Itinerary

Cycling Tour along the Lithuanian Seaside

8 days / 7 nights | from / to Klaipeda |  self guided

Discover the Baltic Sea coast visiting Palanga Resort and the Curonian Spit National Park, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, explored individually by bicycle on very scenic cycling routes. Experience traditional Lithuanian country life when cycling in the Nemunas River Delta region. This tour partly covers the Seaside Cycle Route which was the first officially signposted, high quality cycle route in Lithuania opened 7 years ago. 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. Guests 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 canoe its unique surroundings; its geology, birdlife, the influence of the Lagoon etc.

Itinerary with start Saturday or Wednesday (cycling ~ 253 km/158 miles  / minibus ~ 40 km/25 mi, boat/ferry ~14 km/9 mi.)

(If you start on Sunday or Thursday the cycling tour of Day 2 (to Palanga) will be cycled on Saturday. See schedule below.)

Day 1 (Sat or Wed): KLAIPĖDA

Arrival in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: KlaipėdaDay 2 (Sun or Thu): Along the Seaside Cycle Route to Palanga Resort (Cycling 58 km / 36 miles)

9:00 a.m. information meeting at your hotel where you will be greeted by a BALTIC BIKE TRAVEL representative. Cycle to Palanga resort along the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route leading through Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park. 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 470m pier heading into the Baltic Sea. Return to Klaipėda using the same or slightly different route. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Klaipėda

Day 3 (Mon or Fri): Cycling with storks on country roads to Šilutė (Cycling 47 km / 29 mi , by minibus 40 km / 25 miles)

Transfer by minibus to the inland where start your cycling ride on picturesque countryside roads through Pamarys meadows to Šilutė. This region is known as a land of storks and 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 and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Šilutė

Day 4 (Tue or Sat): RUSNĖ Island & NEMUNAS River Delta (Cycling 47 km / 29 miles)

Explore Šilutė, a town named after "Šilokarčema" (a pub in the pine forest) and go for a return cycling trip to Rusnė Island, Lithuania's only island, located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. When you stand on the bank of the Nemunas River in Rusnė you see the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad just 100 metres across the river.En route you can explore Rusnė village with a new monument to Mahatma Gandhi and Hermann Kallenbach, the old water pumping station and the 19th C lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour. Overnight: Šilutė

Day 5 (Wed or Sun): ŠILUTĖ-VENTĖ Cape- crossing the Curonian Lagoon to NIDA (Cycling 33 km / 21 miles, by boat 14 km / 9 miles)

Cycling to Ventė Cape where you may visit a renowned bird ringing station with a museum of ornithology and the 19th C lighthouse which has a panoramic view of the unique landscape including a glimpse of the glistening Curonian Spit sand dunes. Today, one million birds pass through the station each migratory period. Take a boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon to Nida. Arrive in Nida followed by a bike ride to the hotel. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Nida

Day 6 (Thu or Mon): NIDA – leisure time by the Baltic Sea (Cycling 10 km / 6 miles)

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. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Nida

Day 7 (Fri or Tue): Along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit NIDA-JUODKRANTĖ-KLAIPĖDA (Cycling 58 km / 38 miles)

Cycling on an asphalt bike path of the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda. En route you can explore the "Dead" sand dunes on foot, 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, swim in the Baltic Sea or, relax, take the sun on golden beaches. Arrival in Smiltynė where you take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipėda. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. 7:30 p.m. (19:30) Meeting with our representative who will collect the rental bicycles. Overnight: Klaipėda

Day 8 (Sat or Wed): KLAIPĖDA

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour. It is possible to extend your stay in Lithuania.

Itinerary when starting on Sunday or Thursday:
(~253 km/158 mi., by minibus ~ 40 km/25 mi., by boat ~ 14 km/9 mi.)

Day 1 (Sun or Thu): KLAIPĖDA

Day 2 (Mon or Fri): Cycling with storks on country roads to Šilutė (Cycling 47 km / 29 miles , by minibus 40 km / 25 miles )

Day 3 (Tue or Sat): RUSNĖ Island & NEMUNAS River Delta (Cycling 47 km / 29 miles)

Day 4 (Wed or Sun): ŠILUTĖ-VENTĖ NIDA (Cycling 33 km / 21 miles, by boat 14 km / 9 miles)

Day 5 (Thu or Mon): NIDA – leisure time by the Baltic Sea (Cycling 10 km / 6 miles)

Day 6 (Fri or Tue): Along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit NIDA-JUODKRANTĖ-KLAIPĖDA (Cycling 58 km / 36 miles)

Day 7 (Sat or Wed): Seaside Cycle Route KLAIPĖDA-PALANGA Seaside Resort -KLAIPĖDA, (Cycling 58 km / 36 miles)

Day 8 (Sun or Thu): KLAIPĖDA

 Please note: All cycling distances stated above are approximate only.