Cycling Lithuania – from the capital Vilnius to the seaside & the Curonian Spit National Park
9 days self-guided cycling tour with luggage transport from Vilnius to Klaipėda (Code SG2)
Tour distances: cycling ~311 km /194 mi. or 326 km /204 mi., by bus ~3 hrs, by boat ~14 km/9 mi.
TOUR PRICE per person with 3* hotel in Vilnius:
SEASON I - Low (01.05 - 19.06.2024 & 27.08 - 30.09.2024):
DBL/TWIN room - 950 EUR
SGL room - 1399 EUR
SEASON II - High (20.06 – 26.08.2024):
DBL/TWIN room - 1045 EUR
SGL room - 1535 EUR
ITINERARY
Day 1 Sunday: Arrive in VILNIUS
Arrival in Vilnius. Individual transfer to your hotel (not included).
OVERNIGHT: Vilnius; HOTEL: COMFORT HOTEL LT*** or similar
Day 2 Monday: VILNIUS - TRAKAI, ~52 km/33 mi.
Collect rental cycles at your hotel (if pre-ordered). Then you may join a 2-hour guided bike tour of Vilnius Highlights: Iconic Landmarks & Hidden Gems (14 km/9mi.). In the afternoon cycling to Trakai, a former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, where you may visit the 14thC island castle on a small island in Lake Galvė. Arrive in Trakai, hotel check-in.
OVERNIGHT: Trakai; GUESTHOUSE: VIVA TRAKAI RESORT www.vivatrakai.lt or similar
Day 3 Tuesday: TRAKAI - ELEKTRĖNAI - KAUNAS, ~45 km/28 mi. or 60 km/38 mi., by bus ~1 hrs
Optional return morning bike trip around Lake Galvė to see beautiful Užutrakis estate and picturesque views of Trakai Insular Castle (15 km/10 miles). Cycling on a picturesque, rolling road through the land of lakes and hills. Finish cycling in Elektrėnai where the most powerful thermal power station in Lithuania is located. Take a public bus equipped with bicycle racks or private minibus transfer (included) for an hour ride to Kaunas, the second largest city and former Lithuanian capital from 1919-1939. Arrive in Kaunas, hotel check-in.
OVERNIGHT: Kaunas; HOTEL: VICTORIA KAUNAS****
Day 4 Wednesday: KAUNAS - ZAPYŠKIS - PANEMUNĖ Castle, ~76 km/48 mi.
Morning free to explore the Old Town of Kaunas, then cycling along the Nemunas River to Mikytai, where you'll take a ferry across the river to Vilkija. Continue cycling along the river to impressive Panemunė Castle (16th-17thC). En route cross the Dubysa River, pass Veliuona mound hill, the grave of the Grand Duke Gediminas and Raudonė Castle. Arrive in Panemunė Castle, guesthouse check-in.
OVERNIGHT: Pilis I; Guesthouse: PANEMUNĖ CASTLE GUESTHOUSE or similar
Day 5 Thursday: PANEMUNĖ Castle - JURBARKAS - ŠILUTĖ , ~37 km/23 mi., by bus ~1 hour 40 min
Continue cycling along the Nemunas River to Jurbarkas. From Jurbarkas cycle towards Smalininkai, for a long time a border town between Lithuania and the germanised Klaipeda Region, nowadays a border town with Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. From there take a public bus equipped with bicycles racks or private minibus transfer to Šilutė (included). Arrive in Šilutė, check-in at hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Šilutė; HOTEL: GILIJA***
Day 6 Friday: ŠILUTĖ -VENTĖ -NIDA, ~33 km/21 mi. + boat to Nida
Morning cycle to Ventė Horn to visit the 19thC lighthouse and the Ornithological Station that retell their stories and have a panoramic view of the landscape including a glimpse of the Curonian Spit shining sand dunes washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other. This region is known as a land of storks and the White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. Cross the Curonian Lagoon by boat to Nida. Arrive in Nida, hotel check-in.
OVERNIGHT: Nida; HOTEL: NERIJA*** or similar
Day 7 Saturday: NIDA - leisure time by the Baltic Sea, ~ 10 km/6 mi.
Free day to explore Nida which is a former old fishermen`s village on the Curonian Spit washed by 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 the famous German writer Thomas Mann and Amber Gallery.
OVERNIGHT: Nida; HOTEL: NERIJA*** or similar
Day 8 Sunday: Along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit NIDA - JUODKRANTĖ - KLAIPĖDA, ~ 58 km/36 mi.
Follow an asphalt bike path of the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda. En route you may stop to explore on foot the "Dead" sand dunes, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches, which has a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path, or just relax, swim in the Baltic Sea and take the sun on golden beaches. Finally, take a local ferry from Smiltynė to the Old Town of Klaipėda (not included) and cycle to the hotel. Check-in at hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda; HOTEL: OLD MILL*** or similar
Day 9 Monday: Depart KLAIPĖDA
Enjoy a final stroll through this fascinating town before we transfer you to Palanga airport or international ferry terminal or bus/train station for your departure (offered as optional extras). You may also stay extra nights (offered as optional extras) and enjoy Klaipėda longer.
Price includes:
- 8 nights stay at the 3-4* hotels (rooms with WC/shower);
- 8 x breakfast;
- Luggage transport;
- Bus tickets Elektrėnai-Kaunas & Smalininkai-Šilutė or in case of larger group - minibus transfers;
- 2-hour guided bike tour of Vilnius Highlights;
- Boat trips across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida;
- 24 hours service hotline;
- Individual information package (one per room): tour program with route description, maps and city guides;
- GPS tracks;
Price doesn't include:
- Arrival and departure transfers;
- Lunches & dinners;
- Bicycle rent;
- Local ferries in Vilkija and Klaipėda;
- Entrance fees;
- Tips;
Optional extras:
- Rent of hybrid trekking bike (VDV, KTM) equipped with 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub gears or 24-speed Shimano derailleur gears (optional) - 145 EUR (Day 2-8)*;
- Rent of E-bike/Pedelec (VDV) equipped with 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub gears and Bosch driving system - 245 EUR (Day 2-8)*;
- Rental of carbon gravel bike (SILVERBACK Siablo CF) - 265 EUR (Day 2-8)*;
- Rental of cyclecross bike (Kona Jake) or gravel bike ALU (Silverback Siablo) – 185 EUR per person (Day 2-8)*;
- Bicycle tachometer rental (min. 4 functions) - 10 EUR;
- Rent of a pair of waterproof panniers (Ortlieb) for mounting on back rack (total capacity 2 x 20 litres) – 30 EUR per bicycle (Day 2-8);
- Rental of helmet (size S, M, L, XL) – 10 EUR per person;
- Half board (6 x 3-course dinners) all places excluding Vilnius & Trakai - 225 EUR;
- Pre-tour accommodation in Vilnius (3*, breakfast and city tax included):
Double/twin room - 95 EUR;
Single room - 85 EUR; - Post-tour accommodation in 3* hotel in Klaipėda, breakfast included:
Double/twin room - 95 EUR;
Single room - 85 EUR; - Bus ticket Klaipėda-Vilnius or Vilnius-Klaipėda – 49 EUR / person (+5 EUR for reservation of bike space);
- Train ticket Klaipėda-Vilnius or Vilnius-Klaipėda – 49 EUR / person in 2nd class or 59 EUR/person in 1st class (+24 EUR / bike, possible only in 2nd class);
- Transfer by car from/to (price for one way up to 3 people):
Vilnius airport - 39 EUR;
Klaipėda Central Ferry Terminal, bus or train station - 39 EUR;
Palanga airport (35 km from Klaipėda) - 65 EUR; - Transfer by minibus from/to: (price for one way for 4-7 people):
Vilnius airport - 65 EUR ;
Klaipėda Central Ferry Terminal, bus or train station - 65 EUR;
Palanga airport (35 km from Klaipėda) - 99 EUR;
* In rental price included extra equipment and services:
- a waterproof handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb)
- repair set with spare inner tubes (one repair set per booking)
- tachometer (one per booking)
- delivery of bikes to the hotel in Vilnius/collection from the hotel in Klaipėda
Notes:
- 15 % discount for extra bed in double/twin room for people from 3 yrs. old (max 1 person per room);
- Children under 3 yrs. old – free of charge in parents room without extra bed;
- Minimum group size on fixed departure dates - 2 people, any other dates - 6 people.
The trip is booking throughout the year.
More information and reservation: info@klaipedatours.lt