Cycling the Baltic States

Cycling the Baltic States

9 Days Starting in Vilnius and ending in Talinn

Visiting: Vilnius, Trakai, Klaipėda, Curonian Spit National Park, Riga, Jurmala, Lahemaa National Park, Tallinn

Tour operator:

Explore!

Tour code:

CBS

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

10 - 16

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

16-99

Special diets catered:

Please Advise Request

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Active

From: $2190

NB: Prices correct on 31-Oct-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Cycle your way through the Baltic states on this tour of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Taking in the highlights of the capitals and the countryside along the way, this tour ticks off national parks and medieval towns as well as sleepy seaside villages.





Explore the Baltic capitals - Pedal through the enchanting capital cities: Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn.





Cycle through coastal scenes - Discover Lahemaa and the Curonian Spit National Parks.





Visit Trakai Castle - Join an optional excursion to see the gothic masterpiece up close.

Highlights

  • Discover the Baltic States by bike on a fascinating nine-day cycle journey

  • Rural explorations from the Curonian lagoon to Lahemaa National Park

  • Spend time in the three capitals: Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Join Tour Vilnius, Lithuania

Location: Vilnius

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Amberton Vilnius Hotel

Our tour begins in Lithuania's vibrant capital, Vilnius. With its blend of Medieval and Baroque architecture and its cosmopolitan nightlife, the city offers the perfect introduction to the duality of the Baltic capitals.



For those arriving in time, our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting, followed by dinner for those who fancy it. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive at any time. Should you miss the meeting, our tour leader will catch you up as soon as possible.



If you\ d like an airport transfer, you'll need to arrive into Vilnius International Airport (VNO), around a twenty-minute drive away from our hotel.



Arriving earlier in the day? You might like to get acquainted with Vilnius\ old town, with its network of quaint, cobbled streets, or head for lunch in the trendy Naujamiestis (Uptown) neighbourhood. Food in the Baltic States is traditionally hearty, influenced by Russia and Germany, and favours comforting soups and casseroles. The capital cities are known for their thriving food and drink scenes, offering up dishes from around the world. There's a focus on homegrown cooking, using local produce, which doesn't stop at the food - you'll stumble upon locally brewed beer at every turn, too.

Day 2: Visit Trakai Historical National Park And Trakai Castle

Location: Trakai

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Amberton Vilnius Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we drive 28 kilometres from Vilnius to Trakai Historical National Park. As we leave the capital, the landscape becomes more rural with abundant forests, lakes, rivers and farmsteads to look out on.



There's the option to visit Trakai Castle, set on an island in Lake Galve. The 14th-century Gothic castle was built by the Grand Duke of Lithuania and now houses various exhibits on Lithuania's history. We'll marvel at the stunning architecture and unique setting before heading inside(note, if there is a function taking place, we might not be able to go inside).



We'll continue to Senieji Trakai (or Old Trakai), to prepare our bikes for our first ride. We'll get acquainted with our bikes with a ride through town, where there are plenty of cafes for a lunch break. After lunch, we'll pedal on around the shores of the lake and along roads and cycle paths that take us up to Uzutrakis Manor House.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 13 kilometres/8 miles.

Day 3: Cycle Curonian Lagoon For Birdwatching And Journey To Klaipeda

Location: Klaipėda

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Amberton Klaipeda

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we'll see more of Lithuania's verdant countryside with a four-to-five-hour drive towards the Baltic Sea and Kintai village. We'll stop here for lunch before pedalling off on a 10 kilometre/6.2 mile ride.



We'll cycle beside the Curonian Lagoon, along a quiet, paved road to Vente Cape. Vente Cape is a small peninsula on the eastern side of Curonian Lagoon which attracts more than 50,000 visitors each year thanks to the region's bird migration. We'll visit Ventes Ragas, the 19th-century lighthouse, and the Ornithological Station where the migration pattern of many birds are tracked and recorded.



Afterwards, we'll cycle back the same 10 kilometre/6.2 mile route to Kintai village. From here, we'll join a forest bike track and continue along the bumpy route through the fishing villages of Priekule and Surmai to Dreverna, where our vehicle will meet us to transfer us to Klaipeda.



Klaipeda is the third biggest city in Lithuania, an important port and Lithuania's chief gateway to the Baltic Sea. Like much of Lithuania, it has a varied history, evident today in its architecture, from the German-style wood-framed houses to the neoclassical buildings that make up the city's old town.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 39 kilometres/24.1 miles.

Day 4: Visit Curonian Spit National Park

Location: Curonian Spit National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Amberton Klaipeda

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today, we'll take a short bus ride to the harbour, followed by a five-minute ferry to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Curonian Spit National Park before continuing with a one-hour drive to Nida. We'll stop en-route to see the Hill of Witches in Juodkrante, home to a colony of grey herons and cormorants.



Nida is a charming fishing village with golden dunes and old wooden fishermen's houses. We'll take to our bikes for a peaceful cycle around the village, continuing along the spit through hundred-year-old pine forests and alongside the giant dunes. Eventually, we'll leave our bikes behind and take a short walk up the Dead Dunes to enjoy the panoramic view of the Baltic Sea and Curonian Lagoon.



After relaxing in Juodkrante, we'll have the choice to take the bus back to our hotel or go by bike. The journey involves a 12 kilometre/7.5 mile cycle from Juodkrante to Smiltyne, then take the ferry back to Klaipeda harbour before pedalling the final 2-4 kilometres/1.2-2.5 miles to our hotel.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 36 kilometres/22.3 miles, with an optional 22 kilometre/13.6 mile ride back to the hotel.

Day 5: Cycle From Sventoji To Palanga Before Driving To Riga

Location: Riga

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Rixwell Konventa Seta Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

A short drive from our hotel in Klaipeda will drop us at our next cycling route. We'll join a dedicated path along the coastline and through the Giruliai Forest to the popular summer resort of Palanga. Along the way, we'll visit the Seaside Regional Park, including the Dutchmen's cap - a 24-metre-high cliff, the fishing village of Karkle, Plaze Lake and the former lifeguard station in Nemirseta.



Before lunch, we'll explore Palanga Botanical Park and the biggest Amber Museum in the Baltics. Palanga is a popular holiday destination in Lithuania thanks to its beautiful sweeping beach.



From Palanga, we'll continue to cycle a further 15 kilometres/9.3 miles, finishing in Sventoji where we'll meet our bus to drive to Riga - around a four-to-five-hour drive. The capital of Latvia, Riga is a charming city known for its Art Nouveau buildings and bustling old town.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 37 kilometres/23 miles.

Day 6: Explore Jurmala By Bike

Location: Jurmala

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Rixwell Konventa Seta Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast this morning, we'll drive to Jurmala. On the coast of Riga, Jurmala has 32 kilometres of sandy shores fringed with pine forests and old wooden summer cottages. The city has had a reputation as a spa destination since the late 18th century and many people venture here to take advantage of the sea breeze, pine aroma and mineral springs.



We'll spend some time exploring the city on our bikes, followed by free time to relax with a coffee or ice cream. There'll then be the option to return to Riga by bus or cycle the 25 kilometres/15.5 miles back and the rest of the day is free to discover more of Riga.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 12 kilometres/7.4 miles, with a further optional 25 kilometres/15.5 miles.

Day 7: Pedal The Bike Trails In Lahemaa National Park

Location: Lahemaa National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Palmse Distillery Guesthouse

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we'll drive around 6 hours to Lahemaa National Park, Estonia's first and largest national park. It's an interesting mix of coastal bluffs, dense forest and 7000-year-old bogs, 18th-century manor houses, fishing villages and plenty of lakes and rivers, too. The rocky coastline is strewn with erratic boulders that were carried here by glaciers thousands of years ago. Most of our cycle ride will be on well-paved routes with little traffic.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 41 kilometres/25.4 miles.

Day 8: Visit Lahemaa National Park And Drive To Tallinn

Location: Lahemaa National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Kreutzwald Tallinn

Meals Included: Breakfast

This morning, we'll continue to explore the vast natural beauty of Lahemaa National Park by bike. There are four large peninsulas in Lahemaa and one of them constitutes the northernmost point of continental Estonia. The park is home to moose, boars, brown bears, lynxes, foxes, beavers and the Ural Owl and Black Woodpecker. We'll cycle a circular route before rejoining our bus. When we\ ve finished in the park, we'll have lunch at a local café before driving around one and a half hours to Tallinn. We aim to arrive in Tallinn in time for a free afternoon exploring the city.



Our total cycling distance today is approximately 37 kilometres/23 miles.

Day 9: Tour Ends In Tallinn

Location: Tallinn

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our tour of the Baltic states ends at our hotel in Tallinn.



There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport (TLL), around a ten-minute drive from the hotel.

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation is included throughout the tour.

  • Fully Guided

    The tour is fully guided.

  • Meals – Breakfast Only

    Breakfast is included on all days of the tour.

  • Bike

    Bikes are provided for all cycling activities on the tour.

  • Airport Transfers at Destination

    Airport transfers at the tour's destination are included.

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • Country Entry Visas

  • 1 bottle of Mineral Water per person per day

Why Book this Tour

Unlike many other operators, we include the hire of your bike in the overall cost of the holiday: you don't need to bring your own or pay extra to hire one locally. We also provide a support vehicle, spare parts and take care of day to day bike maintenance. All you need bring is your own helmet.

Meals

Breakfasts: 8

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes, English speaking local guide on this toue.

  • Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

    Yes

  • What is the fitness level required to do this tour?

    Easy

  • Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?

    Yes

  • What is the maximum group size?

    16

  • Are e-bikes available on this trip?

    Electric bikes (e-bikes) are available for an additional cost for the duration of the holiday. You will be required to pay a refundable deposit upon collection of the e-bike in country. Please contact us for more details or to request your e-bike.

  • Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?

    Yes

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Trasnfers are included on the first and the last day of the trip

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    No

  • I'm going on a walking/cycling trip-do I need to train?

    It will depend on the grade and how fit you already are. Check the trip page for details of the walking or cycling grade and how far you’ll be walking/cycling each day. For moderate or challenging trips in particular we’d recommend doing some walks or cycles before you leave to build up your fitness and prepare you for the distances being covered.

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    We have a wide range of ages nationalities on our small group trips and they come from all walks of life.

  • Should I get travel insurance?

    Yes–it is a condition of booking that you are fully insured when travelling with us

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    At Explore, we're the experts in adventure travel. Our small group adventure holidays have been running since 1981. Today, Explore is one of the most trusted travel companies in the UK with over 500 trips to more than 120 countries.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    Yes, but there are no concessions for doing so, and we must have a record in your booking advising as such before the trip departs.

  • Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?

    Being a responsible company is a large statement, something that has to be entwined within the very fibre of a company. Discover the charities and partnerships we support as part of this at https://www.explore.co.uk/about/sustainability/charities-and-partners

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    We want to be as clear as and as honest as possible about what happens if you decide to that you no longer wish to travel on your trip. Our booking conditions have details of the costs you’ll incur when you cancel-these charges depend on how long it is before your planned departure.

  • What is the accommodation like?

    We choose comfortable accommodation in the best locations possible. We opt for small, local and family-run accommodation where we can, as opposed to large chain hotels. We typically use hotels that are the equivalent of European 3-star, and you’ll usually have an en suite room. Occasionally, where we want to get off the beaten trail we may stay in more basic accommodation.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Sustainability is embedded within the fibre of Explore, it emanates from the inside out. But as we enter a new decade it is clearer than ever that our world needs help, and Explore has created a sustainability strategy based on the 2015 UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected before and during your travels with us. Receive a full refund if your trip is cancelled, transfer your trip free of charge up to 10 days before departure minus any irrocoverable costs.

  • Do I need to be very fit to book with you?

    All our trips require some level of active participation. This could be on a cultural trip, trek, safari, expedition or voyage. It is in the interests of all members of the group that everyone should be capable of fully participating in the activities of their chosen trip.

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Final documents will include a comprehensive trip itinerary, climate and country information, budgeting and packing advice visa and passport information and details on optional activities available.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Yes on most of our trips. Most trips are based on customers sharing twin-bedded rooms. If you book a group trip as an individual, you will share a room with someone of the same sex. However, on many trips we offer the opportunity to pay a supplement to pre-book a single room, known as our single room option. On some trips a single room will be provided every night, on others it will be provided o

  • Do we have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel

    It’s now a condition of booking a trip with us that customers should have one of the following before they travel - — Be vaccinated against COVID, having received the full recommended course, and allowing enough time for immunity to take effect. Full vaccination includes any booster required to keep the vaccine valid. — Have taken a negative test (rapid antigen or PCR) within 72hrs of departure.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Explore will only offer hotels that have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with local government guidelines. We will ensure these measures include; enhanced room cleaning, ventilation, social distancing, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in public areas, food safety, staff re-training and minimising contact within the properties.

Reviews of this operator

Feefo Rated Customer  

Cycle Hadrian's Wall - Coast to Coast

02-Nov-2021

' Excellent trip with a mixture of easy riding days, mixed with great scenary ' The trip was excellently organised by the group leader. The accommodation was very good throughout the trip. The bikes were ideal for this trip.

Gemma Jackson  

Peru Encompassed - spectacular trip

02-Jan-2023

I booked for my husband and I to go on the Peru Encompassed trip with the 3 day Amazon extension trip tagged on the end, we also booked to go to Lima few days early to get over the jetlag and see something of Lima before setting off on the group trip. Everything was booked for us by Explore! with seamless ease and without any hitches. This was the first time I had booked onto an organised trip so I was a bit concerned it might not be for us. How wrong I was. We were a group of 9, ranging from 30s to 60s, and a mixture of couples and singles and different nationalities. As a group we gelled really well and chose to spend most of our free time together which made the trip great fun. As for the trip itself, it surpassed all expectations. The Peru Encompassed trip was superb. I don't think any other country offers so much culture, wildlife, specular scenery and amazing food, all of which we experienced in abundance on the trip. We had a local tour guide for the whole trip who was fantastic and then expert guides joined us on different legs of the journey. We learned so much as a result. The highlights for me were visiting the local market in Arequipa with our guide and sampling lots of different fruit and street foods, the day on Lake Titicaca and of course Machu Picchu itself. We booked an additional trip to go back ourselves the second morning which was great as we could do a different route around the ruins and get different views from the afternoon before. Our final highlight was the additional 3 day trip to the Amazon staying at the Hacienda Conception. The lodges were immersed in the jungle which was wonderful if noisy! the food was fab and the daily trips provided were excellent. It was a great relaxing way to end the trip although it did rain quite a bit. Both my husband and I said our trip to Peru was one of the best trips we have ever done.

Trustpilot
Ms D Brown  

Excellent company

07-Dec-2022

Excellent company, there are so many trips, you really get looked after. Everything is dealt with by your Tour Leader, all logistics are taken care of and usually things go smoothly, I only use explore because I know what to expect each time, that makes me happy, with a stress free holiday

Trustpilot
Stephen  

Azores Island Hopping

08-Nov-2021

Very well organised tour. Brilliant Tour Leader who went out of her way to make sure everyone was happy and enjoyed the trip. The Azores are an incredible location with amazing scenery and good food.

Barbara in Beckenham  

Iceland Northern Lights Adventure

05-Nov-2021

' Steina was a great guide - full of information made the trip so interesting ' Everything was just perfect - just as I had hoped - except the Northern lights were a no show!

1 Select your preferred date

Saturday - Sunday

May 24, 2025 - Jun 01, 2025
$2190

Saturday - Sunday

Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 22, 2025
$2470

Saturday - Sunday

Jul 05, 2025 - Jul 13, 2025
$2260

Saturday - Sunday

Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 27, 2025
$2260

Saturday - Sunday

Aug 02, 2025 - Aug 10, 2025
$2260

Saturday - Sunday

Aug 16, 2025 - Aug 24, 2025
$2260

Saturday - Sunday

Aug 30, 2025 - Sep 07, 2025
$2260

Saturday - Sunday

Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 21, 2025
$2190

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Explore! allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 70 days before the start of the tour.

  • Low Deposit

    Explore! requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of explore! charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 69 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.

    At 13 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.