BIKING IN THE
BALTIC STATES TOUR
 LITHUANIA
- LATVIA - ESTONIA
(OR IN REVERSE)
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
Guaranteed Departures/2006
Vilnius - Tallinn:
Aug 01
Tallinn - Vilnius: Jul 23 & Aug 10
(reverse itineraries)
TOUR
DESCRIPTION:
Bike in the three independent countries of the Baltics,
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. On certain departures the itinerary is in
reverse.
DAY 1 VILNIUS
Upon
arrival in Vilnius a
transfer to Hotel Karolina and
check in. Welcome meeting. Evening free.
DAY 2 VILNIUS - KAUNAS
Vilnius
is known for its more than 1200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The
morning sightseeing tour includes a panoramic
tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town with Vilnius
Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anna’s Church, Old
University and Gates of the Dawn. In the afternoon we continue to Trakai,
the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle
located at Lake Galves.
We will enjoy a 15 km biking tour in the
surroundings of Trakai. Then, we continue for
Kaunas by coach, a former capital of Lithuania
and we make a short stroll in the Old Town with the elegant Old Town Hall
and the Gothic Cathedral. In the late afternoon
we check in at Hotel Neris.
DAY 3 KAUNAS
- NIDA
We are
getting up early to continue the tour in the direction of Klaipeda, and
the morning offers
a 30 km biking tour along the Nemunas
River.
Klaipeda became first a part of Lithuania in 1923 and has a long history
as a German town called Memel. The afternoon sightseeing tour takes us to
the Old Town with cobblestone streets and old guild houses and we visit
the Theatre Square with the Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. A small ferry
from Klaipeda take to us to the Curonian Spit, a 100 km spit of land
between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon and we head for Nida., We
check-in at Hotel Jurate,
superior rooms.
DAY 4 NIDA
Nida is a beautiful summer
resort town at the Curonian Lagoon. The morning walking tour in the little
town takes us to Thomas Mann’s summerhouse and we visit the Amber Gallery.
The afternoon offers a 30 km biking tour to Joudkrante, a small
fishermen’s village, where we visit the mysterious Hill of the Witches
with its wooden sculptures featuring figures and scenes from ancient
Lithuania mythology.
On
the way back to Nida we discover more secrets of the Curonian Spit.
Overnight at Hotel Jurate.
 DAY
5 NIDA
- RIGA
We travel back to Klaipeda
and head North for the summer resort town of Palanga. From here we drive
towards the Latvian city of Liepaja and en route we are doing a 20 km
biking tour on the beach. Upon arrival in Liepaja, which has it name from
the numerous linen trees in the city, we do a short stroll in the Old Town
with the Trinity Church The balance of the day is spent
on a drive through the former Duchy of Courland. We reach Riga early in
the evening and check-in at Hotel Nota Bene.
DAY 6
RIGA - SIGULDA
Riga,
founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert,
is the largest of the three
Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural
styles. The sightseeing tour includes the Old Town with Riga Castle, Dome
Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church, Swedish Gates, “Three Brothers”, Large and
Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. In the
afternoon
we continue to Saulkrasti and do a 35 km biking tour to Sigulda, a popular
holiday resort. We see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the ruins of
the of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword. We check-in at Hotel
Sigulda for overnight.
DAY 7
SIGULDA -
CESIS - TARTU
We continue to Cesis, a
picturesque Hanseatic city with winding streets and beautiful gardens.
During the morning tour we see the ruins of the Castle of the Livonian
Order and the St. John’s Church. We head
for
Estonia and the Hanja
National Park
where we are doing a 30 km biking
tour in the national park and around Munamägi Hill, the highest
hill
in the Baltic countries at just 300 meters.
We continue for Tartu, and check-in at Hotel Ihaste.
 DAY 8 TARTU
- LAHEMAA
Tartu is the famous
university town, where Estonia gained its statehood. During the morning
tour we see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632.
After the tour we head for Lake Peipus and in the middle of the day we
enjoy a 50 km biking tour from Vanija via Kallaste to Mustvee along the
lake. The balance of the day is spent
on a drive to the Lahemaa Park, where we check-in at Hotel Sagadi.
DAY
9 LAHEMAA - TALLINN
The day starts
with a 40 km biking tour through Lahemaa National Park and
then
continue to Tallinn.
Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban
life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in the summer with its many
shops, galleries, souvenir markets, outdoor cafés and restaurants. The
sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the
Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, Dome Cathedral, the Alexander Nevsky
Church and the Niguliste Church.
Overnight
at Hotel Comfort Oru.
DAY 10 TALLINN
Tour ends after breakfast. Optional - Departure
transfer.
FROM:
$1505 per person double
$ 375 single supplement
INCLUDES:
- 9 nights at 3 Star Hotels
- Daily Breakfast
- Arrival transfer in Vilnius (departure transfer in Vilnius on reverse
itinerary)
- Welcome meeting
- First Class Motor Coaches
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- Bi-Lingual Tour
Escort
- Ferry Klaipeda - Smiltyne - Klaipeda and ecological fee for the Curonian
Spit - - Bicycle Rental
(semi-mountain type
with 5 gears and breaks on both wheels)
- Tax and Service Charges
OPTIONAL:
- 9 X 3 course dinner with coffee/tea - US$205
TOUR
ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON OPERATIONAL NEEDS |
