ITINERARY
(cycling ~364 km / 228 miles, by coach ~1335 km/834 miles, by boat/ferry 12 km/8 miles or 62 km/39miles)
Day 1 Monday (Lithuania): VILNIUS
Arrive in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in at the hotel. 7:30 p.m. (19:30) welcome meeting at the hotel with tour guide.
OVERNIGHT: Vilnius
HOTEL: COMFORT HOTEL LT*** or similar
Day 2 Tuesday (Lithuania): VILNIUS-TRAKAI Insular Castle-KAUNAS (cycling ~33 km/21 miles, by bus ~100 km)
After breakfast a guided tour of Vilnius Old Town followed by a bus transfer outside the city. Start your first cycle ride through picturesque countryside with many lakes and gentle hills. En route stop in Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where you may visit the 14thC island castle built on a small island in Lake Galvė. Afternoon transfer by bus to Kaunas. Arrive in Kaunas, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Kaunas
HOTEL: VICTORIA KAUNAS**** or similar
Day 3 Wednesday (Lithuania): Along the Nemunas River: KAUNAS-KLAIPĖDA (cycling ~35 km/22 miles, by bus ~220 km)
Kaunas by bike followed by a ride on picturesque cycle trail along the Nemunas River. En route stop in Zapyškis famous for its unusual small 14thC gothic church. Finish the ride with a bus transfer to the Baltic coast and picnic lunch in the middle way (included). Arrive in Klaipeda, a modern town at the Baltic Sea, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda
HOTEL: OLD MILL*** or similar
Day 4 Thursday (Lithuania): CURONIAN SPIT NATIONAL PARK (cycling ~58 km/36 miles, by bus or boat~50 km)
Today we go for the longest ride to Nida. Follow the Seaside Cycle Route along the Curonian Spit famous for its amber and fine sand beaches. En-route enjoy beautiful views of the Curonian Spit which separates the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon. Sightseeing around Nida, one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Transfer by bus or boat back to Klaipėda, dinner at the hotel (included).
OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda
HOTEL: OLD MILL*** or similar
Day 5 Friday (Lithuania-Latvia): KLAIPĖDA-PALANGA Resort-Hill of Crosses-RIGA (cycling ~32 km/20 miles, by bus ~290 km)
Early morning ride to Palanga through the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military training area. Arrive in Palanga, the biggest Lithuanian seaside resort for a tour which includes a visit to the Botanical Garden and the Amber Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz, with over 25000 pieces of amber on display. Afternoon bus transfer to Riga, the capital city of Latvia. En-route stop at the Hill of Crosses, the unforgettable sight of thousands of crosses on two small hills. Arrive in Riga, check-in and dinner at the hotel (included).
OVERNIGHT: Riga
HOTEL: HESTIA JUGEND**** or similar
Day 6 Saturday (Latvia): RIGA & JURMALA Seaside Resort (cycling ~30 km/19 miles, by bus ~20 km)
After breakfast a guided tour of Riga Old Town, a medieval Hanseatic town famous for its Art Nouveau buildings. In the afternoon free time in Riga or cycling to Jurmala, the largest resort in the Baltic States well known for its long, white, sand beaches, mineral waters and mud with healing properties. Transfer back by bus to the hotel in Riga.
OVERNIGHT: Riga
HOTEL: HESTIA JUGEND **** or similar
Day 7 Sunday (Latvia): GAUJA National Park & Bicycle Museum (cycling ~45 km/28 miles, by bus ~50 km)
Morning transfer to Saulkrasti. After visiting the Latvian bicycle museum start your bike ride to Sigulda, the most popular resort in Latvia. Cycling through Gauja National Park, en route enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valley with Gutmana Cave and Turaida Castle. En route visit Krimulda Church (1205) which is the oldest in Latvia. Arrive in Sigulda, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Sigulda
HOTEL: SIGULDA*** or similar
Day 8 Monday (Latvia-Estonia): SIGULDA-SAAREMAA (cycling ~38 km/24 miles, by bus ~330 km, by ferry 6 km)
Morning transfer to the largest Estonian island of Saaremaa which has preserved all that is best about old Estonia. With little traffic and flat roads Saaremaa provides the perfect rural setting for cycling. Travel on picturesque roads along the Baltic Sea Coast to the village of Angla where the iconic windmills are located. Transfer to Mändjala or Kuressaare, check into the hotel for 2 overnight stays at the seaside. Dinner at the hotel (included).
OVERNIGHT: Mändjala or Kuressaare (Saaremaa)
HOTEL: SAAREMAA*** or similar
Day 9 Tuesday (Estonia): SAAREMAA ISLAND (cycling ~56 km/34 miles, by bus ~ 50 km)
Enjoy a day ride across Saaremaa Island’s wild beauty – Sorve Peninsula famous for its lighthouse. Finish the day with a visit to Kuressaare, the capital of Saaremaa, a home to one of the finest preserved medieval Episcopal Castles in the Baltics, dating from 13thC. Free time to explore the town and the Bishop’s castle. Optional dinner at the hotel or city restaurant.
OVERNIGHT: Mändjala or Kuressaare (Saaremaa)
HOTEL: SAAREMAA*** or similar
Day 10 Wednesday (Estonia): SAAREMAA & TALLINN (cycling ~37 km/23 miles or 28 km/18 miles, by bus ~210 km, by ferry 6 km)
Morning ride to the Kaali meteorite crater which is listed on the world’s giant craters list and it is the rarest nature wonder in Estonia. In the afternoon transfer by bus to Tallinn. Arrive in Tallinn, check-in at the hotel followed by a guided tour of Tallinn Old Town. Farewell dinner in a city restaurant (included).
OVERNIGHT: Tallinn
HOTEL: HESTIA ILMARINE**** or similar
Day 11 Thursday (Estonia): TALLINN
Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour.
Ieva
My report