Baltic capital cities tour

Planet

To help reduce the level of pollution within the city centres, the sightseeing tours we operate are mostly done on foot, which is also a great way of seeing all they have to offer first hand. When coaches are being used for these small group trips we also keep the size of the coach to a minimum, so rather than using gas guzzling 40-50 seaters we opt for more environmental friendly 15-25 seat coaches that use less fuel and therefore admit less carbon.

We hire tour leaders on this trip who know the area well and are trained by us in the importance of responsible tourism with guidance given on how they can make a difference. This is in everything from the lowest impact ways to travel, the most locally-authentic and seasonally-produced foods to purchase to where to get tap water and re-fill bottles.

In addition to the above, we are continually looking for ways to improve and are proud to be ‘Responsible in everything we do’. Education is key and so all staff, Tour leaders and partnering suppliers are trained in responsible and sustainable tourism. At our UK Head Office, we continually strive towards a sustainable and planet-friendly working environment, including having solar panels installed and a company commitment to reducing our plastic usage. As well as this, we have valuable and longstanding partnerships with UK charities Toilet Twinning and Send a Cow, plus many smaller initiatives and projects around the world. We’re members of UK travel industry bodies Tourism Concern and AITO because we believe it’s important to share our knowledge and experience, as well as learn from other operators.

As a company we support Cool Earth. Protecting rainforest is one of the most effective actions to tackle climate breakdown. CoolEarth work with indigenous communities empowering them to conserve their forest; keeping CO2 locked in.

People

We use a local tour leader and guides on this trip who know the region very well. When travelling through the cities, our tour guide will show us the best local-owned restaurants, cafes and shops to visit. Trying traditional food and seeing local products made is always high on our priority list and we intend to give you a real taste of these charming Baltic cities.

The majority of the accommodation we use is locally owned. This not only provides direct employment within the hotel, but also has the effect of percolating money beyond to small businesses that supply the hotel and in this way money is spread throughout the region we visit. The historical capital cities of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are all UNESCO World Heritage Listed, and money spent within them helps to support the local communities and the preservation of the legacy of these distinctive cities.

The majority of visitors to the Baltic States will be surprised by the quality, variety and value of food and drink on offer. The majority of food is locally sourced and part of the regions heritage is being able to forage for food and make local brews. Walking through the forests you will see locals passing the time picking mushrooms and gathering berries. There are a lot of traditional family-run restaurants, with influences from Germany and Russia, serving locally produced dishes, which we would recommend on this trip.

On this trip we spend a night at the Pakruojis Manor, which has been painstakingly restored and is now a living museum, where we will taste beer brewed onsite using age old methods. By staying here we’re helping to keep rural traditions alive and also to fund the ongoing maintenance of this historic estate.