Across Three Lands: The Spirit of the Baltics

Day 1: Arrive in Vilnius – The Baroque Heart of the Baltics

Your Baltic adventure begins in Vilnius, Lithuania’s beautiful capital. A private driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your centrally located hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you might like to wander the cobbled streets nearby - where church bells echo through the Baroque skyline and lively cafés spill onto quiet courtyards.

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Day 2: Vilnius – Old Town Charm & Hilltop Views

This morning, set out on a guided walking tour through one of Europe’s most enchanting Old Towns. Explore the magnificent Vilnius Cathedral, stroll past pastel façades along Pilies Street, and climb to Gediminas Tower for sweeping city views. Learn how Vilnius became a crossroads of faiths and cultures, home to artists, philosophers and dreamers. The afternoon is free to explore - perhaps browse craft boutiques or linger in a local café.

 

Day 3: Trakai - Lakeside Beauty

A short drive brings you to Trakai, a picture-perfect town set among shimmering lakes. Visit the red-brick island castle, one of Lithuania’s most photographed landmarks, and hear stories of the Karaim community who have lived here for centuries. In the afternoon return to Vilnius.

 

Day 4: Hill of Crosses & Ancient Village – Faith and Rural Heritage

Travel north towards Klaipėda, pausing at one of Lithuania’s most powerful sites - the Hill of Crosses. Thousands of wooden crosses have been placed here over generations, symbolising hope and resilience. Continue to Telšiai, a small town built on seven hills, and visit an ancient ethnographic village museum, where time seems to stand still among traditional wooden houses and farm buildings.

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Day 5: Curonian Spit & Nida – Amber, Dunes & Smoked Fish Lunch

A full-day excursion takes you to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site where pine forests meet towering dunes. Wander through the artists’ village of Nida, visit the Amber Museum, and learn how this “Baltic gold” has shaped local identity. Stop at a family-run café for lunch featuring freshly smoked fish - a cherished local tradition - before returning to Klaipėda in the late afternoon.

 

Day 6: Klaipėda & Liepāja – Coastal Culture and WWII History

Visit the Castle Museum – Kurtina and the Museum 39–45 for a fascinating look at Klaipėda’s layered past. Cross into Latvia and arrive in Liepāja, the country’s third-largest city, known as the “city where the wind is born.” Explore its Art Nouveau buildings, coastal parklands and the Karaosta district - a former military base now home to creative spaces and poignant reminders of Latvia’s Soviet history.

 

Day 7: Alsunga & Kuldīga – Suiti Traditions and Waterfall Town

Head inland to Alsunga, home of the Suiti people - a small Catholic community surrounded by Lutheran parishes. Meet locals who continue to preserve their unique customs and colourful national costumes, and if it’s Sunday, enjoy the lively farmers’ market. Continue to Kuldīga, whose cobblestone streets, red rooftops and the gentle flow of the Venta River create a scene straight out of a painting. Don’t miss Europe’s widest waterfall, Venta Rumba.

 

Day 8: Jaunmokas, Ķemeri & Riga – Palace, Nature Trail & Arrival in the Capital

Drive through the scenic Abava Valley to visit Jaunmokas Palace - a blend of Neo-Gothic design and Art Nouveau elegance, built as a hunting lodge for Riga’s mayor in 1901. Continue to Ķemeri National Park, where a peaceful wooden boardwalk winds through the Great Bog. Surrounded by moss, still waters, and the scent of pine, this walk offers a quiet connection with nature. Later, arrive in Riga and settle into your hotel.

 

Day 9: Riga – Old Town & Art Nouveau Elegance

Join your guide for a walking tour of Riga, a city that effortlessly balances history and modern life. Explore the UNESCO-listed Old Town with its Gothic churches and merchant houses, then wander through the elegant Art Nouveau district - one of the finest in Europe. The afternoon is free to visit museums, browse local markets, or simply enjoy the city’s café culture.

 

Day 10: Sigulda, Līgatne & Valmiera – Castles, Wine & Craft Beer Tasting

Venture into Gauja National Park, often called the “Switzerland of Latvia.” Visit Turaida Castle, stroll among artisan workshops, and stop in Līgatne to sample locally made wines. Nearby, explore the Secret Soviet Bunker - a fascinating Cold War relic hidden deep underground. End your day in Valmiera with a guided tour and tasting at a craft brewery located in a former hunting lodge of a Prussian duke.

 

Day 11: Setomaa & Tartu – Living Traditions & Local Encounters

Cross into Estonia and spend the day in Setomaa, where the Seto people maintain a way of life shaped by faith, song and strong community ties. With local guide, visit the Seto Museum, Orthodox church and gallery, and enjoy a hearty lunch prepared from family recipes. Continue to Tartu, Estonia’s oldest city and a centre of learning and creativity.

 

Day 12: Tartu – University City & Riverside Spirit

Take a morning walking tour through Tartu’s leafy streets and elegant squares. Visit the historic university and discover how this small city blends academia with art and innovation. In your free time, consider visiting the Estonian National Museum, a fascinating insight into the country’s cultural heritage, before relaxing by the riverside cafés that give Tartu its gentle rhythm.

 

Day 13: Lake Peipus – Old Believers’ Villages & Northern Shores

Follow the scenic Onion Route along the shores of Lake Peipus. Discover villages where Russian Old Believers have preserved their distinct customs for centuries, and see their traditional wooden homes decorated with colourful shutters. Continue north through rolling countryside to Tallinn, where history and innovation meet.

 

Day 14: Tallinn – Medieval Towers & Timeless Streets

A guided walking tour reveals the best of Tallinn’s UNESCO-listed Old Town. Stroll along cobbled streets lined with merchant houses, visit the Town Hall Square, and take in the panoramic views from Toompea Hill. Spend your last afternoon exploring local design boutiques or enjoying a quiet moment by the sea.

 

Day 15: Departure – Farewell or New Beginnings

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your private transfer to the airport - or extend your stay in Tallinn. With its vibrant dining scene, boutique galleries, and seaside cafés, Tallinn invites you to linger a little longer.

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For those wishing to continue their journey, ferries make it easy to travel onwards - just two hours across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki, known for its design culture and relaxed Nordic lifestyle; or take an overnight ferry to Stockholm, sailing through a labyrinth of islands before arriving in Sweden’s capital of timeless elegance and waterfront charm.