Cycling Tour Baltics

   
 
 

Cycling in the Baltics

2012 Guaranteed Departures
June 24
July 08, 22
August 05, 19
Prices From$1575 per Person Double
$370 Single Supplement
Make A Request By Selecting an Above Departure

The Baltic coast and National Parks of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia explored on highly scenic routes, including the three capital cities – Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn – with their old towns designated by UNESCO as the World Heritage Sites; and featuring the previously-closed Curonian Spit. Travel from Lithuania in the south, through Latvia and on to Estonia in the north, enjoy a great variety of towns, villages and landscapes, and get an excellent feel for the different characters of these distinctive countries.

Itinerary

 
Day 1     Vilnius
Accomodation: Tilto Hotel

Arrival in Vilnius. Transfer to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel.

7:00 p.m. (19:00) welcome meeting at the hotel with tour guide. Optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 2     Vilnius - Trakai - Kaunas
Accomodation: Best Western Santakos Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 110 km

9:00 a.m. a city tour of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The tour includes: the Cathedral Square, St.Ann and Bernardines’ Church, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the Virgin Mary, Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Town Hall Square and Vilnius University (founded in 1579) with St. John’s Church. Afternoon trip to Trakai (25 km from Vilnius), the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island in lake Galve;. Then cycling on picturesque hilly road and transfer by coach to Kaunas. Arrival in Kaunas, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 3     Kaunas - Vente - Nida
Accomodation: Nerija Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 200 km

Morning transfer along the Nemunas River to the seaside region. En route passing by Veliuona mound hill and impressive 16th-17th century castles of Raudone; and Panemune. Bicycling from Zemaitkiemis to the Vente Horn where visit the ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse that was active for more than 100 years. Take a boat across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida and enjoy a beautiful view to sand dunes of the Curonian Spit separating the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon. Arrival in Nida, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 4     Nida - Juodkrante - Klaipeda - Curonian Spit
Accomodation: Old Mill Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Sightseeing around Nida, one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Exploring the Amber Gallery and a summer house of the famous German writer Thomas Mann. Cycling on the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipeda. En route stop at “Dead” sand dunes and colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path. Arrival in Smiltyne, take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipeda, the main seaport of Lithuania. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 5     Klaipeda - Palanga - Riga
Accomodation: Albert Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 25 km, by coach app. 290 km

Early morning ride to Palanga through the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military polygon area. Arrival in Palanga, the biggest seaside resort of Lithuania. City tour including the visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz, with over 25000 pieces of amber and 15000 inclusions of insects on display. Afternoon transfer to Riga (Latvia). Stop at the Hill of Crosses (16 km from Siauliai), the unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. Further drive to Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Arrival in Riga, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 6     Riga - Jurmala
Accomodation: Albert Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 25 km, by coach app. 30 km

9:00 a.m. a city tour of Riga, visiting medieval Hanseatic town, Riga castle, St.Peter`s Church, Dome Cathedral and the Old Guild Houses. In the afternoon cycling to Jurmala, the largest resort in the Baltic States well known for its long white sand beaches, curative mud and mineral waters. Trasfer back by coach to the hotel in Riga. Optional dinner at the hotel

 
Day 7     Riga - Sigulda
Accomodation: Ezeri Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 40 km, by coach app. 50 km

Morning transfer to the Baltic Coast in Saulkrasti where get ready for cycling to Ragana and further through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, the most popular resort in Latvia, situated in the Gauja River Valley. En route visit Turaida Castle and Krimulda church, the oldest one in Latvia (built in 1205), enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valley with Gutmana Cave and explore ruins of the 13th century Crusaders Castle in Sigulda. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 8     Sigulda - Parnu - Haapsalu
Accomodation: Promenaadi Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 290 km

Morning transfer to the Estonian border where you start biking on the picturesque road along the Baltic Sea Coast through fishermen’s villages. Transfer to Haapsalu with a stop in Pärnu, Estonian “Summer Capital”. Arrival in Haapsalu famous for its Bishop’s Castle, curative mud baths and the longest railway station constructed to accommodate the arrival of the Russian royal family’s train after 1852. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 9     Haapsalu - Tallinn
Accomodation: Hotel Bern
Meals: Breakfast

Cycling app. 45 km, by coach app. 130 km

Morning transfer outside the city, where start cycling to Padise. En route stop in Keila-Joa to explore the waterfall and the highest coastal cliffs in Estonia. Arrival in Tallinn, check-in at the hotel.

4.30 p.m. a city tour of Tallinn, visiting the Old Town of Tallinn – an example of Gothic architecture in the Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, the Dome Church (13th century), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevskij (19th century), Town Hall Square (15th century), the Old Guild, and St.Olaf's Church. Optional dinner at the hotel.

 
Day 10     Tallinn
Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport following breakfast.

 

Notes

A Dinner package is available. 9 x 3 course dinners: $290

Price Includes
Tax and Port Charges
Individual Information Packet
Accommodation As Indicated in Itnerary
Daily Breakfast at Hotels
Luggage Handling
Excursions & Entrances Per Itinerary
Bicycle Rental
Transfers Airport - Hotel - Airport
Tour Escort Days 2-7
Transportation As Per Itinerary by Minibus
Price Does Not Include
 Optional Excursions and Dinners
BCY-0212