Latvia - Lithuania - Estonia : Baltic Biking
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Cycling & Mountain Biking Cultural Tours
Europe Latvia
Vilnius - Trakai - Kaunas - Klaipeda - Liepaja - Riga - Sigulda - Cesis - Tartu - Laahemaa - Tallinn OR UPSIDE DOWN
July-August 2009, 10 days/9 nights.
DAY 1: Arrival Vilnius
Arrival in Vilnius, optional transfer to Hotel Panorama Vilnius*** or similar, check-in, welcome meeting.
DAY 2: Vilnius-Trakai-Kaunas
Vilnius is known for its more than 1.200 medieval buildings and 48 churches. The morning sightseeing tour include a panoramic tour of the city and a walking tour of the Old Town
with Vilnius Cathedral, Gediminas Tower, Peter and Paul Church, St. Anna's Church, Old University and the Gates of Dawn. In the afternoon we continue to Trakai, the medieval capital of Lithuania, with the well preserved Trakai Castle, beautifully located on an island in Lake Galve. We enjoy a 15 km biking tour in the surroundings of Trakai. We continue to Kaunas and take a short stroll in the Old Town with its elegant Old Town Hall and Gothic cathedral. Check in at Hotel Reval Neris**** or similar.
DAY 3: Kaunas-Nida-Klaipeda
We get up early to continue the tour in the direction of the Curonian Spit, a 100 km spit of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon with small fi shing villages, pine forests and endless sand dunes. A ferry from Klaipeda take us to the Spit and we do down the spit to Nida. With its location at the Curonian Lagoon and its combination of old-fashioned fishing village and fashionable sea resort, Nida is one of the most attractive places on the entire Baltic Sea Coast.
We visit the High Dunes, Thomas Mann's summerhouse and get acquainted with the charming resort town. In the late afternoon we enjoy a 30 km biking tour from Nida to Joudkrante before we go back to Klaipeda and check-in at Hotel Klaipeda**** or similar.
DAY 4: Klaipeda-Palanga-Liepaja
Klaipeda first became a part of Lithuania in 1923 and has a long history as a German town called Memel. The sightseeing tour takes us to the Old Town with it narrow cobblestone streets and old guild houses and we visit the Theatre Square and the Aennchen von Tharau Fountain. We now enjoy a 30 km biking tour to Palanga, where we make a sightseeing tour and visit the Amber Museum in the former Tiskevicius Palace in the Botanical Gardens before we continue into Latvia and arrive in Liepaja. Check-in at Hotel Liva*** or similar.
DAY 5: Liepaja-Jurmala-Riga
Liepaja takes its name from the numerous lime trees in the city and we start the day with a short stroll in the Old Town with its Trinity Church. Afterwards we drive through the former
Duchy of Courland to Kemeri, where we enjoy a 25 km biking tour through the Kemeri National Park, The balance of the day is spend for visiting Jurmala, the vibrant Latvian sea resort, famous for its wooden architecture and sandy beaches. We reach Riga early in the late afternoon. Check-in at Hotel Europa City Riga *** or similar.
DAY 6: Riga-Saulkrasti-Sigulda
Riga, founded in 1201 by the German bishop Albert, is the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals and boasts a true kaleidoscope of various architectural styles. The walking tour of the Old Town includes Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral, St. Peter's Church, Swedish Gates, Three Brothers, Large and Small Guild House and the Freedom Monument. In the afternoon we continue to Saulkrasti and do a 30 km biking tour to Sigulda, a popular holiday resort. We see the ruins of the Episcopal Castle and the ruins of the Castle of the Knights of the Sword. Check-in at Hotel Sigulda*** or similar.
DAY 7: Sigulda-Cesis-Tartu
We continue to Cesis, a Hanseatic city with winding streets, castle ruins and beautiful gardens. During the morning tour we see the ruins of the Castle of the Livonian Order and St. John's Church. We head to Estonia and the Hanja Nature Park where we do a 30 km biking tour through the national park and around the Munamagi Hill, the biggest hill in the Baltic countries at just 300 m. We continue on to Tartu. Check-in at Hotel Dorpat *** or similar.
DAY 8: Tartu-Lahemaa
Tartu is the university town, where Estonia gained its statehood. During the morning tour we see the charming Old Town and the University founded in 1632. After the tour we head for Lake Peipus and in the middle of the day we enjoy a 40 km biking tour from Kolka via Kallaste to Raja along the lake. The balance of the day is spent on a drive to the Lahemaa National Park. Check-in at Hotel Vihula Manor**** or similar.
DAY 9: Lahemaa-Tallinn
The day starts with a 40 km biking tour through the Lahemaa National Park from Sagadi via Palmse to Kasmu and the Kasmu Peninsula; and afterwards we continue to Tallinn. Tallinn is a charming blend of medieval tranquillity and modern urban life. The medieval Old Town is a busy place in
the summer with its many shops, galleries, souvenir markets, out-doors cafés and restaurants. The sightseeing tour takes us around the old medieval city walls and into the Old Town where we see Toompea Castle, the Dome Church, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the Medieval Old Town Hall. Check in at Hotel Uniquestay Mihkli *** or similar.
DAY 10: Tallinn departure
Optional transfer to the airport.
Package prices per person:
EUR 1095.00 (double occupancy)
EUR 350.00 (single supplement)
Bikes are new modern Estonian produced tour bikes, model comfort and cruiser, 3-6 speeds, hand or foot brakes, equipped with bike bags, luggage boots, mud fl aps, refl ectors, bells and helmet.
Child seat available upon request.
Max 21 persons in the groups.
The tours are recommended for guests in normal physical condition between 35-65 years.
Including:
o 9 overnights at 3-4-star hotels
o 9 x buff et breakfast
o Welcome meeting with champagne-cocktail or juice
o Personalized welcome package and special discount card
o Entrances to Old University in Vilnius, Amber Museum in Palanga, St. Peter's Church in Riga and medieval Old Town Hall in Tallinn
o Service of English and German speaking tour escort on all tours
o Service of 1st class motor coach throughout the itinerary
o Ferry tickets Klaipeda-Smiltyne-Klaipeda and ecological fees for the Curonian Spit
o Bicycle rental
o Service and VAT
Optional:
o Transfer from airport to Hotel Panorama Vilnius: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
o Half board (9 x 3 course dinner with coff ee/tea ): EUR 200.00 pp
o Transfer from Hotel Uniquestay Mihkli to airport: EUR 35.00 for private car (1-3 persons), EUR 55.00 for private minivan (4-7 persons)
Service standarts:
Hotels:
We are in general using good centrally located superior 3 star, 4 star or 5 star hotels. Our most popular tours, the Baltic Highlights tour and the Russian Capitals tour, are offered in a 1st class and deluxe variant. We reserve the right to change the hotels. Alternative hotels will be of the same standard as the hotels featured in the catalogue, both in terms of standard and location. Final hotel names will be advised latest 1 month prior to arrival.
Meals:
Breakfasts are buffet style at all hotels.
Coaches:
Our coaches are new 49-seater 1st class coaches with air conditioning, adjustable seats, toilet, fridge and possible other conveniences. Depending on sales some tours or segment of tours and optional tours will be operated with new 1st class minivans with adjustable seats and air conditioning. For comfort and security we always keep at least 3 empty seats in coaches and minivans. Passengers are covered by 3rd party liability insurance. Drivers are driving strictly according to EU regulations. We do not allow smoking in the vehicles. Seating in the vehicles is free.
Tour escorts:
Our tour escorts are university graduates and have been specially trained as guides and as multilingual tour escorts. The tour escorts we use are very experienced and most have been working for us for many years. The tour escorts will be assisted by local guides if needed or required.
Portage:
Portage of one piece of luggage is included at all 4 and 5 star hotels and railway stations.
Welcome meeting:
During the welcome meeting the guests will be served a welcome drink. The tour escort will introduce the program and the optional tours and the guests will receive various materials such as a personalized program and various information materials.
Visa support:
Visa is required for almost all nationalities for tours including Russia and only for some fewer nationalities for tours covering EU destinations. If visa support is required we supply that complementary. We cannot accept any responsibility for guests arriving without valid passport and visa.
Number of participants:
We allow max 45 guests on the same tour. The average number of guests is around 35. For the Baltic Biking tours we allow max 18 guests on the same tour. These tours are often full.
Special features:
Arrival transfers:
Guests can order private arrival and departure transfers. By arrival transfer the guests will be met by driver with a name board reading their surnames in the arrival hall of the airport.
Optional excursions and dinners: Our tours come with an extensive choice of optional excursions and dinners. The optional excursions feature important highlights not included into the standard sightseeing tours and always includes transport, guide service and entrances. The optional dinners are either half-board at hotel or special dinners at local restaurants. Dinners at hotels are either a substantial 3-course set menu or buffet style. The dinners include ice-water and coffee/tea. Dinners at local restaurant include a substantial 3-course menu with ice-water and coffee/tea. In some cases alcoholic drinks, folklore music or other types of live music is included. We have carefully chosen local restaurants which are typical of the area and yet something special and which offer good food and service and good value. The dinners at local restaurants include guide and transport, in some few cases the restaurants are within walking distance from the hotel (max 10 min walk) and transport is not included. At both hotel and local restaurant additional drinks can be ordered and paid for at the spot.
Diplomas for active touring: The participants in the Baltic Biking tours will receive a diploma for successfully completing active touring in the Baltic countries at the end of the tour.
Pre- and Post stays: We offer attractive rates for guests who would like to arrive earlier or departure later. Please ask for a detailed pricelist.
Dates:
Vilnius-Tallinn:
MBB01: 12.07-21.07.09
MBB03: 30.07-08.08.09
Tallinn-Vilnius:
MBB02: 21.07-30.07.09
MBB04: 08.08-17.08.09
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