Baltic Bike Tours

Self-guided hiking tour along the Lithuanian Seaside. Curonian Spit National Park, Palanga Resort & Ventė Horn

 


TOUR INFORMATION

Tour distances: hiking ~ 90-108 km/~ 56-66 mi., by minibus ~97 km/61 mi., by boat/ferry ~ 34 km/2.5 Hours

Hiking grade: we rate this trip as Easygoing to Moderate. You will be hiking forest trails, meadows and partly on bike paths along the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon, small roads and with little car traffic in the Nemunas River Delta area. Probably the most interesting will be walking on sand beaches at the Baltic Sea. The terrain is dead flat most of the tour, except a few sand dunes on the Curonian Spit.

Arrival & departure information:

Ferry terminal: KLAIPĖDA (DFDS ferries from Kiel, Germany & Karlshamn, Sweden; TT-Line ferries from Travemunde/Rostock, Germany & Trelleborg, Sweden)

Airports: KLAIPĖDA/ PALANGA (35 km/22 mi. away from Klaipėda,) with regular flights from Copenhagen (Denmark/SAS), Riga (Latvia/AIR BALTIC), London Luton (Great Britain/WIZZAIR) & London Stanstead (Great Britain/RYANAIR). Due to good connecting flights (SAS, AirBaltic) it is easy to reach Palanga airport from many cities in Europe via Copenhagen and Riga.

Parking: parking at the arrival hotel or in guarded car parking lot nearby the hotel (both chargeable).

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.

2023 TOUR DATES (Guaranteed Departures!)*

Tour code Departures on Saturday Departures on Sunday**
Low season (01.05-23.06.2023 & 27.08-30.09.2023)
SGH1-05
17.06 – 24.06.2023 *
18.06 – 25.06.2023 *
High season (24.06-26.08.2023)

SGH1-06
SGH1-07
SGH1-08
SGH1-09
SGH1-12
SGH1-13
SGH1-14

24.06 – 01.07.2023
01.07 – 08.07.2023
08.07 – 15.07.2023
15.07 – 22.07.2023
05.08 – 12.08.2023
12.08 – 19.08.2023
19.08 - 26.08.2023

25.06 – 02.07.2023
02.07 – 09.07.2023
09.07 – 16.07.2023
16.07 – 23.07.2023
06.08 – 13.08.2023
13.08 – 20.08.2023
20.08 - 27.08.2023

Tour code Departures on Wednesday Departures on Thursday**
Low season (01.05 - 23.06.2023 & 27.08 - 30.09.2023)
SGH1-20
21.06 – 28.06.2023
22.06 – 29.06.2023
High season (24.06-26.08.2023)

SGH1-21
SGH1-22
SGH1-23
SGH1-24
SGH1-25
SGH1-28
SGH1-29

28.06 – 05.07.2023
05.07 – 12.07.2023
12.07 – 19.07.2023
19.07 – 26.07.2023
26.07 – 02.08.2023
16.08 – 23.08.2023
23.08 - 30.08.2023

29.06 – 06.07.2023
06.07 – 13.07.2023
13.07 – 20.07.2023
20.07 – 27.07.2023
27.07 – 03.08.2023
17.08 – 24.08.2023
24.08 - 31.08.2023

* Any other date (May-September) possible on request with min. 4 people per group!
**  Tour program of Day 2 is shifted to the end of the tour with departures on Sunday and Thursday!

TOUR PRICE
per person

Cat. A Cat. B
Season 1 (Low): 01.05 - 23.06 & 27.08 - 30.09.2023
Double/Twin room 669 EUR 599 EUR
Single room 959 EUR 889 EUR

Season 2 (High): 24.06 - 26.08.2023

Double/Twin room 735 EUR 665 EUR
Single room 1065 EUR 995 EUR

WHAT'S INCLUDED?

  • 7 nights stay in hotels/guesthouses (rooms with WC/shower)
  • 7 x breakfast
  • Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
  • Minibus transfer Klaipėda - Seaside Regional park, Klaipėda - Dreverna, Nida - the Dead Dunes, Nida - Juodkrantė
  • Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida
  • Speed boat from Juodkrantė to Klaipėda (or minibus transfer)
  • Individual information package (one per room): city guide, maps, program and route description
  • GPS Tracks
  • 24 hours service hotline

ACCOMMODATION

- Cat. A: 4**** Hotel in Klaipėda & 3*** Hotels; Cat. B: 3*** Hotels
- Rooms with shower/WC or bath/WC

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

  • Half board (7 x 3-course dinners)  – 155 EUR per person in 3* hotels (Cat. B) or 169 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 - 89 EUR / 99 EUR
    Single room - 79 EUR / 89 EUR
  • Transfer by car from/to: (price for one way for up to 3 people):
  • Palanga airport -  55 EUR
    Klaipeda Central Ferry Terminal (ferries from Germany & Sweden) - 33 EUR
  • Transfer by minivan from/to: (price for one way for up to 7 people):
    Palanga airport -  88 EUR
    Klaipeda Central Ferry Terminal (ferries from Germany & Sweden) - 55 EUR

NOTES

  • 15 % discount from tour package for people from 3 yrs. old (max 1 person per room) for extra bed in double/twin 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 4 people

Your booking request is valid only with our written confirmation.

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SGH1
New! 8 days hiking along the Lithuanian seaside (self-guided tour from/to Klaipėda)
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