Self-drive tour
Self-drive Estonia and Latvia tour 13 days
Program
DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN TALLINN
Welcome to Tallinn! Pick up your rental car at the Tallinn airport and check into the hotel.
DAY 2. DICOVER 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 3. 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 4. 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 5. CHARMIN 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 6. GAUJA NATIONAL PARK | TARTU – CESIS (DRIVE ~ 175 km)
In the morning, cross the Estonian-Latvian border 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 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 7. MAGNIFICENT SANDSTONE OUTCROPS ON GAUJA RIVER CESIS – LIGATNE – SIGULDA (DRIVE ~ 40 KM, KAYAK ~4 KM)
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 included: Breakfast
DAY 8. 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. Sigulda 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!
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 9. 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 10. 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 11. LATVIA”S COAST | KULDIGA – JURMALA (DRIVE ~120 KM, CYCLE ~12 KM)
In the morning, drive to Latvia’s most famous resort town Jurmala which 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 included: Breakfast
DAY 12. 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.
Meals included: Breakfast
DAY 13. DEPARTURE FROM RIGA
Drop off the rental car at the Riga airport.
Tour map
Private tour price
In double occupancy:
- In 4-star hotels for two persons traveling in a VW Polo or similar rental car is 2050 EUR per person.
- In 3-star hotels for two persons traveling in a VW Polo or similar rental car is 1770 EUR per person.
- In 4-star hotels for four persons traveling VW Passat or similar rental car is 1560 EUR per person.
- In 3-star hotels for four persons traveling VW Passat or similar rental car is 1310 EUR per person.
- In 4-star hotels for six persons traveling in a VW Multivan or similar rental car is 1150 EUR per person.
- In 3-star hotels for six persons traveling in a VW Multivan or similar rental car is 1000 EUR per person.
Single room supplement – 490 EUR
Included
- 12 overnights per program in centrally located 3-star / 4-star hotels;
- Car rental for 13 days;
- 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;
- Kayak rental in the Gauja National Park;
- Bicycle rental in Jurmala;
- Entrances in Cesis Castle, Latvian Open-Air Museum and Rundale Palace.
How to dress
Please, dress accordingly to the weather forecast! Due to very changeable weather, layering is key to enjoying the hike, and rain protection is a must-have. Any comfortable shoes are good enough for this tour.
Physical rate from 1 to 10
5
Level of difficulty
The tour has easy biking and hiking trails with a few steep climbs. The terrain is mostly flat. The hiking tours include small footpaths through the woods, walking around the town, boardwalks and countryside roads. In the rivers and lakes, the current is slow and safe to kayak without any previous experience.
Season
From April to September.
Bookings
Bookings are on the request and should be made at least one week before the departure date. The itinerary can be modified according to the client’s wants and needs.
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