 Biking from
Lithuania to Latvia
VILNIUS
- RIGA
2006
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
2006 Departures:
Jun 12
Jul 10
Aug 21
Guaranteed Departures
TOUR
DESCRIPTION:
Bike through the two independent countries of the Baltics,
Lithuania and Latvia.
Non-bicyclists welcome!
DAY 1 VILNIUS
Arrival in Vilnius.
A transfer with guide to
your hotel. Check-in at the hotel. At 7:00 p.m.
a welcome drink at the hotel where you will be greeted by
tour guide or Liturimex representative. Overnight
at Hotel Mabre
Residence in Vilnius or similar
 DAY 2
VILNIUS - TRAKAI
Early morning
city tour of Vilnius, capital of Lithuania for more than 600 years. The tour
includes: St.Peter and
Paul's Church, 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), former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Visit to the
insular castle of the 14th century, erected on a small island in the lake
Galvė. For centuries it served as a defensive structure and residence of
Lithuanian Grand Dukes.
Overnight at Hotel
Mabre Residence
or similar
Day 3
VILNIUS - GRŪTAS
- DRUSKININKAI (biking 25 miles)
Morning departure for Dzūkija National park known as the land of cold
springs and woods. Start biking
in Marcinkonys on the
picturesque road along the Grūda River to Druskininkai. Stop in Grūtas
village for a visit to Grūto parkas- an open-air exhibition of the Soviet
era sculptures and monuments. Leaving the park we pedal on
a
bike
path
through the woods to Druskininkai. Check-in at the hotel, free time for
relaxation.
Overnight
at Hotel Regina
or similar in Druskininkai
DAY 4 DRUSKININKAI
SPA
Breakfast followed by a city tour
of Druskininkai, the oldest health resort in Lithuania. The pride of the
town is its mineral springs. Afternoon free for relaxation or trying mineral
bath procedures in the Health Centre, visiting museums or cycling around the
resort. Druskininkai is known for its well-developed network of cycling and
hiking trails in the surrounding pinewoods, thus one can choose from riding
10 km, 13 km or 21 km circuit trails called the Orbit of Stars.
Overnight
at Hotel Regina or
similar at Druskininkai.
DAY 5
DRUSKININKAI - KAUNAS - VENTČ
(biking 22 miles)
Breakfast at
the hotel followed by a morning ride to Merkinė, one of the oldest and most
picturesque Lithuanian towns, where the Nemunas and Merkys Rivers
confluence. En route stop in Liškiava for a visit of baroque style church
and the 15th century monastery. Transfer to Kaunas, which was the temporary
capital of Lithuania in 1919-1939. A short city tour of Kaunas including the
13th century Kaunas castle, lovely Town Hall of Kaunas, known locally as
“White Swan”, Town Hall Square, the 14th century Church of Duke Vytautas,
Cathedral-Basilica, Perkūnas House. A further drive along the Nemunas River
to Ventė village located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. The road
passes the 16th-17th century castles of Raudonė and Panemunė.
Overnight at Hotel
Pelikanas or similar in Vente.
DAY 6
VENTE - NIDA (biking 9 miles)
Morning ride
to the ornithological station and an old lighthouse in the Ventė Horn.
Further cycle to Minija village called the
Lithuanian Venice, where the River Minija serves as the main street.
Departure by boat to Nida. En route stop in Uostadvaris harbour to explore a
lighthouse that was active for more than 100 years (built in 1863) and visit
a Polder museum. Arrival in Nida. Check-in
at the hotel, followed by a cycling excursion around Nida: visiting the
Fisherman’s House, an Amber Gallery and a summer house of famous German
writer Thomas Mann, then cycling along impressive sand dunes.
Overnight at Hotel
Nerija or similar in Nida.
DAY 7 NIDA
Leisure time. Nida is the largest
settlement of the town of Neringa as well as its administrative center. The
name of Nida was first mentioned in written sources in 1385. Today the
settlement of Nida is one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. The
ancient fishermen’s architecture is distinguished by its originality.
Overnight
at Hotel
Nerija or
similar in Nida.
DAY 8 NIDA
- KLAIPĖDA (biking 18
miles)
Morning ride to Juodkrantė on a
bike path,
which takes you along the Curonian Spit, a narrow peninsula with high sand
dunes. Have a break near Pervalka for the up hill climb to the Dead Dunes to
take in the awe-inspiring views of the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea.
Finish the biking
day in Juodkrantė with a walking tour to the Hill of Witches, an open air
museum of woodcarvings. Transfer to Klaipėda, the main seaport of Lithuania.
Check-in at the hotel, free time for exploring the Old Town, visiting local
restaurants and pubs.
Overnight at Hotel
Klaipeda or similar at Klaipeda.
 DAY
9 KLAIPĖDA - PALANGA - RIGA
(biking 15 miles)
Morning ride to Palanga through
the Seacoast Regional Park, a former Soviet military polygon. Arrival in
Palanga, the largest and most popular summer resort in Lithuania, followed
by a visit to the Botanical Garden and Amber Museum in the Palace of Count
Tyszkiewicz, with over 25 000 pieces of amber and 15 000 inclusions of
insects on display. Transfer to Riga with a stop at the Hill of Crosses, the
unforgettable place with thousands of crosses on two small hills. The Pope
John Paul II concelebrated a mass there in 1993. Arrival in Riga,
check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at
Hotel Europa Royale or similar in Riga.
DAY 10 RIGA
Tour ends after breakfast with a departure transfer.
FROM:
$1550 per person double
$ 385 single supplement
INCLUDES:
- 9 nights at Hotels
- Daily Breakfast
- Welcome drink
- First Class air-conditioned mini-bus with a bicycle trailer
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- English speaking guide on days 2-9 days
- Ferry Klaipeda - Klaipeda
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Boat trip from Ventė to Nida
- Bicycle Rental (good
quality trekking / hybrid bicycles, PANTHER, with large wheels (28”), front
suspension fork and light aluminum frame. You may choose renting the bicycle
with 21-speed derailleur gearing system or 7-speed internal-gear hub and
back-pedaling brake-PANTHER PROLOG. We also offer ladies' and standard
bicycles with a transverse bar.)
- Information package with maps and city guides
- Tax and Service Charges
MORE BIKING IN THE BALTIC STATES
(LTX 113005)
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