Cycle the Baltics

Name: Cycle the Baltics
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4 (127 reviews)

Award Winning Adventures

Covid Clear Groups

100m rewilded per person

Expert Local Guides

11 Days from

1 979 €

4/5 from

Cycling

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Cycling

Activity Levels :

2 out of 10 - Leisurely / Moderate

Group Size :

5 - 16

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

MVB

Discover the best of the Baltics by bike

Crossing Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, this ride will take you on a journey of discovery through historic cities, untouched wilderness, and along breathtaking coastline. Our trip will start in Tallinn where the fairytale architectural style sets an enchanting scene. This will feature throughout the trip as we journey through Tartu, Riga, Trakai, and Vilnius. Between the architectural highlights, we will also enjoy some of the best cycling this region has to offer, through beautiful national parks and along idyllic coastal paths.

Highlights

Cycle through three unique countries
Discover fascinating capital cities
Visit the fairytale Trakai castle

Key Information

9 days cycling with full vehicle support
80% tarmac roads, 20% gravel paths
Group normally 5 to 16 plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
10 nights hotels, all en suite
E-bike hire available on request, supplement from £155,USD $231 or CAD $274

Countries visited: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Whats Included

All breakfasts
All accommodation
Local bike hire
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout
Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

Whats Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
E-bike hire supplement

9 Days of Walking & Trekking

Pace:

Leisurely: 10-13km/6-8miles an hour

Terrain:

Low altitude; 80% tarmac, 20% cycle paths, gravel and coastal tracks

Day 3

30 km / 18.6 miles

Day 4

55 km / 34.2 miles

Day 5

56 km / 34.8 miles

Day 6

48 km / 29.8 miles

Day 7

39 km / 24.2 miles

Day 8

43 km / 26.7 miles

Day 9

63 km / 39.1 miles

Day 10

37 km / 23 miles

Day 11

25 km / 15.5 miles

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips which improve life for the people and places we visit, and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural and social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally-owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food and support of other local enterprise.
Purchasing fresh smoked fish is a good way to support local fishermen and their business.
We are enthusiastic about exploring the culture of each of the three countries on our route with visits to a number of historical sites where the profits generated by entrance fees, souvenirs and local handicrafts sold benefits the surrounding communities.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
On entering the Curonian Spit, we have to pay ecological fees for our vehicle where the money goes to support the municipality of the area.
Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for re-usable bottles.
Water is especially important for cycling trips and whilst we must stay hydrated, it is also vital to not cause too much waste from single use plastic bottles. Hence, we provide large water containers so that clients can refill their reusable water bottles.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
We emphasise on eating locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own re-usable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
Take the train: Consider taking the train to this trip. Not only will it significantly reduce the carbon footprint of your holiday vs. flying, it also extends your adventure! Read more about which train journeys we can book, or how to book your own, here.

Itinerary

Include Flights

On arrival, there should be some time to explore Tallinn. Tallinn is a fascinating historical city with many sites to explore. We recommend strolling through the streets of the Old Town to Raekoja Plats (Town Hall Square); the square historically served as a market and meeting place and is surrounded by elaborate merchant houses – the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee. If you find the round stone with a compass rose in the middle of the square you will be able to see the 5 church spires of the old town. The Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Alexander Nevsky and St. Olav's Church have long characterised the skyline of the old town and are well worth a visit, as are the old town walls.

Go Shnelli or similar

This morning there is some free time to further explore Estonia's capital (timings will be confirmed by the guide in the welcome briefing). In the afternoon we leave Tallin behind and drive out of the city (approx. 1h), we will begin our first ride through National Park Lahemaa. The park, one of the last unspoilt regions of the Baltic Coast, extends over 700 square kilometres. Its nature is rich and unique. Here you will cycle through thick woods, marshes and lakes. Above all, the coastline is what makes this area so distinctive. It is also a rich environment for wildlife with moose and wild boar, although difficult to spot, and over 220 species of bird – keep your eyes open!

Hotel Sagadi or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we have a full day to explore the largest national park in Estonia and one of the biggest in Europe. We will embark on a circular route taking in as many of the parks wonderful attractions as possible. Starting from Palmse Hotel (the former park manor house), we will pass Sagadi manor, the 400 year old fisherman’s village of Altja, the popular seaside resort of Vosu, and Kasmu village which is home to the fisherman’s museum. We finish the loop cycling back through Estonian forests and meadows until we arrive at the hotel.

Hotel Sagadi or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We start the day with a bus transfer to the shore of Peipsi Lake (approx. 1.5h), then start cycling from the 17th Century fisherman’s village of Mustvee. From here we pass through ancient towns and churches. Following an old Russian tradition, villages in Peipsi only have one street. Because of this, the shore of Peipsi Lake is one long street with lots of small settlements dotted along it. We continue cycling into Varnja and then transfer to Tartu (approx. 30min).

Tartu Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we have a 40km transfer to Otepaa. This area is known as ‘Estonian Switzerland’ because of its stunning scenery and pine forests. As you would expect, there are a few hills on today’s ride, though nothing too steep and challenging with the gradient not going above 7%. Once over the hills, we cycle through beautiful forest and meadows and past Lake Puhajarve on our way to Sangaste town. We will visit the park and castle in Sangaste – walking up the castle tower gives us a great view over Otepaa and the surrounding green natural areas. After visiting the castle we continue cycling to Valga city, and from here we transfer by bus to Riga (approx. 2.5h), our base for the next two nights.

Ibis Centre Riga or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our journey today will start in the bustling town Riga, Latvia’s largest town and capital city. The city has a mediaeval old town which is famous for its wooden buildings and art nouveau architecture. We will then follow the cycle paths to the beautiful town of Jurmala, which is famous for its incredible wooden buildings and 19th Century Russian villas. Jurmala is also one of Latvia’s largest seaside resorts – it has a 33km stretch of white sandy beach for us to explore on our bikes. There will be plenty of time to have a swim in the sea before we transfer back to Riga for the night.

Ibis Centre Riga or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we leave Latvia and transfer directly to Lithuania (approx. 4h). We begin our ride in Sventoji on a beautiful cycle route to Klaipeda, which lies along the Baltic Coast. On the way we pass Palanga, a traditional bucket and spade seaside town with a long stretch of sandy beach. It's a really fun place to stop, have a wander around, a dip in the sea, and see one of the most favoured seaside towns among Lithuanians. We will visit the Palanga Botanical Gardens and manor house which is now home to the amber museum. There are numerous cafes to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and have some lunch before we set off again for our final destination of Klaipeda, our base for two nights. Our hotel is close to the Old Town, so a good spot from which to explore.

Amberton Hotel Klaipeda or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We transfer to Nida (approx. 1.5h including the ferry ride), known as the town of retreat, and an artist’s resort. It was home and inspiration for two summers to the author Thomas Mann and its affluent feel and tranquillity encourages the feeling that you are on a holiday within a holiday. From here we explore the 68km long Curonian Spit. The high dunes (up to 60m) running along the spit have encouraged the local people to refer to the area as the 'Lithuanian Sahara'. During our ride we will make a stop in Juodkrante and admire the bizarre wooden carvings on what is known as Witch Hill. The sculpture park was started in 1979 and now has more than 70 wooden carvings representing characters of Lithuanian folktale and legend. We will then continue along the spit with the Baltic Sea extending far into the distance. We finish the ride at the ferry port, and from here we take the ferry across the lagoon then transfer back to the hotel in Klaipeda for the night.

Amberton Hotel Klaipeda or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We start the day with a bus transfer to Kintai village (approx. 45mins), and from here we cycle through dense green forests and beautiful meadows to Vente Cape. There is a lot of wildlife at Vente Cape as it is a popular resting place for birds on their migration, and it's home to one of the first bird ringing stations in Europe. We will visit the 11m high lighthouse which offers breathtaking views of the lagoon and golden sand dunes of the Curonian Split; the lighthouse is a fascinating place, built in 1863 when the cape was still part of Germany. We continue cycling to the town of Silute where we get on the bus and transfer to Vilnius (approx. 4h).

Comfort Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

After breakfast, we transfer by bus to the small village of Semeliskes(approx. 1h). From here we have a picturesque ride over undulating terrain to Galve Lake. Here the magical and famous Trakai Castle sits, as if floating on its own island in the middle of the lake – it’s a truly magical place. We will explore the surrounding areas of the lake and visit the Castle before transferring back to Vilnius for the night.

Comfort Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have a free morning in Vilnius before the trip ends here.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

Vaccination

No vaccinations are obligatory.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts included.

Breakfast: These will be taken in the hotels. In most places, these will be buffet style and will offer plenty of choice including cold meat, cheese, eggs, bread, jams and juice. Lunches: On many of the days due to our remote rides there will be the option to buy a picnic from the hotel or get supplies on the way – we can then chose a spot on our ride to stop for a break. This means we can be flexible and chose the best views for lunch. On some of the days there will be opportunities to buy lunches in cafes in the towns that we go through such as Palanga. Dinners: These will be taken in the hotels or in restaurants and will be hearty meals. Cuisine in this area is often centred around pork, veal, fish, potatoes, sauerkraut and soups such as borsch (beetroot soup with meat, in Lithuania this is also served cold). In Trakai, Kibinai are very popular, these are large savoury baked pastries traditionally filled with lamb or beef and are very good.

Weather

The climate is largely influenced by the Baltic Sea. The summers are warm with temperatures from 20 to 30 degrees Celcius. In the evenings the temperatures will not drop too much. There is little rain in the summer but of course, it is always a possibility so it is best to be prepared. The days will be long, with up to 19 hours of daylight. In spring and autumn, there is the possibility of light rain. Estonia is the furthest north and therefore the coldest, although the temperature range described applies. Lithuania is the furthest south, which makes it the warmest country of the three. Estonia is often described as more Scandinavian than the other two countries.

Weather Charts

Estonia

Is this trip for you?

Average daily distance: 45km (28 miles)

9 days cycling with full vehicle support

Our cycling routes follow mainly quiet backroads, paths through national parks, and coastal cycle tracks. There are some undulating sections, so a moderate level of fitness is required, though the majority of the route is flat. As we are covering a large area there are bus transfers on most of the cycling days, this enables us to cover the distances to see all the highlights and use the bikes to cover the best bits.

Please note that before reaching the cities, the leader will give you information on their history and places of interest and will guide you into town, however, they are not allowed to give you a guided tour of the city once you are there due to restrictions of tour leaders, only official city guides are allowed to do this. You will have the choice of wandering around the cities at your own pace, or you can pay locally for a guide. We will leave this up to you.

Thanks Exodus for working with us to make this trip happen. Cancelled in 2020 and 2021, due to COVID, we we finally made it in 2022. The Baltics are amazing, so rich with history, spectacular scenery and the weather was great. Best part of the trip was Andrius our remarkable guide. His knowledge of the Baltics is commendable, his humour infectious and his ability to adapt outstanding. His recommendations wether it was to the route itself or for places to visit or eat were well received by all. Thanks also to Mindaugas our driver who always where he needed to be. Definitely recommend taking a tour with Andrius. Randy and Annette

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

Availability

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Availability

This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.

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