VILNIUS-KAUNAS-NERINGA-KLAIPEDA-SIGULDA-RIGA-HAAPSALU-TALLINN
(10 days/9 nights)

This tour explores the unique countryside, coastline and towns that make up these fascinating countries that were formerly part of the USSR. It includes visiting three capital cities, Vilnius (Lithuania), Riga (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia), all of them have old towns that are justifiably designated by UNESCO as world heritage sites. The biking is very leisurely as the country is not hilly.
We start our tour on picturesque country roads towards Kaunas before heading to the coast and the charming resort towns of Nida and Klaipeda. We cycle on asphalt bicycle paths of the newly reconstructed Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route; enjoy breathtaking views of the colossal sand dunes on the Curonian Spit (reached by boat trip across a lagoon); visit the memorable Hill of Crosses near Siauliai, enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valleys, Keila Joe waterfall and the highest coastal cliffs in the Baltics near Paldiski, and experience more than 500 years of authentic culture and architecture - on a bicycle it’s all within your reach!

TOUR CODE:	LANGUAGE:	DEPARTURE DATES:	TERMINATING DATES:	RATE PER PERSON IN EUR:
G2-1	EN, DE	July 20	July 29	DBL 998; SGL 1248
G2-2	EN, DE	August 3	August 12	DBL 998; SGL 1248
G2-3	EN, DE	August 17	August 26	DBL 998; SGL 1248

Download the program with nice pictures in pdf format HERE (0.95 Mb)

ITINERARY (cycling app. 285 km) 

Day 1 Monday: VILNIUS
Arrival in Vilnius. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in at the hotel.
7:00 p.m. welcome meeting at the hotel with tour guide. Optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Vilnius
HOTEL: TILTO or similar

Day 2 Tuesday: VILNIUS-TRAKAI-KAUNAS (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 Galvė. Then cycling on picturesque hilly road and transfer by coach to Kaunas. Arrival in Kaunas, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Kaunas
HOTEL: KLAIPEDA KAUNAS or similar

Day 3 Wednesday: KAUNAS-ZEMAITKIEMIS-VENTE-NIDA (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.
OVERNIGHT: Nida
HOTEL: LINEJA or similar

Day 4 Thursday: NIDA-JUODKRANTE-KLAIPEDA (cycling app. 60 km)
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 Klaipėda. 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 Smiltynė, take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipeda, the main seaport of Lithuania. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Klaipeda
HOTEL: OLD PORT HOTEL or similar

Day 5 Friday: KLAIPEDA-PALANGA-Hill of Crosses-SIGULDA (cycling app. 25 km, by coach app. 350 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 Sigulda (Latvia). Stop at the Hill of Crosses (16 km from Šiauliai), the unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. Further drive to Sigulda, the most popular resort in Latvia, situated in the Gauja River Valley. Arrival in Sigulda, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Sigulda
HOTEL: EZERI or similar

Day 6 Saturday: SIGULDA-TURAIDA-CESIS-RIGA (cycling app. 45 km, by coach app. 115 km)
Cycling from Sigulda through the Gauja National Park to Ragana. En route visit the ruins of the 13th century Crusaders Castle in Sigulda, Turaida Castle and Krimulda church, the oldest one in Latvia (built in 1205), enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valley with Gutmana Cave. Afternoon transfer to Stalbe for the final ride and visit to Cesis, one of Latvia’s prettiest and oldest Hanseatic towns. Transfer to Riga for overnight, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Riga
HOTEL: TIA or similar

Day 7 Sunday: RIGA-JURMALA-RIGA (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. Transfer back by coach to the hotel in Riga. Optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Riga
HOTEL: TIA or similar

Day 8 Monday: RIGA-IKLA-PäRNU-HAAPSALU (cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 290 km)
Morning transfer to Ikla (Estonia) where start cycling on 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.
OVERNIGHT: Haapsalu
HOTEL: PROMENAADI or similar

Day 9 Tuesday: HAAPSALU-PADISE-PALDISKI-TALLINN (cycling app. 40 km, by coach app. 135 km)
Morning transfer outside the city, where start cycling to Padise. A further transfer to Tallinn via Paldiski known as the former Soviet nuclear submarine base. En route stop in Keila-Joa to explore the waterfall and the highest coastal cliffs in Estonia. Arrival in Tallinn, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Tallinn
HOTEL: COMFORT ORU or similar

Day 10 Wednesday: TALLINN
9:00 a.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.
End of the tour.

THE TOUR INCLUDES:

• 9 nights stay at the hotels
• All hotel taxes
• Breakfast daily
• Welcome meeting
• Transportation by air-conditioned coach on days 2-3 and 5-9
• Luggage transport
• Guide escort on days 2-10
• Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon
• Ferry ticket from the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda
• Excursions as per itinerary
• Entrances to: Vilnius University, Trakai Insular Castle, Thomas Mann’s House in Nida, Amber museum in Palanga, Turaida Castle, Riga Cathedral, the Dome Church in Tallinn.
• Rent of trekking bicycle with waterproof pannier on days 2-9
• Individual information package (city guides, maps and program)

THE TOUR EXCLUDES:

• Arrival and departure transfers
• Lunches and dinners
• Tips

OPTIONS :

TRANSFERS:

• Single person arrival or departure transfer - 26 EUR per person
• Arrival or departure transfer for a party of 2 persons - 13 EUR per person

MEALS:

• 3-course dinner package (9 dinners) – 145 EUR per person.

PRE/POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel in Vilnius TILTO or similar
SGL         69 EUR net per room per night, including breakfast
DBL        76 EUR net per room per night, including breakfast

Hotel in Tallinn COMFORT ORU or similar
SGL         65 EUR net per room per night, including breakfast
DBL        76 EUR net per room per night, including breakfast