10 days / 9 nights - from £865 pp

The Extended Baltics tour is an excellent way to get a true overview of the Baltic region. With this guided tour, not only do you see the thriving capitals of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius, but you also get a chance to explore the countryside and coast. You have the opportunity to visit one of the world's true natural wonders, the Curonian Spit, and stop to view the unspoiled nature of the Gauja National Park.

Package price is from £ 865 per person based on availability and two people sharing a twin or double room, single supplement is £280.

Extended Baltics Tour - 2012 guaranteed departure dates:

Package includes:

• Direct flights from London Stansted or London Gatwick to Tallinn (we can arrange connecting flights from other airports upon request)
• Airport transfers in Tallinn
• 9 nights at centrally located 3-4 star hotels
• Breakfast at hotels
• Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
• Entrances to Palmse Manor House, Rundale Palace, Old University in Vilnius, St. Peters Church in Riga and medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn
• English speaking tour guides on all tours
• Quality motor coaches or minivans throughout the itinerary
• Portage at hotels
• All taxes

Optional tours and meals:
- 8-hour excursion to the Curonian Spit: £68.00 pp
- Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Luja: £30.00 pp
- Organ concert at the Dome Cathedral: £30.00 pp
- 4 hour excursion to Jurmala: £34.00 pp
- Latvian dinner at Restaurant La Boheme: £34.00 pp
- 3-hour excursion to Kadriorg Park and Palace: £34.00 pp
- Medieval dinner at Restaurant Peppersack: £34.00 pp
- Half board at hotels (9 x 3 course dinners): £190.00 pp

Extended Baltics itinerary:

DAY 1 (FRIDAY):  ARRIVAL IN TALLINN
Arrival in Tallinn, transfer to Hotel Radison Blu Olympia**** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.

DAY 2 (SATURDAY):  TALLINN - CESIS
After breakfast we head to Lahenaa National Park and visit the Manor Houses in Palmse and Vihula. We continue to Tartu, the university town, where Estonia 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 the Hotel Kolonna Cesis*** or similar.

DAY 3 (SUNDAY):  CESIS - VILNIUS
Today we drive through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, a popular holiday resort. We see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the ruins of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before we drive around Riga to hit the highway down to Vilnius. En route we reach the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. After a guided tour of the palace we travel through Lithuania to reach Vilnius late afternoon. Upon arrival in Vilnius we check in at Hotel Radison Blu Lietuva**** or similar.

DAY 4 (MONDAY):  VILNIUS - KLAIPEDA
Vilnius is known for its more than 1,200 medieval buildings and 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 and we visit the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. The balance of the day is spend en route to Klaipeda, where we arrive late afternoon and check-in at Hotel Radisson Blu Klaipeda**** or similar.

DAY 5 (TUESDAY):  KLAIPEDA
The day is reserved for a full-day optional 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 the Hill of Witches in the resort town of Juodkrante. We then visit the resort town of Nida, with the High Dunes and Thomas Mann’s summerhouse and get acquainted with this charming town before driving back to Klaipeda. In the evening there is an optional Lithuanian dinner at Restaurant Luja.

DAY 6 (WEDNESDAY):  KLAIPEDA - RIGA
Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and had a long history as a German town called Memel. Take a short sightseeing tour of 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 Samogitia National Park for a walking tour around picturesque Lake Plateliai. After that we continue to Siauliai and the famous Hill of Crosses before heading to Riga late in the afternoon and check-in at Hotel Radison Blu Latvija**** or similar. The evening offers an optional organ concert at the Dome Cathedral.

DAY 7 (THURSDAY):  RIGA
Riga founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert is the largest of the three 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 an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian resort town famous for its wooden architecture and white, sandy beaches. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme.

DAY 8 (FRIDAY):  RIGA - TALLINN
The tour continues along the coastal highway to the Estonian summer resort of Parnu, with a short tour of the resort and a leisurely walk on the beach. The balance of the day goes through North Estonian land of forest to Tallinn, check-in at Hotel Radison Blu Olympia**** or similar

DAY 9 (SATURDAY):  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 an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park, with a visit to Kadriorg Palace and its art collection.  The evening offers an optional medieval dinner at the Restaurant Peppersack.

DAY 10 (SUNDAY):  DEPARTURE FROM TALLINN
Transfer to the airport.