Email Email Us  |   888.903.2001  |   Client Login  |   USA Flag - Show USD currency  British Flag - Show GBP Currency
Kensington Tours - Private Guided Travel Worldwide (Logo)
Search  

 North America

 South America

 Central America

 Europe - West

 Europe - Central & East

 Africa

 Egypt & Middle East

 India & Area

 Asia

 Australia & Pacific


7 Day Baltics Discovery
Highlights: Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius
Trip start: Tallinn
Trip end: Vilnius
Price Range from $1,078pp (4ppl), from $1,302pp (2ppl) *
* USD per person, double occupancy. Custom designed personal tour. Prices subject to change.

National Geographic Adventure Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth '98.33 Client Satisfaction Rating'

Winner National Geographic 'Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth'
2008 & 2009

Trip Summary
Map of Itinerary
Expand [+]

Explore the unique history of the Baltic nations with your private English Speaking guide. A proud maritime tradition, mix of Soviet culture and today's westernized capitals all combine to make this trip memorable. Visitors will enjoy a richly rewarding stroll through the compact old cities lined with cafes, boutiques, spectacular churches and castles. Private transfers between cities offer the chance to explore the countryside or stop at a quaint shop on a whim. Enjoy it all with the convenience of a personal vehicle and driver.

Day Activities Hotel
Day 1
Tallinn
  • Tallinn: Transfer - Airport - Car/Driver
  • Kensington Cares **
  • Dinner at leisure
Domina City Inn (4*) (B)
Day 2
Tallinn
  • Tour - Private - 1/2 d Walking tour - Guide
  • Lunch at leisure
  • Dinner at leisure
Domina City Inn (4*) (B)
Day 3
Tallinn - Riga
  • Transfer - Riga via Parnu - Car/Driver
  • Lunch at leisure
  • Dinner at leisure
Hanza (3*) (B)
Day 4
Riga
  • Riga: Tour - Private - 1/2 d Walking tour - Guide
  • Lunch at leisure
  • Dinner at leisure
Hanza (3*) (B)
Day 5
Riga - Vilnius
  • Transfer - Vilnius Incl. Rundale Palace (local guide) and Hill Of Crosses - Car/Driver
  • At Leisure
  • Dinner at leisure
City Gate (3*) (B)
Day 6
Vilnius
  • Vilnius: Tour - Private - 1/2 d Walking city tour - Guide
  • Dinner at leisure
City Gate (3*) (B)
Day 7
Vilnius
  • Transfer - Airport - Car/Driver
Depart (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, 1/2d = Half Day, Al = All Inclusive

Trip Options
All our tours are suggestions only and can be customized as you wish. Our Eastern Europe itineraries are designed to fit together like building blocks. From Russia to the Baltics, Poland, Habsburg (Austria/Hungary/Czech Republic), Romania, Slovenia and Croatia - you can mix and match to create your ideal itinerary. Pick from three levels of tours. VALUE offers full service with carefully vetted hotels in condensed itineraries. PREMIUM features five star properties and a more complete list of sights. EXCLUSIVE dazzles with the region's top hotels and VIP amenities.

Itinerary

Day 1
Tallinn
Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver. Kensington Tours donates a portion of our proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Situated in the old city of Tallinn, Domina City Inn (4*) is surrounded by the business and entertainment districts and is adjacent to fashionable shops and restaurants. Reflecting a tradition of classical style and elegance, the hotel offers a charming setting, ideal for any traveler. All 68 elegantly designed guest rooms feature amenities to satisfy the needs of the most demanding customer and include a computer with high-speed internet in each room. The warm atmosphere and professional staff of Domina Inn City will make your stay in Tallinn pleasant and memorable.
Tallinn is an ancient Hanseatic city and the capital of Estonia, Tallinn has a wealth of historical and architectural monuments, particularly in the old town center which is dominated by the soaring steeple of the medieval Town Hall (14th to 15th centuries), the oldest in northern Europe. More than two-thirds of the original City Wall still stands and a superb view of the narrow streets, the gabled roofs and the towers and spires of old Tallinn is afforded from Toompea Castle, situated on a cliff top. A favorite recreation spot is Kadriorg Park, which contains the palace built for Peter the Great. The Open Air Museum offers visitors a glimpse into the way of rural life in the 18th and 19th centuries.


Tallinn
Tallinn
The Domina Inn City situated in the old city of Tallinn
The Domina Inn City situated in the old city of Tallinn

Day 2
Tallinn
Start your walk at Toompea Hill. Tallinn was founded on Toompea in the 11th century, visit the Parliament building and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its onion domes, built in 1900. Next to the church is a 14th-15th century fortress wall with the remains of a medieval citadel. To follow is the Dome Cathedral, built 13th-14th centuries, with its interesting collection of coats-of-arms, tombstones. The tour then takes you to two viewing platforms that offer breathtaking panoramic views of Tallinn. Long Leg or Short Leg (Streets) then lead you to the Lower Old Town. Visit the Kadriorg Palace In the Lower Town, the tour then passes St. Nicholas Church (Museum of Medieval Art), the Great Guild and the Brotherhood of the Blackheads (both medieval guild houses), and the Church of the Holy Ghost. The tour ends in the Town Hall Square where you can see the Town Hall Pharmacy, which has been in business for 500 years, and the Town Hall, a Gothic masterpiece. Entrance fees are not included in the tour price. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).


Day 3
Tallinn - Riga
Transfer from Tallinn to Riga, stop in Parnu, Estonian "Summer Capital", with your private vehicle and driver. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Situated in the center of Riga, Hanza Hotel (3*) is close to the bridges across the Daugava River and the Academy of Science. This hotel offers 80 comfortable rooms that are equipped with standard amenities. Relax in the comfort of their room after a busy day of sightseeing. Most of the rooms overlook the Church of Jesus, the tallest wooden building in Latvia. The in-house Hanza Pub Restaurant offers a variety of delicious foods, along with delectable cocktails. The banquet hall with 40 seats is an ideal environment for a private party or for a family celebration, a coffee break or lunch. Riga is one of the most beautiful of the Baltic cities featuring remarkable Gothic, Baroque, Classical and Art Nouveau buildings. The center of the city is considered to contain the finest concentration of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Old Riga contains a remarkable diversity of architectural styles, perhaps best epitomised by the Dome Cathedral. Begun in 1211, the building has been added to throughout the centuries, resulting in a fascinating blend of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles. The numerous other historical buildings in Riga bear witness to Latvia’s chequered history. Since its restoration after World War I, the old quarter of the city has been a protected area. Merchants’ houses from the Middle Ages such as the Three Brothers and the 24 warehouses in the old quarter are also picturesque examples of Latvian architecture.


Riga
Riga
Hanza Hotel
Hanza Hotel

Day 4
Riga
The guided walking tour of the Old Riga takes you down the streets of the center of this medieval Hanseatic old town. Marvel at the splendors of the Dome Cathedral, the Old Guild house, the Riga Castle, and the architectural wonders of the Jugendstil district. The walking tour continues to the Monument of Freedom then proceeds to the newly renovated Opera House. From there the tour takes you into Old Riga with the stops at Konveta Seta, the colorful 13th century buildings which formerly housed the Convent of the Holy Spirit and is now a modern hotel complex; St. Peters Church, which offers a panoramic view over the old town, the House of the Blackheads, first mentioned in 1334, destroyed in 1941, and recently rebuilt in time for the celebration of Riga’s 800th anniversary; the Dome Cathedral, built in the 13th century, contains one of the biggest organs in the world with 6718 pipes; the Riga Castle, now the residence of the President of Latvia; and the houses of the Latvian parliament building, the Saeima. The tour also includes visits to many other sites of historical and architectural interest such as Jackob’s Barracks and the Powder Tower. Enjoy lunch at leisure (not included in tour price). Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).


Day 5
Riga - Vilnius
Enjoy a private transfer from Riga to Vilnius. During your transfer visit Rundale Palace located 66 km away of Riga. One of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Latvia was built in 1736-1740 as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland, Ernst Johann Biron. The palace was designed by outstanding Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, the creator of the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg. The Rundale Palace is unique; it is one of the few remaining places in Latvia, where the very essence of the 18th century may still be experienced. During this tour you will have a local guide at your disposal. Continue your tour with Hill of Crosses. Entrance fee to Rundale Palace is included in the tour cost. Enjoy time at leisure to explore at your own pace, or relax in your hotel. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price). Ideally located in the picturesque Old Town of Vilnius, close to the City Gates, City Gate Hotel (3*) is warm and hospitable; ideal for discerning travelers who require a host of facilities. All rooms are spacious and stylish with modern amenities, such as free wireless internet connection, and guests can make use of the hotel’s 2two conference halls, as well as the stylish and comfortable internal courtyard. Begin your day with a rich buffet breakfast and end it with a delicious dinner at the stylish restaurant. Vilnius is surrounded on three sides by wooded hills and situated in a picturesque valley formed by the rivers Neris and Vilnia, the ancient yet modern center of the city lies on the southern or left bank of the river. Vilnius' Old Town is the biggest in Europe and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Unlike Riga and Tallinn in the other Baltic Republics, Vilnius is not of Germanic origin. Almost all major European architectural styles are represented, although ultimately it was the Baroque which came to dominate. The heart of the capital is the beautiful and spacious Gediminas Square, the main feature of which is the Cathedral built in the Classical style. Other interesting churches are the Gothic St Ann’s Church and the St Peter and St Paul’s Church. To enjoy a view of the whole city, visitors should climb the Gediminas Tower. High on a hill in the center of the city, it rises above Vilnius and is the symbol of the Lithuanian capital.


Vilnius
Vilnius
The Hanza Hotel in Riga
The Hanza Hotel in Riga

Day 6
Vilnius
The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. In the 14th century, at the foot of the hill, the town started to develop. In 1503, Vilnius was surrounded by the defensive wall and since then the town was growing outside. Old Town of Vilnius is not only one of the most beautiful, but one of the biggest in Europe. The heart of Vilnius, Old Town, is a mixture of different epochs and architectural styles. Light and elegant town architecture is presented by the gothic buildings: Church of St Francis, Church of St Anne, and others. Austere Renaissance buildings - Gates of Dawn, St Michael Church, some of the university buildings - add classical sounding to the Old Town ensemble. The Noble Cathedral and Tower Hall, the outstanding examples of Classicism, dominate the Cathedral Square. The masterpiece of Vilnius baroque by right is considered to be St Peter and St Paul's Church. There are more than one thousand archeological, historical, architectural and cultural monuments in the Old Town. That's why in 1994 Vilnius was included in the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage. Visit Vilnius Cathedral and Town Hall Square, Vilnius University, built in various styles: gothic, renaissance, baroque and classicism. Continue to St Anne's and Bernardine Churches, Gate of Dawn and St Peter and Paul's Church. Entrance fees are not included in the tour cost. Enjoy dinner at leisure (not included in tour price).


Day 7
Vilnius
Airport transfer with private vehicle and driver. Depart from Villnius airport - end of itinerary.



Trip Includes
Accomodations in the mentioned hotels- Service of an English speaking professional guide - Walking city tours - Guaranteed departure - Private airport transfers as per the itinerary - Private transfers by car between the cities-Meal plan as per the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner) - Specialized and personalized services - All entrance fees to include local government taxes.

Trip Excludes
Laundry - Tips - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages including mineral water - International airfare - Optional activities/extras.

Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • The price shown is per person, and does not include international air fare to/from the trip start point
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes. We will endeavour to confirm final hotel bookings as soon as possible.
  • Cancellations 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund less any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.kensingtontours.com/terms.cfm