Tour Notes:
- Dates:
* 18.07-27.07.2010
* 01.08-10.08.2010
* 15.08-24.08.2010
- Cycling Distance: cycling app. 285 km.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Sunday: Arrival in Vilnius. Individual transfer to hotel Tilto*** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting and optional dinner at the hotel.
Day 2, Monday: Vilnius - Trakai - Kaunas
Start with a city tour of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The tour includes: the Cathedral Square, St.Ann and Bernardines’ Church, the Gates of Dawn with a holy image of the Virgin Mary, Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Spirit, Town Hall Square and Vilnius University (founded in 1579) with St. John’s Church. Afternoon trip to Trakai (25 km from Vilnius), the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island in lake Galvė. Then cycling on picturesque hilly road and transfer by coach to Kaunas. Arrival in Kaunas, check-in and optional dinner at hotel Daniela**** or similar.
Day 3, Tuesday: Kaunas - Vente - Nida
Morning transfer along the Nemunas River to the seaside region. En route passing by Veliuona mound hill and impressive 16th-17th century castles of Raudone and Panemune. Bicycling from Žemaitkiemis to the Vente Horn where visit the ornithological station and the 19th century lighthouse that was active for more than 100 years. Take a boat across the Curonian Lagoon to Nida and enjoy a beautiful view to sand dunes of the Curonian Spit separating the Baltic Sea from the Curonian Lagoon. Arrival in Nida, check-in and optional dinner at hotel Nerija*** or similar.
Day 4, Wednesday: Nida - Juodkrante - Klaipeda
Sightseeing around Nida, one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Exploring the Amber Gallery and a summer house of the famous German writer Thomas Mann. Cycling on the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipeda. En route stop at “Dead” sand dunes and colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures scattered along a forest path. Arrival in Smiltyne, take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipeda, the main seaport of Lithuania. Check-in and optional dinner at Old Mill Hotel*** or similar.
Day 5, Thursday: Klaipeda - Palanga - Hill of Crosses - Riga
Early morning ride to Palanga through the Seaside Regional Park, a former soviet military polygon area. Arrival in Palanga, the biggest seaside resort of Lithuania. City tour including the visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber Museum in the Palace of Count Tyszkiewicz, with over 25000 pieces of amber and 15000 inclusions of insects on display. Afternoon transfer to Riga (Latvia). Stop at the Hill of Crosses (16 km from Šiauliai), the unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. Further drive to Riga, the capital city of Latvia. Arrival in Riga, check-in and optional dinner at the hotel Hanza*** or similar.
Day 6, Friday: Riga - Jurmala - Riga. A city tour of Riga, visiting medieval Hanseatic town, Riga castle, St.Peter`s Church, Dome Cathedral and the Old Guild Houses. In the afternoon cycling to Jurmala, the largest resort in the Baltic States well known for its long white sand beaches, curative mud and mineral waters. Transfer back by coach to the hotel in Riga. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Day 7, Saturday: Riga - Saulkrasti - Turaida - Sigulda
Morning transfer to the Baltic Coast in Saulkrasti where get ready for cycling to Ragana and further through the Gauja National Park to Sigulda, the most popular resort in Latvia, situated in the Gauja River Valley. En route visit Turaida Castle and Krimulda church, the oldest one in Latvia (built in 1205), enjoy spectacular views of the Gauja River valley with Gutmana Cave and explore ruins of the 13th century Crusaders Castle in Sigulda. Check-in and optional dinner at hotel Ezeri*** or similar.
Day 8, Sunday: Sigulda - Cesis - Ikla - Pärnu - Haapsalu
Morning transfer to the Estonian border. En route stop in Cesis, one of Latvia’s prettiest and oldest Hanseatic towns. Arrival in Ikla where start cycling on picturesque road along the Baltic Sea Coast through fishermen’s villages. Transfer to Haapsalu with a stop in Pärnu, Estonian “Summer Capital”. Arrival in Haapsalu famous for its Bishop’s Castle, curative mud baths and the longest railway station constructed to accommodate the arrival of the Russian royal family’s train after 1852. Check-in and optional dinner at hotel Promenaadi*** or similar.
Day 9, Monday: Haapsalu - Padise - Paldiski - Tallinn
Morning transfer outside the city, where start cycling via Padise to Paldiski known as the former Soviet nuclear submarine base. A further transfer to Tallinn. En route stop in Keila-Joa to explore the waterfall and the highest coastal cliffs in Estonia. Arrival in Tallinn, check-in at the hotel. Continue with a city tour of Tallinn, visiting the Old Town of Tallinn – an example of Gothic architecture in the Baltic and Nordic countries. The tour includes Toompea Castle fortifications, the Dome Church (13th century), the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Alexander Nevskij (19th century), Town Hall Square (15th century), the Old Guild, and St.Olaf's Church. Optional dinner at hotel L’Ermitage*** or similar.
Day 10 Tuesday: Tallinn. Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Prices:
- EUR 980.00 or USD 1470 p/p (double occupancy)
- EUR 240.00 or USD 360 p/p (single supplement).
Price Includes:
- 9 nights stay at 3-4 star hotels
- All hotel taxes
- Breakfast daily
- Welcome meeting with a glass of beer, wine or juice
- Transportation by air-conditioned coach on days 2-3 and 5-9
- Luggage transport on day 4
- English and German speaking guide escort on days 2-9
- Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon
- Ferry ticket from the Curonian Spit to Klaipeda
- Excursions as per itinerary
- Entrances to Vilnius Old University, Trakai Insular Castle, Thomas Mann’s House in Nida, Amber museum in Palanga, Riga Cathedral, Turaida Castle, the Dome Church in Tallinn.
- Rent of trekking bicycle with waterproof pannier on days 2-9
- Personalized individual information package (city guides, maps and program).
Price Excludes:
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Lunches and dinners
- Tips.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Lithuania
Latvia
Estonia
Outdoor: Land Rambler
Bicycle Touring
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