The Baltic Trio

Upon your arrival to Tallinn, Estonia, you’ll be met by your private driver for transfer to your accommodation in the capital city. After taking time to relax and refresh, head out to get a glimpse of what it has to offer. It has an especially rich and colourful cultural diversity with its medieval and Nordic history contrasted with the folklore traditions of ethnic minorities. Incredibly atmospheric with cobbled streets surrounded by a fortress wall, simply strolling is a joy. Enjoy dinner at one of the traditional eateries where you can enjoy dishes like elk or bear paired with honey beer.

A private walking tour of the Old Town will give you a better perspective of its many delights. Meet your local guide and enjoy exploring the narrow, winding streets with views of soaring Gothic spires and an impressive mix of German and Swedish influences from the Middle Ages and Reformation. Walking up the hill to Upper Town, you’ll see the Parliament building, marvel at the onion-domed Russian Cathedral, and visit the Museum of Occupation, all while learning about the Estonians’ struggle for independence. Enjoy the rest of the day to yourself, wandering through the enticing streets to enjoy the shops, cafes and museums.

Heading outside the walls of the city, you’ll visit magnificent Kadriorg Park, the site of Kadriorg Palace, museums, monuments and formal gardens, and the impressive Russian Rusalka Monument. You’ll see the Song Festival stage where the country’s peaceful singing revolution started in 1987 before hopping onto a ferry, crossing the Gulf of Finland to reach Helsinki. One of the wealthiest cities in Europe, upon arrival a panoramic tour will reveal sights like the incredible “Church of the Rock” which was built in solid rock, the Seurasaari Open-Air Folk Museum and the abstract Sibelius Monument which resembles a soundwave made of clusters of organ pipes.

Today you’ll explore Helsinki’s Old Town on a private walking tour. While it’s one of the younger European historic centers, dating to the mid-19th-century, it’s a maze of captivating streets with art nouveau and neoclassical structures. Begin at lively Market Square with its unusual Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral, an interesting contrast against the Lutheran Cathedral and art nouveau train station. Stroll the beautiful Esplanade and then conclude by embarking on an excursion to the islands, home to Suomenlinna Fortress which stands guard over the Finnish capital. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, we recommend sampling lihapullat (Finnish meatballs) at dinner.

Journey to your final destination, St. Petersburg, Russia, by train this morning. You’ll arrive into this spectacular city in the early afternoon, enjoying the time for a private guided tour of its center, filled with picturesque canals and bridges that have lead many to refer to it as the Venice of the North. Visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral with its golden steeple, the birthplace of the city and the resting place of the tsars among other sights before concluding at the ornate and colourful Church on Spilled Blood. It was constructed at the site of Tsar Alexander II’s assignation in 1881.

This morning you’ll join your guide for a private tour of Winter Palace, renowned for its Hermitage Museum, one of the top museums in the world. It showcases more than 2.5 million items – with so much to see your tour will focus on the palace’s opulent rooms and must-see masterpieces by greats like Picasso, Rembrandt and da Vinci. You’ll have the afternoon to enjoy to yourself – you might continue exploring the incredible palace and the six museum buildings, head back to your hotel to relax or perhaps catch a Russian ballet performance at the historic Mariinsky Theatre which opened in 1860.

Heading outside of the city today, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Peterhof Palace. Like Versailles Palace in France, it’s grounds are filled with breathtaking gardens and fountains. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is one of the must-visit attractions in the area, built by Peter the Great in the 18th-century. After lunch return to St. Petersburg for a guided tour of the Museum of the Defense and Siege of Leningrad and the Monument to the Heroic Defenders. The institution reveals the fascinating story of how the city endured a Nazi blockade for 900 days, from 1941 to 1944.

On your final day you’ll follow your local guide for a walking tour that focuses on Peter the Great to gain an understanding of the love he had for the city he birthed. You’ll explore some of the less-visited places that make it so unique, including old ethnic neighbourhoods, interesting streets and notable buildings before ending at St. Isaac’s Cathedral with its impressive dome. Take the rest of the day to wander along Nevsky Prospect and the enchanting canals at your own pace or visit the Russian Museum to witness more iconic masterpieces. Be sure to sample the city’s tasty dessert, pyshki, after dinner.

After exploring three countries and their top cities, your 8-night tour comes to an end this morning. You’ll have time for breakfast before taking private transfer to St. Petersburg airport to catch your flight home. If you’ve decided to continue your travels here, perhaps with a cruise along the Volga River to Moscow, you can be transferred to your local departure destination.