Estonian Manors and Resorts tour
Tallinn - Saaremaa - Lahemaa
August 2012, 8 days / 7 nights

Dates:
MEM14: 03.08-10.08.12
MEM16: 17.08-24.08.12

Day 1 (Friday): Arrival Tallinn
Arrival in Tallinn, optional transfer to Hotel von Stackelberg Tallinn****, which is located in the restored city estate of Baron Theophil von Stackelberg, check-in, welcome meeting.

Day 2 (Saturday): Tallinn
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. During the morning walking tour of the Old Town we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the medieval Old Town Hall. In the afternoon an optional excursion is offered to Kadriorg Park with a visit to the Kadriorg Palace and its art collections.

Day 3 (Sunday): Tallinn-Saaremaa
After breakfast we leave Tallinn for Haapsalu, a coastal city with a turbulent history dating back to 1291 and a favourite retreat of the Russian czars in the 19th century. We take a stroll through the city centre and visit the ruins of the castle before we continue to Virtsu, where we embark on the ferry to Kuivastu on Muhu Island and from here it is only an hour’s drive to Kuressaare and Hotel Grand Rose****, check-in. The late afternoon is reserved using the exquisite spa facilities at the hotel.

Day 4 (Monday): Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the biggest Island in Estonia and during the optional 6-hour tour we explore all its secrets. We start with a tour of Kuressaare, the largest town on the island, where many conquerors have left a worthy heritage of Baroque, Gothic and Classicist architecture. We stroll though the town and visit the Episcopal Castle, the best preserved medieval fortress in Estonia. After that we visit the windmills in Angla, the St. Catherine’s Church in Karja and Kali Craters before we return to Kuressaare.

Day 5 (Tuesday): Saaremaa-Lahemaa
The ferry brings us back to the mainland and we head south for Parnu, the prime summer resort in Estonia. We do a tour of the resort and a leisurely stroll along the beach. After lunch break we head north through a magnificent scenery to Rakvere, a peaceful provincial town still benefiting from its Hanseatic legacy. We stop to see Rakvere Castle and after that a short drive brings us to the Lahemaa National Park and to Vihula Manor, a large, charming 16th century estate, which has been painstakingly restored to a comfortable hotel and leisure resort. Check-in at Hotel Vihula Manor****.

Day 6: (Wednesday): Lahemaa
The Lahemaa National Park has been a protected park since the 1970s and offers a blend of unspoiled flora and fauna, untouched rivers and lakes, small quaint villages and costal towns, sandy beaches and old manor houses. During an optional 6-hour trip we visit the ethnographical village in Altja, the harbour in Vergi and the costal towns of Vosu and Kasmu. The highlight of the trip is the visit to the Palmse Manor, a memorial to the von Prahlen family. On the way back to Vihula we also see the Sagadi Manor, a 17th century restored manor with a beautiful manor house and delightful parks.

Day 7 (Thursday): Lahemaa
The day is reserved for leisure and individual activities. Vihula Manor is beautifully set along the Mustoja River forming a pond around which the historical manor buildings are located. Explore the beautiful parks of Vihula Manor, embark on a hiking tour in the vast forested area surrounding the estate, enjoy a picnic in the unspoiled nature, discover more about Lahemaa National Park on a bike, visit the sandy beaches and take a vigorous swim the Baltic Sea or visit the estate’s unique Eco-SPA. The tour is concluded with a fine dinner at the stylish Restaurant “La Boheme” in the main manor house.

Day 8 (Friday): Lahemaa Departure
Optional transfer to the airport.

Package prices per person:
EUR 595.00 (double occupancy)
EUR 300.00 (single supplement)

Including:

• 7 overnights at unique 4 star hotels
• 7 x buffet breakfast
• 1 x dinner at Restaurant La Boheme
• Welcome meeting with champagne cocktail or juice
• Personalized welcome package
• Entrance to Old Town Hall in Tallinn
• Service of English, German and Italian speaking tour escort on all tours
• Service of 1st class motor coaches or 1st class minivan throughout the itinerary
• Ferry Virtsu-Kuivastu-Virtsu
• Portage at hotels
• Service and VAT

Optional:

• Transfer airport to Hotel von Stackelberg Tallinn: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 pax), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
• 3-hour excursion to Kadriorg Park and visit to Kadriorg Palace: EUR 40.00 pp
• 6-hour excursion around Saaremaa including visit to Episcopal Castle: EUR 80.00 pp
• 6-hour excursion around Lahemaa National Park including visit to Palmse Manor: EUR 80.00 pp
• Transfer Hotel Vihula Manor to airport: EUR 80.00 for private car (1-3 pax), EUR 120.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)