Guided cycling tour along the Lithuania seaside: Curonian Spit National Park, Palanga Resort & Nemunas River Delta

days self-guided circular cycling tour from Klaipėda (Code SG1)

Tour distances: cycling ~253 km/~158 mi., minibus ~40 km/25 mi., boat/ferry ~14 km/9 mi. or 1.5 hour

TOUR PRICE per person: Cat. A Cat. B Low Season: 01.05 - 20.06 & 28.08 - 30.09.2024 Double/Twin room 665 EUR 595 EUR Single room 1035 EUR 935 EUR High Season: 21.06 - 27.08.2024 Double/Twin room 725 EUR 655 EUR Single room 1095 EUR 995 EUR Accommodation: Cat. A: 4* Hotel in Klaipėda & 3* Hotels in Klaipeda and Šilute; Cat. B: 3* Hotels in all places

2024 TOUR DATES (Guaranteed Departures!)

* Any other date (May-September) possible on request for the same Low or High season rates:
- with minimum 4 people when a scheduled boat across the Curonian Lagoon is available;
- or with minimum 6 people when a charter boat across the Curonian Lagoon is booked.

**  Tour program of Day 2 is shifted to the end of the tour with departures on Sunday and Thursday!

ITINERARY

1 Day: ARRIVE IN KLAIPĖDA

Arrive in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (offered as optional extras). Check into your hotel - a renovated mill located right on the waterfront and in the heart of the Old Town.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar.

2 Day: ALONG THE SEASIDE CYCLE ROUTE TO PALANGA RESORT, ~58 km/36 mi.

Your local host, will meet you in the hotel at 9am, organise your bicycles (offered as optional extras) and run through your itinerary. Today you are off to cycle to the resort town of Palanga, an idyllic route that leads north through the Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military polygon area. En route you will pass Plazė Lake and the Dutchman's Cap – a coastal cliff and have many opportunities to detour to the seashore should 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 slightly different route. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar.

3 Day: CYCLING WITH STORKS ON COUNTRY ROADS TO Šilutė, ~ 47 km/29 mi., minibus ~40 km/25 mi.

Start the day with a short transfer to the small town of Veiviržėnai where start your cycling ride on picturesque countryside roads through Pamarys meadows to Šilutė, once a notable fish market with the old market square and harbour and plenty of cafes and restaurants. All day cycle through the region having one of the largest population of storks in Europe. The White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. En route stop in Švėkšna village to explore the estate with its beautiful park and impressive neo-gothic church of St.Jacob the Apostle. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Šilutė: Hotel GILIJA or similar.

4 Day: CIRCULAR RIDE FROM ŠILUTĖ - RUSNĖ Island & the NEMUNAS River Delta, ~ 47 km/29 mi.

This morning you ride on the tiny lanes and bridlepaths to Lithuania's only island - Rusnė Island on the Russian border and 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. When you stand on the bank of the Nemunas River in Rusnė you see the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad just 100 metres across the river. En route you can explore Rusnė village with a new monument to famous Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and his intimate friend Hermann Kallenbach. Cycle around the island and explore its wildlife and beautiful views from birdwatching towers and the 19th C lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Šilutė: Hotel GILIJA or similar.

5 Day: ŠILUTĖ TO NIDA & CROSSING THE CURONIAN LAGOON, cycling ~33 km/21 mi., by boat ~14 km/9mi.

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 sand dunes and then sit back as you cross the lagoon by ferry (1.5-2 hrs) to arrive in Nida, the largest settlement on the Curonian Spit. Your hotel lies at the heart of this former fishing village. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: Hotel NERIJA*** or similar

6 Day: FREE DAY IN NIDA, ~10 km/6 mi.

Nida is one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania blessed with the Curonian Lagoon one side and the fine sandy beaches of the Baltic coast on the other. Famous for its amber - trawled from the sea bed and its impressive sand dunes, there is plenty to do here. Visit the Fisherman's House, the Amber Gallery and the summer home of the famous writer Thomas Mann; 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. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: Hotel NERIJA*** or similar

7 Day: NIDA TO KLAIPĖDA along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit, ~ 58 km/36 mi.

Pedal through the timeless landscape of the spit today on the peaceful seaside bike path leading to Klaipėda. Often in 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 also a forming fishing village with the waters of the lagoon 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. Otional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

8 Day: 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:

• 7 nights stay in 3*-4* hotels (rooms with WC/shower);
• 7 x buffet breakfast;
• Luggage transport from hotel to hotel;
• Minibus transfer Klaipėda - Veiviržėnai;
• Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida;
• Individual information package (one per room): tour program with route description, maps and city guides;
• GPS Tracks;
• 24 hours service hotline;

Optional extras:

• Rent of trekking bike (KTM,VDV) (optionally 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub gears & back-pedal break or 24-speed Shimano derailleur gears & free-wheel) with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) - 69 EUR (12 EUR for extra day);
• Rent of trekking bike (KTM,VDV) (optionally 8-speed Shimano Nexus hub gears & back-pedal break or 24-speed Shimano derailleur gears & free-wheel) with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) + handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb) + tachometer - 79 EUR (14 EUR for extra day);
• Rent of of E-bike/Pedelec with Bosch driving system (Kalkhoff, VDV) equipped with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) - 159 EUR (27 EUR for extra day);
• Rent of of E-bike/Pedelec with Bosch driving system (Kalkhoff, VDV) equipped with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) + handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb) – 169 EUR per person (29 EUR for extra day);
• Rental of cyclecross bike (Kona Jake) equipped with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) – 109 EUR per person (18 EUR for extra day);
• Rental of cyclecross bike (Kona Jake) equipped with a waterproof back pannier (20 litres) + handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb) + tachometer – 119 EUR per person (19 EUR for extra day);
• Rental of Y-Tandem bike (Panther) for two people equipped with a pair of waterproof back panniers (2 x 20 litres) – 159 EUR (27 EUR for extra day);
• Rental of Y-Tandem bike (Panther) for two people equipped with a pair of waterproof back panniers (2 x 20 litres) + handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb) + tachometer – 169 EUR (29 EUR for extra day);
• Bicycle tachometer rental (min. 4 functions) - 10 EUR;
• Rental of waterproof handlebar bag with map/smartphone holder (Ortlieb) – 15 EUR;
• Rental of helmet (please send your head size in centimetres or helmet size: S, M, L, XL, XXL) - 5 EUR per person;
• Rental of bicycle trailer (Winther Dolphin) for children from 6 months old – 89 EUR per person;
• Rental of trailer-bike (tagalong) for children of 5-10 years old – 49 EUR per person;
• Rental of child seat (up to 22 kg) with child helmet – 19 EUR per bicycle;
• Half board (7 x 3-course dinners)  – 225 EUR per person in 3* hotels (Cat. B) or 255 EUR per person in case of 3 overnights in Klaipėda are booked at 4* hotel (Cat. A);
• Pre/post-tour accommodation with breakfast in Klaipėda 3* (Cat. B) / 4* (Cat. A):
  Double/twin room - 95 EUR / 115 EUR;
  Single room - 85 EUR / 105 EUR;
• Transfer by car from/to: (price for one way for up to 3 people):
  Palanga airport -  65 EUR;
  Klaipeda Central Ferry Terminal (ferries from Germany & Sweden) - 39 EUR;
• Transfer by minivan from/to: (price for one way for up to 7 people):
  Palanga airport -  99 EUR;
  Klaipeda Central Ferry Terminal (ferries from Germany & Sweden) - 65 EUR;
• English speaking local tour guide services for 5 days (Days 2-7 excluding a free day in Nida), including guide’s accommodation in Šilutė, rental of trekking bike (extra charge for an e-bike for the e-bikers group), ferry across the Curonian Lagoon, tickets for public buses from/to Nida and local ferry in Klaipėda – 1295 EUR for a group of 1-10 people

Notes:

• Upgrade to 4* hotel in Klaipėda (3 nights) – NATIONAL**** http://nationalhotel.lt/ or similar – 70 EUR/person in DBL room and 100 EUR/person in SGL room;
• Tour price per person from 3 years old in extra bed in DBL room – 15% discount from the tour package price in DBL room;
• Children under 3 yrs. old – free of charge in parents room without extra bed;
• Minimum group size on fixed departure dates – 2 people, on any other dates May-September on request for the same Low season (01.05 - 20.06 & 28.08 - 30.09.2024) or High season (21.06 - 27.08.2024) rates:
  - with minimum 4 people when a scheduled boat across the Curonian Lagoon is available;
  - or with minimum 6 people when a charter boat across the Curonian Lagoon is booked.

The trip is booking throughout the year.

More information and reservation: info@klaipedatours.lt