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13 Day itinerary in Estonia, Europe

Self drive tour in Estonia and Latvia

Embark on a journey to discover the adventurous side of Estonia and Latvia! Join such outdoor activities as hiking, biking and kayaking, visit places and have experiences that will make your vacation memorable! This journey will bring you from the capitals to the tranquillity of the Baltic nature. Y... Read More

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Valdis

By Valdis

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Tallinn

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Cycling

Kayaking

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

The tranquillity of the Baltic nature

2

Sounds of Latvian traditional music instrument “kokle”

3

Unspoiled nature of Lahemaa National Park at the Baltic coastline

4

Kuldiga, the most romantic town in Latvia with small winding streets

Itinerary

Price in double occupancy expand_more

Day 1

place DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN TALLINN

Welcome to Tallinn! Pick up your rental car at the Tallinn airport and check into the hotel.

Day 2

place DISCOVER TALLINN

On a guided walking tour of Tallinn you will explore a well-preserved medieval center known as the Old Town. You will visit many historic sites including Toompea Castle, a stately baroque castle which today houses the Parliament of Estonia, the 13th century Dome Church, the Russian Revival Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and many more.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK | TALLINN – SAGADI (DRIVE ~85 KM, HIKE ~7 KM)

After breakfast, drive to a scenic coastline northeast of Tallinn. Lahemaa National Park is considered one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coastline. You will go on a 7 km guided hiking tour starting from Sagadi to Kasmu Peninsula and back. On the Kasmu Peninsula you will find the biggest natural accumulation of rocks in Estonia. You will see the Kasmu village, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Estonia. In the late afternoon, return back to Sagadi and stay overnight at Sagadi Manor hotel.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

place ALONG THE LAKE PEIPUS | SAGADI – MUSTVEE – TARTU (DRIVE ~170 KM)

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and afterwards drive along the shore of Lake Peipus, which is the fifth-largest lake in Europe. It is also the largest transboundary lake on the continent, as it shares borders with both, Estonia and Russia. The old traditions are still alive and honoured by the Old Believers living on the shore of Lake Peipus. At the Old Believers Museum, a tea ceremony is waiting for you. The ceremony will be led by an instructor wearing a headscarf required by local customs. In the late afternoon, arrive in Tartu, the second-largest city in Estonia.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place CHARMING UNIVERSITY TOWN | TARTU

In the morning, join a Tartu Old Town walking tour. Enjoy the historic streets, Town Hall Square with the statue of Kissing Students, St. John's Church with its many terracotta sculptures, and Tartu University, which was founded in 1632. Free time in the afternoon.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place GAUJA NATIONAL PARK | TARTU – CESIS (DRIVE ~ 175 KM)

In the morning, cross Estonian-Latvian boarder and stop in Cesis, a medieval gemstone and the third oldest town in Latvia. During the guided walking tour visit the charming ruins of the Medieval Castle, explore the history and feel the medieval spirit in a candle light. Despite the wars, the Old Town has remained almost unchanged. On the tour you will see such highlights as the Roze Square, Princess’ House and St. John’s Church. Eight hundred years long history of Cesis is visible not only on the streets but also in Cesis castle complex.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place MAGNIFICENT SANDSTONE OUTCROPS ON GAUJA RIVER | CESIS – LIGATNE - SIGULDA (DRIVE ~ 40 KM, KAYAK ~4 K

The morning begins with a drive to the River Gauja where you have to start a self-guided kayaking tour. On the 4 km long paddling distance you will see magnificent sandstone outcrops. After, visit a paper-mill village Ligatne that still looks almost the same as in the 19th century. In the afternoon, continue driving south to Sigulda, the heart of the Gauja National Park.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place HIKING IN GAUJA NATIONAL PARK | SIGULDA (HIKE ~17 KM)

Today is reserved for hiking. On a guided hiking tour, you will walk around 17 km. The hike starts in the heart of the Gauja National Park – Sigulda. Siguda is also known as the Little Switzerland of Latvia. Scenic views are guaranteed! Do not worry if the hiking path brings you up to steep bluffs – the Gauja National Park has established good infrastructure for hikers to climb to the best viewing points. A meditative musical experience is waiting for you during the hike – ancient sounds of Latvian traditional string instrument “kokle”. Latvians have a saying that “kokle” is given to them by God. Relax and enjoy the ethno-music concert!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 9

place THE LATVIA’S PALACE | SIGULDA – RUNDALE PALACE – KULDIGA (DRIVE ~290 KM)

In the morning, drive south and pass by Riga to Rundale. On the Rundale Palace guided tour you will see the 18th century baroque palace that was built for the Dukes of Courland and Semigallia. The palace was built by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also created Russia's ornate Winter Palace and Tsarskoye Selo. In the afternoon, continue to Kuldiga, the most romantic town in Latvia.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Price in double occupancy: Jēkaba sēta Viesnīca & Restorāns
Day 10

place THE MOST ROMANTIC TOWN IN LATVIA | KULDIGA

Join a guided walking tour to see the romantic blend of Kuldiga’s architecture, small winding streets and channels. The heart of the town is the Venta River and the Ventas Rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe. Discover this charming place at a slow pace. Free time in the afternoon.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Price in double occupancy: Jēkaba sēta Viesnīca & Restorāns
Day 11

place LATVIA’S COAST | KULDIGA - JURMALA (DRIVE ~ 120 KM, CYCLE ~12 KM)

In the morning, drive to the Latvia’s most famous resort town Jurmala that stretches 30 km along the seaside. Take a break from the city on the sandy Jurmala beach. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the pine forest dunes without any rush. Do a self-guided bike tour and explore Jurmala. In the mid-19th-century holiday makers began escaping the city to relax in Jurmala, and it developed as a resort, often called the ‘’Northern Riviera”. You will cycle along a pine-covered dune, see the expressive wooden architecture, modern villas, and endless sandy beaches. Stop for a swim at one of the eleven established swimming places.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12

place DISCOVER RIGA | JURMALA – RIGA (DRIVE ~ 40 KM)

In a short drive from Jurmala you are in Riga, the largest city in the Baltics. Take a guided walking tour to see the Art Nouveau most famous buildings on the streets of Alberta and Elizabeth, as well as the Old Town with Riga’s Castle and the Three Brothers houses, oldest dwellings in the city. Make a visit to the Riga Central Market, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Taste smoked meat, pickled vegetables, Latvian bread, seasonal treats, and more. The market opened in 1930, and it consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13

place DEPARTURE FROM RIGA

Drop off the rental car at the Riga airport.

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Jēkaba sēta Viesnīca & Restorāns

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (11)

Transport expand_less

  • VW Polo or similar car rental for 13 days

Activities expand_less

  • Guided walking tours in Tallinn, Tartu, Cesis, Kuldiga, and Riga
  • Guided tour in Rundale Palace
  • Tea ceremony at Lake Peipus
  • Ethno-music concert
  • Guided hiking tours in the Lahemaa National Park and the Gauja National Park

Extras expand_less

  • Kayak rental in the Gauja National Park
  • Bicycle rental in Jurmala
  • Entrances in Cesis Castle, Latvian Open-Air Museum and Rundale Palace

About Valdis

TEAM LEAD

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7 years of experience in planning, leading, and guiding tours. I create tours which give guest emotions, knowledge, and understanding. The concept came from my time abroad and what I liked to do in my travels.

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FROM PRICE PER TRAVELER

$1,540.00 USD