9 days guided group bike tour from Vilnius (Code G6)

Explore a borderland of Lithuania and Poland which is the land of gentle hills, sandy plains, vast primeval forests, crystal clear lakes and deep river valleys. The tour starts in the Lithuanian capital city Vilnius and finishes in the Polish capital city Warsaw, both cities famous for their Old towns designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. The tour program includes 3 nights in Druskininkai Spa Resort, cycling and kayaking in Dzūkija National PAN Park in Lithuania, cycling around Suwalki Lakeland with Wigry and Biebrza National Parks in Poland. Experience a wide variety of towns, villages and countryside for an excellent introduction to the very distinct characters of these two different countries which had a common history known as the Polish – Lithuanian Commonwealth in 16-18thC!

ITINERARY

Day 1 Friday (Lithuania): Arrive in Vilnius

Arrive in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included) and welcome meeting at the hotel with tour guide Check-in at the hotel for 2 overnight stays.
OVERNIGHT: Vilnius; HOTEL: COMFORT HOTEL LT***

Day 2 Saturday (Lithuania): VILNIUS & TRAKAI

After breakfast a guided tour of Vilnius Old Town. Afternoon return trip to Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Start your first cycle ride on gentle hills around Galvė lake. En route we'll stop in Trakai where you may visit the 14thC island castle built on a small island in Lake Galvė. (Cycle ~23 km/14 miles, by minibus ~55 km)
OVERNIGHT: Vilnius; HOTEL: COMFORT HOTEL LT***

Day 3 Sunday (Lithuania): Along the Nemunas River to DRUSKININKAI Resort

Transfer by minibus to Merkinė. Cycle ride to Druskininkai which is one of the best climatic and wellness springs resorts in Europe. Today's cycle route goes via Liškiava famous for its 17-18thC Dominican monastery ensemble on the Nemunas River bank. Arrive in Druskininkai, check into the hotel for 2 overnight stays. Afternoon free in the resort or going for a circular ride in the woods. Dinner at the hotel (included). (Cycle ~32 km/20 miles or 48 km/30 miles, by minibus ~100 km)
OVERNIGHT: Druskininkai; HOTEL: REGINA***

Day 4 Monday (Lithuania): DZŪKIJA NATIONAL PARK by bike

Morning transfer to Dzūkija National Park, the largest park in Lithuania overgrown with pine forests (90% of the territory) and one of 13 wild PAN parks in Europe. Here begins our cycle route through the woods and ethnographical villages. Afternoon trip to Grūtas Park, which has a unique distinction of being the place where all unwanted statues of Lenin were taken after Lithuania regained its independence from the Soviet Union. (Cycle ~52 km/33 miles, by minibus ~55 km)
OVERNIGHT: Druskininkai; HOTEL: REGINA***

Day 5 Tuesday (Lithuania-Poland): SUWALKI LAKELAND & TOWN

Morning bus transfer to Poland. After crossing the border we start cycling on rolling hills with picturesque views to beautiful lakes and Polish countryside. Wigry National park is our destination. En route we visit Suwałki, the largest town and the capital of the historical Suwałki region. Check into the hotel for 2 overnight stays. Dinner at the hotel (included). (Cycle~55 km/34 miles, by coach ~85 km)
OVERNIGHT: Wigry National Park; HOTEL: XXX or similar

Day 6 Wednesday (Poland): WIGRY NATIONAL PARK

Circular bike tour on marked trails around Wigry Lake which is the largest with 15 islands, one of the deepest (73 m) and most beautiful lakes in Podlasie region. En route explore a former monastery, built by the death-obsessed Camaldolese monks in 17thC. The whole complex, complete with a church and 17 hermitages, is spectacularly located on a peninsula in the lake. (Cycle ~47 km/29 miles)
OVERNIGHT: Wigry National Park; HOTEL: XXX or similar

Day 7 Thursday (Poland): AUGUSTOW & BIEBRZA NATIONAL PARK

Short transfer to Augustow, a small but appealing town, the gateway to the Suwałki region at the Netta River. Today we cycle along the GreenVelo route to Biebrza National Park which protects vast and relatively untouched fenlands with a unique variety of plants, rare wetland birds and mammals such as Elk and Beaver. Arrive in Goniadz, check-in and dinner at the hotel (included). (Cycle ~57 km/36 miles, by coach ~28 km)
OVERNIGHT: Goniadz; HOTEL: BARTLOWZINA*** or similar

Day 8 Friday (Poland) GONIADZ – WARSAW

Morning is dedicated for the final cycling ride along the Royal Route (Polish: Trakt Królewski) through Biebrza National Park and then transfer by bus to Warsaw, capital of Poland. Check-in at the hotel followed by a guided tour of Warsaw Old Town. Dinner in local restaurant (included). (cycle ~39 km/24 miles, by coach ~180 km)
OVERNIGHT: Warsaw; HOTEL: METROPOL*** or similar

Day 9 Saturday (Poland): Warsaw

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour.