8 days self-guided circular cycling tour along the Lithuanian Seaside, from Klaipėda (Code SG1)

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 by bicycle on very scenic cycling routes. Experience traditional Lithuanian country life when cycling with storks in the Nemunas River Delta region. This tour partly covers the Seaside Cycle Route which is still only officially signposted cycle route in Lithuania. 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 two nights in Nida the largest settlement on the Curonian Spit. It's the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing seaside break or explore on foot, by cycle or canoe its unique surroundings; its geology, birdlife, the influence of the Lagoon etc.

ITINERARY

1. Day: ARRIVE IN KLAIPĖDA

Arrive in Klaipėda. Individual transfer to the hotel (offered as optional extras). Check into your hotel - a renovated mill located right on the waterfront and in the heart of the Old Town.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar.

2. Day: ALONG THE SEASIDE CYCLE ROUTE TO PALANGA RESORT, ~58 km/36 mi.

9:00 a.m. information meeting at your hotel where you will be greeted by a BALTIC BIKE TRAVEL representative. Cycle along the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route to Palanga resort. The route leads you through Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military polygon area. En route explore the Dutchman’s Cap – a 24-meter-high coastal cliff and Plazė Lake. 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 using the same or slightly different route. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

3. Day: CYCLING WITH STORKS ON COUNTRY ROADS TO Šilutė, ~ 47 km/29 mi., minibus ~40 km/25 mi.

Take a short transfer by minibus to the inland and start your cycling ride on picturesque country roads to Šilutė. This region has one the largest population of storks in Europe. The White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. En route stop in Švėkšna village to explore the estate with its beautiful park and impressive neo-gothic church of St.Jacob the Apostle. Arrival in Šilutė, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Šilutė: Hotel GILIJA or similar.

4. Day: CIRCULAR RIDE FROM ŠILUTĖ - RUSNĖ Island & the NEMUNAS River Delta, ~ 47 km/29 mi.

Explore Šilutė town and go for a return ride to Rusnė Island, which is the only Lithuania’s island located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. Be sure to visit Rusnė village and find a new monument of famous Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and his intimate friend Hermann Kallenbach. From there you can see the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad just 100 metres across the Nemunas river. Cycle around the island and explore its wild nature and beautiful views from birdwatching towers and the 19th C lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Šilutė: Hotel GILIJA or similar.

5. Day: ŠILUTĖ TO NIDA & CROSSING THE CURONIAN LAGOON, cycling ~33 km/21 mi., by boat ~14 km/9mi.

Cycle 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. Take a boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon. Arrival in Nida followed by a bike ride to the hotel. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: Hotel NERIJA*** or similar

6. Day: FREE DAY IN NIDA, ~10 km/6 mi.

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. Cycle or walk along impressive sand dunes, 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: Hotel NERIJA*** or similar

7. Day: Along sand dunes of the Curonian Spit NIDA-JUODKRANTĖ-KLAIPĖDA, 58 km/36 mi.

Follow an asphalt bike path of the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda. En route you can stop to explore on foot the “Dead” sand dunes, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path, or just relax, swim in the Baltic Sea and take the sun on golden beaches. Finally, take a local ferry from Smiltynė to the Old Town of Klaipėda and cycle to the hotel. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. A): Hotel NATIONAL**** or similar.
Overnight in Klaipėda (cat. B): OLD MILL HOTEL*** or similar

8. Day: DEPART KLAIPĖDA

Enjoy a final stroll through this fascinating town before we transfer you to Palanga airport or international ferry terminal or bus/train station for your departure (offered as optional extras). You may also stay extra nights (offered as optional extras) and enjoy Klaipėda longer.