Lithuania Coastal Cycling

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Klaipeda

Arrive in Palanga. Individual transfer to the hotel in Klaipeda. Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at The Old Mill*** or similar for the next 2 nights

Day 2*: Along the Seaside Cycle Route to Palanga - Klaipeda - Palanga Seaside Resort - Klaipeda, (~58 km/36 miles)

9:00 a.m. information meeting at your hotel where you will be greeted by a representative. Cycle to Palanga resort along the Lithuanian Seaside Cycle Route leading through Giruliai Forest and the Seaside Regional Park. En route explore the Dutchman’s Cap – a 24-meter-high coastal cliff and Plaze Lake. In Palanga you can visit the Botanical Park and Amber Museum, cycle along J.Basanavicius pedestrian street with many cafes & restaurants and explore the 470m pier heading into the Baltic Sea. Return to Klaipeda using the same or slightly different route. 

Overnight at The Old Mill*** or similar

*** Tour program of Day 2 is shifted to the end of the tour with departures on Sunday and Thursday!

Day 3: Countryside Roads - Pamarys Meadows - Klaipeda-Švekšna-Šilute (~47 km/29 miles or by minibus ~40 km/25 miles)

Transfer by minibus to the inland where start your cycling ride on picturesque countryside roads through Pamarys meadows to Šilute. This region is known as a land of storks and the White Stork truly deserves its place as Lithuanian's national bird. En route stop in Švekšna village to explore the estate with its beautiful park and impressive neo-gothic church of St. Jacob the Apostle. Arrival in Šilute, check-in at the hotel.
Overnight at  Hotel Gilija*** or similar

Day 4: Rusne Island & Nemunas River Delta (~47 km/29 mls)

This morning you ride on the tiny lanes and bridlepaths to Lithuania's only island - Rusne Island on the Russian border and located in the Nemunas River Delta Regional Park. The village of Rusne is full of rural charm and its museum houses a traditional fisherman's smallholding. When you stand on the bank of the Nemunas River in Rusne you see the Russian oblast of Kaliningrad just 100 metres across the river. En route you can explore Rusne village with a new monument to famous Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and his intimate friend Hermann Kallenbach. Cycle around the island and explore its wildlife and beautiful views from birdwatching towers and the 19th C lighthouse in Uostadvaris Harbour. Optional dinner at the hotel.
Overnight at  Hotel Gilija*** or similar

Day 5: Šilute - Vente Cape - Curonian Lagoon - Nida (~33 km/21 mls or by boat ~14 km/9 mls)

Cycling to Vente Cape where you may visit a renowned bird ringing station with a museum of ornithology and the 19th century lighthouse which has a panoramic view of the unique landscape including a glimpse of the glistening Curonian Spit sand dunes. Today, one million birds pass through the station each migratory period. Take a boat to cross the Curonian Lagoon to Nida. Arrive in Nida followed by a bike ride to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel.
Overnight in Nida: Hotel Nerija*** or similar

Day 6: Nida – leisure time by the Baltic Sea (~10 km/6 mls)

Free day to explore Nida which is a former old fishermen’s village on the Curonian Spit washed by the Baltic Sea on one side and the Curonian Lagoon on the other. Today Nida is the largest settlement in Neringa region and one of the most beautiful resorts in Lithuania. Cycle or walk along impressive sand dunes, visit the most popular places of interest – the Fisherman’s House, the summer house of famous German writer Thomas Mann and the Amber Gallery.
Overnight at Hotel Nerija*** or similar

Day 7: Along The Sand Dunes of the Curonian Spit - Nida - Juodkrante - Klaipeda (~58 km/36 mls)

Cycling on an asphalt bike path of the Seaside Cycle Route which takes you along the Curonian Spit to Klaipeda. En route you can explore the “Dead” sand dunes on foot, watch a colony of grey herons and cormorants, visit the Hill of Witches which houses a hundred fanciful and folksy wooden sculptures of Lithuanian legends scattered along a forest path, swim in the Baltic Sea or, relax, take the sun on golden beaches. Arrival in Smiltyne where you take a ferry to the Old Town of Klaipeda. Check-in at the hotel.
19:30 Meeting with a representative who will collect the rental bicycles.
Overnight at The Old Mill*** or similar

Day 8: Farewell Klaipeda

Breakfast at the hotel. End of the tour, transfer back to Palanga airport for your return flight. It is also possible to extend your stay in Klaipeda or take a bus to teh capital - Vilnius. 

You'll see...

• The Curonian Spit, Lithuania »
• History of Lithuania »
• Klaipeda »
• Lithuania Attractions »
• Lithuania History »
• Lithuania weather »
• Lithuania weather »
• Nida »
• Palanga »

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.