Scandinavia & Baltic Circuit

Explore the highlights of Scandinavia before travelling south into the Baltic states on this epic 32-day adventure through northern Europe. As well as hitting the hubs of Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm, discover the lesser-known but no less fascinating cities of Riga and Klaipeda, as well as Aukstaitijia and Curonian Spit national parks. The countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are a few of the continent’s last true undiscovered secrets – the fairy-tale turrets and cobbled lanes of old Tallinn, the baroque flair of Vilnius and the poignant history of Soviet occupation are not to be missed. This really is a one-of-a-kind itinerary. The areas visited on this trip can be very cold at night throughout the year, especially at the start and end of the season. Please bring appropriate clothing for adverse weather conditions, including base layers, hat, gloves, scarf, coat and anything else that will keep you cosy.Scandinavia can be an expensive destination in many ways, from museum entrance fees to optional activities, but especially in terms of eating out. Your leader will be able to advise on how to have the best value holiday in Scandinavia.Space is at a premium in Europe and your hotel is no exception. Rooms are often small, but usually the central location makes up for that. For those travelling as a duo, hotels often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together. Occasionally bathrooms will be shared with other guests.On this trip we predominantly travel by public transport therefore we recommend packing light and smart for this trip as you'll be required to carry your own luggage between train stations, ferry ports and hotels, which can include going up and down multiple flights of stairs, and across cobblestones. Train stations often don’t have lifts available.There are a few long days of travel by public transport (up to 7 hours), as you'll be covering a lot of ground. Please read the Itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.This trip is designed to give you a fair amount of free time so you can explore each destination at your own pace. We will, however, take you on regular orientation walks, so you'll be on your feet quite a lot. While this may be tiring for some, it’s the best way to get your head around a place and to set yourself up for further discoveries.