Travel wave
Hike in the Dead Dunes – Lithuanian Sahara
The Curonian Spit – a sand-dune peninsula that formed 5,000 years ago - is among the 5 longest sandy spits in the world and forms the largest and most impressive spit in the Baltic region. This unique UNESCO protected sight separates the Curonian Lagoon from the open Baltic Sea. Town Neringa established about 60 years ago has the longest green street in Lithuania that stretches about 50 km. This paradise welcomes thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.
We will get to the Spit by ferry and drive for about half an hour. On the way to the Dead Dunes you will enjoy beautiful views of the Curonian Lagoon, old settlement of Juodkrante, traditional houses and one of largest colonies of cormorants and grey herons amassed in the forest 1km south of Juodkrante.
The first stop - Cognitive path in Nagliai strict nature reserve near Pervalka. There we will have a stroll of the cognitive path which stretches for 1 100 meters and allows visitors of the Nagliai reserve to walk on the wooden as well as sandy surface exploring breathtaking views of the Curonian Lagoon as well as White and Grey Dunes. Here you will have opportunity to learn more about sites of the four sand-bound Curonian Spit villages, formation of the dunes.
Then our tour leads to Juodkrante where we visit the Weathervane Gallery and have a look at the weather-vanes that are a part of historical and cultural heritage of Curonian lagoon region. The exposition of weathervanes is based on historical findings and records.
We can end our tour either in the Lithuanian Sea Museum located in the fortifications and Dolphinarium or in the Old Town of Klaipeda.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length.
The Gems of Lithuanian Sahara – Curonian Spit
The Curonian Spit is an incredibly beautiful piece of land created 5,000 years ago by sand, sea and wind. This unique UNESCO protected sight is recognized worldwide as sea-, wind- and man-made live landscape with unique natural and cultural heritage.
From Klaipeda we will take the ferry across the Curonian Lagoon to Smiltyne.
The first stop in this route is the enchanting little village Juodkrante filled with wooden villas adorned with
woodcarvings. There we will take a walk in the Witches’ Hill where you can see one of the most ancient parabolic dunes as well as about 80-oak-sculptures gift of the folk artists.
From here we will drive to the one of the oldest and biggest colonies of grey herons and cormorants where the tops of pine trees in the old woods are spotted with numerous birds’ nests.
On the way along the longest green street to Nida you will admire the beauty of Nagliai Strict Nature Reserve and protective dune. After a half hour drive, we will reach a unique place in Nida – Parnidis Dune with its sundial - calendar. From top of 52-metre-high dune originality and beauty of the whole spit opens before eyes. By the way, it is the only place in Lithuania where the sun rises and sets in the water.
Then our tour leads to Nida is best known today as a Lithuanian coastal resort town sandwiched between two large, impressive, forested dune fields. Enjoy the peaceful feeling and see the traditional fishermen houses and explore Weathervanes Exposition along quay of Nida that are part of the local culture. We will also go to see an ancient insect trapped in a piece of amber at Virginija and Kazimieras Amber Gallery – museum. Before a drive back to Klaipeda we will have a seat and enjoy “the Italian view” at Thomas Mann summerhouse.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length. If you wish to try traditional fish dishes, we may have a meal in Juodkrante or Nida.
Klaipeda Old Town Tells Stories
A modern European city Klaipeda is the only port in Lithuania and its heart is beating together with the sea and the unique Old Town. It is the oldest city and the only port in Lithuania founded by Germans. It is the third largest city in Lithuania, located at the junction of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon as well as at the mouth of the River Dange. The maritime city hides old architecture - the Fachwerk. Klaipeda has always been a cosmopolitan city where Lithuanians, Germans, Swedes, Dutch, Jews, English, Scots, French lived and left their mark.
Start at the heart of the historical town castle and end at the legendary Theatre Square. Questions such as “Who? When? Where? Why? What?” about the Old Town of this city will be answered and discussed. View the River Dane, the port area and much more!
Then our tour will take us to the River Dane where the answers about the port and its history are found. It is time to tell the story of Klaipeda as a royal town as well as about the skyscrapers.
After that, listen to the stories about the two disasters that destroyed Klaipeda. During the tour, the Lithuanian guide will always show a magical place of the town and spot out unique facts about the Old Town of Klaipeda.
Finally, the tour ends at the heart of the town at the legendary Theatre Square that has its own secrets as well.
It is recommended to have comfortable footwear. 80 percent of the route (tour) goes along the cobbled streets. During the tour, guests will walk for about 3 km distance.
Find Klaipeda Old Town! And I hope that views, experiences and smell of the sea will leave the best impression.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length.
Necklace of Klaipeda Sculptures and Monuments
Klaipeda is a city with a rich heritage and history. It is the oldest city and the only port in Lithuania founded by Germans. It is the third largest city in Lithuania, located at the junction of the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon as well as at the mouth of the River Dange. The city has numerous important statues and monuments, some of which are weird, some of them outstanding and some of them amusing. Take this guided walking tour to discover the most significant and attractive statues and sculptures of the city and discover Klaipeda's creative spirit and history.
The guide takes you across Klaipeda on a walking tour of the city’s best outdoor art to see for free. We will have plenty of time to wander around the Klaipeda Old and New Towns, take amazing photos, and discuss who, what, when, why, and how they were created. This tour will help to explore not only magnificent sculptures but get acquainted with history of this unique port as well.
Go off the tourist track in Klaipeda and I will show you where creativity and culture blossoms together with
history. The tour starts with the creepy Black Ghost statue crawling out of the water and ends at The Boy with a Dog waving off the ferries. During our walk you will see more than 20 sculptures like the famous Mouse, The Little Mermaid, Chimneysweeps or Cat all around the city. And if you take a 3-hour walk, we will explore The Sculpture Park that was created in 1970s on the site of the former old cemetery. Now it is the biggest sculpture gallery under the sky in Lithuania with about 120 granite works on display.
This tour is a walking tour of various sites located in and around the old town. As you are outside for the duration of between 2 – 3 hours, please dress for the occasion as our weather can cover all four seasons in a day.
During the tour, guests will walk for about 5 km distance.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length.
Palanga – Lithuanian Louvre
Lithuania is a heaven for health lovers, with its fresh air, green cities and unspoilt nature. Everything you can find in one of the oldest Palanga resort. This is the country’s largest seaside resort town that occupies a 25 km zone along the Baltic Sea.
Visit starts at the main gate of the Palanga Botanical landscape park which is one of the prettiest, best preserved, and best maintained parks in Lithuania’s coastal region.
The guided walk in the park, past the ponds and stops at the main statues.
Discovering why the palace is known as 'Born in honey from love'.
Admire the view of the Tiskeviciai Palace.
Guests see aristocratic residence environment and the furniture and art works of the end of the 18th and the 19th centuries amber artefacts at the Palanga amber Museum 1st floor.
Then, visitors are acquainted with the history of amber in the context of the Earth evolution and the world
cultural history. This this museum showcases what is reputedly the world’s sixth-largest collection of Baltic gold.
Stroll among sweet-smelling roses in the Rosary.
Tour continues in the park and guests have an opportunity to familiarize with the Birute Hill.
After that, you will gain fascinating insight into the resort’s culture and heritage of the Old Villas, The Most Holy Virgin Mary’s Ascension church attracting with its neo-gothic beauty and greatness, Palanga kurhaus, lovely white sand beach with over 400m long the L-shaped wooden Pier. You can also go inside the modern Palanga resort museum.
After the Palanga tour it is available to explore Kretinga Manor of the Counts Tiškeviciai and exotic Winter Garden of the former palace with an all year flourishing about 5000 species of plants and nice water cascades, housing a cosy café.
Continue to a local restaurant to pleasure your palate with Lithuanian beers and traditional dishes like zeppelins (potato dumplings), saltibarsciai (cold pink soup) and freshly baked slices of black rye bread.
From here we will drive either to Klaipeda or Palanga.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length.
The Hill of Crosses and other pilgrimage sites of western Lithuania
Lithuanians are the last pagans on this continent. Paganism began to disappear in Lithuania at the end of the 14th century when Lithuania’s rulers accepted Christianity. The Baltic tribe Samogitians held on the longest – they only converted in the 15th century. Nowadays you can find Lithuanian sacral places in the pilgrimage routs.
A private tour of religious sites with an expert guide will make the most memorable day and you will enjoy the blend of traditional and modern sights.
After a drive of around 2 hours we will have time to wander around the one of the most spectacular sacral sights in the Baltic countries – Hill of Crosses that erected in the 19th century, when Lithuania was under Soviet rule, take amazing photos in this unusual place with a collection of over 200,000 different crosses from all around the world, which was visited by St. John Paul II in 1993, and discuss who, what, when, why, and how.
From Siauliai after a 2-hour drive we will explore magnificent spiritual and cultural centre of the north-western part of Lithuania - Kretinga. At the ensemble of Kretinga Bernardine Friary and the Church of the Lord’s Revelation to the Blessed Virgin Mary we will enter the church and see the doors from the 17th century church which were chop by Swedish soldiers trying to enter the monastery with the purpose to rob it and listen to many other stories. Outside of the church we will do off the tourist track to the splendid Lourdes of Kretinga with the spring. People believe that its water can cure various diseases.
Next, we will stop at a unique and one of the largest modern churches in Klaipeda St Casimir’s Roman Catholic Church. There you will gain fascinating insight into modern stained-glass art. We will walk around the church built in the former land of the King Frederick William III of Prussia and discover the hidden germs of the church, e.g. the largest (11 x 4.5 m) hanging stained glass altar of the risen Jesus in Lithuania or even Europe, the crown shape of the church etc. If we are lucky, we will have a talk with the priest.
We will end your tour in Klaipeda Old Town.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferred walking distance and tour length.
The taste of the unique Lithuania Minor ethnographic region
Lithuania Minor or Prussian Lithuania is a historical ethnographic region of Lithuania. This region has different traditions as it was influenced by the Teutonic Order, the Duchy of Prussia, and the German Empire. The wheel of history has turned, but signs of the times remain. This is where the best shipbuilders and net weavers live; this is where the most fish are caught, and the best fish soup is made.
In this private tour, you can taste the most authentic local bites of the traditional and modern Lithuanian cuisine and discover culture of the unique Lithuania Minor region.
On the way to Vente Cape (from Klaipeda) we will cross 25 km long ‘Klaipeda (Wilhelm) Channel' dig by French prisoners (1863-1873).
In an hour we will stop at the fishing village of Dreverna and enter the Jonas Gižas Ethnographic Homestead to learn about boat-making and fishing traditions. You will see a historical exposition of the shipwright as well enjoy vetrunge (weathervane) painting workshop where you get to know the story of weathervane – a unique example of ancient Lithuanian fishermen carving and Baltic folk art, which has no analogues in the world! In the small vessel harbour of Dreverna you can view the area washed by the lagoon and the Nagliai Nature Reserve from a 15-metre observation tower and taste apple cheese - soft, fragrant and sweet delicacy from the 17th century that neither children nor adults can resist.
On the way to Vente we will stop at a small boutique winery “Memel wine” where exceptional quality, handcrafted, limited edition wine is made under the old traditional recipe inherited from grandparents. During the tour you will be given an opportunity to meet the vintner and get a closer knowledge of the wine making process, taste all the varieties of the Memel Wine products that are made from quinces, apples and berries.
From here we will drive to a unique location on the Lithuanian shoreline Vente Cape which is more kingdom of birds than of people. After establishing the Vente Cape ornithological station, one of the first and the biggest bird catching and ringing base in Europe, approximately 60,000 – 80,000 birds are caught in the largest in the world bird traps and ringed per year. Some ringed birds were caught again even in Egypt, Iran and South Africa! In addition, you will be able to admire the beautiful landscape which opens from the observation deck of the unique old lighthouse located there. If there are no clouds, you can see the shores of Curonian Spit and Nemunas Delta.
Something that everyone loves is the fresh fish dishes. Don’t miss the opportunity to taste our magic fish in one of the family restaurants along the route.
And of course, what are the Lithuanians without rye bread? Enjoy the famous fried rye bread with garlic, freshly prepared for you by my Mum, along the way back to Klaipeda.
We will end your tour in Klaipeda Old Town.
Private tour option can be altered according to your preferences.
If you have 2 more hours, there is a possibility to enjoy the peaceful feeling of floating through the air in Aukstumala Raised Bog Educational Trail that has been constructed along the 2 km kulgrinda – an ancient secret underwater road of stones that went through the swamps in the 18th century.
I am waiting to give you the most amazing private food and culture experience in Lithuania Minor.