This trip was a great introduction and overview of the Baltic countries and Helsinki. The forest walks were mixed with city walks leaving us with no boring moments and which made it different from the regular hiking trips. We had walks on the beach as well as in the forests while surprised by the wild berries and different types of mushrooms that our leader Andrius educated us on. His excitement about it was contagious. We climbed lighthouses, walked in bogs and rode fun ferries. The contrast between the Cold War museum and the Helsinki library was astonishing in regards of how things had changed. The old cities of Vilnius, Riga and Tallin were the highlights as well as the discovery of the history of these countries and how resilient they had been. Our leader Andrius was also a highlight and a lesson in how to be professional and yet still be funny and entertaining. Our amazing driver kept the comfortable van immaculate. His safe driving was greatly appreciated. The hotels had a great location and overall served the purpose. Helsinki hotel was the best but Panorama hotel in Vilnius was not. It can be upgraded to a more comfortable one. There was no AC and the room was quite small and with only one plug available. Overall a great trip and I am ready to do it again in the future.
Exodus Travel provided excellent trip planning and booking support. They followed up with timely information. A great adventure travel company! The TBM camping trek itself was very demanding but at the same time thrilling and rewarding. I found the ascents and descents to be equally difficult and challenging. My stamina, endurance and physical skills were continuously tested. The panoramas were exquisite and at every twist and turn along the trail, I was surprised by another equally beautiful scene. I completed the trek feeling healthier and stronger.
Having been on previous “Baltics Winter Walking” (with Exodus), we wanted to return to experience the countryside and enjoy the walks in the National Parks in more conducive conditions and we were certainly not disappointed. We again enjoyed the city visits, this time in the warm sunshine the bars/cafes spilling out on the buzzing sidewalks, but of course at each city remembering the struggle and hardships they endured in previous decades. The 2000 kms we travelled was full on but in a comfortable bus and with a careful and competent driver we made excellent progress on pot hole free highways. We stopped in towns, villages, walked through pine forests down to lake sides, traversed the Baltic Sea on ferries to picturesque islands each with their own character. Our ultimate ferry across to Helsinki was more like being on a cruise ship, an array of food outlets and a huge shopping mall.
