Take this exciting walking holiday to Estonia and Latvia. This short one-week Estonia holiday and Latvia holiday visits two ex-Soviet Baltic States now finding their way in the west since independence from Soviet Russia came in the early 1990s. We start with spending some time in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Estonia, exploring the Baltic sea-coast capital of Tallinn. Then we will move south to Tartu in Estonia and Cesis in Latvia. We end our tour in another World Heritage City as we spend time in Riga, with the option of a day trip to the seaside resort of Jurmala.
Destinations – Tallinn; Tartu; Cesis; Riga.
DAY 1. JOIN TOUR IN TALLINN
Today we meet up with our Tour Leader at our hotel in Talinn. After an introductory briefing on the days ahead its time to explore the nightlife of the old city.
DAY 2. IN TALLINN; CITY TOUR
After breakfast we meet our guide, and spend the morning on a walking tour of the old city. Tallinn is one of the most complete medieval cities in Europe, and, justly, has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The city is quite small, with around half a million inhabitants, so it’s easy to take in the main sights. The afternoon is left free for optional excursions; time to wander the cobbled streets of the old town, to climb up to Toompea castle, to follow the fortified walls that enclose the city or just sip a coffee at one of the outdoor cafes in the main square and watch the world go by.
DAY 3. BUS TO TARTU
This morning we take the public bus to the city of Tartu, the second city of Estonia, some two hundred kilometres to the south of Tallinn. Arriving around mid-day we check into our hotel, with time for lunch. In the afternoon we have a guided walking tour of the city. The capital of southern Estonia, Tartu is something of an intellectual centre, boasting the country’s oldest University. The majority of the city sights are around Barclay Square, the main square of the city, but the place has an intriguing mixture of Germanic, and Soviet architecture scattered throughout the town. Being a university town, the nightlife in Tartu is usually lively, with numerous cafes and bars to explore in the evening.
DAY 4. IN TARTU; EXCURSION INTO TARTU COUNTY
Today we travel north of Tartu to Peipsi Jarv or Lake Peipsi, where we take the opportunity to follow some walking trails through the pine forests areas around the sandy shore and enjoy the fresh air by the water.
DAY 5. BUS TO CESIS IN LATVIA
This morning we continue by public bus, crossing the border into Latvia, to the town of Cesis, on the Gauja River. Reaching our hotel around lunchtime the rest of the day is free to explore the town. Cesis is an old town, dating from the 13th century, and there are several medieval buildings remaining, including the remains of the castle, located in Castle Park. If you just want to relax, then Rose Square, often known as Market Square is the centre of town.
DAY 6. TRAIN TO RIGA
After breakfast we transfer to the station and take the train to Riga, the Latvian capital and the largest city in the Baltic region. We started our tour in one UNESCO World Heritage site and we end in another. A blend of the medieval and the modern, the city lies on the River Daugava, which splits the metropolis into two. In the afternoon we have a tour of the city. The Lutheran Cathedral here is the largest in the Baltics and there are several other churches of interest in the Old Town, whilst the Motor Museum offers something a little different.
DAY 7. IN RIGA; OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO JURMALA
Our last day is left free, to use as we prefer. You may prefer to explore more of Riga, or to take a train to Jurmala. Lying about twenty-five kilometres from Riga, the town is the country’s premier seaside and spa resort, and once a favourite spot for Brezhnev and Khrushchev in Soviet days. Spas, and hiking in the woods near town added to the appeal of the long beaches, some twenty miles or so in length. Back in Riga for the evening there is a last chance to explore the vibrant nightlife of the Baltic States.
DAY 8. TOUR ENDS
After breakfast our tour ends. Time to head for the airport and the flight back to the UK.
NOTE: We make no extra charge for minor changes to hotels or hotel add-ons to the beginning or the end of the existing itinerary. No surcharges will be imposed within 30 days of departure. Wherever possible any downward revision in the price of trips if shown in our ‘Special Offers’ will be refunded to you.
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