Stage 41: Helsinki to Warsaw

20 September to 3 October 2009

Past and present

Yesterday Reval, Memel, Wilna; today Tallinn, Klaipeda, Vilnius: this excursion is a journey through the changing history of the Baltic States. As well as the wonderful natural experience of the Masurian Lakes, Poland offers historic places like famous Marienburg Castle of Malbork or the old medieval town of Torun.

Minimum number of participants

8 people

Price of journey per person excluding flight(s):

3,799 EUR

Day 1

Individual arrival in Helsinki, organizational matters/vehicle instruction, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Helsinki

Day 2

Sightseeing in Helsinki, including visit to the cathedral and excursion to the fortress of Suomenlinna (island off Helsinki), dinner together and overnight in hotel in Helsinki

Day 3

Stage for the day: Helsinki – Tallinn (50 km), ferry journey and border crossing from Finland into Estonia, sightseeing in Tallinn, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Tallinn

Day 4

Stage for the day: Tallinn – Riga (360 km), cross border from Estonia into Latvia, Gauja valley, wheeled bobsleigh ride on the 1,200 m bobsleigh run near Sigulda*, sightseeing in Riga, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Riga

Day 5

Stage for the day: Riga – Klaipeda (270 km), cross the border from Latvia into Lithuania, travel to the Curonian Spit near Klaipeda (UNESCO World Heritage Site), sightseeing in Klaipeda, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Klaipeda

Day 6

Stage for the day: Klaipeda – Vilnius (310 km), off-road driving on race routes, sightseeing in Vilnius, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Vilnius

Day 7

Stage for the day: Vilnius – Gizycko (290 km), cross border from Lithuania into Poland, travel through the Masurian glacial lakeland, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Gizycko

Day 8

Free day, optional day trip on sailing boats on the lakes of Masuria*, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Gizycko

Day 9

Stage for the day: Gizycko – Malbork (260 km), drive over gravel tracks, visit the largest brick building in Europe, Marienburg Castle in Malbork, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Malbork

Day 10

Stage for the day: Malbork – Torun (210 km), visit the medieval town of Torun (UNESCO World Heritage Site), dinner together and overnight in hotel in Torun

Day 11

Stage for the day: Torun – Poznan (230 km), sightseeing in Poznan, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Poznan

Day 12

Stage for the day: Poznan – Warsaw (340 km), travel through the Weichsel glaciation region, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Warsaw

Day 13

Sightseeing in Warsaw, dinner together and overnight in hotel in Warsaw

Day 14

Individual departures from Warsaw

Impressions of the stage: