About us

Visit Baltic States is a Riga-based travel company that designs private guided journeys across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. We know the region because we live here — and we believe that the best way to experience it is with someone who can show you more than guidebooks cover.

Our story

Visit Baltic States was founded by Karlis in Riga, Latvia. The idea was straightforward: the Baltic states are among the most interesting and least-known corners of Europe, and the travellers who arrive here deserve better than generic bus tours and self-guided confusion. We set out to build a company that could offer the kind of trip we would want ourselves — well-planned, personally guided, with room to wander.

Karlis grew up in Latvia and has spent years travelling across all three Baltic countries, building relationships with the guides, hoteliers and local experts who make our journeys work. Every guide in our network is someone we have met, worked with and trust to deliver a genuine, informed experience. Every hotel is one we have visited and would stay in ourselves.

Why choose a local operator

The Baltic states sit at the intersection of Nordic, Central European and Eastern European cultures. The languages are distinct, the histories are intertwined, and the nuances matter. A local operator understands things that a distant travel agency simply cannot — which restaurant in Riga is worth the walk, which route through the Gauja Valley catches the best light, why a certain castle ruin matters more than the one with the bigger car park.

We also have the flexibility that comes from being on the ground. If a storm closes the ferry to Saaremaa, we rearrange your day within the hour. If your guide discovers that you share an interest in Soviet architecture, they adjust the afternoon accordingly. This kind of responsiveness is only possible when the person planning your trip lives in the same timezone as your journey.

What we offer

We design private guided journeys for individuals, couples, families and small groups. Each itinerary is built from scratch around your interests, pace and travel dates. There are no fixed departures and no group sizes to fill — your journey runs when and how you want it.

Our journeys typically include handpicked accommodation, private guides in each city and region, door-to-door transfers and a detailed day-by-day plan. We handle the logistics so you can focus on the experience. Most of our travellers spend between 5 and 14 days in the region, though we have designed trips as short as a long weekend in one capital and as long as three weeks covering all three countries in depth.

The places we cover

We operate across all three Baltic states. Our 19 key destinations span medieval old towns, national parks, island communities, baroque palaces and stretches of wild coastline. We know these places well because we visit them regularly — checking on hotels, meeting new guides, and keeping our recommendations current.

How to start planning

The first step is a conversation. Send us an enquiry with your rough dates, interests and group size, and we will come back with a proposed itinerary and transparent pricing. There is no obligation and no pressure. We want to make sure the trip is right for you before either of us commits.