Cycling Along the Lithuanian seaside
Cycling Along the Lithuanian seaside
Cycling Along the Lithuanian seaside
8 Days Starting in Klaipeda and ending in Klaipeda, Klaipeda City Municipality, Lithuania
Visiting: Klaipėda, Palanga, Šilutė, Švėkšna, Rusnė Island, Ventė Cape Ornithological Station, Nida, Juodkrantė
Tour operator:
Tour code:
434
Group Type:
Independent
Guide Type:
Self Guided
Age range:
18-80
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Activities:
Tour Overview
In the southernmost of the Baltic states, Lithuania is offering great opportunities for a cycling adventure in a less-known region, still full of authentic culture and local characters. Explore the Palanga Resort and the Curonian Spit National Park, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, and 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 a decade ago
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Klaipėda
Location: Klaipėda
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Old Mill Hotel or similar
Arrive in Klaipėda on your own. Private transfer to the hotel is available upon request. The city is a bustling, modern place with a great selection of cafes and restaurants and many annual festivals focusing on jazz, folklore and the sea. The leisure options on offer range from history tours to water sports, so there is plenty to do if you choose to spend extra nights here, either at the beginning or end of the tour.
Day 2 : Along The Seaside Cycle Route To Palanga | 58Km
Location: Klaipėda, Palanga
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Old Mill Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning you will meet our representative, who will hand you the bikes (if you rent them from us) and explain all the details of the itinerary to you. You start cycling to the resort town of Palanga, an idyllic route that leads north through the Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park, passing Plazė Lake and the Dutchman’s Cap (a scenic coastal cliff). Along the way, you will have many opportunities to detour to the seashore if you wish. Arriving in Palanga, you can visit the Botanic Park and the remarkable Amber Museum housed in a former palace, relax on the miles of sandy white beach, stroll along the 470-metre pier and delight in the charming cafes and restaurants of J.Basanavičius pedestrian street. Return to Klaipėda using the same or a slightly different route.
Cycling for the day: 58km
Day 3 : Klaipėda - Švėkšna - Šilutė | 44Km
Location: Šilutė, Švėkšna, Klaipėda
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Gilija Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
A short transfer takes you to the small town of Veiviržėnai where you start your ride on picturesque countryside roads through Pamarys meadows to Šilutė, once a notable fish market with a cosy old square, harbour and plenty of cafes and restaurants. En route, stop in Švėkšna village to explore the famous estate with its beautiful park and the impressive neogothic church of St.Jacob the Apostle.
Cycling for the day: 44km
Day 4 : Rusnė Island | 47Km
Location: Rusnė Island
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Gilija Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning you ride on the tiny lanes and bridle paths to Lithuania’s only island – Rusnė Island, located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. The village of Rusnė is full of rural charm, and its museum houses a traditional fisherman’s smallholding. 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-century lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour.
Cycling for the day: 47km
Day 5 : Ventė Cape And Crossing The Curonian Lagoon | 33Km
Location: Ventė Cape Ornithological Station
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nerija Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cycling to Ventė Cape with a bird ringing station and ornithological museum along the way. Stop at the 19th Century lighthouse for glimpses of the glistening Curonian Spit dunes and then sit back as you cross the lagoon by ferry (1.5-2h) to arrive in Nida, the largest settlement on the Curonian Spit. Your hotel lies at the heart of this former fishing village.
Cycling for the day: 33km
Day 6 : Free Day In Nida | 10Km
Location: Nida
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Nerija Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Nida is one of Lithuania’s most beautiful resorts, with the Curonian Lagoon on one side and the fine sandy beaches of the Baltic coast on the other. Visit the Fisherman’s House, the Amber Gallery and the summer home of the famous writer Thomas Mann. You can also relax on the beach, cruise in a traditional sailing boat, canoe to see the Dead Dunes and take your pick of the cafes and restaurants.
Cycling for the day: 10km or more if you cycle to Kaliningrad
Day 7 : Nida - Juodkrante - Klaipėda | 58Km
Location: Juodkrantė, Klaipėda, Nida
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Old Mill Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Pedal through the timeless landscape of the spit today on the peaceful seaside bike path leading to Klaipėda. Often going through pine forests with the coast always nearby, the bike path gives you one or two dunes to scale (the only slopes of the tour). Stop at the Dead Dunes and spot the colonies of grey herons and cormorants. Juodkrante is another fishing village with the lagoon’s waters lapping along its shoreline, providing a truly charming location for you to enjoy. Stop en route at golden sandy beaches, go swimming in the Baltic Sea and saunter through the forests to reach Smiltynė, where you take the ferry back to the Old Town of Klaipėda for your last night. Here you will return your bikes before checking into your hotel.
Cycling for the day: 58km
Day 8 : Klaipėda Park
Location: Klaipėda
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a final stroll through this fascinating town before you depart on your own. Private transfer to the international ferry terminal or bus/train station possible upon request.
What's Included
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Accommodation
7 overnight stays in double/twin en-suite rooms (3-star hotels)
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Meals
7 breakfasts
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Welcome meeting
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Transfers as per itinerary (no airport transfers included, bookable on request)
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Luggage transport as per itinerary
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Boat trips across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida
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Individual information package (one per room)
City guides, maps, programme and route description (electronic copy sent by email in advance and a hard copy provided at first hotel)
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GPS tracks24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
What's Not Included
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Airfare and connecting land transfers
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Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
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Travel insurance
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Personal expenses such as drinks, phone calls, extra transfers, tips, etc.
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Any items not explicitly mentioned as ‘included’ in the programme
Check out our Q&As
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
A supplement applies to members of a group who require a single room. Please note: This holiday is NOT available for solo travellers travelling alone
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When to go
The tour can depart on each Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday between late May and early September. Individual departures on other days are also possible for groups of more than 4 people (upon request). Please note that surcharges of up to 100 GBP per person are possible if you depart on 23, 24 or 30 July 2022. Weather is best in July and August, still, accommodation availability is limited in these months, so better book well in advance. The climate is slightly continental, with cold winters and mild, moderately rainy summers. Typically, August is a bit rainier than June and July.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
Yes we can, please contact us for details
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Are flights included in this tour?
No, international flights are not included
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
All guides are English Speaking
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
This will be provided on all documentation
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Difficulty and terrain
We grade this trip as Easy to Moderate, with routes ranging from 10 to 58km per day, mainly on low traffic roads and cycle paths. You will cycle on low traffic roads (a few stretches on gravel/sandy road) and designated cycle paths (half of the tour), including the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route. The terrain is flat most of the tour, except for a few hills on the Curonian Spit. We provide individual information package upon arrival, including city guides, maps, programme and route description. We can also provide GPX files with all the tracks, which you can load on your smartphone app or GPS device. The road signage is good, so navigating between the towns is quite easy.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
The Natural Adventure was founded by people who love hiking and cycling in wild and wonderful places. Places that we want to keep that way. Responsible tourism has, therefore, been at the heart of what we do since the get go.
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Am I contributing to any charity by booking the tour?
In April 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 crisis, we launched the Support Local Communities Initiative. We have enabled an option when booking a tour for customers to make a donation to support our local partners. 100% of the donations go directly to our local suppliers.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Whether you’re travelling on your own, as a couple, a group of friends, or a family, our self-guided holidays allow you the freedom to choose your own holiday companions.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Our self guided walking and cycling holidays typically include: Accommodation, Breakfasts, Luggage transfers, Detailed holiday information pack including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps, 24/7 phone assistance by our local representative and/or our central office
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We are part of the 'Safe Travels' initiative.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
Yes, as long as you can reach the next location.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Accommodations in double or twin rooms (solo travellers are usually accommodated in single rooms at an extra cost; we never mix and match)
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If possible, and entirely at the discretion of the Tour Operator, a change of the dates may be possible without charging an amendment fee, provided that it is requested at least 30 days before the departure date. In some cases, we will still have to pass to you any non-refundable charges imposed by our suppliers. In all other cases, change of dates will normally be treated as a cancellation.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
All places have been carefully checked by us and their quality is regularly monitored. We have selected accommodations that offer friendly service, clean and comfortable rooms and local flavour.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
The Natural Adventure was founded in the UK in 2009, by Peter Duncan, former UK Chief Scout and BBC Blue Peter presenter, and Alex Pazderski, an avid hiker and acclaimed expedition kayaker. Both natural adventurers and keen explorers of wild places and trails, remote communities and responsible tourism partners, Peter and Alex founded our company inspired by the responsible travel values t
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Low Deposit
The Natural Adventure requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of the natural adventure charges.
Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.