Lithuania & Latvia
14–22 May 2027 | 9 Days
A wonderful journey through Lithuania and Latvia, discovering historic cities, elegant palaces and spectacular natural scenery. Explore the beauty of Vilnius and Riga, Trakai’s island castle, the sand dunes of Nida and the picturesque Baltic Sea coast.
Friday, 14 May – Vilnius
We meet at Malta International Airport at 07:00 to check in for our direct Ryanair flight FR7203 to Vilnius, departing at 09:00. We arrive at 13:20 and, after collecting our luggage, transfer to the 4-star Hotel Neringa Vilnius. Following room allocation, we join our tour leader for a walk to familiarise ourselves with the area surrounding the hotel.
Saturday, 15 May – Vilnius
After breakfast, we meet our local guide and begin our sightseeing tour of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. This charming city is known for its beautiful Old Town, Baroque buildings, cobbled streets and historic churches.We visit the courtyards of Vilnius University (entrance extra), surrounded by buildings in different architectural styles reflecting the history and traditions of one of Eastern Europe’s oldest universities. We see St Anne’s Church and explore the Užupis district, known as the “Republic of Užupis”, which has its own constitution and flag. This artistic neighbourhood is full of character and has a distinctive atmosphere. We continue to Literatų Street and the Gate of Dawn.
Sunday, 16 May – Trakai – Vilnius
A half-day excursion takes us to Trakai, a historic town surrounded by lakes and famous for its magnificent island castle (entrance extra). Once the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Trakai boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage. After our visit, we return to Vilnius, where the remainder of the afternoon is free to explore and enjoy the city.
Monday, 17 May – Vilnius – Kaunas – Klaipėda
After breakfast, we leave Vilnius for Klaipėda, stopping along the way in Kaunas, Lithuania’s second-largest city and its former temporary capital. Situated at the confluence of the Nemunas and Neris rivers, Kaunas is known for its charming Old Town, beautiful churches and architecture from the period between the two World Wars. We stroll along Freedom Avenue and through the streets of the Old Town, enjoying its welcoming atmosphere, cafés and historic buildings. We continue to Klaipėda, Lithuania’s third-largest city and its main port on the Baltic Sea. Formerly known as Memel, the city’s German and Prussian influences are still evident in the architecture and streets of its Old Town. On arrival, we check in at the 4-star Amberton Hotel Klaipėda.
Tuesday, 18 May – Curonian Spit – Nida – Klaipėda
After breakfast, we depart for an excursion to the Curonian Spit, a narrow strip of sandy land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Throughout the day, we enjoy beautiful scenery featuring sand dunes, pine forests, beaches and fishing villages with traditional wooden houses. We visit the Hill of Witches, known for its wooden sculptures inspired by local folklore, and Parnidis Dune, offering lovely views of the surrounding landscape.We continue to the picturesque village of Nida, where we explore the area and visit the Fisherman’s House (entrance extra), offering an insight into traditional local life. At the end of the day, we return to our hotel in Klaipėda.
Wednesday, 19 May – Hill of Crosses – Rundāle – Riga
We depart for Riga, the capital of Latvia. Along the way, we stop at the Hill of Crosses, near Šiauliai, one of Lithuania’s most important pilgrimage sites. Covered with countless crosses of different sizes, this hill is a powerful symbol of the Lithuanian people’s faith, hope and national identity. Although the crosses were repeatedly removed during Soviet rule, people continued to replace them as a sign of faith and perseverance. We continue to Rundāle Palace (entrance extra), one of Latvia’s most magnificent palaces, often called the “Versailles of the Baltics”. Built in the eighteenth century as a summer residence for the Duke of Courland, the palace is renowned for its Baroque and Rococo architecture, richly decorated rooms and French-style gardens.We then continue to Riga and check in at the 4-star Hestia Hotel Jugend.
Thursday, 20 May – Riga
After breakfast, we meet our local guide and begin our sightseeing tour of Riga. This city combines medieval history with elegant boulevards and beautiful Art Nouveau buildings. During our tour, we see the Old Town, Riga Cathedral, the House of the Black Heads and Riga Central Market, where we can appreciate the local atmosphere and produce. In the afternoon, we visit the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum (entrance extra), situated on the shores of Lake Jugla. One of Europe’s oldest and largest open-air museums, it features historic farmhouses, windmills, wooden churches and craftsmen’s workshops brought together from different regions of Latvia. This visit offers an insight into the rural life, customs and traditions of the Latvian people.
Friday, 21 May – Sigulda – Riga
A full-day excursion takes us to Sigulda, known as the “Switzerland of Latvia” for its green hills and beautiful views over the Gauja River Valley. Surrounded by forests and natural scenery, this town is famous for its medieval castles and historic buildings. We visit Turaida Castle, an impressive fortress built in the thirteenth century, and see Gutmanis Cave (entrance fees extra). We also have some free time in Sigulda before returning to our hotel in Riga.
Saturday, 22 May – Ķemeri National Park – Jūrmala – Malta
After breakfast, we depart for Ķemeri National Park, known for its wetlands, peat bogs, forests and mineral springs. We take a walk along the wooden boardwalk to enjoy this distinctive natural environment. We then continue to Jūrmala, Latvia’s most popular seaside resort, famous for its long sandy beaches, traditional wooden villas and pine forests. We have time to enjoy its relaxing atmosphere and stroll along Jomas Street, the pedestrian promenade lined with cafés, restaurants and shops. In the evening, we transfer to Riga Airport for our Ryanair flight FR8753, departing at 22:10 and arriving in Malta at 00:45 the following morning, Sunday, 23 May.
PRICE PER PERSON
| Room Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Triple Room | €1,345 |
| Double Room | €1,345 |
| Single Room | €1,650 |
| Children up to 11 years | €1,240 |
PRICE INCLUDES
Ryanair flights Malta–Vilnius and Riga–Malta.
Accommodation in centrally located 4-star hotels.
Daily buffet breakfast.
All transfers and excursions mentioned in the programme.
Local guide during all excursions.
Airport taxes.
Tour Leader.
Insolvency Protection.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
City Tax.
Entrance fees, cable cars, boat trips, trains and similar charges.
Minor changes to the programme may be necessary due to circumstances beyond our control.
Please ask for our General Conditions.