Scandi-Baltic Adventure

Getting to / from Vilnius:

Vilnius has an international airport that is well connected with various European destinations. Ryan Air offer cheap direct flights from Rome, Paris Beauvais, Milan Bergamo, London, Dublin and Barcelona too. Air Baltic offer cheap flights to Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and London, many via Riga with brief changes. Polish Airlines (LOT) offer a connection via Warsaw to many European destinations too.

Getting to / from Tallinn:

Tallinn also has an international airport that is well connected with various European destinations. Easyjet now offers a direct service from London Stansted to Tallinn whilst Ryan Air offer direct flights from Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, London Luton and Milan amongst others. Air Baltic also offers cheap connections via Riga all over Europe too.

Vodkatrain:

If you are continuing further in to the East from either Vilnius or Tallinn we recommend checking out our friends Vodkatrain with their Vilnius and Tallinn Vodkapacks to St Petersburg (Russia), and trans-Siberia to Beijing on the Vodkatrain!  For more information please click here: Vodkatrain

Accommodation:

Accommodation in the cities will be based on small dorm share in Hostels and Guesthouses, however the overnight cruises (Riga – Stockholm and Stockholm - Helsinki and the reverse) will be in quad share cabins in large Baltic cruise ships (with restaurants, bars and shops too!) operated by Tallink / Silija Lines.

Private twin accommodation upgrades for the tour are available to purchase through MyTrip via the Add Ons tab too.

Meeting Points and Times:

All Vilnius to Tallinn tours will meet at Jimmy Jumps House at 9am on day 1

Jimmy Jumps House
Savičiaus gatvė 12-1,
Old Town Vilnius,
Lithuania

All Tallinn to Vilnius tours will meet at the Monks Bunks Hostel at 9am on day 1

Monks Bunk Hostel,
Tatari 1,
10116 Tallinn,
Estonia

Pre and Post tour accommodation can be booked through MyTrip by confirming with a 10% deposit online at our pick up and drop off recommendation, the balance is then due on arrival.

Need to bring:

In addition to passport, E Ticket and your normal travel accessories don’t forget your swimwear and a towel. There’s a beach at our stop on the Klaipeda sandspit in Lithuania so certainly a chance for a dip!  

Currency:

The Scandi-Baltic Adventure goes through 5 different countries so below are the currencies you’ll need and their values to the Euro (as of February 2012)

1 EUR = 3.45 Litas (Lithuania)
1 EUR = 0.7 Lats (Latvia)
1 EUR =  8.8 Krona (Crowns) (Sweden)
Estonia and Finland both use the Euro

We recommend taking a cash card to withdraw local currency and changing as you go (the overnight ferries have currency exchanges too) and maybe taking some Euros to exchange along the way. Some places will also accept Euros in Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden too.

Day 1: Vilnius to Klaipeda

Lithuania’s little gem lies waiting. We begin our trek with an inspiring morning walk through the UNESCO listed old town, taking in Neo-Gothic spires and Baroque brilliance. There is a curious charm about the city; the KGB museum stands alongside palatial residences once occupied by the likes of Napoleon. After lunch in the town we travel out to Trakai castle, the once former bastion of the Duchy of Lithuania. The castle is set in the stunning lake district. Finally it’s on to Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea coast and the Curonian Spit.

Day 2: Klaipeda to Riga

After a good breakfast we’ll travel north to Riga. The drive isn’t long, but we will stop to visit the eerie ‘Hill of Crosses’, a Mecca type place in the Baltic’s. Thousands and thousands of crosses adorn the hilltop, acting as a place of pilgrimage for local people. Then it’s time for Riga, another UNESCO listed old town full of the best eateries and drinkeries in the Baltic’s. We’ll go on an orientation walk to stretch the legs, taking in the toy town cuteness and all its main sights before an exciting evening of Baltic revelry. You must try the Riga black balsams tonight!

Day 3: Riga to Stockholm

Today is yours to delve a little deeper into life in Riga. The central market is one of the largest in Europe with an array of local produce to taste the hours away. The freedom monument stands proudly for all to see and of course St Peter’s with its famed viewpoint from its spire. Eating is never a problem in Riga, so make the most of the vibrant cafe scene, people watching, trying to decipher whose Latvian and who’s Russian. The population is split 50/50 between the two ethnicities. In the late afternoon, we’ll board our first Baltic cruise, headed for Stockholm, Sweden…Roulette, shows, the endlessly lit hours of sunlight, topped off with a late sunset over the Baltic sea.

Day 4: Stockholm

A Swedish awakening in Stockholm. This is a really beautiful city, its saffron coloured buildings and cobbled streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town), surrounded by little avenues of blue water making it an entrancing picture. The best way to see all of this is by boat, so after check-in we’ll cruise through the waterways of the Swedish capital learning the history and gathering a hunger for some local food....meatballs anyone? This evening we’ll catch some live bands as Sweden does have a funky music scene

Day 5: Stockholm to Helsinki

Today is yours to explore Stockholm: you could kayak the archipelago of islands that lie on Stockholm’s doorstep, take a revitalising spa or the Stockholm bike tour to get you around all the canals and islands of the city. Stockholm has lots to do, so you have until late afternoon  to enjoy before we board our second Baltic sea cruise, this time to the capital of Finland, Helsinki

Day 6: Helsinki

Wake up as if you’ve never slept, it’s so light here and the sun just does get lazy. Sitting out on the deck watching famous cities appear and enjoying breakfast is really something special. Helsinki, this is a cool city and the people have a great care-free attitude. After check-in we’ll walk the city, learning, before ambling out to Suomenlinna and the fabulous ‘fortress of Finland’ where the Russians seized the town from the Swedes. Tonight, we’ll eat well, enjoy some Vodka and toast our Baltic adventure.

Day 7: Helsinki to Tallinn

Today we cruise the Baltic sea for the last time. After a nice lie in, we’ll board the cruiser for a 2 hour trip to Tallinn. Tallinn is enchanting. This is where the art scene lives and is a shopper’s paradise with a cafe culture to die for. Combine all these things in one day of excitement, accompanied by our Guide giving quirky little facts of history will leave an indelible mark in your travelling diary. Tonight we’ll make the most of this Baltic hotspot by immersing ourselves in the slinky, steamy nightlife that Tallinn is world famous for. Good night Baltics!  

Day 8: Tallinn

Tour finishes after breakfast.

Why not travel further East into Russia?

You can buy a two day Vodkapack from our mates at Vodkatrain and head over to St. Petersburg, where you are met by a local guide to start your Vodkatrain trip on Monday out across to Moscow and Asia!

Check out www.vodkatrain.com for more details.

Day 1: Tallinn to Helsinki

Our tour starts at 9am with a funky look around Tallinn. Beneath all the shining modernity and the medieval charm, Tallinn has another side. You needn't look far beyond the Old Town's walls to discover a whole new Tallinn with its wooden houses, Soviet industrial landscapes and well-hidden retreats. This will put Estonia into perspective for you. After lunch we'll board the cruiser to Helsinki arriving in the afternoon, we'll hit the ground running in the Finnish capital with a super cool walk around the centre. Tonight will be the chance to get to know your guide and the group with some dinner and drinks.

Day 2: Helsinki to Stockholm

Wake up to breakfast in Helsinki. Today we'll take you out to Suomenlinna and the fabulous fortress of Finland where the Russians seized the town from the Swedes. Alternately relax the morning away in a Finnish sauna before checking out the quirky art scene in Helsinki. This afternoon we'll board the overnight cruise to Stockholm, dance at the onboard nightclub, enjoy top shows and restaurants whilst sailing the Baltic sea. Just relaxing on deck enjoying the never ending sunlight of the north is certainly a highlight.

Day 3: Stockholm

A Swedish awakening in Stockholm. This is a really beautiful city, its saffron coloured buildings and cobbled streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town), surrounded by little avenues of blue water making it an entrancing picture. The best way to see all of this is by boat, so after check-in we'll cruise through the waterways of the Swedish capital learning the history and gathering a hunger for some local food....meatballs anyone? This evening we'll catch some live bands as Sweden does have a funky music scene.

Day 4:Stockholm to Riga

Today is yours to explore Stockholm: you could kayak the archipelago of islands that lie on Stockholm's doorstep, take a revitalising spa or the Stockholm bike tour to get you around all the canals and islands of the city. Stockholm has lots to do, so you have until late afternoon to enjoy before we board our second Baltic sea cruise, this time to the capital of Latvia - Riga.

Day 5: Riga

Riga's UNESCO listed old town is full of the best eateries and drinkeries in the Baltic's. We'll go on an orientation walk to stretch the legs, taking in the toy town cuteness and all its main sights. This afternoon is yours to delve a little deeper into life in Riga. The central market is one of the largest in Europe with an array of local produce to taste the hours away. The freedom monument stands proudly for all to see and of course St Peter's with its famed viewpoint from its spire. Eating is never a problem in Riga, so make the most of the vibrant cafe scene, people watching, trying to decipher whose Latvian and who's Russian. The population is split 50/50 between the two ethnicities. Tonight we'll enjoy an exciting evening of Baltic revelry. You must try the Riga black balsams tonight!

Day 6: Riga to Klaipeda

After a good breakfast we'll travel south to Klaipeda and Lithuania. The drive isn't long, but we will stop to visit the eerie 'Hill of Crosses', a Mecca type place in the Baltic's. Thousands and thousands of crosses adorn the hilltop, acting as a place of pilgrimage for local people. Finally it's on to Klaipeda on the Baltic Sea coast and the Curonian Spit.

Day 7: Klaipeda to Vilnius

Lithuania's little gem lies waiting. We begin our last day with an inspiring morning walk through the UNESCO listed Curonian Spit. It's then on to Vilnius, on arrival we'll set off for a walk taking in Neo-Gothic spires and Baroque brilliance. There is a curious charm about the city; the KGB museum stands alongside palatial residences once occupied by the likes of Napoleon. This evening is our last, we'll sit back enjoy some more good Baltic food and reminisce at some great moments and places.

Day 8: Vilnius

Tour finishes after breakfast.

Why not travel further East into Russia?

You can buy a two day Vodkapack from our mates at Vodkatrain and head over to St. Petersburg, where you are met by a local guide to start your Vodkatrain trip on Monday out across to Moscow and Asia!

Check out www.vodkatrain.com for more details.