9 days self-guided supported bike tour from Klaipėda (Code SG8)

Explore the Baltic coast of the three countries on very scenic routes. Travel from Lithuania in the north, through the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad into Poland in the south; experience a wide variety of towns, villages and countryside for an excellent introduction to the very distinct characters of these quite different countries. The tour includes former Hansa Cities - Kaliningrad (Koenigsberg) and Gdansk (Danzig), the latter one having the Old town designated as World Heritage Site by UNESCO; Lithuanian seaport of Klaipėda (Memel) and the Curonian Spit National Park, both Lithuanian and Russian parts. At the end of the tour you will have a chance to explore Nicolaus Copernicus town of Frombork, the Elblag Canal – a famous early technical masterpiece and impressive Malbork Castle, the biggest medieval brick structure in the world built by the Teutonic Knights, and finally Gdansk (Danzig) - Poland's principal seaport and a city with over 1000 years of history featuring beautiful old town with the country's biggest cathedral

The tour begins in Klaipėda where you get your tour maps with detailed program and route description. Next day your rental bicycles will be ready for your first ride along the Curonian Spit to Nida. This trip is a half-guided tour ie during the whole trip, except the Lithuanian part of the Curonian Spit, our driver with a minibus and bike trailer is close to you; and you can take part in city tours (Kaliningrad, Gdansk) lead by professional guides. Our driver will transport your luggage every day to the next hotel. If you have a breakdown, then our driver will take care of everything for you. If you have any problems – contact our office or the driver.

Please note that since July 2019, citizens of 53 countries can apply for free of charge e-Visa to Russian Kaliningrad Region!!! (more information and e-Visa application form here)

ITINERARY

Day 1 Tuesday  (Lithuania): KLAIPĖDA

Arrive in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in at the hotel. 7:00 p.m. (19:00) welcome meeting at the hotel with Baltic Bike Travel representative. OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda; HOTEL: OLD MILL*** or similar

Day 2 Wednesday (Lithuania): CURONIAN SPIT & NIDA (cycling ~57 km/36 miles)

After breakfast you cross the lagoon by ferry (not included) and start cycling on an asphalt bike path which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Nida, the most beautiful resort in Lithuania famous for impressive sand dunes, the Amber Gallery, etc. En route you can visit the Hill of Witches which houses almost a hundred whimsical wooden sculptures about Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path. Or, if you prefer, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, explore the “Dead” sand dunes on foot, swim in the Baltic Sea or, simply relax, & take in the sun on golden beaches. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Nida; HOTEL: NERIJA*** or similar

Day 3 Thursday (Lithuania-Russia): CURONIAN SPIT - Russian Side (cycling ~ 56 km/35 miles)

Today´s bike trip leads you through the Russian part of the Curonian Spit to Zelenogradsk, a popular seaside resort with elegant old villas. En route explore the Baltic Coast with picturesque dunes, the “dancing” forest and an ornithological museum, known as the first in the world such kind of bird observation field station. The Curonian Spit is known as place where almost one million migrating birds “pass/stop off”’ each year. Arrive in Zelenogradsk, check-in at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Zelenogradsk (or Kaliningrad); HOTEL: XX or similar

Day 4 Friday (Russia): SVETLOGORSK Seaside Resort & AMBER TOWN Yantarny (~50 km/31 miles, by minibus 50 km)

Minibus transfer to Svetlogorsk (formerly Rauschen founded in 1228) which is another traditional seaside Spa town with its impressive 60 meters high coastal cliffs. Today’s cycling takes us through Sambian peninsula to Yantarny, the town named after Amber in Russian. This place is famous for its open pit amber mines where more than 500 tones of amber is produced annually. Enjoy picturesque countryside by cycling towards Kaliningrad on small roads framed with tree alleys. Finish the ride with a transfer to the next overnight place in Kaliningrad, check-in at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Kaliningrad; HOTEL: KALININGRAD*** or similar

Day 5 Saturday (Russia): KALININGRAD (KÖNIGSBERG) – on foot and by minibus (no cycling)

After breakfast you may take part in a guided tour of Kaliningrad, a former German city of Königsberg, capital of East Prussia where Prussian kings were crowned. The city tour includes the King’s Gate and the Konigsberg Cathedral with a grave of Immanuel Kant, city fortifications and bastions, etc. Afternoon free to explore Kaliningrad on your own. OVERNIGHT: Kaliningrad; HOTEL: KALININGRAD*** or similar

Day 6 Sunday (Russia-Poland): Along GREEN VELO Route to Frombork (~32 km/20 miles, by minibus 50 km)

Morning transfer to Mamonovo where start cycling and crossing the Polish border. Continue cycling to Frombork following the newly established Green Velo cycle route along the Vistula Lagoon. Arrive in Frombork known as “The Jewel of Warmia” with an intriguing astronomical legacy. Traditionally a home of merchants, farmers and fishermen, Frombork’s most illustrious inhabitant was the astronomer and mathematician Nicolaus Copernicus who lived and worked here as a priest. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Frombork; HOTEL: KOPERNIK*** or similar

Day 7 Monday (Poland): Hilly GREEN VELO Route & Elblag (cycling ~42 km/26 miles)

Cycle to Elblag along the picturesque coast of Vistula Lagoon (mainly flat terrain) or party on newly built asphalt cycle trail rolling through a Landscape Park of the Elblag Upland (hilly terrain). Arrive in Elblag town, a former Hanseatic Elbing founded by Teutonic Order and nowadays famous for its reconstructed Stare Miasto (the Old town). Check-in at the hotel. OVERNIGHT: Elblag; HOTEL: ELBLAG**** or similar

Day 8 Tuesday (Poland): the Elblag Canal – Malbork Castle & Gdansk (cycling ~ 32 km/20 miles, by minibus ~ 120 km)

Have a free day from cycling by taking a half day cruise on board of passenger ships along the Elblag Canal- the famous early technical masterpiece (not included) or cycle to Buczyniec Ramp of the Elblag canal toexplore a winch which was used to lift boats 100 m up and across dry land before returning them back to theCanal above. In the afternoon transfer to Gdansk. En route stop in Marienburg (Malbork), the capital of Teutonic Knights, where the greatest European fortress from the Middle Ages is located (it needs a wholeday to explore the castle, and you can come here individually after the tour, by train 30 or 50 min. one way,not included). Arrive in Gdansk, check-in at the hotel and optional dinner at the hotel or local restaurant. OVERNIGHT: Gdansk; HOTEL: DOM MUZYKA*** or similar

Day 9 Wednesday (Poland): Gdansk

Morning city tour of Gdansk (Danzig) - a city with over 1000 years of history. End of the tour.