Historic Baltic Republics

The tour leader was very knowledgable and we learned a great deal about the Baltic states culture and history. The day we spent exploring the Curonian Spit National Park in Lithuania was especially interesting. Witches hill with the wonderful wood carvings was amazing.

The Baltics have a rich and complicated history and the area is well worth visiting. Our guide Leva whose home is in Latvia, knows the area extremely well and often took her private time to suggest and lead activities that were not on the official tour itinerary. Three beautiful countries, three languages, and three main religions all combined in a whirlwind tour.

The trip was excellent. I’ve not travelled with such a large group before so found that tricky at times but our leader Margareta managed the different elements in our Group expertly. Always ensuring everyone was included and informed of what we were doing.

I did really enjoy the Historic Baltic Republics trip. It was a more relaxed trip than I usually do and was nice to have 2 nights in most places. I did think there was a bit too much free time but this was mentioned in the trip notes. The first bus we used on the trip was very good and had plenty of room but the 2nd bus we had was quite cramped. Margarita was an excellent guide. I did have a problem with my luggage getting delayed on the 1st night but luckily it did arrive the next day.

The itinerary allowed for a comprehensive look at a variety of sites across the three countries, not just the capital cities. In the cities, the balance between time spent with the group (city walking tour with local guide) and free time to pursue your own interests was just right. The forward arranging of group meals for the evenings in the bigger places by the tour leader was appreciated as a way of sampling local cuisine - you could opt out if you wanted. The hotels were all of a good or excellent quality, often totally refurbished within an older building, and centrally located. The coaches used were very comfortable for a group of 15, though the tinted glass on the Riga-Vilnius coach made for so-so photography of the outside and made the interior a bit dark. For early morning flights from Vilnius on the last day (taxi to airport at 3:20am) it was 'no breakfast!', even though stated on itinerary, not even a mini box thing (as provided on a previous Explore trip. with similar early departure.. on "Silk Road" in Tashkent). The tour leader Margarita was excellent - knowledgeable, enthusiastic, personable - 10/10!

A near perfect trip. The accommodation was good with an excellent hotel (Konventa Seta) in Riga. The itinerary was well balanced with some free time to cover a personal interest not included in the itinerary: don't miss the KGB museum in Vilnius. Our Guide 'Ona' was superb, full of knowledge and able to answer every question we asked. Transport was very comfortable and we had plenty of room on the coach. There are a couple of long days but nothing to worry about as you'll have lots of stops. Lovely people, great monuments and lots of civic pride represented by the beautiful parks and flowers planted throughout these countries. Go while you can, the Baltics is a beautiful part of Europe.

This trip was excellent. It was really interesting to learn about the history of an area I knew very little about. There was more free time on this trip than normal which I found to be good. Much of accomodation was really well located, in or very close to the heart of the action. The buffet breakfasts were plentiful everywhere. I would recommend this trip to anyone.

An excellent introduction to the Baltic countries of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Combining time to explore on your own along with guided tours of the major cities and important sites. Good hotels throughout, a knowledgeable guide and a very enjoyable 2 weeks.

Historic Baltic Republics - August 2025 very good, well located hotels. Small group of 10 like minded people. Good transportation in small bus. No extra long days driving. Guide who explained history and present status well. Went to places we never would have found. A busy trip covering 3 countries.

Varied program with opportunity for independent wandering. Nice hotels some with fitness centre and pool. great guide.

This tour of the three Baltic republics exceeded our expections and was a fabulous trip. Simona, our tour leader, contributed hugely to our enjoyment of the countries. She went above and beyond e.g. providing additional walking tours of specialist interest areas in many of our stopovers. She enthusiastically engaged us in the history and culture of each country and liaised clearly with all of the drivers and local guides, who were excellent throughout. The timing and pace of the tour, including the amount of free time, worked for us. We would highly recommend this tour.

The Baltics Tour was really enjoyable and educational. Our guide, Simona, was excellent and her in depth knowledge of all three countries really made the tour. She was very approachable, extremely well organised and was great fun. The itinerary was very interesting and Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius all had beautiful architecture. The people were very welcoming. In Kaunus we even had a chance to join in with Lithuanian dancing. The accommodation was mostly excellent. I would thoroughly recommend this tour.

A well balanced trip taking in nature, history, architecture, cuisine etc... in this fascinating part of the world; a mixture of several long days on the bus with a few free afternoons allowing us to follow our own interests. Simona was the perfect tour leader! She kept us entertained throughout with her amazing knowledge of everything to do with the region. Passionate about the history and nature of each of the countries we visited, she always pointed out the differences between the 3 (i.e. linguistic and religious), but also stressed the unity born from the common experience of fighting for independence. She gave cohesion to our group of 15 with the dedicated WhatApp group she created and kept us well organised, but also took a personal interest in each of us. It was a joy to witness these 3 countries progressing so quickly and flourishing since independence.

This was an excellent trip , far more varied than I was expecting. Our tour guide, Simona, was brilliant, her extensive knowledge of the history of the Baltics and first hand experiences of the more recent past helped to give a greater understanding. Her daily 'tomorrow's itinerary' was very useful and helpful. She went out of her way to ensure that everyone was able to get the most out of their trip. The other local guides were excellent too, as were both our drivers, managing some tricky narrow roads. The old towns are cobbled and have many beautiful buildings dating back centuries. We visited castles, cathedrals, churches (Catholic, Lutheran and Russian orthodox) palaces, open air museums, beaches, woodlands, heard folk tales, saw KGB museums, prisons, memorials and monuments. I travelled in August and whilst many afternoons were warm and sunny several mornings were extremely cold, more like March. And when it rained, it really rained! All of the hotels were comfortable and clean but some didn't have a kettle or coffee making facilities in the room and some rooms were rather small. It was nice to stay a couple of nights in most towns, giving a chance to see a bit more of each location.

I didn't know quite what to expect on this tour of The Baltics but it was a truly memorable trip. A huge thankyou goes to our guide, Simona, who went above and beyond any ordinary guide duties. She delved into the history of each country with joy and enthusiasm. She looked after us always ensuring that we were safe and knew exactly what we were doing. Our accommodation was excellent throughout and the pace of the tour was just right. This tour comes highly recomeended.

Excellent tour I especially liked that we spent 2 or more nights in all places except one, so we have enough time to get to know each place. Simona the tour leader went above and beyond in all aspects. The tour would not have been the same without her.

An excellent tour. The itinerary gave a good insight to the 3 countries and our knowledgeable and informative tour leaders were able to take us to many interesting places.

A very interesting group of capital cities. The tour also showed us a glimpse of the other important towns on the Baltic coast and how they developed via the Hanseatic league, The guide Simona was excellent with a clear love of the area and an amazing wealth of knowledge.

The trip is very much centred around cities which was slightly disappointing for me because so much of these countries are covered by forests and national parks. However the trip notes do make the itinerary clear so it would just be a personal preference to have included more of an exploration of the countryside, perhaps some day walks. Our tour leader, Ona, was very knowledgable, I learned so much about all three countries

the hotels are good standard as well as very good location in terms of previous tours. More premium tours?

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the emphasis on Tallinn, Tartu, Riga, Kaunas, and Vilnius. Thanks for the extra day in Riga. If there was one change i would have made, it would have been an extra day in Vilnius deleting the day on Curonian National park though I felt that that day was interesting as well. The old towns in each of the capitals were special and should not be missed. Our tour guide Ona was excellent especially her knowledge of the various sites.

A Beautiful Journey Through the Baltics Our travels through the Baltics were absolutely fabulous! The entire experience exceeded my expectations, and much of the credit goes to our wonderful tour guide. Ieva, out tour guide, was knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating stories—especially about growing up during the communist era in the Baltic countries. Her insights into the region's history, culture, and traditions were truly impressive, and she answered all of our questions with warmth and enthusiasm. One of the highlights for me was hearing the local folklore and legends she shared in each country. I especially loved her storytelling at the Hill of the Witches in Curonian Spit National Park. The wooden carvings depicting Baltic fables were both eerie and enchanting—an unforgettable experience that brought the myths to life. The people we met throughout the Baltics were incredibly kind, helpful, and welcoming. Whether it was locals in cafes or shopkeepers in small towns, everyone we encountered made us feel at home. Their warmth and friendliness added so much to the experience. Both of our bus drivers were fantastic—friendly, professional, and always punctual. It was truly impressive to watch them fit all of our luggage into the buses so efficiently! Traveling with them felt easy and stress-free. I also really appreciated the small group size. It made it easy to get to know everyone on the tour, and the group dynamic was relaxed and positive. One of the best things about a smaller group is that there's less drama and more camaraderie, which made the journey even more enjoyable. Another aspect of the tour I loved was the pace. Staying two nights at each hotel gave us ample time to explore the cities and towns on our own, without feeling rushed. It was the perfect balance between structured activities and personal discovery. The natural beauty of the Baltics blew me away. Each country was so lush and green, and the roads were in excellent condition—making the drive through the countryside a pleasure. All in all, this tour was an incredible way to experience the rich history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty of the Baltic region. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a trip that’s both educational and enjoyable!

Good holiday but a bit thin for those of us who want to be engaged 100% of the time

Our tour leader went over and above to make sure we learnt the maximum from the tour, even giving up her own time to do a replacement city walking tour when the organised one was rained off. Some people may have thought there was too much history but that was the point of ghe trip