Baltic Express: train and hiking in the heart of the Baltic capitals

Meet your tour guide. Explore the Upper Town, dominated by Toompea Fortress , home to the Estonian Parliament, the Orthodox Cathedral, and beautiful historic houses. Visit the Dome Church with its collection of coats of arms and tombstones. Ascend to higher ground and admire the views from the Patkuli and Kohtu viewpoints. You'll also enjoy breathtaking views of the walls surrounding the Lower Town. Stroll along the medieval walls and continue your tour of the Lower Town, which has retained its medieval character since the 13th century. Visit the Town Hall Square, lined with splendid medieval buildings and opulent Hanseatic houses that bear witness to the prosperity of the city and the merchants of that era. Visit St. Catherine's Lane with its Estonian craft guilds .

Free late afternoon for your personal explorations - go for a stroll in old Tallinn.

Optional : Afternoon of Sights - 3 hours with guide: visit to the food market in the working-class wooden district, the industrial area of ​​the former brick factory converted into creative spaces, and Nobel Harbour. Visit to the maritime museum located in the historic seaplane port with access to the submarine and a cocktail break.

A convivial evening in a typical restaurant: welcome dinner with wine/beer.

Night in Tallinn, 3-star hotel: Go Hotel Schnelli or similar.

Join us at Tallinn station to begin your train journey: first, the Estonian train crosses the entire country with its Nordic landscapes of boreal forests and fir and birch trees, and then - the Latvian train, which continues the journey from the border to Sigulda - a small wellness town facing Gauja National Park.

Upon arrival, check into your hotel located in the heart of this verdant town, perched high above the Gauja Valley. Enjoy a guided walk to the imposing ruins of the ancient Livonian Brothers of the Sword Castle, which offers a splendid view of the Gauja Valley, the birthplace of the national park. The neo-Gothic residence of Count Kropotkin reveals intriguing interiors. Here, participate in a walking stick (cane) decorating workshop.

In the 19th century, travel guides already recommended buying a walking stick, carved from hazel or sea buckthorn and bent by hand. With the rise of tourism, demand skyrocketed, and their production became a real source of income for farmers. After the Second World War, the tradition was revived: artisans added Latvian motifs, suns, waves, or symbols specific to Sigulda using pyrography. Passed down from generation to generation, this craft continues to this day.

Overnight stay at the 3-star Hotel Sigulda or similar.

Start the day with a visit to the Turaida estate - a former feudal possession which includes a manor house, a magnificent, meticulously maintained park, a wooden church, one of the oldest in the country, a sculpture garden, and the ruins of the red brick episcopal castle.

The hike in the 85-meter-deep Gauja Valley offers excellent fitness: you will cross a beautiful corner of nature dotted with centuries-old trees and sandstone caves.

In Krimulda, visit the bucolic manor house built in 1822. Country lunch and visit to the manor's winery , famous for its tradition of berry and fruit wines: tasting .

The adventure ends with a splendid cable car ride across the valley .

Access to Sigulda station to take the local train to Riga (1 hour). You will have the opportunity to travel on a nostalgic train - the DR1 model built in Riga in the 70s-80s.

Welcome to Riga: Check-in at the Central Hotel. The capital of Latvia and the metropolis of the Baltic States, Riga has nearly 800,000 inhabitants. Founded in 1201, it preserves the medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Garden Ring and elegant grand boulevards, the picturesque canal, and the famous Art Nouveau district.

Evening dinner and dancing in a folk tavern.

Overnight stay in Riga, 3-star hotel in the city centre: Opera Hotel or similar.

Walking tour of the old town discovering the essential sights: the house of the Brotherhood of the Blackheads, the castle, the house of the 3 brothers, the Liberty monument, the National Opera, the old ramparts, the churches of St. Peter, St. James and St. John and the Cathedral of the Dome.

Explore the Art Nouveau district . This dominant architectural style in Riga boasts over 800 impressive facades. Enjoy a guided tour of the district and a visit to the Art Nouveau Museum , which preserves interiors with objects and furniture emblematic of Riga's style. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant during the tour.

Discover Riga's Central Market . It comprises five former Zeppelin hangars. This site, like Riga's Old Town, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hangars date back to 1930, and each hangar is dedicated to a specific specialty: meat, vegetables, etc. A great opportunity to sample local delicacies!

Free afternoon for individual exploration.

Overnight stay in Riga, 3-star hotel in the city centre: Opera Hotel or similar.

Free day to deepen your experience on Riga: visit the Anatomy Museum or the Railway Museum, explore the typical neighborhoods of Agenskalns, Grizinkalns and Mezaparks, learn about the recent past at the Museum of Occupations, or take the train to the seaside!

Optional : Join the optional excursion to Kemeri National Park by local electric train: admire the architecture of the stations, which depart every 5 minutes. Hike in the national park along the Great Bog Trail to understand the complex ecosystem of this region and observe the flora and fauna. The Kemeri station reveals dilapidated bathhouses and thermal baths. Lunch at a local restaurant and return to Riga.

In the early evening, access the train station to catch the only direct train to Vilnius (a 4-hour journey). This relaxing trip across the plains offers a glimpse of rural life outside the major cities. The railway line passes by the iconic Hill of Crosses .

Upon arrival in Vilnius, access to the hotel located in the old town. Dinner at the hotel restaurant or in the neighborhood.

Many cultures have contributed to the beauty and charm of this city, founded in 1323, including Lithuanians, Poles, Jews, and Russians. Vilnius, the easternmost Western European city, offers a cultural crossroads atmosphere in its Baroque quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Night in Vilnius, 3/4 star hotel in the city centre: Hotel Conti or similar.

Discover Vilnius on foot : the Gate of Dawn and the Chapel of Mercy. The upper part of the city reveals the Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church of St. Casimir, and the Church of St. Theresa. Stroll through Town Hall Square, home to the old merchant guilds.

Visit Vilnius University : study the famous Four Seasons fresco in magical realism; one of the courtyards reveals St. John's Church with its beautiful Baroque organ and 67-meter bell tower, and the panoramic view of the UNESCO-listed Old Town with its red-tiled roofs. Visit St. Anne's Church, a red-brick masterpiece of Northern Gothic architecture, as well as the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus. Lunch in an inclusive and social restaurant (a "jewelry café" style establishment) in the Old Town.

Optional : Depart for Trakai , the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, located in a national park dotted with 15 glacial lakes. This picturesque village is inhabited by the Karaite minority, an eastern minority; only 60 descendants remain in the village today, but they have managed to preserve their culture. Visit the historic quarter with its small wooden houses, and take a sailboat for a trip on the lake around the famous island castle. Return to Vilnius in the early evening.

Farewell dinner with drinks in a restaurant in the old town.

Night in Vilnius, 3/4 star hotel: Hotel Conti or similar.

End of stay after breakfast.