Kaliningrad & the Baltics
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"I liked having more time than those who came by ship would have. Travel by coach allowed a more in-depth look at the countries, including rural life. There was an excellent mix of things to see."
Jenkin Jones
Tulsa, OK
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This overland journey roves the countryside and urban centers of four distinct nations: the three independent Baltic countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia - and Kaliningrad, an exclave of Russia.
Days 1-2: Tallinn
Begin in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, with its collage of narrow cobblestone streets and red-roofed buildings. Step back 700 years for a torchlight tour of a medieval Dominican monastery and visit the famous Song Festival grounds where the independent spirit of Estonians has been celebrated since 1988, when 300,000 people sang their way to the beginnings of independence from the Soviet Union.
Days 3-5: Gauja National Park, Riga
Skirting Riga Bay, we come to Latvia's capital, Riga, with its Art Nouveau architecture. Known for its appealing Old Town and the odd sculptures adorning its old buildings, Riga is a delight to explore on foot.
Days 6-7: Klaipeda, Palanga
Travel across the countryside to the Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda, pausing at the baroque Rundale Palace and at the Hill of Crosses, a place of national pilgrimage. Explore Klaipeda's narrow streets and merchant houses and visit the Palanga Amber Museum in a former manor house.
Days 8-10: Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad, Kaunas
Continue to Kaliningrad via the narrow, UNESCO-listed Curonian Spit, passing fishing villages, white sand dunes and the intriguing Hill of Witches. Known as Konigsberg until the Soviets renamed it in 1946, Kaliningrad has converted a WWII bunker into a museum. Its Gothic cathedral and its Hansa Square are reminders of an era long past.
Days 11-13: Vilnius, Trakai
Lithuania's beautiful capital, Vilnius, is next. Last to give up its pagan traditions and first to declare independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania is known for its amber and celebrated for its bravery. An exploration of Vilnius ranges from the medieval, at the restored Brick Gothic castle of Trakai, to the more recent, at the KGB museum, commemorating the travails of thousands of Lithuanians. Stroll the cobbled streets of the Old Town, shopping for linen and glowing amber jewelry.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
13 Days |
| Departures in 2008: |
2 |
| Dates: |
May 4-16 |
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August 3-15 |
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| Land Tour Cost |
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| 5-16 travelers |
$5,295 |
| Single Supplement |
$1,195 |
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MIR Signature Features
- Converse with the spirited Estonians while wandering Tallinn’s two-tiered Old Town
- Roam the pedestrian streets of old Riga,
pausing for cakes at a terraced cafe
- Explore Kaliningrad, Russia's southernmost
Baltic port, with its Hanseatic heritage
- Learn about the history of "Lithuanian
Gold" at the ornamental Amber Museum
in Palanga
- Bask in the medieval atmosphere of Vilnius,
built over the course of centuries
Map
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| Days 1-3: |
Tallinn |
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| Day 4: |
drive to Riga |
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| Days 5-6: |
Riga |
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| Day 7: |
drive to Klaipeda |
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| Day 8: |
Klaipeda, day trip to Palanga |
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| Day 9: |
drive to Kaliningrad via the Curonian Spit |
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| Day 10: |
Kaliningrad |
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| Day 11: |
drive to Vilnius |
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| Days 12-13: |
Vilnius |
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Suggested Extensions
Combine this tour with Belarus, Ukraine & Moldova or Beyond Red Square: Russia Revealed.
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