Cycle the Baltics

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 breath-taking coastlines. Our trip will start in Tallinn, where the fairytale architecture sets an enchanting scene; a theme that continues throughout our trip as we journey travel through Tartu, Riga, Trakai and Vilnius. We will also enjoy some of the best cycling in the region, through beautiful national parks and along idyllic coastal paths.

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.
  

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

• Nine days of cycling with full vehicle support.
• Average daily distance: 28mi (45km).

We mainly take quiet backroads, paths through national parks and coastal cycle tracks. There are some up and down sections, so a reasonable level of fitness is required, though most of the route is flat. We are covering a large area, so there are bus transfers on most of the cycling days, this enables us to see all the highlights and use the bikes to cover the best bits.

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 due to local restrictions. You can either wander around at your own pace or pay locally for an official city guide.

Renovations: Trakai Castle is currently undergoing renovation work, which may mean you see some scaffolding on the outside of the building.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

There are no required vaccinations to enter Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania. However, you should check with your doctor or travel clinic for the latest recommendations.

Visa

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations
• United Kingdom: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
• USA:  www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html

Food & Drink

All breakfasts included.

• Breakfast: 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 choose a spot on our ride to stop for a break. This means we can be flexible and choose the best views for lunch. On some days, there will be opportunities to buy lunch in cafes in the towns that we go through such as Palanga.
• Dinners: 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 served cold). In Trakai, kibinai are popular, these are large savoury baked pastries traditionally filled with lamb or beef.

Weather

The climate is largely influenced by the Baltic Sea. Summers are warm with temperatures from 20C to 30C (68F to 86F). In the evenings, the temperatures will not drop too much. There is little rain in the summer but it’s always a possibility, so it is best to come 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.