Cycle the Baltics

September in ther Baltics.

This was a very (very) enjoyable vacation. We have a good mix of personalities in the group who got on together and a great guide, Lina, who kept everything rolling. The mix of cycling and Baltic culture was the right balance and the sunny, warm weather, for all but the last day, showcased the 3 x Baltic countries at their glorious best.

The trip blended the cycling with city visits (inc three in Lithuania, Kaunas, Klaipeda and Vilnius), beach visit (optional swim), a boat trip, city tours, country sightseeing, supported with interesting history and facts, supplied by Lina. This provided an overview of a ‘hidden part’ of Europe, that was very enlightening, more so now, due to the Baltic states proximity and relationship with bordering Russia.

The hotels were all good standard and the local food ranged from good to delicious. During the days, we had the right amount of stops for coffee, ice cream, comfort breaks etc. Additionally, the local Baltic beer in all three countries is excellent, but be warned, pretty strong too.

Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania do have many similarities but are clearly unique. Personally, I came away educated & with a clearer understanding of the the history and politics of the region & I’m grateful for this

I highly recommend this trip – it was so good, I may even do it again!

A very very enjoyable cycling trip

We were very fortunate -weather was excellent-our guide Lina was amazing -exploring the baltics is a must do trip

Excellent trip!

I just came back a couple days ago from my 5th bike trip ever– this was an excellent one! It’s mostly flat, so the biking wasn’t that hard, but hard enough that I felt I got a great workout every day. Our leader, Lina, was absolutely superb in every way. She organized us and kept track of us beautifully, calmed the waters during stressful situations (our bus broke down on the highway! But we got a new one ASAP), chose FANTASTIC restaurants for us, and told us volumes worth of history in a captivating way. These countries are fascinating, beautiful, quirky, with delicious food, great beaches, stunning architecture, excellent biking paths (it was never scary!), and perfect weather for us (August). Highly recommend!

Great experience

Weather was challenging but overall this trip was well worthwhile.

The title is very clear and it is exactly what the bike tour was about

I enjoyed the trip tremendously, even though the weather did not cooperate all the time. The biking was exactly as described, not too strenuous, but long enough each day to feel like one got a workout. In addition, the cycling route gave us a good sense of how each country viewed cycling. I also enjoyed the walking tour of Tallinn before the start of the bike trip, and the extra days in Riga and Vilnius.

Lesson in Current History

Excellent review of recent and past history in the region

A Baltic Adventure That Stole My Heart

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I booked this cycling trip, but wow – what an absolute gem! The route took us to charming medieval towns, along stunning coastlines, and through peaceful national parks, showing us a side of these countries you’d likely otherwise miss. The absolute highlight for me was cycling Lithuania’s Lake District, where we pedaled past gorgeous lakes and through pine forests, discovering adorable wooden villages that looked straight out of a storybook. The unexpected moments made it unforgettable – like when our guide insisted we try this tiny restaurant that only served dried fish (I was skeptical), but it turned out to be the best meal of the entire trip. Every evening, our small group would gather over wine and local beer, laughing about the day’s adventures. From the incredible old town of Tallinn to tucked-away fishing villages, every day brought something new to discover, while the thoughtfully planned routes made the journey challenging yet incredibly rewarding. If you’re on the fence about this trip, just book it.

Cycling the Baltics

Fascinating trip through interesting cities and countryside in the Baltics, led by the brilliant Lina. I was surprised to read recent negative reviews of this tour as it certainly didn’t match our experience. We were lucky to have a great group that really gelled and we all thought Lina was a brilliant leader. It is more of a cruising sight seeing tour then a full on cycling trip, the cycling is incidental on some days and the bikes are heavy shopping type bikes, but the terrain is generally flat and the riding is easy. The hotels were fine, though towels in the in Baltics are very thin and cheap and the trip would perhaps benefit from a non cycling day in the middle with a free afternoon to allow time for laundry and chilling.

Disappointing

The actual rides did not match the trip notes. The description that suggested we would be on trails seeing lots of small villages and churches, the Baltic Sea; the lakes were not true. We rarely saw any of the suggested items. We cycled a lot of roads which was pressured for time and one day on a supposed coast road it was a long slog on a main road with heavy traffic with no views to the sea or lake. The itinerary stated going through forests and meadows but you might as well describe a journey from Kendal to Penrith as travelling through mountains past lakes and pastures but you’re still on the M6!
We were often late getting started on the ride( one day 5pm) and rushed for the showers and evening meals so it felt like boot camp. It needed a rest day built in. We decided to skip one ride to visit Riga as there was v little time to sightsee the major cities otherwise. The bikes were heavy and not well maintained as was the coach which finally broke down delaying the start of that days riding which meant missing the end destination of a monastery. Some people were on e bikes and were often allowed to set the speed so we were v often v spread out and this caused problems for the leader with people getting lost. The trip needs a complete revamp and possibly more initial assessment of individuals needs as these were v varied and would have helped to know peoples sizes to fit the bikes better.
Badly planned; poorly led; badly maintained bikes and dishonestly described trip notes which should fall under the rules of the trade description act. Promised a lot but didn’t deliver

Most Inspirational Moment

I enjoyed the swims in lakes and the Cold War and Amber museums. The last day was the best with a cycle ride on quieter roads with no traffic through more interesting countryside than the usual pine forests ( which became a bit samey ) a boat trip and a swim in the lake. The overall trip needed more variety like this particular day. The choice of hotels was ok. The city visits were good but needed more time.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Vee was possibly new to the tour and had some challenges to deal with both with poor bikes , a lady who was sick and needing hospital admission, a dodgy coach and a group with v different needs. She also got lost on occasions. She wasn't v clear with her instructions and didn't always wait for us all to come together before imparting them which was a consequence of her allowing the group to get too spread out. Her English was good but she confused the group with mixing vital parts of information with then too many options. However she gave us lots of history of the three countries plus her own experience of having lived during the occupation. She arranged a number of activities but timings were not always well planned. I do feel though that a trip like this with a big group ( we were 15) needed two guides.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Don't do it! But if you decide to bring your own sink plugs!

Reply from Exodus

We take great pride in our tour leaders at Exodus and the positive impact they have on most of our trips. We were, therefore, concerned to discover that yours appeared unprepared to deliver your cycling trip to the high standards we expect. We have an experienced pool of leaders in the Baltics, who receive consistently strong feedback from our groups, however, you may be aware that this was your leader’s first departure with Exodus. Though our leaders undergo thorough training, which includes our extensive induction module, we still find that they find their first trips somewhat daunting, and it appears that this was true of your leader. Though we have every faith in her to be a successful leader for us with additional training, following a review, we do not feel that she is right for our cycling tours and can confirm that she will not be leading any Cycle the Baltics departures this year. We recognise this cannot change anything for you, but we do hope it shows that we listen to our customers’ views and act on feedback to improve our trips.

Vivien Urban, Product Manager

Cycling in the Baltics but allocated a poor guide

We were looking forward to discovering more about the Baltic states whilst cycling, however we were let down by being allocated a new guide with very poor English who was unfamiliar with the trip. Fortunately we had a lonely planets guide book and were able to make up for what should have been offered. The group was very good fun and we were able to make the best of a difficult situation, however we felt that this trip was well below what we would expect from Exodus.

Most Inspirational Moment

The Baltics are great countries to see by bike, with great scenery. Estonia was so clean and full of history. We found an Old believers Museum (from the guide book) and Tartu was so modern. Latvia was pleasant, but hunger overtook us by 3pm with no lunch stop and Riga was fabulous. It would have been helpful to have been told ahead of time that Midsummers day is the Biggest festival of the year in these countries and we found somewhere to celebrate- eventually! And on to Lithuania. We almost missed the Hill of Crosses (iconic place in Lithuania) as it is not on the itinerary. But we made a forced stop! Klaipeda and the Curonian Spit are stunning, but there was so much more we could have been told about it.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Valdas was a nice chap but had been placed in a difficult situation and was not a suitable guide for this trip.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Check who the guide is to be. Reviews since have been more favourable.

Reply from Exodus

Thank you for sharing your feedback, Nia. We sincerely regret that your Cycling the Baltics trip did not meet the high standards we strive to provide, particularly in relation to your tour leader’s performance. We fully understand how essential a knowledgeable and communicative tour leader is to the overall experience, and we are truly sorry that this aspect fell short. While the leader assigned to your departure had prior experience leading cycling tours, was highly recommended, and was thoroughly briefed on the itinerary, we acknowledge that they were not as prepared as they should have been. We also regret that this left you relying on a guidebook to fill in the gaps—this is certainly not the experience we want for our travellers. Following your feedback, we have since taken steps to prevent this from happening again. We have strengthened our leader training, with a particular focus on itinerary knowledge, bike maintenance, and communication skills. Additionally, we have refined our trip preparation process to ensure all future leaders are fully equipped to deliver the informative and engaging experience our travellers expect. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts, as it helps us improve. While we regret that this trip did not meet expectations, we are grateful you were still able to enjoy the company of your group and make the best of the situation. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another adventure in the future—one that reflects the exceptional experience you deserve.

 

Vivien Urban, Exodus Product Manager