Empires, Manor Houses and Castles

The inland route takes you east of Tallinn via the fishing villages of Estonia’s famous Lahemaa National Park to some of the best preserved German manor houses in the country. As the border with Russia approaches, you have the opportunity of visiting the secret Stalin era USSR ‘closed town’ of Sillamäe before viewing the historic fault line of competing empires at Narva Castle as it faces Ivangorod Castle in Russia. The route then winds its way along the sandy beaches of Lake Peipsi through the villages and onion dome orthodox churches of Russian Old Believers to the cultural heart of Estonia; the eternally youthful historic university town of Tartu. From there you head south into Latvia and the spectacular Knights of the Sword crusader castle of Cçsîs before heading to Riga via Gauja National Park.

(Suggested duration: 4 nights minimum)