Soviet Heritage Baltic Tour

Vilnius - Kaunas - Riga - Tartu - Tallinn

8 days / 7 nights

With the iron curtain down, the Baltic countries swiftly moved back on to the World stage and returned to steadfastly preserve Western democratic values. However, the legacy of the past Soviet regime, with its depressing atmosphere can still be experienced to the full presenting a striking contrast to the fascinating cultural and historical heritage that reveals the values shared with its European culture.

Day 1: Upon arrival in Vilnius, transfer to your hotel.
The afternoon tour of Vilnius involves a stroll through the streets of the Old Town included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List and seeing the Cathedral Square, University campus, the Gate of Dawn, the Town Hall Square and the President’s Palace.

Day 2: A morning sightseeing tour takes you to Trakai, a small town located just 28 km from Vilnius, once the medieval capital of Grand Duchy of Lithuania, now famous for its 15th century gothic red-brick Island Castle.
Upon your return to Vilnius, early in the afternoon we will proceed to the KGB Museum, a place where many thousands of Lithuanians were interrogated before being deported to Siberia during the Soviet times, and the Parliament building, an outstanding symbol of Lithuania’s courageous fight for freedom.

Day 3: We drive to the Southern part of Lithuania to Grutas Park, a unique park in which pompous statues, to Soviet revolutionaries and political leaders, once dominating the squares of towns and villages throughout Lithuania, have found their final resting place after being removed some 10 years ago.
You stay overnight in Kaunas.

Day 4: After a morning tour of the Old Town of Kaunas, featuring the Old Town with it’s main attractions: the Town Hall, Theological Seminary, the Thunder House, 15th century Vytautas Church, etc, we drive to the Hill of Crosses, near Siauliai. Despite the Soviets many attempts to destroy the site, thousands of crosses stand on this sacred spot to this day. The crosses, with their handwritten messages, reveal much about the history of the Lithuanian people and testify to their strong will and faith. From there we continue on to Riga, the capital of Latvia for an overnight stay.

Day 5: A morning tour of Riga shows the main attractions of the Old Town, buildings in the Art Nouveau style, as well we pay a visit to the Occupation Museum of Latvia telling the sad story of the Nazi and Soviet occupation, and the struggle of the Latvian people for independence.

Day 6: We depart for Tartu with an en route visit to the Forest Brother’s Farm with its underground bunkers built by the former forest brother who spent 8 years in the woods. A walk in the dark shows signs of torches, secret passwords, boatman, stories of the danger of KGB, and wax statues of the forest brothers in the bunkers offer a lot of excitement. We will overnight in Tartu.

Day 7: On our drive to Tallinn we will make an en route tour to Paldiski, 50 kilometers west of Tallinn, a town of extreme contrasts: grim Soviet buildings amid striking natural scenery. The tour features Peter the Great Fortress and Pentagon, the largest Soviet nuclear submarine training centre in all of the former USSR.
The afternoon city tour of Tallinn includes the major attractions of the Old Town: Toompea Fortress, the Parliament building, Dome Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, medieval lower town and Town Hall etc.

Day 8: Departure.