The Baltic Sea coast in Lithuania with Palanga Resort and the Curonian Spit National Park, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, is explored individually by bicycle on very scenic cycling routes. Experience traditional Lithuanian country life when cycling with storks in the Nemunas River Delta region. This tour partly covers the Seaside Cycle Route, which is still only officially signposted as a good quality cycle route in Lithuania. The tour begins & ends in the historic coastal town of Klaipeda (known as Memel for many years) which boasts a rich, turbulent history from 13thC. Nowadays, it’s a bustling, modern town offering many excellent leisure options ranging from history tours to water sports. There’s a wide range of cafes & restaurants & many annual festivals, e.g. jazz, folklore. You can choose to spend extra nights here either at the beginning or end of the tour. During the tour, you will spend 2 nights in Nida, the largest settlement on the Curonian Spit. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing seaside break or explore on foot, by cycle, or by canoe. Its unique surroundings include its geology, birdlife, the influence of the Lagoon, etc.
Arrival & departure information: Ferry terminal: Klaipėda (DFDS ferries from Kiel, Germany & Karlshamn, Sweden; TT-Line ferries from Travemunde/Rostock, Germany & Karlshamn/Trelleborg, Sweden) Airport: Klaipėda/Palanga (35 km/22 mi. away from Klaipėda, www.palanga-airport.lt). Regular flights from Amsterdam (NL), Copenhagen (DK), Riga (LV), London Stanstead (GB), Dublin (IE), Oslo (NO). Due to many connecting flights (SAS, Air Baltic) it is easy to reach this airport from many cities in Europe via Copenhagen, Riga and Amsterdam. Parking: car parking is available for extra charge in fenced car parking lot at the arrival hotel (4*) or close to the hotel (3*).
Day 1. Arrive in Klaipeda
Arrive in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check into your hotel. Overnight in Klaipėda: The Old Mill hotel or similar.
Day 2. Circular ride from Klaipeda - along the Seaside Cycle path to Palanga, (~58 km/36 mi.)
Information meeting at your hotel where you will be greeted by our local representative. Cycle along the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route to Palanga resort. The route leads you through Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military polygon area. En route explore the Dutchman’s Cap – a 24-meter-high coastal cliff and Plazė Lake. In Palanga you can visit the Botanical Park and Amber Museum, explore J.Basanavičius pedestrian street with many cafes & restaurants and the 470 m pier heading into the Baltic Sea. Return to Klaipėda using the same or slightly different route. Optional dinner at the same hotel/ or similar. B/-/-
Day 3. Cycling with storks on country roads to Silute, (~ 47 km/29 mi., minibus ~40 km)
Take a short transfer by minibus to the inland and start your cycling ride on picturesque country roads to Šilutė. This region has one the largest population of storks in Europe. The White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. En route stop in Švėkšna village to explore the estate with its beautiful park and impressive neo-gothic church of St.Jacob the Apostle. Arrival in Šilutė, check-in at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Šilutė; HOTEL: GILIJA / or similar B/-/-
Day 4. Rusne Island & the Nemunas River Delta, (~ 44 km/28 mi.)
Explore Šilutė town and go for a return ride to Rusnė Island, which is the only Lithuania’s island located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. Be sure to visit Rusnė village and find a new monument of famous Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and his intimate friend Hermann Kallenbach. From there you can see the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad just 100 metres across the Nemunas river. Cycle around the island and explore its wild nature and beautiful views from birdwatching towers and the 19th C lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour. OVERNIGHT: Šilutė; HOTEL: GILIJA / or similar B/-/-
Day 5. Cycling to Vente Cape & crossing the Curonian Lagoon to Nida, cycling (~33 km/21 mi., by boat ~14 km/9mi.)
Cycle to Ventė Cape where you may visit a museum of ornithology and one of the first bird ringing stations in Europe, the 19th C lighthouse which has a panoramic view of the unique landscape - glistening waters of the Curonian Lagoon and the great sand dunes. Today, one million birds pass through Ventė Cape each migratory year. Take a boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon. Arrival in Nida followed by a bike ride to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Nida; HOTEL: NERIJA/ or similar B/-/-
Day 6. Free day in Nida ~10 km/6 mi.
Free day to explore Nida which is a former old fishermen’s village on the Curonian Spit washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other. Today Nida is the largest settlement in Neringa region and one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Cycle or walk along impressive sand dunes, visit the most popular places of interest – the Fisherman’s House, the summer house of famous German writer Thomas Mann and the Amber Gallery.OVERNIGHT: Nida; HOTEL: NERIJA/ or similar B/-/-
Day 7. Along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit NIDA-JUODKRANTĖ-KLAIPĖDA (~ 57 km/36 mi.)
Follow an asphalt bike path of the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda. En route you can stop to explore on foot the “Dead” sand dunes, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path, or just relax, swim in the Baltic Sea and take the sun on golden beaches. Finally, take a local ferry from Smiltynė to the Old Town of Klaipėda and cycle to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel.OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda; HOTEL: THE OLD MILL/ or similar B/-/-
Day 8. Depart Klaipeda
Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour. It is possible to extend your stay in Lithuania. B/-/-
* This itinerary is for the departures on Saturdays
* We offer departures on Sundays with slightly different itinerary - for details, please contact us.
* We offer departures on Wednesday and Thursdayby larger groups - on request
Price Includes: 7 nights stay in hotels with en-suite rooms (including all taxes) meals according the description (B-breakfast: L-lunch: D-dinner) Luggage transport Klaipėda – Šilutė,Šilutė – harbour – Nida & Nida – Klaipėda Minibus transfer Klaipėda - Veiviržėnai Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida Individual information package one per room- (city guide,maps,program & route description) GPS Tracks Emergency contact numbers Not Included: international & domestic flight tickets drinks and meals not mentioned in the program tips personal expenses arrival/departure transfers insurance bicycle rent tips Additional Services: Rental bike and E-bike: contact us for more info on different models and rates pre and post-tour accommodation: on request guide: on request for groups of 1-10 people prices for children: on request
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Cycling along the Lithuanian Seaside (Rated 4.91 / 5 Based on
251 Reviews.)
We rate this trip Easygoing to Moderate. You will cycle on low traffic roads (a few stretches on gravel/sandy road) and separate cycle paths (half of the tour), including the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. The terrain is dead flat most of the tour, except a few hills on the Curonian Spit.
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