km long and 4 km wide headland in the Baltic Sea, which is called the Curonian Spit due to the Curonians, a tribe originally resident here. It’s not only the up to 62 m high sand dunes, but also the Thomas Mann House, the Amber Museum and the fishing villages, make the Spit one of the most popular travel destinations in the whole of the Baltic States. If you have visited enough sights, you can go walk along the picturesque beach and swim in the Baltic Sea, and even find amber while doing it. With the help of the tour app, you can find a nice fish restaurant for the evening.

Approx. 10 km
Accommodation in Nida in a guesthouse

Day 10 Drive to Vilnius

After breakfast you drive off. Before the ferry departs, you can use the morning hours for a walk on the 52 meter high Juodkrante dune. After a short coffee break in Klaipeda, head towards Vilnius (3 hours drive). In the evening you will reach Vilnius, and if you are not too tired you can enjoy a glass of wine in the old town.

Approx. 350 km drive to Vilnius
Accommodation in a hotel in Vilnius

Day 11 Vilnius

The Gate of Dawn forms the southern entrance to the largest old town in Eastern Europe. The cobbled street leads past four baroque churches down to the town hall. On the way you will pass many, at first glance inconspicuous, backyards. However, romantic coffees with delicious cakes are often hidden in the backyards. The tour app has the best recommendations for you. A walk up to the Gediminas Tower is worthwhile, from there you have an excellent view of the city. Photographers will be delighted. In the evening you can enjoy Lithuanian specialties and the lively atmosphere of this wonderful city in a cozy restaurant in the old town.

Accommodation in a hotel in Vilnius

Day 12 departure

Today is the day to say goodbye to the Baltic States. See you soon!
Or you can book one more night in Vilnius.

Season April to October

Price

15800€ per person in a double room,
330€ single room supplement

Included services:

• Overnight stays in middle-class hotels and guest houses with breakfast
• Transfer from the airport
• The tour app
• City tour in Tallinn and introduction to the tour app
• Rental car (compact class) for 9 days from Tallinn to Vilnius