Current as of: October 17, 2026 - 19:33
Current as of: October 17, 2026 - 19:33

2 out of 7 - Easy & Moderate
For a walking adventure in Europe, the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) and Finland take some beating. Somehow, they’re still relatively undiscovered by mainstream tourism, but it won’t stay that way for long. All offer easy trails through diverse national parks – ideal if you’re new to walking trips – plus historic cities and towns to explore. With so much to see, we make the most of our time, walking through varied landscapes (including beautiful Saaremaa island in Estonia), exploring historic capitals, and marveling at magnificent monuments.
This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Suitability: This is a relatively busy itinerary with plenty of sightseeing. There is a fair amount of walking around towns, cities and parks, but mostly on good paths, mainly wooden and sometimes cobbled streets in the old towns. We also walk on footpaths and rocky terrain, which can be loose in places with some slopes. The walks require an average level of fitness and all are optional. To visit all the highlights of the four countries, there are some long bus journeys.
Renovations: Trakai Castle is currently undergoing renovation work, which may mean you see some scaffolding on the outside of the building.
Water safety: This trip includes time by a lake, river or sea, where there may be opportunities to swim. You should always seek local advice before deciding whether to swim. Open-water or wild swim spots should be treated with extreme caution. Information on how to keep yourself safe while swimming is shown here.
Normally four to 16, plus a local tour leader and driver.
Adult min age: 16
Min group size: 4
Max group size: 16
We begin in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, and our tour starts at the hotel. If you arrive in good time you may want to walk around the baroque old town – said to be the largest of its kind in eastern Europe.
This evening, say sveiki (hello) to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.
Your tour leader then ensures a big welcome by arranging a group dinner together.
Want to explore Vilnius further? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.
Accommodation: Comfort Hotel (or similar)
We start with a tour of the Vilnius highlights, taking in the old town and its main churches; historic monuments, such as the Gates of Dawn; Vilnius University, the oldest in Lithuania; and Cathedral Square.
There’s free time for lunch in Vilnius, then we hop in a transfer (approximately 50 minutes) to Kernavė, a town alive with myths and legends. It’s home to five hill forts and we enjoy an impressive view of the winding Neris River.
We then have time for a walk in Neris Regional Park. We take the White Hill Educational Trail, the beginning of which has an observation platform on White Hill itself with views over the picturesque twists of the Neris. Never straying far from the river, it leads us to a designated resting area and, beyond that, through a beautiful forest to the hill forts.
We finish by driving to Trakai, where we see a fairytale island castle on Lake Galvė, before returning to Vilnius.
Accommodation: Comfort Hotel (or similar)
Take a 185mi (300km) transfer (approximately four hours) to Zemaitijos National Park for a walking adventure. Our hike takes us to Plokstine, a one-time Soviet missile base and now the Cold War Museum. Here, we can see inside underground bunkers and learn about the Cold War in the Baltics. After, we cross the border into Latvia as we transfer to the port city of Liepaja, where we stay overnight.
Accommodation: Liva Hotel (or similar)
We travel to Karosta, the former military district of Liepāja, where the golden onion domes of St Nicholas Naval Cathedral rise above Soviet-era apartment blocks.
Following an easy circular trail, we walk through forest, along the Baltic coast and beside the Fortress Canal. Our route takes in the Redan fortification, remnants of the tsarist fortress system and Soviet military structures, revealing how successive armies shaped this stretch of coastline.
We then continue to Kuldīga, where traditional wooden buildings and a preserved historic street layout have earned the old town UNESCO World Heritage status. We walk through the centre and admire Venta Rapid, the widest waterfall in Europe.
A tour and tasting at a local winery rounds off our visit, before we continue to Riga for the next two nights.
Total drive time: approximately 3hr 30min
Accommodation: Islande Hotel (or similar)
Get to know Riga on a walking tour, taking in Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral and St Peter’s Church. The Great and Small Guild Halls introduce the merchants and craftspeople who helped shape the city, while the remaining fortifications and Swedish Gate recall Riga’s defensive past.
We also see Latvia’s Parliament building and the Freedom Monument, a symbol of national independence topped by a figure holding three stars.
The rest of the day is free to revisit a favourite sight, browse the shops or pause at a cafe before another night in Riga.
Accommodation: Islande Hotel (or similar)
Leaving Riga, travel to Saulkrasti for a coastal walk linking the White Dune with the town. Sandy paths and sections of wooden boardwalk lead through seaside forest, with views across the beach and Baltic Sea and old pine trees lining parts of the route.
Our planned walk covers approximately 3.7mi (6km) and takes two hours. Depending on the weather and our tour leader’s assessment, we may extend it with a further 3.7mi (6km) along the beach.
We then cross into Estonia and stop in the seaside resort of Pärnu, with free time for lunch. Continuing towards Saaremaa, the largest island in Estonia, we take a ferry to neighbouring Muhu and drive across the causeway to Saaremaa. We spend the next two nights in Kuressaare, the main town on the island.
Accommodation: Staadioni Hotel (or similar)
Transfer to Harilaid Peninsula in Vilsandi National Park for a circular coastal hike. Our route leads past wind-shaped trees, broad sandy beaches, dunes and pebbled shores. Along the western coast, we keep watch for seabirds and, with luck, seals.
The walk brings us within sight of Kiipsaare Lighthouse, an 85ft (26m) tower with a rather changeable lean. Originally built approximately 330ft (100m) inland, it now stands in the sea as the coastline has shifted around it. Unstable ground beneath the tower causes its angle to change over time. We admire it from the shore before completing our circuit and returning to Kuressaare.
Accommodation: Staadioni Hotel (or similar)
Leave Saaremaa and take the 1hr 15min ferry to Hiiumaa, the second-largest island in Estonia. A bus transfer brings us to Sääretirp, a narrow cape extending into the sea from the Kassari Peninsula.
Our walk follows easy, mostly flat countryside and coastal paths, passing trees and shrubs before reaching the pebbled shoreline. Sea kale grows along the water’s edge, adding white flowers during the flowering season. Bring water shoes if you would like to swim.
We then visit Kõpu Lighthouse, whose broad white tower rises above the surrounding forest. Among the oldest working lighthouses in the world, it began as a daytime navigation marker by 1531, helping ships avoid dangerous shallows off Hiiumaa.
After our visit, we continue by bus and ferry to Tallinn, our base for the next two nights.
Total drive time: approximately four hours, excluding ferry crossings and waiting times
Accommodation: Go Hotel Shnelli (or similar)
This morning, we have a walking tour of Tallinn to feel the aura of the 14th and 15th centuries that survived intact in a maze of medieval walls and towers, soaring church spires and winding streets. It includes the main historic and architectural monuments: Toompea Palace and Castle, the Town Hall Square, and the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
We then walk around the Kalamaja district, often considered the hipster area with colourful wooden houses, bohemian charm, and a fishing port heritage. We then continue to Balti Jaama market, an excellent opportunity to see and buy local products. We recommend the following:
There’s free time for lunch, so you may also wish to visit:
Accommodation: Go Hotel Shnelli (or similar)
Transfer (approximately 15 minutes) to the ferry, crossing the Baltic Sea to Helsinki, Finland (approximately 2hr 10min), arriving in the green and lively Finnish capital.
We then journey (approximately one hour) to Sipoonkorpi National Park, an expanse of classic Finnish scenery: lovely lakes, green forests and rugged crags.
We take the Fiskträsk trail, a circular route passing canyons and rock formations from the Ice Age, plus a segment through thick primeval forest. We also have the possibility of extending the trails.
After, we transfer to Porvoo (18mi/30km, approximately 45 minutes). It’s the second oldest city in Finland and you can feel that long history as you walk through the streets. We take a transfer (37mi/60km, approximately one hour) to the capital Helsinki.
Accommodation: Original Sokos Hotel Albert (or similar)
In the morning, we embark on a sightseeing tour, which takes us past the harbours, into the centre of Mannerheim Street and past the Parliament Building, Finlandia Hall, Market Square, Sibelius Monument, Rock Church, and the striking glass, steel and wood structure of the Oodi Library. We use public transport on this tour (ticket is included).
The afternoon is free to relax. Alternatively, you can visit Suomenlinna Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site and museum (optional). The most common way to reach Suomenlinna is by taking a ferry from Market Square (Kauppatori) in Helsinki. Market Square is centrally located and easily accessible. Once you arrive at Suomenlinna, you can explore the fortress and its attractions at your own pace. There are museums, historic buildings, parks and scenic views to enjoy.
Accommodation: Original Sokos Hotel Albert (or similar)
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and begin our return journeys home. If you’d like a little more time to explore the Finnish capital, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

On this Baltics and Finland adventure, we mostly stay in three- and four-star hotels, ideally located for access to the key sites. Below are the properties we typically use.
Vilnius: Comfort Hotel (nights 1-2)

This modern, music-themed hotel is well located with 200 rooms that have an urban twist.
Liepaja: Liva Hotel (night 3)

In the heart of Liepaja, Liva Hotel has 115 comfortable rooms and half a century of history. There’s also a bar and restaurant, which offers an international menu, and a fitness room.
Riga: Islande Hotel (nights 4-5)

Near the Daugava River, the Islande has a magnificent panoramic view of Riga Old Town. It’s located in a green area of Ķīpsala island, a 12-minute walk from the Old City, and offers a wide range of amenities, including a bowling alley, gym, two restaurants and a summer terrace.
Kuressaare, Saaremaa: Staadioni Hotel (nights 6-7)

The well-located Staadioni Hotel is close to the highlights of Kuressaare, including the 14th-century castle-fortress. Though modest, it’s only a 10-minute walk to town and has 27 spacious rooms with views to the castle and seaside.
Tallinn: Go Hotel Shnelli (nights 8-9)

Go Hotel Shnelli is near the medieval old town of Tallinn and Balti Jaam Market. When you’re not out exploring, the first-floor hotel restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with views over both and serves breakfast plus an à la carte dinner menu.
Helsinki: Original Sokos Hotel Albert (nights 10-11)

Our nights in Helsinki are spent in the Original Sokos Hotel Albert. It is a relaxed, small property in the heart of the Punavuori district, at the corner of Uudenmaankatu and Albertinkatu.
Worth knowing
Single supplement from USD 806
There will be buffet breakfasts in the hotels offering plenty of choice including cold meats, cheese, eggs, bread, jams, juice and coffee.
Lunches will be a mixture of picnics bought from local shops and cafe stops.
Dinners will be taken in the hotel restaurants or in local restaurants and will be hearty meals. Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut, and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup). Dumplings are also popular and, in Trakai, large and delicious savoury pastries called kibinai are traditionally served.
Travel is by private bus and scheduled boat services. The journey times vary and there are some longer distances to cover (up to 186mi/300km), which will mean several hours on the bus. However, we feel this is essential to cover the highlights of the four countries.
The climate is largely influenced by the Baltic Sea. Summer sees temperatures of 20C-30C (68F-86F). In the evenings, the temperatures will not drop too much. There is little rain in the summer but is always possible, so come prepared. The days will be long, with 19 hours of daylight. In spring and autumn, there is the possibility of light rain and temperatures can be cool.
Start hotel: Comfort Hotel Vilnius, Kauno Str.14, LT-03212 Vilnius.
Phone: +370 5 25 05 111
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening.
Airport: Vilnius Airport (VNO)
The start hotel is approximately a 15-minute drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:
Take an Exodus transfer
Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves. Speak to your sales representative for the group arrival transfer times or to arrange a private transfer.
Make your own way
You can book a private transfer with your sales representative. Please ensure you provide us with all relevant information at least two weeks before departure. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
There’s a group departure transfer to Helsinki Airport (HEL) scheduled to align with a chosen flight. Please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.
Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.
Location start: Vilnius
Location end: Helsinki
Water included: Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.
Remember to check the expiration date of your passport if travelling internationally. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after the date of your scheduled return.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Estonia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Finland. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Latvia. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Lithuania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.
Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, rabies (bat lyssavirus) and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, tuberculosis and tick-borne encephalitis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.
Ticks are known to be present in this region and can carry lyme disease, tick-borne encephalitis and other diseases. Please take care to protect yourself. You can read more about ticks here.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland’s time zone: UTC +03:00
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland’s electricity: Plug types C (two round pins) and F (two round pins) – 230V, 50Hz
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Finland’s currency: Euro (EUR)
It is best to change your money on arrival as the exchange rates are fair. We visit lots of large cities and the guide will show you where to exchange money if you need. ATMs and banks are available in the larger cities. You can use credit/debit cards in many shops and restaurants though cash is usually preferred for smaller purchases.
You should budget around €30-€40 per day for meals. Below are typical costs:
Entrance fees to sites are between €6 and €17, plus there are local taxes to pay to the hotels in Riga and Vilnius, totalling €8.
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. Tipping is at your discretion, but many wish to tip their leaders and driver at the end of the trip. We suggest €2 per day for the driver and €4 per day for the guide. Most groups prefer to present the money to the leader at the end of the week with two separate envelopes (one for the leader and one for the driver). This is completely at your own discretion and to be used as a guideline only.
If you wish to tip hotel staff and local guides, we have found it useful for the group to have a tipping kitty. Your leader can advise you on the amount, but as a guide expect it to be €20 per person for the week.
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Your Safe Participation
When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call us and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary.
Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity.
By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred.
Seatbelts
All vehicles used by us should be equipped with working seatbelts, except where approved by us based on the vehicle type or journey. Wherever seatbelts are available, we require our customers to use them for their own safety, even where it may not be a legal requirement.
Travel Safety
For additional information please have a look at the travel safety advice page on our website.
Speak to our friendly team of experts to plan your adventure:
After booking
You will receive a confirmation document and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements. Our dedicated Customer Operations team will help you with any pre-travel questions or arrangements and can easily add extensions or extra accommodation to your booking. Final Joining Instructions will usually be sent out two to three weeks prior to departure.
Adding transfers to your booking
If you have arranged your own flights and would like to add transfers to your booking, please provide your arrival and departure details to our Customer Operations team around four to six weeks before departure.
Trip Note validity
Trip notes may be updated after booking; if any updates significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary you will be advised in writing. A link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes will be sent out with your Final Joining Instructions before departure.
The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes, and occasionally it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.
