Bicycle tour with a guide across the Baltic states (9 days)
This bicycle tour stretches out across all three Baltic states, and provides the opportunity to explore the cultural diversity and breath-taking landscapes of the region. The trip sets off from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius and concludes in the historical Hansa city in Tallinn, after visiting the Latvian capital Riga, renowned for its Jugend style and Art Noveau architecture. All three capitals boast impressive old towns that are featured in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. The Curonian Spit, a 98 km long, thin, curved sand-dune spit that separates the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea coast, offers unprecedent travel experience and is also featured on the list. Furthermore, during the tour, you get to visit three national parks in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as explore the sandy beaches of the Baltic coast. All you have to do is relax and soak in the culture and nature of the Baltics whilst enjoying a ride on your bicycle.
The entire route covered on a bicycle is approximately 160 miles. On top of that, you will travel around 640 miles on a bus and about 8 miles on a boat.
Travel agenda:
Day 1: Arrival to Vilnius (Lithuania)
Arrival to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. Meeting the guide. An overnight stay in Vilnius.
Day 2: Vilnius-Trakai-Kaunas. (around a 16-mile-long bike ride and about a 60-mile-long bus trip)
Breakfast followed by a guided tour around the Old Town of Vilnius – one of the largest European old towns featured on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. Then we head to Trakai – home to a medieval castle surrounded by lakes, where we get a chance to taste the traditional local pastries filled with mutton and onion, popular with Karaite ethnic minority in Lithuania. After a meal, we proceed by cycling about 21 miles to the national park of Semeliskes, where we jump off our bikes and take a one-hour long bus trip to Kaunas, the second largest city of Lithuania. Kaunas is known for its cosy old town and a long pedestrian alley. An overnight stay in Kaunas.
Day 3: Kaunas-Nemunas River Delta-Vente Cape-Nida (a 17-mile-long bike ride, around 125 miles on a bus)
Early in the morning, we say our farewell to Kaunas and jump on a bus to the seaside. In a small town of Silute we unload our bicycles and ride to the Vente Cape Ornithological Station – one of the first bird ringing stations in Europe, where the local ornithology experts will tell us everything about bird migration and ringing practices. After lunch, we take a boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida – a fishermen’s village on the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. An overnight stay in Nida.
Day 4: Curonian Spit-Klaipeda (approx. a 35-mile-long bike ride)
After breakfast, we head to the summer house of the famous German writer and Nobel prize winner Thomas Mann. The remainder of day will be spent riding our bikes along a beautiful 35 miles-long bicycle lane stretching across the entire Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit. After lunch, we reach Klaipeda – the oldest of all Lithuanian cities which is the remnant of the German culture. An overnight stay in Klaipeda.
Day 5: Klaipeda–Palanga–Hill of Crosses–Riga (around 18-mile-long bike ride and 180 miles on a bus)
It is high time to visit the busiest seaside resort in Lithuania – Palanga. After breakfast, we hop onto our bikes and take a ride on a picturesque bike lane across the national park. Palanga is known not only for its resort amenities, but also for being home to a unique amber museum which is well worth a visit. After lunch, we take a bus to the Latvian capital Riga. On our way, we pay a visit to the sacral Lithuanian place – Hill of Crosses. An overnight stay in Riga.
Day 6: Riga – Gauja National Park – Sigulda (25 miles by bike and 30 miles on a bus)
We start the day with a tour around the Old Town of Riga and exploring the renowned Jugend Quarter. After lunch we take a bike tour across the Gauja National Park. On our way, we visit the Turaida castle and make a short stop next to the Gutmanis Cave and the remains of a castle once belonging to medieval knights. A bike ride to Sigulda. An overnight stay in Sigulda.
Day 7: Sigulda- Ainazi – Palmse (approx. 22 miles on a bike and a 190-mile-long bus ride)
After breakfast, we leave for Estonia. Next to the Latvian-Estonian border we unload our bikes and ride for approx. 22 miles along an old road stretching along the Baltic Sea. On our way we stop for a picnic and take a refreshing dip in the sea. We continue our trip until we arrive at Palmse. An overnight stay in Palmse.
Day 8: Palmse – Tallinn (about a 25-mile-long bike ride and 50 miles on a bus)
Day 8 marks the last bike tour across the Lahemaa National Park. On our way we pay a visit to several Baltic coast old German manors. The tour culminates in Käsmu – the oldest captains’ settling in Estonia. Next, we take a bus to Tallinn, where prior to our dinner we spend several hours exploring its breath-taking Old Town. An overnight stay in Tallinn.
Day 9:individual departure or trip extension.
Additional information
Tour dates:
- 09.06 – 17.06.2024
- 23.06 – 01.07.2024
- 07.07-15.07.2024
- 28.07- 05.08.2024
- 18.08-26.08.2024
Bicycle tour with a guide, price per person:
- 1455,- Eur
- 290,- Eur supplement for a single room occupancy
The price includes:
- 8 nights in hotels incl. breakfast;
- 1 dinner in Palmse, a three-course meal plus tea or coffee;
- Greeting with a pint of fine beer or a glass of wine;
- Guide services from day 1 to day 8;
- Bikes and technical maintenance support;
- Bus transfers, as listed in the programme;
- Ferry tickets to Klaipeda;
- Tickets to museums listed in the programme: Trakai Castle, Bird Ringing Station, Summer Residence of Thomas Mann, Amber Museum, Turaida Castle;
- Tours in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.
Additional services subject to extra charge:
- 8 three-course dinners with tea or coffee 180,- Eur;
- Rent of an electric bike with 7 gears: 230,- EUR;
- Additional night and breakfast at a hotel in Tallinn:
- Double room: 110,- Eur;
- Single room: 105,- Eur;
- Airport transfers in Vilnius and Tallinn.
Notes:
- The smallest number of participants – 10 people
- The largest number of participants – 20 people
- You are welcome to book a tour on other dates subject to a group size of no less than 10 people.