HIKING TOUR IN THE BALTIC’S

Vilnius - Druskininkai - Kaunas - Curonian Spit - Riga - Cesis - Parnu - Tallinn

12 days / 11 nights

Day 1: Arrival in Vilnius and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon a walking tour of Vilnius features the jewels of Vilnius architecture, St. Anne’s Church, the Gates of Dawn with its miraculous icon of The Virgin Mary, the University campus and the Cathedral Square. The tour ends going up Gediminas Hill to visit the Castle and the observation platform which offers a panoramic view of the town.

Day 2: Today’s tour takes you to Aukstaitija National Park 110 km east of Vilnius occupying over 30,000 hectares of hilly ridges, river valleys, and dense forests. The walking route will take you through the Beekeeping Museum, scattered villages and hamlets that have preserved their original character, ancient burial mounds and observation sites (2-8 km)

Day 3: Tour Trakai to visit the 15^th century red-brick Gothic Castle on an Island which once served as the capital of Lithuanian’s Grand Dukes. Then continue on to Dzukija National Park, one of the largest parks in Lithuanian, located 140 km south east of Vilnius. Zackagiris (Zacka Forest) nature path winds through picturesque centres embracing ethnographic villages that have been declared ethno cultural reserves, landscape reserves, nature reserves, Zackagiris meadow, wind-swept sand dunes, the Skroblus Reserve in the conservation zone of the park and Cepkeliai Marsh, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Lithuania. The walking route encompasses 4, to 8 to 13 km with an overnight stay in Druskininkai.

Day 4: Departure to Rumsiskes’ open air Ethnographic museum featuring four ethnographic regions of the country and showing traditional farming life of Lithuanian peasantry in the 19^th century. The walking route covers 6 km.
Upon arrival in Kaunas we tour the Old Town with its St George’s church, castle ruins, Theological seminary, the Town Hall square, the Jesuit church, the Cathedral, the Church of Vytautas and the Perkunas house (no visits inside); a walk on the central street, Freedom Avenue, bustling with street vendors, musicians, full of cafes and souvenir shops. Overnight stay in Kaunas

Day 5: A morning drive to the Curonian Spit on the Baltic seacoast. Spend the day sightseeing and enjoying the tranquillity of the Lithuanian seaside resort located on the Curonian Spit. Walk, through forest paths to the seacoast, enjoy an unforgettable view from majestic 60 metre-high seashore dunes, visit Thomas Mann’s summer house in Nida (5 km). Overnight stay in Juodkrante or Nida.

Day 6: Departure to Riga. An afternoon walking tour of the Old Town of Riga gives one a sense of going back in time: narrow cobblestone streets of this Hanseatic city, the grandeur of the Dome Cathedral, Lutheran spires dominating in the skyline, and the Jugendstil city centre. Late afternoon we travel to Jurmala, Latvia’s most popular seaside resort.

Day 7: We drive to Ligatne, 80 km from Riga, where three nature footpaths through Gauja National Park begin. Trails, totalling 9 km, follow the banks of the Gauja river valley with its fascinating landscapes of sandstone cliffs, ravines, a cave formed in the Devonian Age, a small, but the most unique sandstone canyon. We overnight in Cesis.

Day 8: A short drive in the morning takes us to Mazsalaca, a small town located on the green valleys of the Salaca River. The walking route will take us through Echoing Cliff Park, Devil’s Stone, Angel’s Cave; and will wind along a pebbled Kurbad’s Path, the Dwarf’s Path, etc. Continuing on we will stay in Parnu, Estonia’s prime resort and summer capital.

Day 9: A morning walk along the hiking trail Rannametsa, Tolkuse which begins not far from Parnu. This hiking trail (2.2 km) offers several interesting sights: nice pine covered sand hills, and an amazing view from a watchtower 50 m above sea level. The path will take you also to a bog pool that is quite rare for its type in the neighborhood. Afterwards we drive to Tallinn and settle in at our hotel. A tour of Tallinn features the most impressive tourist attractions of Tallinn, one of the purest medieval old towns in Europe, including Toompea, The Upper Town offering charming views of the city, Town Hall Square.

Day 10: A full day tour to Lahemaa National Park, 80 km from Tallinn to enjoy Estonia’s natural beauty as well historical, archaeological and cultural heritage. You can choose; Oandu Natural Forest Nature trail or beaver trail or Viru Bog nature trial (hiking trail from 1 km to 4.7 km).

Day 11: Tour to Matsalu Nature reserve, a bird sanctuary of significant European importance, also famous for its coastal meadows which are considered to have the most species rich plant communities in the world. There are 3 hiking paths: Penijoe 7 km, Salevere 1,5 km, Suitsu 750 m, Kiideva-Puise 3,3 km. This day can be combined with a stop at Keila Waterfall

Day 12: Departure