Cycle the Baltics
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an 11-day journey through the Baltic states, exploring the rich history, diverse culture, and stunning landscapes of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This multi-day tour offers a unique blend of city exploration and nature immersion, taking you from the medieval streets of Tallinn to the unspoiled wilderness of Lahemaa National Park, the serene shores of Peipsi Lake, and the vibrant heart of Riga. Cycle through the Estonian Switzerland, marvel at the architectural wonders of Jurmala, and discover the artistic hub of Nida. This tour is a perfect mix of adventure, relaxation, and cultural immersion, promising an unforgettable experience.
Included
All breakfasts included.
Breakfast: Taken in the hotels. In most places, these will be buffet style and will offer plenty of choice including cold meat, cheese, eggs, bread, jams and juice.
Lunches: On many of the days due to our remote rides there will be the option to buy a picnic from the hotel or get supplies on the way – we can then choose a spot on our ride to stop for a break. This means we can be flexible and choose the best views for lunch. On some days, there will be opportunities to buy lunch in cafes in the towns that we go through such as Palanga.
Dinners: Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup with meat; in Lithuania this is served cold). In Trakai, kibinai are popular, these are large savoury baked pastries traditionally filled with lamb or beef.
vegetarian, vegan, meat
The group is accompanied by a transfer bus with a trailer to carry the bikes. In places, the routes follow cycle paths where the bus is unable to follow, so it is important you are comfortable cycling the distances; however, the routes are not challenging.
On this trip, we stay in two- and three-star hotels, ideally located for our cycling adventures. Below are the properties we typically use.
Tallinn: Go Shnelli Hotel (night 1)
We begin our adventure by staying near the medieval old town of Tallinn and Balti Jaam Market. When you’re not out exploring, the first-floor hotel restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows with views over both and serves breakfast plus an à la carte dinner menu.
Rakvere, near Lahemaa National Park: Hotel Wesenbergh (nights 2-3)
A stay at Hotel Wesenbergh provides easy access to our rides in Lahemaa National Park. However, we’re also in the centre of Rakvere, while the hotel has a bistro dishing out traditional Estonian cuisine (Monday to Friday).
Tartu: Hotel Tartu (night 4)
In the city centre, Hotel Tartu is within walking distance of the old town and the Vanemuine Theatre (the oldest theatre in Estonia). There’s also a 70-seat cafe on the ground floor plus a sauna centre (additional cost) with Finnish and steam saunas. If you plan on using the sauna centre, you need to bring flip flops (or purchase them from the hotel for €3).
Riga: Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (nights 5-6)
Occupying an art nouveau building in Riga Old Town, this 116-room hotel is our home for two nights in the capital of Latvia. When you want to relax, there’s a bar and a small gym with fitness machines.
Klaipeda: Green Park Hotel (nights 7-8)
In the port city of Klaipeda, we stay at the Green Park Hotel, which is ideally located for our ferry ride. The rooms are relatively simple and there’s a bar for post-exploration drinks.
Vilnius: Comfort Hotel LT – Rock’n’Roll Vilnius (nights 9-10)
With an industrial style and music theme, our Vilnius hotel has plenty of personality. The 80 rooms are all air conditioned with underfloor heating in the bathroom, plus the Mellow restaurant serves a menu packed with local produce. Other nice additions are a free-to-use gym and a lobby shop selling beers, snacks, sandwiches and more.
The group is normally six to 16, plus one local leader and driver.
Local bike hire
Listed activities
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Tallinn
- Tallinn - Arrival day
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- Town Hall Square
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Your Baltic adventure begins in the historic city of Tallinn. After settling into your hotel, take a leisurely stroll through the charming Old Town to Raekoja Plats, the city's vibrant Town Hall Square. Surrounded by ornate merchant houses, it's the perfect spot to enjoy a coffee and soak in the atmosphere. Overnight at Go Hotel Shnelli (or similar).
Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Lahemaa National Park
- Tallinn
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- Lahemaa National Park
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After a morning of free exploration in Tallinn, we head to Lahemaa National Park, one of the last untouched regions on the Baltic Coast. Here, you'll cycle through dense forests, past marshes and lakes, keeping an eye out for the park's diverse wildlife. Overnight at Hotel Wesenbergh (or similar).
Day 3 – Day 3: Full Day in Lahemaa National Park
Day 3: Full Day in Lahemaa National Park
- Käsmu hiking trail
- Palmse manor-air museum
- Sagadi manor
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Today, we delve deeper into Lahemaa National Park, embarking on a circular route that takes in a host of wonderful attractions. From the historic Sagadi Manor to the 400-year-old fisherman's village of Altja, the popular seaside resort of Vosu, and Kasmu village with its fascinating Fisherman's Museum, there's plenty to discover. Overnight at Hotel Wesenbergh (or similar).
Day 4 – Day 4: Mustvee to Tartu
- Tartu maakond
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We start the day with a transfer to the serene shores of Peipsi Lake, where we'll cycle from the 17th-century fisherman's village of Mustvee. We'll pass through ancient towns and churches along the lake's unique one-street villages, before continuing to Varnja and then transferring to Tartu. Overnight at Tartu Hotel (or similar).
Day 5 – Day 5: Otepaa to Riga
- Otepää
- Riga
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- Tagurpidi Maja (Peapeal OÜ)
- Valga Museum
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Today, we transfer to Otepaa, known as the Estonian Switzerland for its stunning scenery and pine forests. We'll cycle through beautiful landscapes, past Lake Puhajarve, and visit the park and castle in Sangaste. From there, we continue to Valga city, and then transfer by bus to Riga. Overnight at Rixwell Old Riga Palace (or similar).
Day 6 – Day 6: Riga to Jurmala and Back
- Riga
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- Jurmala Beach
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Our journey today takes us from the bustling heart of Riga to the beautiful town of Jurmala, known for its incredible wooden buildings and 19th-century Russian villas. Enjoy the town's 21-mile stretch of white sandy beach before we transfer back to Riga for the night. Overnight at Rixwell Old Riga Palace (or similar).
Day 7 – Day 7: Sventoji to Klaipeda
- Klaipėda
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- Palanga sahili
- Palanga
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We leave Latvia and transfer to Lithuania, starting our ride in Sventoji. We'll cycle along the Baltic Coast, passing through Palanga, a traditional seaside town. Visit the Palanga Botanical Gardens and the Amber Museum before we set off for our final destination of Klaipeda. Overnight at Green Park Hotel Klaipeda (or similar).
Day 8 – Day 8: Nida to Klaipeda
- Neringos savivaldybė
- Klaipėda
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- Biržos bridge
- Curonian Spit National Park
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We transfer to the resort town of Nida, known as a hub for artists. From here, we explore the Curonian Spit, stopping in Juodkrante to admire the bizarre wooden carvings on Witch Hill. We finish the ride at the ferry port, and from here we take the ferry across the lagoon then transfer back to the hotel in Klaipeda. Overnight at Green Park Hotel Klaipeda (or similar).
Day 9 – Day 9: Zapyskis to Vilnius
- Vilnius
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- Kaunas Castle
- Pažaislis Monastery
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We start the day with a transfer to Zapyskis, where we'll cycle past old villages, beaches, and the Nemunas, the largest river in the country. We'll stop to explore Kaunas city, a European Capital of Culture in 2022, and visit the Pažaislis Monastery. From there, we'll transfer to Vilnius. Overnight at Comfort Hotel (or similar).
Day 10 – Day 10: Semeliskes to Vilnius
- Vilnius
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After breakfast, we transfer to the small village of Semeliskes. From here, we cycle to Galve Lake, home to the enchanting Trakai Castle. We'll explore the area and visit the castle before transferring back to Vilnius for the night. Overnight at Comfort Hotel (or similar).
Day 11 – Day 11: Free Day in Vilnius
- Vilnius - Departure day
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Enjoy a free morning in Vilnius before the trip ends. If you wish to extend your stay and explore more of this special city, including the UNESCO-recognised old town, please speak to your sales representative.
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