Itinerary

Bike Tour Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

11 days / 10 nights | From Tallinn to Vilnius | half-guided

The Baltic coast and National Parks of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania explored on very scenic routes, including the three capital cities – Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius – with their old towns designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Featuring the National Park Lahemaa, which is one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coast, Otepää Lakeland – the so-called "Estonian Switzerland" and the beautiful Gauja River valleys. The tour includes cycling on the Curonian Spit. Enjoy a great variety of towns, villages and landscapes, and get an excellent feel for the different characters of these distinctive countries. The tour begins in Tallinn where you get your tour maps with detailed program and route description. This trip is a half-guided tour ie during the whole trip, except on the Curonian Spit, our driver with a minibus and bike trailer is with you and you can take part in city tours (Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius) lead by professional guides. Our driver will transport your luggage every day to the next hotel. If you have a breakdown, then our driver with good local knowledge will take care of everything for you.


Itinerary ( cycling ~344 km/~220 mi., by minibus ~1142 km/714 mi., by boat/ferry ~14 km/9 mi.)

Day 1 (Wed): Medieval Tallinn.

Arrival in Tallinn. Individual transfer to the hotel (optional) where you get your tour maps with detailed program and route description. Check-in at the hotel. At 6:00 p.m. you can join in a guided tour of Tallinn. Optional dinner in local restaurant. Overnight: TallinnDay 2 (Thu): Tallinn – National Park Lahemaa (Cycling 51 km / 32 miles or 59 km/37 miles, by minibus 100 km / 62 miles Meet your minibus driver. After a short transfer you’ll begin your first bicycle trip through National Park Lahemaa which is one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coast. The National park is a nature lover’s paradise. There are dense woods, marshes, lakes and waterfalls to discover. If you prefer wildlife to landscape, you can see moose, wild boars and over 220 bird species. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Palmse or Vihula

Day 2 (Thu): National Park Lahemaa, Estonia (Cycling 51 km/32 miles or 59 km/37 miles, by minibus 100 km)

Meet your minibus driver. After a short transfer you’ll begin your first bicycle trip through National Park Lahemaa which is one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coast. The National park is a nature lover’s paradise. There are dense woods, marshes, lakes and waterfalls to discover. If you prefer wildlife to landscape, you can see moose, wild boars and over 220 bird species. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Palmse or Vihula

Day 3 (Fri): Lake Peipsi – TARTU (Cycling 50 km / 31 miles , by minibus 150 km / 94 miles )

Morning transfer by bus to Mustvee where you'll begin a pleasant bicycle trip along Peipsi Lake shore to Varnja. Peipsi is 4th largest lake in Europe, divided in two by the Russian border. En route, you'll pass many fishing villages. You reach your hotel after a bus transfer to Tartu, a famous, historic university town (the university was founded in 1632). Overnight: Tartu

Day 4 (Sat): TARTU – OTEPÄÄ – SIGULDA (Cycling 28 km / 18 miles , by minibus 235 km / 146 miles )

After a short bus transfer to Otepää, a beautiful place with many lakes, start your cycling through the so-called "Estonian Switzerland" and begin to appreciate your surroundings. Finish your cycling for the day in Sangaste which is famous for its 19th century romantic castle built in the style of Windsor Palace. Transfer into Latvia where your destination is Sigulda, in the Gauja River Valley, which is the most popular resort in Latvia. Overnight: Sigulda

Day 5 (Sun): SIGULDA – Gauja National Park - RIGA (Cycling 17 km / 11 miles, minibus 50 km / 31 miles)

Morning circular tour through Gauja National Park, en route enjoy spectacular views of Gauja River valleys with the Gutmana and Devil Caves, ruins of 13thC Crusaders Castle in Sigulda and Turaida Castle. Afternoon transfer to Riga, the Latvian capital, where a guided tour of the charming Old Town awaits. Exploring the medieval Hanseatic town famous for its Art Nouveau buildings. Overnight: Riga

Day 6 (Mon): RIGA – Jurmala sea resort – RIGA (Cycling 35 km / 22 miles, by train 25 km / 16 miles)

The morning is free to explore Riga. In the afternoon cycle on a bicycle path to Jurmala, a renowned Latvian sea resort well known for its long, white, sand beaches, mineral waters and mud with healing properties. We recommend that you take the opportunity to bath in the sea and try cycling along the beach – it's well worth it! In the evening back to Riga by train (not included, approx. 30 min.).

Day 7 (Tue): Lithuanian Seaside – KLAIPĖDA (Cycling 42 km / 26 miles or 32 km/ 20 miles, by minibus 290 km / 180 miles)

After breakfast leave Latvia by bus and transfer into Lithuania. Begin your bicycle trip in Šventoji and cycle to Klaipėda on a beautiful bicycle path, which lies along the Baltic Coast. En route pass Palanga, the well-known Lithuanian seaside resort. Enjoy a break here, perhaps cycle along J.Basanavičius pedestrian area with its' many cafes & restaurants or walk the length of the 470m pier heading out into the Baltic Sea. You could also visit the renowned Botanical Park and Count Tyszkiewicz's Amber Museum. Finish your cycling through the Seaside Regional Park and Giruliai Forest to arrive in Klaipeda. Overnight: Klaipėda

Day 8 (Wed): CURONIAN SPIT and the Hill of Witches (Cycling 57 km / 36 miles)

After breakfast you cross the lagoon by ferry and start cycling on an asphalt bike path which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Nida. En route you can visit the Hill of Witches which houses almost a hundred whimsical wooden sculptures about Lithuanian legends which are scattered along a forest path. Or, if you prefer, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, explore the "Dead" sand dunes on foot, swim in the Baltic Sea or, simply relax, & take in the sun on golden beaches. Overnight: Nida

Day 9 (Thu): NIDA – Crossing the Curonian Lagoon by ship – KAUNAS (Cycling 31 km / 20 miles, by minibus 210 km / 130 miles, by boat 15 km / 10 miles )

Take a morning boat across the Curonian Lagoon to the mainland, en-route enjoy a beautiful view of the Curonian Spit sand dunes. Cycling to Ventė Horn where you may visit a bird observatory and the 19thC lighthouse which was used for more than 100 years. Afternoon ride along the Curonian Lagoon through the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park followed by a minibus transfer to Kaunas. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Kaunas

Day 10 (Fri): KAUNAS – TRAKAI Insular Castle – VILNIUS (Cycling 25 km / 16 miles , by minibus 97 km / 60 miles )

After breakfast you are transferred by bus to the Lithuanian Lake District where you begin cycling through picturesque countryside on gentle hills. Arrive in Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Here you may visit the famous 14thC Gothic island castle erected on a small island in Lake Galvė. Finish the tour with a short transfer to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The Old Town is stunning with many, varied & beautiful Baroque and Classical buildings. This evening, a guided tour of the city awaits you.Overnight: Vilnius

Day 11 (Fri): VILNIUS

Individual departure after breakfast. You can extend your stay in Lithuania; please ask for details.

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