Lithuanian and Latvian nature parks tour

• Bus Vilnius / Kaunas - Druskininkai
• Sightseeing at the Spa resort Druskininkai.
• Accommodation: in Druskininkai.

• Public Bus: Druskininkai - Žiogeliai
• Forest Trail hike in Dzūkija National park: Žiogeliai - Merkinė (25 km, 6 - 8h)

Road surface: Small forest and country roads, gravel roads, in a short section – trails and asphalt (Merkinė), by the castle mounds – stairs.

Difficulty level: medium

Danger points: The Merkys River must be crossed via the A4 road bridge. You have to cross the road and walk along the side of the road for a few hundred meters. There are hogweeds in the vicinity of the Utieka, which must not be touched, because they cause burns!

Good to know! There are no shops or catering sites from Žiogeliai to Merkinė, so you need to take a lunch box.

• Bus from Merkinė to Vilnius (trip duration 1,5 h, the latest bus at 18:11 in the evening).

Accommodation: in Vilnius.

• Train: Vilnius - Šiauliai
• Private transfer to Dengtiltis.
• Hike: Dengtiltis - Kurtuvėnai (15 km, 4 - 6h) in Kurtuvėnai Regional park

Road surface: Mainly small forest roads and trails, in some places gravel roads, in Kurtuvėnai and in the vicinity – asphalt.

Difficulty level: easy

Danger points: Steep slopes can be slippery in wet weather.

Good to know! At this and the next section, it is advisable to carefully follow the markers in nature and use GPX files, because the network of off-road trails is very dense and the terrain is difficult.

Accommodation: in Kurtuvėnai or by Lake Pageluvio.

• Hike: Kurtuvėnai - Šaukėnai (16 km, 4 - 6h) in Kurtuvėnai Regional Park

Road surface: Small forest trails and small forest roads, wooden footbridges in wet places, asphalt in Šaukėnai.

Difficulty level: easy

Good to know! In this section, the Forest Trail intersects with other hiking routes.

• Bus to Šiauliai.

Accommodation:  in Šiauliai.

• Train to Plungė.
• Private transfer or public bus to Žemaičių Kalvarija.
• Forest Trail hike: Žemaičių Kalvarija - Paplatelė (18 km, 5 - 6h)

Road surface: Asphalt (roads, pedestrian / bicycle paths), gravel roads.

Difficulty level: medium

Danger points: Be careful when walking along the side of the road!

Good to know! In the summer season, Plokštinės street and the beaches are full of holidaymakers.

Accommodation: in Paplatelė.

• Forest Trail hike: Paplatelė - Plateliai in Žemaitija National Park (20 km, 5 - 7h)

Road surface: Forest roads and trails, asphalt pedestrian / bicycle paths and sidewalks, gravel roads.

Difficulty level: easy

Good to know: During the summer season, there are many holidaymakers around Lake Plateliai.

Accommodation: in Paplatelė or Plateliai.

• Private transfer to Plungė.
• Train Plungė - Klaipėda (trip ~ 1 h); bus Klaipėda - Liepāja (trip ~1,5 h)
• Sightseeing in Liepāja.

Accommodation: in Liepāja.

• In the morning bus Liepāja - Kuldīga (trip ~1h 50 min).
• Sightseeing in Kuldīga.
• Forest Trail hike: along the promenade of river Venta in Kuldīga (2,5 km in one way)

Road surface: Asphalt or pavement, promenade with gravel along the shore.

Accommodation: in Kuldīga.

• Bus Kuldīga - Renda
• Forest Trail hike: Renda - Sabile (25 km, 6 - 8h)

Road surface: Gravel roads, in a small section – trails, in Renda and Sabile – asphalt and pavement.

Difficulty level: medium

Good to know! There are no catering sites and shops between Renda and Sabile, so you need to take the lunch boxes.

• Private transfer to the accommodation place.

Accommodation: in Sabile or the area of Abava River valley.

• Forest Trail hike: Sabile - Kandava (21 km, 5 - 7h)

Road surface: Gravel roads and dirt roads, in a short section – trails, in Kandava – asphalt, pavement.

Difficulty level: easy

Alternatives: It is worth spending at least half a day visiting Kandava and walking along the Čužu bog nature trail.

• Bus: Kandava - Tukums.

Accommodation: in Tukums (or can have private transfer to Valgums and overnight in the leisure complex “Valguma Pasaule”).

• Train: Tukums I - Smārde (trip duration 10 min.) and walk 2,3 km to the start of the Forest Trail.
• Forest Trail hike: Jāņukrogs - Ķemeri (21 km, 5 - 7h)

Road surface: Gravel roads, in Ķemeri – asphalt, pavement, park paths, forest trails with natural pavement, wooden footbridges.

Difficulty level: easy

Good to know: There is an interesting barefoot trail in the leisure complex “Valguma Pasaule”.

Accommodation: in Ķemeri.

• Forest Trail hike: Ķemeri - Bigauņciems (10 km, 2 - 3h)

Road surface: Gravel roads, in Ķemeri – asphalt, pavement, park paths, forest trails with natural pavement, wooden footbridges.

Difficulty level: easy

Danger points: Be careful when walking along the side of the road!

• Bus: Bigauņciems - Rīga