Baltics: 9-Day Self-Drive – Latvia, Lithuania & Estonia

About this experience

The Baltic States are one of Europe's most rewarding and underexplored travel regions — three small, fiercely independent nations with a shared history of medieval grandeur, Soviet occupation, and extraordinary cultural resilience. This 9-day self-drive tour, with car rental included, takes you on a complete circuit from Riga through Lithuania and back through Estonia, connecting three UNESCO-listed old towns with hidden gems, sacred pilgrimage sites, and unforgettable landscapes. Arrive in Riga, Latvia's vibrant capital — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of medieval buildings, Art Nouveau masterpieces, and cobblestone streets. Day 2 drives south to Vilnius, Lithuania's capital, via the Anykščiai Pinewood hiking trail and the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Kernavė. Vilnius Old Town — also UNESCO-listed — reveals Gediminas Castle, St. Anne's Church, and the remarkable 16th-century University. Day 3 drives west via Kaunas (Lithuania's vibrant second city) and optionally over Trakai (hot-air balloon optional, EUR 195pp) to the port city of Klaipeda. Day 4 heads north via Palanga, the Hill of Crosses (a sacred pilgrimage site of extraordinary spiritual power), and the magnificent Rundale Castle — an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece designed by the Italian architect who built the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Day 5 crosses into Estonia via Turaida Castle and Sigulda (the 'Latvian Switzerland') to Tartu, Estonia's charming university town. Day 6 drives north to Tallinn — Estonia's UNESCO-listed medieval capital, one of the best-preserved medieval old towns in all of Europe. Two nights allow time to explore the full treasure trove: Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the KGB Museum, and City Hall Square…