Cycling in the Baltics - Tallinn to Vilnius

Day 1: Arrival in Tallinn, Estonia
Day 2: Tallinn - National Park Lahemaa - Palmse or Vihula, 32 mi. (51 km)
Day 3: Along the Russian border - Lake Peipsi - Tartu, Estonia, 31 mi. (50 km)
Day 4: Tartu - Otepää - Sigulda, Latvia 18 mi. (28 km)
Day 5: Sigulda - Riga, Latvia, 11 mi. (17 km)
Day 6: Riga - Jurmala Seaside Resort - Riga, Latvia, 22 mi. (35 km)
Day 7: Riga - Klaipeda, Hill of Crosses and Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route, 29 mi. (42 km) or 20 mi. (32 km)
Day 8: Klaipeda - Curonian Spit - Nida and Hill of Witches, Lithuania,  36 mi. (57 km)
Day 9: Crossing the Curonian Lagoon by ship - Kaunas, Lithuania, 19 mi. (31 km)
Day 10: Kaunas - Trakai Insular Castle - Vilnius, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 11: Departure from Vilnius

All distances are approximate. Due to circumstances beyond control, weather conditions, or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during your holiday. In total, you will cycle 229 mi. (366 km), by coach/minibus transfer you will travel 714 mi. (1142 km), and by boat, 9 mi. (14 km).

Day 1: Arrival in Tallinn, Estonia
Individual arrivals on Wednesday. Check-in at the hotel from 2 pm onwards. At 6:00 pm you have the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of Tallinn, the capital and largest city of Estonia. The city possesses an inner charm seldom found anywhere else that testifies to the richness and endurance of the culture. Here, at the very beginning of your tour, you will already begin to understand this. You will find Western European influence with its color and charm, the Soviet tyranny in the grey concrete apartments, and now the new, with the gleam of the tall corporate buildings of glass and steel!

Preferred accommodation: Hotel Hestia Ilmarine, Tallinn

Day 2: Tallinn - National Park Lahemaa - Palmse or Vihula, 32 mi. (51 km)
At 10:00 am a minibus will pick you up for a short transfer (100 km) before you begin the first bicycle trip through National Park Lahemaa, which is one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coast. The National park is a nature lover’s paradise. There are dense woods, marshes, lakes, and waterfalls to discover. If you prefer wildlife to landscape, you can see moose, wild boars, and over 220 bird species.

Bus transfer: 100 km
Preferred accommodation: Palmse Guesthouse OR 4-star Vihula Manor, Vihula

Day 3: Along the Russian border - Lake Peipsi - Tartu, Estonia, 32 mi. (51 km)     
After breakfast, you will be transferred first by bus and then, your bike tour leads along Peipsi Lakeshore, to Varnja. Peipsi is the 4th largest lake in Europe, divided in two by the Russian border. On the road, you will pass many fishing villages. You will have another bus transfer in the afternoon to your final destination of Tartu, the second-largest city of Estonia, often considered the intellectual center of the country, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university.

Bus transfer: 160 km
Preferred accommodation: 3-star Hotel Dorpat, Tartu

Day 4: Tartu - Otepää - Sigulda, Latvia 18 mi. (28 km)
Again this morning,  there will be a short bus transfer to Otepää (Estonia's Switzerland). This is the perfect place to begin the day's bike tour. It is a lovely landscape of rolling hills and lakes, romantic winding village roads, and small rivers. Your bike ride will end in Sangaste, famous for its 19th-century Romantic castle, and then enjoy an afternoon bus transfer to Latvia (235 km). The final destination today is Sigulda, the most popular resort in Latvia, in the Gauja  River Valley. En route stop in Cesis where you can visit the medieval old town.

Bus transfer: 235 km 
Preferred accommodation: 3-star Hotel Sigulda, Sigulda

Day 5: Sigulda - Riga, Latvia, 11 mi. (17 km)
This day begins with cycling through Gauja National Park to Ragana through spectacular scenery, especially the view of the Gauja River valley. Explore the ruins of the 13th-century Crusaders Castle in Sigulda, Turaida Castle, and the oldest church in Latvia (built-in 1205) in Krimulda. Once again this afternoon, there will be a transfer by bus to Riga (31 mi./50 km) to the Latvian capital, where a guided tour of the charming Old Town awaits. Much of Riga was bombed during World War II and the ruins were mostly left to decay. After being the capital of Latvian Socialist Soviet republic throughout the Soviet period, the city emerged in the 1990s as the capital of newly-independent Latvia. It is now experiencing a new Renaissance and many large-scale restoration projects on old buildings have made Riga one of the most attractive cities in Europe. Highlights include the German Art Nouveau buildings, Riga castle, St. Peter's Church, Dome Cathedral, and the Old Guild Houses.

Bus transfer: 50 km
Preferred accommodation: 4-star Hestia Jugend, Riga

Day 6: Riga - Jurmala Seaside Resort - Riga, Latvia, 22 mi. (35 km)
Today is free to explore Riga on your own and take a ride on a bicycle path to Jurmala, a renowned Latvian seaside resort well known for its long, white, sandy beaches, mineral waters, and mud with healing properties. We recommend that you take the opportunity to bathe in the sea and try cycling along the beach - it's well worth it! In the evening take a local train back to Riga (30 min; not included).

Train transfer: 25 km
Preferred accommodation: 4-star Hestia Jugend, Riga

Day 7: Riga - Klaipeda, Hill of Crosses and Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route, 29 mi. (42 km) or 20 mi. (32 km)
Transfer by minibus to Lithuanian Seaside. En-route there will be a stop at the Hill of Crosses, the unforgettable sight of thousands of crosses on two small hills. Begin your cycle ride to Klaipėda on a beautiful bicycle path, which lies along the Baltic Coast in the Seaside Regional Park. En route pass Palanga, the well-known Lithuanian seaside resort. Enjoy a break here; perhaps visit the renowned Botanical Park, Amber Museum, and the 470 m pier heading out into the Baltic Sea.

Bus transfer: 290 km
Preferred accommodation: 3-star Old Mill Hotel, Klaipeda

Day 8: Klaipeda - Curonian Spit - Nida and Hill of Witches, Lithuania, 36 mi. (57 km)
After breakfast, you cross the lagoon by ferry (not included) and start cycling on an asphalt bike path that takes you along the Curonian Spit to Nida. En route, you can visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, explore the “Dead” sand dunes on foot, swim in the Baltic Sea or, relax, take the sun on golden beaches.

Preferred accommodation: 3-star Hotel Nerija, Nerija

Day 9: Crossing the Curonian Lagoon by ship - Kaunas, Lithuania,  19 mi. (31 km)
Take a morning boat across the Curonian Lagoon to the mainland (~1.5-2 hours, 14km), en-route enjoy a beautiful view of the Curonian Spit sand dunes. Cycling to Ventė Horn, you may visit a bird observatory and the 19th-century lighthouse which was used for more than 100 years. The afternoon ride takes you along the Curonian Lagoon through the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park followed by a minibus transfer to Kaunas. 

Bus transfer: 210 km
Boat transfer: 14 km
Preferred accommodation: 4-star Hotel Kaunas, Kaunas

Day 10: Kaunas - Trakai Insular Castle - Vilnius, 16 mi. (25 km)
After breakfast, you are transferred by bus to the Lithuanian Lake District (75 km) where the cycling begins through the picturesque countryside on gentle hills to arrive in Trakai, the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Here you may visit the famous 14th-century Gothic Island castle erected on a small island in Lake Galvė. Finish the tour with a short bus transfer to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The Old Town stuns the spectator with the beauty and variety of Baroque and Classical buildings. This evening, a guided tour of the city awaits you.

Bus transfer: 97 km
Preferred accommodation: 3-star Comfort Hotel LT, Vilnius

Day 11: Vilnius
Individual departure after breakfast. It is possible to extend your stay in Lithuania. 

You can also shorten this tour to 9 days from Tallinn to Klaipeda.

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Accommodations in 3-star and 4-star hotels. A sample hotel list is provided in the daily itinerary but is subject to availability. If you cannot be accommodated in the preferred hotel, you will be informed and offered alternative accommodations. Price change may be incurred.

Bicycles

Standard Bike

Ladies, unisex or standard crossbar Velo-de-Ville bike

• Aluminum frame
• Flat handlebar
• Comfort saddle
• Water bottle cage (expect ladies frame)
• 24-speed (Shimano)
• Flat pedal
• V-brakes
• Rear rack
• Mudguards
• 28-inch wheels
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
• Front & back LED lights with hub dynamo

E-Bike

Ladies or unisex Velo-de-Ville bike

• Aluminum frame
• Upright handlebar
• Comfort saddle
• 8-speed (Shimano Nexus) freewheel
• On-board computer with 5 riding modes: off, eco, tour, sport, turbo
• Bosch central drive motor (250 Wh)
• Lithium-Ion battery (400 Wh) which lasts up to 70 mi. (110 km) in eco mode
• Flat pedals
• V-brakes
• Rear rack
• Mudguards
• 28-inch wheels
• Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires
• LED lights with hub dynamo