Baltic Cycling Adventure

Arrive in Tallinn, Estonia’s medieval capital. If you have time before our evening meet up, you can wander the cobbled lanes of the Old Town to Raekoja plats, where ornate merchant houses frame the square – an inviting spot for a coffee. Around 6pm we meet our tour leader and fellow travellers to chat through the journey ahead, then we share a welcome dinner for a warm Estonian start. If you wish to see more of Tallinn before the tour, you can arrange extra hotel nights in advance with your sales representative.

This morning you have free time to delve further into Tallinn – timings will be confirmed in the welcome briefing. In the afternoon we drive about one hour to Lahemaa National Park for our first ride. Covering more than 700 sq km, this unspoilt Baltic coastal region offers thick woodland, marshes and lakes to pedal past. Keep an eye out for wildlife – moose and wild boar are elusive – and more than 220 bird species.

Today we fully explore Estonia’s largest national park. We take the bus to Vihula Manor, then we cycle through the 400 year old fisherman’s village of Altja, the popular seaside resort of Vosu and Kasmu village, home to a fisherman’s museum, before we reach Sagadi. From there we take a bus back to our hotel.

We start with a bus transfer of about 90 minutes to the shore of Lake Peipsi, then we begin cycling from the 17th century fishing village of Mustvee. We ride past age old towns and churches, following the local tradition where villages have a single street – along this shore, that becomes one long ribbon of settlements. We continue into Varnja, then transfer about 30 minutes to Tartu.

After breakfast we transfer about 40 km to Otepaa, an area nicknamed Estonian Switzerland for its pine forests and rolling scenery. There are a few hills on today’s ride, though gradients stay below seven percent. Once over the rises, we sweep through forest and meadows and past Lake Puhajarve on our way to Sangaste, then continue to Valga. From here we transfer by bus to Riga, about two and a half hours, our base for the next two nights.

Our day starts in vibrant Riga, Latvia’s capital, where a medieval old town, wooden houses and Art Nouveau façades set the scene. We follow cycle paths to the seaside town of Jurmala, noted for its wooden villas and 19th century Russian residences. With 33 km of white sand, we have time for a swim before we transfer back to Riga for the night.

After breakfast we leave Latvia and transfer to Lithuania, about four hours. We begin our ride in Sventoji on a beautiful coastal cycle route to Klaipeda, passing Palanga – a classic bucket and spade resort with a long sandy beach. It is a lively spot for a wander and sea dip, and we pause for lunch before continuing to Klaipeda, our base for the next two nights.

We transfer to the resort town of Nida, about 90 minutes including the ferry, and set out to explore the 98 km long Curonian Spit. High dunes – up to 60 m – have led locals to dub the area the Lithuanian Sahara. During the ride we stop in Juodkrante to admire the wooden carvings on Witch Hill, a sculpture trail begun in 1979 that now features more than 70 figures from Lithuanian folklore. We then continue along the spit with the Baltic Sea stretching into the distance, finish at the ferry port, cross the lagoon and transfer back to our hotel in Klaipeda.

We start with a bus transfer of about two and a half hours to Zapyskis, a centuries old settlement in the Kaunas district. We then cycle past old villages, beaches and the Nemunas River, stopping midway to explore Kaunas, a European Capital of Culture in 2022. Our ride ends at Pažaislis Monastery, dominated by its 17th century baroque church, after which we transfer about 90 minutes to Vilnius.

After breakfast we transfer to Senieji (Old) Trakai and set off on a picturesque ride to Lake Galve, with the chance for a lakeside picnic and a swim. Trakai Castle appears to float on its own island – a truly magical sight. After time to explore and visit the castle, we continue to Užutrakis Manor Park, where we finish riding and transfer back to Vilnius for the night.

You have a free morning in Vilnius before the trip ends. If you wish to stay longer – perhaps to delve into the Unesco recognised old town – you can speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.