Lonely Planet Finland (Finland, 5th Ed April 2006)

This is the latest book I could find on Finland, but few tours do more than pass through Helsinki on the way to Russia. If this is you, maybe go for the older Scandinavia/Baltic one at the bottom.

"Finland is an intriguing blend of Swedish and Russian influences. With its medieval stone castles, picturesque wooden houses, vast forests and interesting wildlife, Finland is a wonderland to delight any traveler. This guide has been translated and updated by the authors to include details on every outdoor activity imaginable"

Lonely Planet Scandinavian Europe (Scandinavian Europe,8th Ed)

No Baltic States, but more up-to-date (Feb 2007) than the one below. If you're basically doing a swing through Scandinavia, this will give you the basic material, but without the extra visual glitz I like in the Eyewitness series.

"Written by an opinionated team of eight savvy writers. The only guide with in-depth coverage of Iceland and the Faroes, plus information on Tallinn and St Petersburg. Filled with feedback from travellers and tips from locals."

As it's basically designed for budget travellers (still expensive in Scandinavia!), there's a bit of wastage for those on tours or travelling a step up, but I still think it's worth taking, especially for the handy maps.

Lonely Planet Scandinavian & Baltic Europe (Scandinavian and Baltic Europe, 5th Ed (Feb 2001)

A bit old now, I used this when I did the original Northern Capitals tour, which in my case included the Baltic States, as it was the only one at the time that covered the area. It does cover a huge area and was useful during the short time spent in the individual capitals, but I admit to missing the Eyewitness illustrations and 3D maps. More budget orientated.

NB, Latvia and Lithuania are included in this book (but I did take separate guides for Moscow and St Petersburg).