The Baltics & Russia

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia12 days

About

Experience the diverse delights of the Baltic States and Russia on this adventurous journey through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and on to historic St. Petersburg and dynamic Moscow. From capitals full of cobbled streets, castles and magnificent architecture to treasure troves of ancient fortresses, luxurious palaces and swirly-spired churches, this tour is a grand experience through the lesser-known capitals of northern Europe and two opulent Russian cities.

You should experience it because...

From the medieval spires of Tallinn and the funky bars of Riga to the baroque-styled quirks of Vilnius, the glamour of St. Petersburg, and the creative energy of Moscow, hidden delights await on this journey through rich history and fascinating customs.

A grand experience

Enjoy an organ concert at the Dome Cathedral in Riga

Medieval Trakai Castle, near Vilnuis, is the only castle in Europe that is surrounded by water on all sides.

Kadriorg Palace is said to be the grandest example of palace and park design in Estonian architectural history.

‘Feel’ Russian at the Nikolaevsky Palace in St. Petersburg at an unforgettable folk evening of songs, music and dancing with delicious canapés of caviar, cheese, ham and sausage.

Places covered 12 Days

Day 1 Arrival Vilnius, Lithuania
Day 2 Vilnius, sightseeing and attractions, and excursion to Trakai
Day 3 Vilnuis to Riga, Latvia
Day 4 Riga, sightseeing and attractions
Day 5 Riga to Tallinn, Estonia
Day 6 Tallinn, sightseeing and attractions, on to St. Petersburg
Day 7 St. Petersburg sightseeing and attractions
Day 8 St. Petersburg – Pushkin and the Peters of Palace
Day 9 St Petersburg to Moscow
Day 10 Moscow sightseeing and attractions
Day 11 Moscow sightseeing and attractions
Day 12 Depart

Days Details
1 Arrival Vilnius, Lithuania With Europe’s largest baroque old town, a quirky cultural side, and intriguing discoveries around every corner, Vilnius stands out as one of Europe’s more alluring destinations.
2 Vilnius, sightseeing and attractions, and excursion to Trakai Bizarre, beautiful and bewitching, Vilnius is a fascinating mix of Old Town charm, fairy-tale baroque splendour, and an underlying uniqueness that creates it soul. Unesco has declared this, Europe’s largest baroque old town, a World Heritage site. There are more than 1,200 medieval buildings and 48 churches in the city. See some of these in the panoramic sightseeing tour that also takes in the Old Town and Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, the Old University and the Gates of Dawn. Trakai Island Castle is the only Eastern European castle that has been built on an island. Surrounded by the waters of Lake Galve this well-preserved 15th century castle held great strategic importance in its time.
3 Vilnuis to Riga, Latvia Heading for Riga, stop at the Hills of Crosses, one of the most holy sites of Catholic Lithuania. Next stop is Rundale Palace, a unique treasure of baroque and rococo architecture and designed by a famous Italian architect Francesco Rastrelli – in the 18thcentury. Take in the fascinating history of this beautiful palace in a guided tour. Travelling through the lush rolling hills of southern Latvia, reach Riga late afternoon.
4 Riga, sightseeing and attractions Riga is overflowing with architectural gems and architectural styles. Its toy-town feel of medieval steeples and turrets mixes with modern European designs. Wander through the cobbled streets of Riga Old Town now a Unesco World Heritage Site. Take a walking tour of the Old Town past Riga Castle, the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, the Three Brothers, the Large and Small Guilds and the Freedom Monument. Visit the Ethnographical Open Air Museum a spacious exposition of 18th century country life. Listen to organ music at Riga Cathedral, one of the oldest sacral buildings in the entire Baltic region. And take a trip to the vibrant Latvian sea resort of Jurmala, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. Every Thursday the Open Air Museum invites you to see the age-old tradition of smoking the fish, as well as tasting the result free of charge!
5 Riga to Tallinn, Estonia Travelling along the beautiful Estonian coast to the summer resort of Parnu with its white sandy beaches, shallow waters and rich cultural scene. Continuing through the land of forests of north Estonia and arriving in Tallinn – a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life – in time for a walk through the Old Town, famous for its authentic Hanseatic architecture. Enjoy dinner sitting under the Gothic arches of the cellar at the Pepper sack Restaurant where everything is prepared right before your eyes in the open kitchen.
6 Tallinn, sightseeing and attractions, on to St. Petersburg Take a sightseeing tour around the medieval city walls. Take in Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, and the Aleksand Nevsky Cathedral with its golden onion roof-tops and luxurious interiors. Kadriorg Palace is considered to be the grandest example of palace and park design in Estonian architectural history. The palace, originally an imperial summer residence has been extremely well preserved since the early 18thcentury. Depart for St. Petersburg.
7 St. Petersburg sightseeing and attractions St. Petersburg, originally built on a swamp, is now a modern European city with an intricate network of canals, and a beautiful mix of baroque and neoclassical architecture. A sightseeing tour takes you to all of the splendours of the city including the Peter and Paul Fortress, the Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral, the Church of the Bleeding Saviour, and the Nevsky Convent. Visit the stunning state Hermitage Art Museum, set in the magnificent Winter Palace, with its roof topped by rows of classical statues. Enjoy an evening of champagne and Russian folklore at the beautiful Nikolaevsky Palace.
8 St. Petersburg – Pushkin and the Peterh of Palace The Peterh of Palace and Park are often referred to as ‘the Russian Versaille’. Inspired by Peter the Great, the majestic palace with its impressive Grand Cascade system of fountains and wonderful parks is truly magnificent. A visit to Catherine’s Palace at Pushkin will take your breath away. This 18th century palace is nearly 1km in circumference, with elaborately decorated blue-and-white facades featuring gilded atlantes, caryatids and pilasters. The interiors are no less spectacular.
9 St. Petersburg to Moscow Moscow’s Red Square at night, tourist’s delight – it’s even more beautiful than in the photos! This tour by night takes you to some of Moscow’s outstanding highlights including Tverskaya Street, Sofiyskaya and Kremlin embankments, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Novodevhichy Convent, and Poklonnaya Hill. Take in the wonderful sight of Moscow at night from Sparrows Hills, a beautiful Moscow park located on one of the ‘seven hills of Moscow’. Admire the Red Stars of the Kremlin and the onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral.
10 Moscow sightseeing and attractions Take a wonderful city tour with Tretakov Gallery. Amble down Tverskaya Street, Moscow’s Fifth Avenue that hums in the summer with people browsing the chic shops and enjoying the art nouveau buildings. Be amazed by the gargantuan Cathedral of Christ the Saviour that dominates the skyline along the Moscow River, and the Novodevichy Convent – founded in 1524 to celebrate the taking of Smokensk from Lithuania. Up to Poklonnaya Hill, set in an area that is steeped in Russian military history, with its five terraces symbolising five years of conflict and 1,418 fountains – one for every day. Past majestic Moscow State University, to Sparrows Hill for a spectacular daytime panoramic view of the city and sights of the tent roofs and onion domes of St. Basil’s Cathedral, the apex of Russian political power – the Kremlin, and the pyramid architecture of the Lenin mausoleum. Finally, the Tretyakov Gallery, the exotic boyar castle that houses the world’s best collection of Russian icons and an outstanding collection of Russian art. If nightlife is your thing, head off after dinner to the legendary Krysha Mira ‘roof of the world’ that’s hidden away in the old Badaevsky brewery and one of Moscow’s most exclusive places to party.
11 Moscow sightseeing and attractions A day trip to Sergiev Posad, the town that pays tributes to St. Sergius of Radonezh, founder of the local Trinity Monastery and patron saint of all of Russia. About 60km from Moscow on the Yaroslavl road, it is an easy day trip from Moscow. The monastery exudes Orthodoxy – bearded priests bustle about, babushkas fill bottles of holy water, and crowds of believers light candles to St. Sergius, Keeper of Russia. Music enthusiasts can delight in informal choral concerts, even a small midday church service produces some hypnotising harmonies. The town claims to be the birthplace of the ‘matryoshka’, the famous nesting doll. Hunt for one to take back as a souvenir from one of the many shops in the run-down and yet charming streets of the town.
12 Depart

€ 2,300 per person	(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
Price Per Person in Twin Sharing Accomodation
(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
All rates mentioned are an approximate price per person on a twin-sharing basis, and are based on a minimum of 6-9 adults travelling together. Rates are subject to change based on the number of passengers and the time of year. (Flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches & dinners, personal expenses not included. There may be some itinerary activities not included also – please ask). Inclusions : - Traditional ,Boutique or Heritage accommodation where possible or Quality accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) in centrally located 4*Hotels . -Meals – breakfast in all destinations - Internal Travel by rail - ferries - coach as applicable -Guided sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary as applicable -All arrival and departure departure transfers -Entrance and excursion costs as indicated Travel is based on private coaches with Expert Local guides . You do have the option of Independent travel .Get in Touch to discuss on how we could tailor the trip to suit you .

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Russia is a year-round destination that positively blooms in spring and summer, with palaces, parks & gardens in Moscow and St. Petersburg heaving with beautiful flowers, luscious green foliage and manicured lawns. Enjoy ‘white nights’ in northern St. Petersburg during mid-summer, travel on the Trans-Siberian express to Lake Baikal in spring & autumn, & enjoy winter adventures in picture-perfect snowscapes in Kamchatka & Eastern Russia. From May through to September the Baltics are thriving, with beautiful natural landscapes in Lithuania, architectural treasures in Latvia, and wonderful parks & palaces in Estonia.

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About Us

Freedom Holidays is passionate about creating inspirational tailor-made travel to Europe and beyond. Our business is your pleasure and our expert and dedicated team is here to listen to your travel needs down to the ‘nth’ degree, leaving you ‘free’ to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime with no gimmicks, no hassle, and no stress. What makes us different? With 14 years experience of providing quality tailor-made customised holidays with an ‘off-the beaten-track’ themed approach, we take you to well-known destinations as well as far flung locations (or a mixture of both), leaving you safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after every step of the way.

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