Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival Tallinn
Arrival in Tallinn, optional transfer to Hotel Reval Olympia**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

Day 2

Tallinn-Cesis
After breakfast we drive to the Lahemaa National Park, where we embark on a walking tour through the park (2 hours, medium). We continue to Tartu, the University Town, where Estonian gained its statehood. We see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632. From Tartu we drive onwards into Latvia to Cesis, a Hanseatic city with winding streets, castle ruins and beautiful gardens. Check-in at Hotel Kolonna Cesis*** or similar.

Day 3

Cesis-Vilnius
Today we drive through the Gauja National Park to Ligatne Wild- Life Park. We enjoy a walking tour through the park, where bears, deer, elks and other wild animals live in a fenced-off enclosure of natural habitat (2 hours, medium). After a visit to Sigulda, a popular holiday resort, we drive around Riga to hit the highway down to Vilnius. En route we reach the magnifi cent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Following a guided tour of the palace we travel through Lithuania to reach Vilnius late afternoon., Check in at Hotel Reval Lietuva**** or similar.

Day 4

Vilnius-Klaipeda
48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anna’s
Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. After the tour we continue to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, where do a walking tour in the area around the well preserved Trakai Castle,
beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve (2 hours, light). The balance of the day is spent en route to Klaipeda, where we arrive late afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Radisson SAS Klaipeda**** or similar.

Day 5

Klaipeda
The day is reserved for a full-day tour to the Curonian Spit, a thin, 100 km stretch of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fishing villages, pine forests and endless sand
dunes. Our first stop is at the Hill of Witches in Juodkrante. After that we continue to Nida and embark on a walking tour around the High Dunes (3 hours medium) and get acquainted with
the charming resort town before we drive back to Klaipeda. The evening offers an optional Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Anikes.

Day 6

Klaipeda-Riga
Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and had a long history as a German town called Memel. A short sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with its narrow, cobblestone streets and
old guild houses and we visit the Theatre Square and the Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. We now continue to the Samogitia National Park, where we enjoy a walking tour around the picturesque Lake
Plateliai (2 hours, medium). After that we continue to Siauliai and Cross Hills, one of the holiest sites of Catholic Lithuania. We head North into Latvia and reach Riga in the afternoon. Check-in at
Reval Hotel Latvija**** or similar. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

Day 7

Riga
Riga founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is reserved for visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. We do a walking tour on the sandy beaches from Pumpuri to Bulduri (3 hours, light).In the evening we enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme

Day 8

Riga-Tallinn
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu. We do a short tour of the resort before we continue through the North Estonian land of forests and arrive in Tallinn early afternoon, check-in at the Hotel Reval Olympia**** or similar.

Day 9

Tallinn
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquility and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and medieval Old Town Hall. In the afternoon we do a walking tour though the Kadriorg Park and the area surrounding the Kadriorg. Palace. The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack.

Day 10

Tallinn departure
Optional transfer to the airport.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

as per program

Exclusions -

as per program

Extras -

Baltic Hiking: Tallinn - Cesis - Vilnius - Klaipeda - Riga – Tallinn

Guaranteed tours available: July-August 2010, 10 days / 9 nights.
MHI07: 02.07-11.07.10
MHI09: 16.07-25.07.10
MHI11: 30.07-08.08.10
MHI13: 13.08-22.08.10

Tours are offered in 2 languages: English, German.Max 31 persons in the groups.

The tours are recommended for guests in normal physical condition between 35-65 years.