Guaranteed Departure Escorted Cycling Tours 2010

CYCLING IN THE BALTICS: VILNIUS-NERINGA-RIGA-TALLINN

10 days / 9 nights

The Baltic coast and National Parks of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia explored on highly scenic routes, including the three capital cities – Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn – with their old towns designated by UNESCO as the World Heritage Sites; and featuring the previously-closed Curonian Spit. Travel from Lithuania in the south, through Latvia and on to Estonia in the north, enjoy a great variety of towns, villages and landscapes, and get an excellent feel for the different characters of these distinctive countries.

ITINERARY (cycling app. 285 km)

Day 1 Sunday: VILNIUS

Arrival in Vilnius. Individual transfer to the hotel (not included). Check-in at the hotel.

7:00 p.m. (19:00) welcome meeting at the hotel with tour guide. Optional dinner at the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Vilnius

HOTEL:TILTO***or similar

Day 2 Monday: VILNIUS-TRAKAI-KAUNAS (cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 110 km)

9:00 a.m. 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 the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Kaunas

HOTEL:DANIELA****or similar

Day 3 Tuesday: KAUNAS-ŽEMAITKIEMIS-VENTĖ-NIDA (cycling app. 30 km, by coach app. 200 km)

Morning transfer along the Nemunas River to the seaside region. En route passing by Veliuona mound hill and impressive 16th-17th century castles of Raudonė and Panemunė. Bicycling from Žemaitkiemis to the Ventė 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 the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Nida

HOTEL:NERIJA***or similar

Day 4 Wednesday: NIDA-JUODKRANTĖ-KLAIPĖDA (cycling app. 60 km)

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 Klaipėda. 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 Smiltynė, take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipėda, the main seaport of Lithuania. Check-in and optional dinner at the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Klaipėda

HOTEL:OLD MILL*** or similar 

Day 5 Thursday: KLAIPĖDA-PALANGA-Hill of Crosses-RIGA (cycling app. 25 km, by coach app. 290 km)

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.

OVERNIGHT: Riga

HOTEL:HANZA*** or similar

Day 6 Friday: RIGA-JURMALA-RIGA (cycling app. 25 km, by coach app. 30 km)

9:00 a.m. 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.

OVERNIGHT: Riga

HOTEL:HANZA*** or similar

Day 7 Saturday: RIGA-SAULKRASTI-TURAIDA-SIGULDA (cycling app. 40 km, by coach app. 50 km)

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 the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Sigulda

HOTEL:EZERI*** or similar

Day 8 Sunday: SIGULDA-CESIS-IKLA-PäRNU-HAAPSALU (cycling app. 30km, by coach app. 290 km)

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 the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Haapsalu

HOTEL:PROMENAADI*** or similar

Day 9 Monday: HAAPSALU-PADISE-PALDISKI-TALLINN (cycling app. 45 km, by coach app. 130 km)

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.

5:00 p.m. (17:00) 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 dinnerat the hotel.

OVERNIGHT: Tallinn

HOTEL:L’ERMITAGE*** or similar

Day 10 Tuesday: TALLINN

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour.

THE TOUR INCLUDES:

• 9 nights stay at the hotels

• All hotel taxes

• Breakfast daily

• Welcome meeting

• Transportation by air-conditioned coach on days 2-3 and 5-9

• Luggage transport on day 4

• Guide escort on days 2-9

• Boat trip across the Curonian Lagoon

• Ferry ticket from the Curonian Spit to Klaipėda

• Excursions as per itinerary

• Entrances to: Vilnius 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

• Individual information package (city guides, maps and program)

THE TOUR EXCLUDES:

• Arrival and departure transfers

• Lunches and dinners

• Tips

OPTIONS

TRANSFERS:

- Single person arrival or departure transfer - 26 EUR net per person

- Arrival or departure transfer for a party of 2 persons - 13 EUR net per person

MEALS: 

• 3-course dinner package (9 dinners) – 145 EUR per person

PRE/POST TOUR ACCOMMODATION:

Hotel in Vilnius TILTO*** or similar

SGL 65 EUR per room per night, including breakfast

DBL 76 EUR per room per night, including breakfast

Hotel in Tallinn L’ERMITAGE*** or similar

SGL 65 EUR per room per night, including breakfast

DBL 76 EUR per room per night, including breakfast

Minimum group size – 2 pax.