DESCRIPTION:

Explore the beautiful Baltic Coast, a maritime region of Northern Europe that few Americans have discovered and some call northern Europe’s best kept secret. The people of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were some of Europe’s last pagans and the first to wrest independence from the Soviet Union. Their land is a patchwork of field and forest and their medieval capital cities – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – are precious UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although these countries are close to Scandinavia and share a similar landscape to Sweden and Finland, they boast a lifestyle that is more reminiscent of Italy or Spain.

Venture outside the cities to be dazzled by the unspoiled nature and charming towns. Visit a pristine coastline of rolling white sand dunes backed by whispering forests where elk and wild boar roam free. The countryside is also an ideal spot for spa-seekers, where there will be some time for pampering with treatments such as juniper baths, caviar facials and massage with hot lava stones. Admire five different UNESCO World Heritage Sites in these three little countries. Learn about the Soviet influence among thousands of crosses planted on Lithuania’s Hill of Crosses, a powerful symbol of faith and resistance; delve into the dark Soviet past during a visit to the KGB Museum in Vilnius.

Tour highlights include:

• Wander Lithuania’s Curonion Spit, a 5,000-year-old 60-mile strip of dunes that is a paradise for more than 15 million migratory waterfowl, hopefully coinciding with our visit.

• Ferry to Estonia’s island of Saaremaa and lunch at the wonderful restaurant of the 16th-century Padaste Manor, known for its cuisine, then inspect the ancient craters, the remains of a meteorite impact during the 1st century BCE.

• Enjoy various performances: in the town of Kuressaare, Estonia, take in a private musical performance in the Bishop’s Castle; listen to one of the biggest organs in Europe during a concert at Riga’s impressive Dom Cathedral; slip backstage at Riga’s Opera House and attend a performance.

CONSIDER:

It is possible to include some walks or hikes through some of the National Parks in the Baltics. Witness unspoiled nature as we walk along park trails and over bogs through Estonia’s Lahemaa National Park; canoe, walk, or relax in Latvia’s Gauja National Park, where caves and canyons harbor hundreds of species of plants and animals; explore the strange landscape of corrugated sand dunes, little villages, and forests of linden, elm, birch and pine of the UNESCO-listed Curonian Spit.

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

Please inquire.