Baltic Explorer Rail Tour 2012 

We depart from St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels in Standard Premier Class, with a complimentary light meal and drinks served on board. We change trains in Brussels and continue by train in First Class to Bremen, via Cologne, spending one night at the Maritim Hotel Bremen. (E,D)

We leave Bremen by high-speed train (Standard Class), travelling via Hamburg to the port of Puttgarden, where we join the train ferry for the crossing to Rødby in Denmark. From here we continue to Copenhagen, the Danish capital that is home to the world's oldest monarchy. We spend two nights in Copenhagen at the Imperial Hotel. (B,D)

This morning we enjoy a sightseeing tour of Copenhagen, including the Amalienborg Palace, a large octagonal palace, surrounded by four identical rococo palaces, one of which is home to the reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe II. We also visit the famous statue of the Little Mermaid at Langelinie and enjoy a cruise in the colourful canal area of Nyhavn. (B)

This morning we join the high-speed service (Standard Class) to Stockholm, Sweden's beautiful capital city. On arrival, we walk the short distance to our hotel for two nights, the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel. (B,D)

This morning we take a city tour to visit sights such as the Royal Palace, the cathedral and the Old Town. The afternoon is free to explore Stockholm, a wonderful maritime city full of waterways, parks and green areas. (B,D)

Today you are at leisure until the early evening, when we join the ferry for the overnight cruise to Riga. Enjoy the fabulous views as we pass the Stockholm archipelago and sail out into the Baltic Sea. (B,D)

The ferry docks in Riga shortly after breakfast and we continue by coach on a tour of the city. We see the ornate St Jacob's Cathedral, and the Old Town of Riga, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The city is famous for its extensive Germanic Art Nouveau architecture, considered unmatched anywhere else in the world. After the tour, we check into the Radisson Blu Daugava Hotel. (B,D)

Today is free for you to explore Riga. You could perhaps visit the Central Market or explore the Old Town in more detail. Alternatively you can take an elevator to the top of St Peter's church for a birds-eye view of Riga, or visit the Maskavas Forstate, just outside the city centre for a look at some unique old wooden houses. (B)

Today we travel by coach along the Gulf of Riga to the Estonian capital, Tallinn. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for two nights, the modern Radisson Blu Tallinn. At the heart of this historic city is the hill of Toompea, a maze of cobbled streets and alleyways filled with medieval houses. This afternoon we enjoy a guided tour of the city, which includes its medieval Dome Church, the Town Hall Square and views of the Toompea Castle, Estonia's seat of power. Tallinn's beautiful and colourful Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. (B,D)

Your day is free to explore Tallinn at leisure. In the Old Town there are plenty of historic sites to visit, including the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, the only preserved Renaissance building in Tallinn. (B)

This morning we depart for Helsinki by ferry, arriving in the early afternoon. We continue by coach on a tour of Helsinki, including Senate Square and the elegant Lutheran Cathedral. Following the tour, we transfer to the centrally located Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel for a two-night stay. (B)

Today is free for you to explore Helsinki. Finland's capital lies on an archipelago surrounded by many smaller islands, many of which are connected by regular ferry services. Visit the Church in the Rock, a unique church literally carved into solid rock. (B)

Today we travel by train in First Class arriving in St Petersburg this afternoon, by far the most cosmopolitan of Russia's cities. On arrival we check in to our base for two nights, the Angleterre Hotel. We later visit the Hermitage, one of the largest and oldest museums in the world, founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, and housed in the magnificent Royal Winter Palace. (B,D)

We enjoy a city tour, during which we see the impressive St Isaac's Cathedral with its gold dome, the ornate Church on Spilled Blood and the grand Nevsky Prospect. We continue to Peterhof Palace. This majestic complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its beautiful grounds filled with spectacular fountains and waterways. Your afternoon is free to discover St Petersburg's cathedrals, opulent palaces and fascinating museums. (B,D)

Your morning is free before we transfer to the airport for our return flight. Sit back and relax as we travel back to London. (B)

We leave St Petersburg on the early train, travelling overland around the gulf of Finland on the new high-speed Allegro service, a journey of just three and a half hours (First Class). On arrival in Helsinki your day is free to further explore the city. This evening we board the ferry, travelling overnight and during Day 16 towards Travemünde, a small town in the far north of Germany, arriving in the evening. We spend the night at the Maritim Strandhotel Travemünde. (Day 15-B,D; Day 16-B,L,D)

This morning we transfer by coach to the city of Hamburg, where we board the train and travel in First Class to Cologne. We spend the night in Cologne in either the Four Points Hotel or the Grand City Cologne Centre, both located close to the railway station and the city's fabulous Gothic Cathedral. (B,D)

We leave Cologne and travel First Class to Brussels, where we board the Eurostar to London, travelling in Standard Premier Class, with a light meal and drinks served on board. (B,E)

E = Eurostar meal, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
These meals, where shown, are included in the price of your holiday