Gems of the Baltic's and Northern Europe
Beginning in beautiful St Petersburg we journey through some of the less travelled regions of North Eastern Europe and cap our journey off with two of the most stunning cities in the western world. Krakow and Prague. Destinations that reflect to best of classical European culture, architecture and medieval history
Our journey begins in the "drawing room" of Russia. No city reflects better the classical style of pre revolution Russia, home to the Tsars and the grandeur of long lost times. We head into the mythical states of the Baltic’s immersing ourselves in the various styles, architecture and cuisines of these northern outposts that are now well and truly part of the European community. We enjoy a taste of Poland’s capital Warsaw and then time in the cities of Krakow and Prague, two of the richest cultural centres of Europe. An amazing diverse journey through a region long overlooked. Join us as we unlock the secrets of the past...
***THIS TOUR CAN BE EASILY COMBINED WITH OUR GRAND TRAVERSE – BEIJING TO ST. PETERSBURG TOUR*** |
Day 1 - Arrive St Petersburg Arrival day (no activities planned) Day 2 - St Petersburg to Tallinn We depart by comfortable express coach to Tallinn. The journey takes around 6 hours including formalities at the Russia/Estonia border. Arriving in Tallinn early afternoon we have time for an orientation and dinner in the old city Day 3 - Tallinn Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. We enjoy a walk around the medieval city and into the Old Town where we can see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Old Town Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is on offer to the Bastion Tunnels for a glimpse of the past and an idea of the future. This evening we may choose to enjoy a medieval dinner at the Olde Hansa restaurant Day 4 - Tallinn to Riga We continue along the coastal highway to the Latvian capital, Riga. Founded in 1201 it is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of architectural styles. A walk through the Old Town includes stops at Riga Castle, St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gates, Three Brothers and the Freedom Monument. The afternoon is free for exploration or an optional visit to Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. In the evening enjoy an optional Latvian dinner at the stylish Restaurant La Boheme Day 5 - Riga Many options are available today. You have the possibility of a morning tour which takes in the stunning scenery of the Gauja National Park and the town of Sigulda. You will hear the medieval Latvian legend of the Rose of Turaida, and see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the Castle of the Knights of the Sword before returning to Riga. The afternoon is free to visit the Ethnographical Open Air Museum Day 6 - Riga to Vilnius We travel to Vilnius and arrive in the early afternoon. Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. In the Old Town we find Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anne’s Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. In the evening enjoy an optional folklore dinner at Restaurant Belmontas Day 7 - Vilnius Enjoy the city of Vilnius today or perhaps take an optional tour to Trakai known for its fairy-tale red brick Gothic castle on a pretty lake. It is also famous because of the Karaimes who are a small ethnic group that reside in Trakai. Tasting their national dish Kibinai (meat pastry) is a must Day 8 - Vilnius to Warsaw We drive through the Dzukija region, densely covered with pine forests, before crossing the border into Poland. We continue along the eastern fringe of the Masurian Lakeland, a myriad of postglacial lakes representing some of the most beautiful nature in Poland. We arrive late afternoon for an evening in Warsaw Day 9 - Warsaw to Krakow Our train to Krakow heads through the low lying plains of Central Poland. For half a millennium Krakow was the royal capital of Poland and for centuries the city walls have guarded its traditions and secrets. We can enjoy dinner tonight main market square of the Old Town Day 10 - Krakow We have a day to explore Krakow perhaps visiting the Wawel Castel and museums. The Kazimierz (Jewish) is also an option or perhaps a sombre visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is also on offer which is an amazing labyrinth of tunnels going down as far as 327 meters. The evening offer an optional Polish dinner at Restaurant Hawelka Day 11 - Krakow to Prague Our train heads west towards the stunning city of Prague. For over 1000 years this city has been a major political, cultural, and economic centre of Europe. It is home to beautiful museums, theatres, galleries as well as other historical sites Day 12 - Prague We have time today to explore at your leisure. Attractions include the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge, the Old Town Square, the Jewish Quarter, and the Lennon Wall. In 1992 the historic centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our final night in the Old Town to savour our journey Day 13 - Depart Prague You may depart Prague any time today |  |
Trip Options
| Single Travellers: | Inquire | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Accommodation: | Single Inquire | Details |
| Double Inquire |
***THIS TOUR CAN BE EASILY COMBINED WITH OUR GRAND TRAVERSE – BEIJING TO ST. PETERSBURG TOUR***
Local Payment
Your Local Payment is collected by your group leader in cash at your group meeting on Day 1 of the trip and is part of your tour price. The money is spent locally on your tour.
Inclusions and Exclusions
Extra Accommodation
Pre and post trip accommodation is offered on most journeys pending availability. Please indicate in your enquiry if you require any rooms before or after your tour and the amount of nights requested.
For tours where the start and finish points are different w can assist you with your arrangements in both locations.
Single Traveller
Global Drift encourages interactive experiences for all of our travellers. As such we presume that you will be happy to share accommodation with a same sex person should you be travelling alone.
However, for those that would prefer a single room for the tour we do offer a single supplement. This also applies to single travellers who we are not able to match up.
It must be stated however that on many of our tours we stay in small family owned guesthouse accommodation. In certain instances with full groups the passenger combinations may not always allow you to enjoy a single room. Please keep this in mind when booking your single supplement. We will however, always do our best to accommodate you.
Please make your request for this service a minimum of 3 months prior to your journey.
The quoted extra payment is for the entire trip.
Single Travellers
Global Drift encourages interactive experiences for all of our travellers. As such we presume that you will be happy to share accommodation with a same sex person should you be travelling alone.
Due to the exploratory nature of this journey no single supplement is offered.
Airport Arrival Transfer
Global Drift offers an optional arrival transfer to your hotel at the quoted fee.
In your trip dossier you will receive directions on how to make your way to your starting point hotel. It is quite easy and possibly cheaper than we are able to offer it.
Should you require this service please advise us at the time of your booking.