Travel to the Baltics
Cycling in the Baltics
Vilnius-Neringa-Riga-Tallinn - 11 days escorted tour
This escorted tour includes:
 | Airline ticket from one of the listed US cities to Vilnius, with return from Tallinn, on Star Alliance airlines |
| Double room accommodations at three and four star hotels, including hotel taxes |
| Airport-Hotel round trip transfers |
| Full breakfasts (B) everyday |
| Transportation on the ground by a deluxe motorcoach with A/C |
| Services of an English and German speaking guide during sightseeing program |
| Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida |
| Ferry from the Curonian Spit to Klaipeda |
| Ecological fee for the Curonian Spit National Park |
| Rental of trekking bicycle with waterproof pannier |
| Excursion and entrance fees as per itinerary |
| Group size of minimum 2 and maximum 20 |
Day 1 Sat: USA - Vilnius
Afternoon departure and overnight flight to Vilnius.
Day 2 Sun: Vilnius
Arrival in Vilnius and transfer to your hotel. Check-in at the hotel.
7:00 PM welcome meeting at the hotel where you will be greeted by the tour
escort.
Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Vilnius at Europa
City Vilnius or similar.
Day 3 (B) Mon: Vilnius-Trakai-Kaunas
(cycling approx. 30 km, driving 85 km)
9:00 AM city tour of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania for more than
600 years. The tour includes: the Cathedral Square and Town Hall Square,
St. Ann, St. Francis, and Bernardine Churches, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the
Virgin Mary, and Vilnius University (founded in 1579). Afternoon transfer to
Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, to visit the
insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island on Lake Galve.
Bicycling towards Kaunas on picturesque hilly country road for approx. 30 km.
Transfer by coach to Kaunas. Arrival in Kaunas, check-in, optional dinner at the
hotel. Accommodations at Hotel
Daniela or similar.
Day 4 (B) Tue: Kaunas - Zemaitkiemis - Vente - Nida
(cycling approx. 30 km, driving 200 km)
Morning
transfer along the Nemunas River to the seaside region. En route passing by
Veliuona mound hill and impressive 16th-17th century castles of Raudonė and
Panemunė. Bicycling from Zemaitkiemis to the Vente Horn where there is an
ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse. Take a boat across the
Curonian Lagoon to Nida and enjoy a beautiful view to sand dunes of the Curonian
Spit. Arrival in Nida, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Accommodations at Hotel
Nerija or similar.
Day 5 (B) Wed: Nida-Juodkrante-Klaipeda
(cycling approx. 60 km)
Sightseeing
around Nida, one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Exploring the Amber
Gallery and a summer house of the famous German writer Thomas Mann. Then, start
bicycling on the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to
Klaipėda. Have a break near Pervalka for the up hill climb to the Dead
Dunes to take in the awe-inspiring views of the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic
Sea, and to explore the biggest colony of gray herons and cormorants near
Juodkrantė. Arrival in Klaipėda, the only seaport of Lithuania having
a long history as a German town called Memel. Check-in and optional dinner at
the hotel. Accommodations at Reval
Inn Klaipeda or similar.
Day 6 (B) Thu: Klaipeda - Palanga - Sigulda
(cycling approx. 30 km, driving 350 km)
Early
morning ride to Palanga through the Seaside Regional Park, a former Soviet
military polygon area. Arrival in Palanga, the largest and most popular summer
resort in Lithuania, followed by a visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber
Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz, with over 25 000 pieces of amber and
15 000 inclusions of insects on display. 2:00 PM transfer to Sigulda, the
most popular resort in Latvia, situated in the most picturesque part of the
Gauja Valley with reddish sandstone forming steep rocks and caves on both banks
of the river, which has resulted in many people calling it the ‘Switzerland of
Vidzeme’. On the way a short stop at the Hill of Crosses, the unforgettable
place with thousands of crosses on two small hills near Siauliai. Arrival in
Sigulda , check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. Accommodations at
Santa Hotel or similar.
Day 7 (B) Fri: Sigulda - Turaida - Cesis - Riga (cycling approx.
45 km, driving 70 km)
9:00
bicycling from Sigulda through the Gauja National Park to Ragana. En route
you will see the 13th century Sigulda castle ruins and Turaida Castle of the
Knights of the Sword, enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valley with
Gutmana Cave, the largest one in Latvia. Next stop in Krimulda to explore the
oldest church in Latvia (built in 1205). In the afternoon transfer from Ragana
to Straupe for a ride to Cesis, one of Latvia’s prettiest and oldest Hanseatic
towns famous for its 13th century castle of the Order of Knights. Transfer to
Riga for overnight, check-in and optional dinner at
the hotel.
Accommodations at Baltpark
Hotel or similar.
Day
8 (B) Sat: Riga - Jurmala - Riga
(cycling approx. 25 km, driving 30 km)
9:00
AM a city tour of Riga (if your flight time allows), exploring the medieval
Hanseatic town, Riga castle, St. Peter's Church, Dome Cathedral, and
the Old Guild Houses. In the afternoon, cycling to Jurmala, the largest resort
in the Baltic States, well known for its long white sand beaches, curative mud
and mineral waters. Transfer back to the hotel. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Day
9 (B) Sun: Riga - Ikla - Parnu - Haapsalu
(cycling approx. 35 km, driving 260 km)
9:00
AM transfer to Ikla (Estonia) where you’ll start bicycling on picturesque
road along the Baltic Sea Coast through fishermen’s villages. Transfer to Parnu, Estonian “Summer Capital”, known as a health resort since the
first spa opened here in the 1830s. A further drive to Haapsalu, known for its
Bishop’s Castle, curative mud baths and the longest railway station
constructed to accommodate the arrival of the Russian royal family’s train
after 1852. Arrival in Haapsalu, check-in and optional dinner at
the hotel. Accommodations at Promenaadi
Hotel or similar.
Day
10 (B) Mon: Haapsalu - Padise - Paldiski - Tallinn
(cycling approx. 40 km, driving 100 km)
Morning
transfer outside the city, where we start bicycling to Padise. Then, transfer
to Tallinn via Paldiski, known as the former Soviet nuclear submarine base. En
route, you will stop in Keila-Joa to see the waterfall and the highest coastal
cliffs in Estonia. Arrival in Tallinn, check-in and optional dinner at the
hotel.
Day
11 (B) Tue: Tallinn - USA
99:00
AM city tour of Tallinn (if your flight time
allows),
visiting the Old Town of Tallinn – an example of Gothic architecture in the
Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications,
the Dome Church (13th century), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander
Nevskij (19th century), Town Hall Square (15th century), the Old Guild, and St.
Olaf's Church. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Prices with airline tickets and transfers. Departure taxes, security & fuel surcharges are additional $275-360.
|
|
|
NY |
Bos |
Phila del phia |
Wash. |
Atla nta |
Orla ndo |
Miami | Chica |
Detroit |
Dallas | Hou ston |
Den ver |
LA | Port land |
Sea ttle |
SF |
| 06/07/08 | 06/17/08 | $2,757 | $2,852 | $2,844 | $2,875 | $2,912 | $2,897 | $2,947 | $3,021 | $2,978 | $2,948 | $2,998 | $3,019 | $3,109 | $3,014 | $3,109 | $3,181 |
| 07/05/08 | 07/15/08 | $2,707 | $2,802 | $2,794 | $2,825 | $2,862 | $2,847 | $2,897 | $2,971 | $2,928 | $2,898 | $2,948 | $2,969 | $3,059 | $2,964 | $3,059 | $3,131 |
| 08/02/08 | 08/12/08 | $2,707 | $2,802 | $2,794 | $2,825 | $2,862 | $2,847 | $2,897 | $2,971 | $2,928 | $2,898 | $2,948 | $2,969 | $3,059 | $2,964 | $3,059 | $3,131 |
Land only price (without transfers, tour starts on Day 2 at 7:00 PM, ends on Day 8 at Noon) - $1,555
Pre/post tour accommodations:
Europa City Vilnius or similar -
SGL $105 / DBL $61 pp, per night, including breakfasts
Comfort Oru Hotel Tallinn or similar - SGL $112 / DBL $67 pp, per night, including breakfasts
