Eastern European tour, Baltic experience

country:	Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland
departures:	2009: 3 May, 10 May, 17 May, 24 May, 31 May, 7 Jun, 14 Jun, 21 Jun, 28 Jun, 5 Jul, 12 Jul, 19 Jul, 26 Jul, 2 Aug, 9 Aug, 16 Aug, 23 Aug, 30 Aug, 6 Sep, 13 Sep, 20 Sep, 27 Sep 2010: 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May
price:	From £905 (15 days) excluding flights. Local payment €400. We can arrange flights from the UK

Europe holidays

Cultural tours

the amazing things you'll be doing

Experience the diverse delights of the Baltic states on this adventurous journey. From the medieval spires of Tallinn, through the funky bars of Riga and on to the Baroque-styled quirks of Vilnius, hidden delights await. Visit colourful markets, immerse in art and architecture and trek through Lithuanian lake lands. Join us and discover the rich history and fascinating customs of this region on our journey from Helsinki to Berlin.

Discover the streets and sights of Helsinki, check out Toompea hill in Tallinn and cosy up in a candlelit bar in Riga's old town. Wander the endless dunes of the Curonian Spit, learn all about beekeeping in Lithuania, reflect on the legacy of WWII in Warsaw and dive into the fantastic Berlin nightlife.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Helsinki. Arrive early to experience Helsinki's diverse heritage with a walk through Senate Square and into the enormous Russian Orthodox cathedral. Marvel at the grandeur of Suomenlinna - an 18th-century sea fortress.
Day 2-3:	Tallinn. Catch a ferry across the Gulf of Finland to Estonia's charming capital. There's time to see the impressive Kadriorg Palace, designed for Peter the Great, and to explore the quaint Old Town and stately Toompea Castle.
Day 4-5:	Riga. Resting on the shores of the Daugava River, Riga is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture and welcoming locals. Visit the city's fascinating open-air Ethnographic Museum before shopping in the colourful central market.
Day 6-7:	Curonian Spit. Travel to the former Prussian capital Klaipeda, then discover ancient pagan beliefs concealed within the nearby national park. Its traditional wooden architecture is nestled among the highest drifting sand dunes in Europe.
Day 8-9:	Vilnius. Experience the cosmopolitan charm of a city that has been occupied by several European powers, each leaving their mark. Discover beautiful Baroque architecture and immerse yourself in the vibrant arts scene. A day trip to Trakai unravels the mysteries of the medieval Karaim people.
Day 10-11:	Aukstaitija National Park. Hike and canoe through lush forest to appreciate the natural wonders of this delightful national park - all 126 lakes of it. Visit traditional medieval villages and learn about Lithuania's ancient beekeeping industry, founded in the 15th century.
Day 12-13:	Warsaw. The current pace of social change makes Warsaw an exciting place to be. Come to grips with the city's turbulent history on a walk through the Old Town and perhaps experience its rich culture with a trip to a unique puppet theatre.
Day 14-15:	Berlin. Soak up the chequered history of this creative and cosmopolitan city. Then experience its modern aspect - perhaps head out to join locals at a modish lounge bar to celebrate the end of this Baltic adventure.

small group adventure holiday

This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more)

highly commended

This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.

Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.

how this holiday makes a difference

In the Baltic States, our focus is on making a positive impact, providing numerous opportunities for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey. Visting the markets in Riga and Vilnius is a great opportunity to have some local interaction and help support the communities we visit. Elderly people in the Baltic States have depended on selling their produce at markets for many years as often this is the only way they can survive. The money they receive from the government is not usually enough. So by visiting the markets, not only do you get a great chance for local interaction, but you also help support the locals by purchasing locally grown produce and products.

Throughout this trip we use many locally operated and run hotels and pensions. We even have a home stay in Aukstatijia National Park in Lithuania with a very welcoming local family. Not only does this give you an insight into Lithuanian life, but is also helps support the local family financially by enjoying their home cooked meals and lovely accommodation during the two days you spend there. Additionally, you visit a Bee Keeping Museum where you can visit the museum and purchase locally produced products.

Your leader and local guides will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare, at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some local language at the same time).

On the many guided town tours we use the services of a local guide, helping to bring money into the local community and giving our travellers the benefit of the experience through the eyes of a local

Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people.

We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel.

'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left).

We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays.

We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism.

This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards.