8 days self-guided hiking tour from Klaipėda (Code SGH1)

The Baltic Sea coast in Lithuania with Palanga Resort and the Curonian Spit National Park, designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, explored individually on very scenic hiking routes. Experience traditional Lithuanian country life and explore beautiful nature and its birdlife when hiking in the Nemunas River Delta. This region has one of the largest populations of storks in Europe and more than one million birds passing through Ventė Cape each migratory year.
The tour begins & ends in the historic coastal town of Klaipeda (known as Memel for many years) which boasts a rich, turbulent history from 13thC. Nowadays, it’s a bustling, modern town offering many excellent leisure options ranging from history tours, to water sports. There’s a wide range of cafes & restaurants & many annual festivals, e.g. jazz, folklore. You can choose to spend extra nights here either at the beginning or end of the tour.
During the tour you will spend 3 nights in Nida, the largest settlement on the Curonian Spit and most beautiful resort in Lithuania. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing seaside break on white sand beaches or explore on foot its unique surroundings like the Great Dune of Parnidis (50 m. high); its birdlife, the influence of the Lagoon etc. There are many other gorgeous places worth to see and explore on foot on the Curonian Spit! The Dead (Grey) Dunes near Pervalka and a colony of grey herons and cormorants in Juodkrantė are just a few places which should not missed during the tour.

ITINERARY

1. Day: KLAIPĖDA

Arrive in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

2. Day: WALKING ALONG THE BALTIC SEACOAST TO PALANGA RESORT, ~ 18 km/11 mi./4 hrs

9:00 a.m. information meeting at your hotel where you will be greeted by a BALTIC BIKE TRAVEL representative. Transfer by minibus to the Seaside Regional Park (~15 km, included) where start your hiking tour along the Lithuanian Seaside to Palanga resort. En route visit the Dutchman’s Cap – a 24-meter-high coastal cliff famous for gorgeous panorama of the Baltic Sea. In Palanga you can visit the Botanical Park and Amber Museum, explore J.Basanavičius pedestrian street with many cafes & restaurants and the 470 m pier heading into the Baltic Sea. Return to Klaipėda by public bus (not-included). Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

3. Day: HIKING WITH STORKS ALONG THE CURONIAN LAGOON, ~ 19 km/12 mi./4 hrs

A short minibus transfer takes you inland (~35 km, included) where start walking along the Curonian Lagoon on small country roads and forest trails. Hiking towards the Nemunas River delta Regional Park, en route passing by the most popular kiting spot in Lithuania and Svencele coastal raised bog. This region has one the largest population of storks in Europe. The White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. Finish your walking in a guesthouse surrounded by Kintai fishponds at the Minija River or the hotel at the Curonian Lagoon in Ventė Cape, check-in and optional dinner at the guesthouse/hotel.
Overnight in Kintai or Ventė: MĖLYNASIS KARPIS or VENTAINĖ or similar.

4. Day: WALKING ALONG THE MINIJA RIVER AND CROSSING THE CURONIAN LAGOON TO NIDA, ~18 km/11 mi./4 hrs, by boat ~14 km/9mi./1.5 hours

Hiking to Ventė Cape where you may visit a museum of ornithology and one of the first bird ringing stations in Europe, the 19th C lighthouse which has a panoramic view of the unique landscape - glistening waters of the Curonian Lagoon and the great sand dunes. Today, one million birds pass through Ventė Cape each migratory year. The route to Ventė will lead you along the Minija River and Minija (Mingė) village which is like the Venice of Lithuania with houses of both sides of the river and no bridges connecting them. In the evening take a boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon. Arrival in Nida followed by a short walk through the resort village to the hotel. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: NERIJA*** or similar

5. Day: NIDA - LEISURE TIME BY THE BALTIC SEA, ~10 km/6 mi./2 hrs

Free day to explore Nida which is a former old fishermen’s village on the Curonian Spit washed by the 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. Walk along impressive sand dunes to the Baltic Sea where you can enjoy white sand beaches and swimming in the sea, visit the most popular places of interest – the Fisherman’s House, the summer house of famous German writer Thomas Mann and the Amber Gallery. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: NERIJA*** or similar

6. Day: HIKING FROM THE DEAD DUNES TO PERVALKA AND PREILA, ~ 15 km/9 mi./3 hrs or 28 km/17 mi./5 hrs

Morning transfer by minibus to the Dead (Grey) dunes (~17 km, included) where start your hike on picturesque trail in the Nagliai strict nature reserve. This is the place where 4 former villages were buried in the sand a few centuries ago. Strong winds here create a unique landscape – steep sand dunes with hollows and washouts. Continue hiking along the lagoon to Preila en route passing the most picturesque places in all Curonian spit: Horse Cap and Lighthouse, Pervalka and Karvaičiai Bays with towers for birdwatching, etc. From Preila you can return back to Nida by public bus (not-included). You can also continue Preila to Nida individual walking along the Curonian Lagoon (13 km extra) including a climb up to the highest Vecekrugas Dune (67 m).  Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: NERIJA*** or similar

7. Day: CURONIAN SPIT - JUODKRANTĖ HIKE, ~11-15 km/7-9 mi./2-3 hrs, by boat ~1 hour

Minibus transfer to Juodkrantė (~30 km, included) where go hiking on a circular route with a few natural and cultural highlights of the Curonian spit. Start your route at the Amber Bay, continue into the primaeval forest, pass along the mystical wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path on the Hill of Witches, walk through an acid forest shaped by one of the biggest Cormorant colony in Europe. Afternoon is free to spend more time in one of many local restaurants, or just relaxing and taking the sun on white sand beach, swimming in the sea, etc. Finally, take a speed boat from Juodkrantė to Klaipėda (or a minibus transfer). Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

8. Day: KLAIPĖDA

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour. It is possible to extend your stay in Lithuania.