I chose the itinerary as it was rated a 2 for physical exertion. (not too many hills) It was... Steve Martin, 2018 See more reviews
The riding was great. The leader knowledgeable and inspirational. ... Marnie Mitchell, 2018 See more reviews
I have just finished the wonderful Exodus cycle trip crossing the three Baltic Countries Estonia,... Bergljót Baldursdóttir, 2018 See more reviews
A really outstanding Exodus cycle trip, aided by the most marvellous European summer. Great group... Mark Stapleton, 2018 See more reviews
A really outstanding Exodus cycle trip, aided by the most marvellous European summer. Great group... Mark Stapleton, 2018 See more reviews
My first cycling trip couldn't have gone better, a great group of people, an excellent... Anne Holmes, 2018 See more reviews
We enjoyed the holiday very much, we had a good insight into the three capital cities and a fiar... david martin, 2018 See more reviews
It was a great rip - well-organised, lovely routes, reasonable accommodation and food, excellent... Evelyn Tiefenbrun, 2018 See more reviews
A very well organised and interesting trip, combining exercise and sightseeing in Estonia, Latvia... Michelle Epstein, 2018 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Tallinn; transfer to hotel. Fly to Tallinn; transfer to start hotel. 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 is surrounded by elaborate merchant houses and is the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee. Historically it served as a market and meeting place. 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. Day 2 Explore Tallinn; transfer to the Lahemaa N.P. for a scenic ride. After a bus transfer out of the city, 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! Our accommodation for the evening is situated in the national park itself and is in a spectacular setting in the grounds of an old distillery. Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Full day riding through Lahemma N.P. 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.Park Hotel Palmse Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 Transfer to Peipsi and cycle along the shore of the lake; transfer to Tartu. We start the day with a bus transfer to the shore of Peipsi Lake, 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. Tartu Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Cycle through 'Estonian Switzerland' to Otepaa; transfer to Riga. 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, our base for the next two nights. Ibis Centre Riga Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Cycle to Jurmala; transfer to Riga for the night. 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 Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Transfer to Sventoji; cycle to Klaipeda. After breakfast, we leave Latvia and transfer directly to Lithuania. 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 Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 Transfer to the Curonian Spit N.P; explore by bike. We transfer to Nida, 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 Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Transfer to Kintai village; cycle to Vente Cape and Silute; transfer to Vilnius. We start the day with a bus transfer to Kintai village, 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. Panorama Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Transfer to Trakai; cycle around town and visit Trakai Castle; return to Vilnius. After breakfast, we transfer by bus to the small village of Semeliskes. 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. Panorama Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 Explore Vilnius; fly to London. Transfer to Vilnius airport; fly to London. Meals included: Breakfast
Hotels 10 nights in 3-star hotels, all with en suite facilities in good locations. There are some fantastic hotels on this trip, including two nights in a converted distillery set in the magnificent grounds of the Lahemaa National Park.
Charlotte Newman Operational Quality Executive (Health & Safety) Cycling Holidays, Self-guided, Belize, Eastern Europe, Italy, Mexico
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Reviewed September 2018 Steve Martin Trip: Cycle the Baltics Quality product - loved the History, Culture, Food, and scenery I chose the itinerary as it was rated a 2 for physical exertion. (not too many hills) It was quite different from 3 other European bike tours I have completed in that most of the country side is either heavily forested or agricultural. Not a lot of villages in close proximity. Exodus has done a great job designing the itinerary to get you into the most interesting scenic areas, the 3 capital cities that have stunning "old city quarters, some beautiful national park regions I each country. The variety of accommodations made it memorable, and the food in all 3 countries is outstanding for freshness of taste and the artistic presentation of meals. All in I thoroughly enjoyed the 11 days experience. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Thoroughly enjoyed the 3 capital cities Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius. Learning the history of the region over the past 100 years with the brutal occupation by the Germans and the Russians. What did you think of your group leader? Simon was outstanding. If you are lucky to have him as your guide, enjoy every moment of him. He is from Lithuania and is impassioned about the Baltic Region its history, culture and people. He entertained us with his musical skill and singing voice. Added in many personal experiences, took us to great restaurants and gave us 3 hour bike city tours in Riga and Vilnius. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Hope for some good weather - we had the best average 25c each day
Reviewed September 2018 Marnie Mitchell Trip: Cycle the Baltics Excellent guide and very good itinerary The riding was great. The leader knowledgeable and inspirational. Accommodations were pretty basic - not much charm there. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? It was inspirational to learn of the passion of the Baltic peoples to retain their recently won freedom. There’s a lot of pride and beauty in these countries. What did you think of your group leader? Simon knows the history of the countries and also knows the terrain we were covering. He had a lot of great stories. Was fun to spend time with. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? There isn’t much time on the trip to explore independently in the cities visited. If you’d like to do that, book extra time before and after the trip. Also, unless Exodus adds another guide, be prepared to ride independently much of the time.
Reviewed August 2018 Bergljót Baldursdóttir Trip: Cycle the Baltics Almost excellent trip I have just finished the wonderful Exodus cycle trip crossing the three Baltic Countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. First rate trip made extra special by our wonderful guide Lina Duseviciene who shared with us her family´s history and their and her own experience of the Soviet era. This brought us closer to the people of these countries while we cycled through the beautiful forest and scenery. Not to forget our driver Edvardus who entertained us with music while driving between locations. I would like to mention that the hotel we stayed in in Tallin had a really bad or no air-conditioning. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Our guide Lina Duseviciene´s told us her family´s history. In Kolkja villagers where selling their onions -
Reviewed July 2018 Brian Morris Trip: Cycle the Baltics Cycling in the Baltics After very careful consideration I have decided that this was a trip which I would not recommend to a friend. However, there were many good things that we experienced and I am glad I went on it - but there serious deficiencies that need to be addressed by Exodus. Positives- excellent guide and driver, wonderful cities and great company. Negatives - some poor hotels with faults that were unacceptable ( smelly rooms from shower drains, poor food in overcrowded breakfast rooms, lack of air con and noisy locations if open windows. Long sections of monotonous roads/ paths through forests ( e.g. Cycling along the Curonian Spit without being able to see the sea!!) Rather heavy bikes that were not the advertised 21 speed ones. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? We very much enjoyed the bonhomie of our group and the cities of Riga, Tartu and Vilnius were amazing. Where we saw the sea (!) it was beautiful. What did you think of your group leader? Lukas was excellent! He did everything and more that a guide should do! He joined in with our jokes and was a mine of information - and nothing was too much trouble. Our driver Vladamir was efficient and helpful ( and a good driver) Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take insect repellent! If possible take your own bike It can be very hot - be prepared - and vice versa. Don't wash clothes in the Palmse Hotel - whites turn orange! Is there anything else you would like to add? The hotels need to be experienced by someone from the Exodus team - clearly the comments about the individual hotels that you can find on the net should alert them to the problems that our group experienced. Reply from Exodus Reply from Exodus We would like to thank Brian for his feedback, whilst we are pleased that he enjoyed aspects of his holiday, we regret that he was disappointed with his stay at some of the properties. Our local manager has spoken with the hotels’ managers and asked them to review the rooms and services they provide to our clients to ensure they are in line with our expectations. We will also be looking into sending a member of staff on this trip in the near future, as well as keeping a very close eye on future feedback regarding these properties; if we receive further similar concerns, we will certainly reconsider whether or not we continue to use these hotels. Natasha Black - Product Manager for the Baltics
Reviewed July 2018 Mark Stapleton Trip: Cycle the Baltics Cycling the Baltic States A really outstanding Exodus cycle trip, aided by the most marvellous European summer. Great group of fellow cyclists, excellent choice of hotels and really beautiful forest cycleways. Tour leader Lina and driver Andre added significantly to the overall experience. We have been on a few Exodus trips and as always we were very well looked after. The cycling was fairly straight forward and relatively easy. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? So, so many! Hearing Lina’s family history put so much of the trip into perspective. We had the delightful combination of beautiful rides, the sharing of stories and the incredible history of the proud peoples of the Baltic States. What did you think of your group leader? Absolutely sensational! Lina was the best tour guide we have ever had, and that is saying something. Caring, considerate, always looking out for opportunities to improve our experience, there was never a time when she was anything other than a delight to be with. Her willingness to share her story put everything into perspective. Faultless! For goodness sake give her more work, she is a wonderful ambassador for Exodus. I do have to add that your choice of tour guides on all of the trips we have done gives significant credit to Exodus as an organisation. We always look at Exodus tours before considering other travel companies. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are even reasonably fit, do this cycle tour. A really wonderful way to see and hear about the incredible Baltic States. Is there anything else you would like to add? A really wonderful holiday in all respects. Keep up the excellent work and consider paying Lina a significant bonus, she is wonderful!
Reviewed July 2018 Mark Stapleton Trip: Cycle the Baltics Cycling the Baltic States A really outstanding Exodus cycle trip, aided by the most marvellous European summer. Great group of fellow cyclists, excellent choice of hotels and really beautiful forest cycleways. Tour leader Lina and driver Andre added significantly to the overall experience. We have been on a few Exodus trips and as always we were very well looked after. The cycling was fairly straight forward and relatively easy. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? So, so many! Hearing Lina’s family history put so much of the trip into perspective. We had the delightful combination of beautiful rides, the sharing of stories and the incredible history of the proud peoples of the Baltic States. What did you think of your group leader? Absolutely sensational! Lina was the best tour guide we have ever had, and that is saying something. Caring, considerate, always looking out for opportunities to improve our experience, there was never a time when she was anything other than a delight to be with. Her willingness to share her story put everything into perspective. Faultless! For goodness sake give her more work, she is a wonderful ambassador for Exodus. I do have to add that your choice of tour guides on all of the trips we have done gives significant credit to Exodus as an organisation. We always look at Exodus tours before considering other travel companies. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If you are even reasonably fit, do this cycle tour. A really wonderful way to see and hear about the incredible Baltic States. Is there anything else you would like to add? A really wonderful holiday in all respects. Keep up the excellent work and consider paying Lina a significant bonus, she is wonderful!
Reviewed July 2018 Anne Holmes Trip: Cycle the Baltics A great holiday My first cycling trip couldn't have gone better, a great group of people, an excellent leader and luck with the weather. There is a good mixture of cycling and tourism although the itinerary is full so there isn't a lot of free time or opportunity for stopping en route. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? I liked the undulations of the day around Trakkai as knew I would get lost and didnt have to save any energy for other rides! Enjoyed seeing how fast I could go. Really enjoyed the beauty of Palmse. The day at Jurmala was good as we had free time and loved the dachas. What did you think of your group leader? Lina was excellent, organised but friendly. Her sharing of her personal experiences of life in Lithuania brought the whole trip alive. She has an extensive factual knowledge of the Baltic and found some great places for us to eat. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? If I had known that a cycle pannier was provided, I wouldn't have brought a cycling rucksack. Water was also provided so a single water bottle was fine. The trip notes said that there should be time to look round Tallinn but the Exodus flights were an evening arrival. Some of the group arrived a day earlier to see the city which was a good idea. Is there anything else you would like to add? A 5 hour stop over in Riga was too long, there was an earlier flight connection. Paper maps are hard to use when you are cycling in a lot of pine forest, could there be an option to give us GPX routes as well. This would have really helped anyone getting lost. I do not wish my name to be used.
Reviewed July 2018 david martin Trip: Cycle the Baltics Comments from Christine and David Martin We enjoyed the holiday very much, we had a good insight into the three capital cities and a fiar understanding of how the countyry side worked. The food was much better than expected , we had feared it might mainly be pork and dumplings but it was a good selection of 'western ' and local dishes. The cycling was mainly through forest tracks which do not give many views of the country side but perhaps it is very difficult to design a cycling holiday in a very forested area to include time to stop and look aroun villages . Although the cycling was not technically difficult there were times when it was necessary to keep close to the leader mto avoid getting lost. A back marker would have been very useful and would have been able to cope with any problems (punctures, accidents) as well as ensuring. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? looking around the old towns and being told of the problems which the three countries had faced during the last 100 or so years. What did you think of your group leader? Lina was very personable, knowledgable about the areas we went throuh. She told us in great detail about the histories of the countries, the problems which they faced and, potentailly, still face. She interacted well with all members of the group, ensured that the eveing and lunch time restaurants wer einteresting. It seemsed that the distances which we cycled and were transferred were quite long for the times allocated , we always seemed to be trying to catch up with the schedule. Not sure if that is a problem of the design of the holiday. but loading a nd unloading the bikes takes about one hour Do you have any advice for potential travellers? be prepared for fairly hectic days
Reviewed July 2018 Elizabeth Luff Trip: Cycle the Baltics Great trip Great trip What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Lina’s Stories of Lithuania What did you think of your group leader? Excellent. Thankyou Lina Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Don’t take too much luggage. It soon becomes a pain, especially in small hotels with stairs. Take a travel kettle if you like to drink tea. Take cycling shorts.
Reviewed July 2018 Evelyn Tiefenbrun Trip: Cycle the Baltics Cycle the Baltics It was a great rip - well-organised, lovely routes, reasonable accommodation and food, excellent guide, great group -met some lovely people who I'll be seeing again. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Last night party was a lot of fun! What did you think of your group leader? Lukas was terrific - knowledgable, considerate, patient, addressed every issue & answered every question Do you have any advice for potential travellers? This is a great trip - just as described in the blurb. Go for it! Is there anything else you would like to add? Very hard work for just one guide, especially when riding. When Lukas was at the back, the people at the front often had to wait quite some time for the others, or else if Lukas was at the front, he led us a short distance at a time to keep us all together. Trip could benefit from 2nd guide.