Self drive tours

This tour offers visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites – Helsinki, Stockholm, Riga, Tallinn, travelling by ferries and cruise ships and adding value to the trip by exploring the Baltic countries beyond the capitals. The sites outside cities present traditional folk cultures of Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Latvia and a variety of farms showing today’s life in the countryside. The roundtrip includes two overnights on cruise ships.

The tour introduces visitors to varied landscapes, local traditions and historic sites. Travellers are usually surprised that such a small territory holds so many contrasts. Riga offers a medieval Old Town and elegant Art Nouveau district, then comes Sigulda with three castles on the high banks of the Gauja river valley. Saaremaa island is a pleasure to drive around with good quality, quiet roads, windmills, medieval churhes and ethnographic villages. Tallinn has its walled Old Town while Lahemaa national park has an almost mystical landscape There is also elegant Palmse Manor. The tour goes through sleepy villages in eastern Latvia with distinctive pottery, ancient culinary traditions, and the Catholic pilgrimage site of Aglona. Vilnius' historic centre has distinctive baroque churches. The massive sand dunes of the Curonian Spit and Nida with its characteristic blue framed windows are among Lithuania's most attractive sights. Trakai has its picturesque medieval castle on the lake as well as the small Karaitis ethnic comunity with their unique traditions and food. Port towns Klaipeda and Liepaja have both developed into bustling modern cities with lively cafe culture.

This tour has a very summery feel since it never wanders too far from the sea. Latvian sea resort Jurmala attracts with characteristic wooden cottages from the 19th century, Dzintari concert hall and a lively beach. Cape Kolka is located in Slitere National Park which also includes the traditional villages of the smallest ethnic group in the world, the Livs. Enjoy empty beaches and locally smoked fish. Ventspils is an immaculately maintained town with a medieval castle and well equipped beach. Pavilosta is Latvia's unofficial windsurfing capital, while Palanga in Lithuania has an excellent amber museum. Lithuania's pearl is the Curonian Spit and its lagoon which attracts with its vast sand dunes and Nida, a charming village with a Thomas Mann Museum. Back in Latvia, Liepaja is an exciting city with a historic quarter, beach, lively restaurants and clubs and a distinctive millitary heritage in the form of former naval forts and a military zone. Kuldiga is loved by artists due to its picturesque little cobbled streets with wooden houses and the Europe's widdest waterfall on the Venta river.

 The tour starts at former Hanseatic port town Gdansk with its pretty Old Town, then continues to Malbork, an impressive fortified medieval castle and on to laid-back Formbrok with a magnificient Gothic cathederal. The route crosses the Mazurianlake district where hundreds of lakes are connected to rivers and canals, best expereinced from the deck of a boat.

 Continue to Wigry National Park with walking trails and interesting archaeological and cultural remains. Further into Lithuania, Dzukija National Park has several well preserved traditional farmsteads and villages which are well worth a visit. It's a good place to experience Lithuanian crafts and traditions, for instance bee keeping. Then the route goes via Kaunas to the Curonian Spit formed by shifting sand dunes between its lagoon and the sea. Pretty little villages are located along its length. Next the route goes to the sea resort Palanga with a great Amber Museum and on to Latvia.

 Stop at Pape Nature Park, a diverse mosaic of nature’s ecosystems, where wild horses and oxen breed. Slītere National Park shows the historical development of the Baltic Sea. Cape Kolka is a prime spot for bird migrations, Slītere lighthouse provides a great view of the surrounding forests and traditonal Liv villages, one of the smallest ethnic groups in the world. The Ķemeri National Park includes different types of wetlands and vast bogs. It is famous for its sulphur springs. Walk a Great Heath trail there and try the curative spring water.

 Further on Gauja National Park is formed around the ancient valley of the Gauja river with picturesque sandstone cliffs from the Devonian period. Here are many historic monuments – medieval castles, churches and ancient settlements which you can see crossing the valley on a cable car. Ligatne Nature trails offer a chance to observe local wild animals.

 Saaremaa's landscape is characterised by large juniper growths, dolomite cliffs, windmills, medieval churches and the famous Kaali meteorite lake. It also retains a very Estonian soul. Sooma National Park has contrasting swamps. Walk a beaver trail there and try 'bog-shoeing'. Lahemaa National Park has a rugged coastal andscape with big boulders, traditional fishing villages, forest trails and romantic manor houses. From Tallin take a ferry to Helsinki, from where it is an easy trip to Nuuksio National Park, home to an endangered flying squirrel. The landscape here is dominated by valleys and gorges, rocky hills covered by lichen and sparse pine forest that is very different to the previous parks. Well-equipped walking trails have several scenic views.

From Riga the tour goes to Sigulda where you can see the Olympic Bobsled truck, visit Sigulda medieval castle and take a cable car across to Turaida medieval Castle with beautiful views across the Gaujas Valley. Kids would love activities at the adventure centre Tarzans. At Ligatne walk Nature trails to see the local wild animals at their enclosed territories and wonder around the historic village originally formed around the Paper Mill. Further on visit impressive medieval castle ruins at Cesis town and the picturesque Devonian Zvarte outcrop at Karli. Then the route goes along the coast with sandy beaches great for walking, playing and swimming. There visit museum of the biggest liar in the world - Munhauzen and listen to his fantastic adventure stories.

Then the route goes to the Western part of Latvia and focuses on the sea and coastal life. From Riga visit the sea resort Jurmala, stop at Pure Chocolate Museum and then continues to Cape Kolka where open sea meets Riga Bay. There explore trails at Sliteres National Park, visit villages of Livs which is one of the smallest ethnic nations in the world, enjoy freshly smoked fish. At Ventspils enjoy endless facilities for children - kids town, narrow gauge train, aqua parks, well equipped beach and adventure park. On the way to Riga visit charming Kuldiga with well preserved wooden architecture and stop at the farm where kids could enjoy different farm animals

This three-day route will allow you to visit one of the most unusual landscapes in the Baltic States - the Curlandian dunes. You will also visit interesting territories here in Latvia - the Pape Nature Park and the Liepāja Naval Port. The port is worth visiting while it still retains some of its Soviet-era "charm". New and unprecedented impressions will also be assured by two unique manmade objects - the "Town of Rock" and the "Town of the Absurd", which are both unique not only at the Baltic level, but in a far more extensive sense.

The road trip from Vilnius to Rīga will take you to the most beautiful and important sightseeing places of the
Forest Trail in Lithuania and its southern part in Latvia. You will start your tour with the visit of the capital city – Vilnius, then you will go to the historic resort town of Druskininkai, meandering through the town following the route of the Forest Trail. You will then visit the Dzūkija National Park, Merkinė Mound and the resort town of Birštonas, situated in the territory of Nemunas loops regional park. Further you will reach the second largest city in Lithuania – Kaunas, walking through the city along the route of the Forest Trail to finally reach the Panemunė forest. You will then walk along the beautiful banks of the river Nemunas to Vilkija, which boasts of its unique ferry service.

Next on the route is the Dubysa Regional Park, which includes the spectacular Dubysa river valley, historic churches and mounds along its banks. Be prepared, since the terrain of this area is rather rolling. Next, you will visit the town of Šiluva, which is a Catholic pilgrimage site, and then travel to the Tytuvėnai Regional Park, where you walk the natural trail of the lake of Gilius, which is part of the Forest Trail. The tour will continue in the Kurtuvėnai Regional Park, where you will walk one section of the Forest Trail from Kurtuvėnai to Šaukėnai, leading along small forest trails, educational trails, beautiful tree alleys and through wetlands. Then you will go to the region of Samogitia, visiting Telšiai and walk one of the Forest Trail sections along Lake Plateliai.

Next, the tour takes you through the stone town of Mosėdis to Latvia, where you will stop over to have a walk on one of the oldest towns in Latvia – Aizpute, enjoying its 19th century wooden architecture and the local wine brewery. Next you will take a small walk along the Forest Trail in the eye-catching Kazdanga manor park and drive on to the most beautiful town of Kurzeme – Kuldīga. At the end of the tour, you will walk a section of the Forest Trail along the Abava River Valley Nature Park and nature trails in the Ķemeri National Park.

The tour introduces modern day life in rural Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania and includes visits to small farms raising livestock and producing delicious foods, and to ethnographic villages preserving the traditional lifestyle in a contemporary environment. The tour also involves sites of historical and cultural interest.

The tour gives a look beyond the usual tourism sites to get to know the three Baltic states more deeply. It starts in the historic Latvian capital, Riga, followed by the Gauja National Park with its castles, manors and walking trails. Climb the tower of medieval Turaida Castle for amazing views over the valley and visit the ancient jewellery master in the castle of the charming town of Cesis. 

Across the border in Estonia, walk streets with elegant villas at Parnu sea resort before catching a ferry to Saaremma island. Ethnographic Koguva village, ancient churches and windmills are typical of the island, as is an embroidering tradition. Then it's off to Tallinn with its medieval Old Town and to the rocky landscapes of Lahemaa National Park with fishing villages and manors. Try Estonian national dishes at the pub in Altja. Driving back, stop at the university town of Tartu. In Latvia again, visit goat farms and a traditional black bread bakery. Then the tour heads towards the west coast with the cities of Liepaja and, across the border in Lithunaia, Klaipeda. Next is the incredible Curonian Spit. Before Vilnius, take a detour to Grutas Park with its bizarre Soviet statuary. Finish the journey at picturesque Trakai Castle in Lithuania and Rundale Palace in Latvia.