Cycle the Baltics

This was a very (very) enjoyable vacation. We have a good mix of personalities in the group who got on together and a great guide, Lina, who kept everything rolling. The mix of cycling and Baltic culture was the right balance and the sunny, warm weather, for all but the last day, showcased the 3 x Baltic countries at their glorious best. The trip blended the cycling with city visits (inc three in Lithuania, Kaunas, Klaipeda and Vilnius), beach visit (optional swim), a boat trip, city tours, country sightseeing, supported with interesting history and facts, supplied by Lina. This provided an overview of a 'hidden part' of Europe, that was very enlightening, more so now, due to the Baltic states proximity and relationship with bordering Russia. The hotels were all good standard and the local food ranged from good to delicious. During the days, we had the right amount of stops for coffee, ice cream, comfort breaks etc. Additionally, the local Baltic beer in all three countries is excellent, but be warned, pretty strong too. Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania do have many similarities but are clearly unique. Personally, I came away educated & with a clearer understanding of the the history and politics of the region & I'm grateful for this I highly recommend this trip - it was so good, I may even do it again!

We were very fortunate -weather was excellent-our guide Lina was amazing -exploring the baltics is a must do trip

I just came back a couple days ago from my 5th bike trip ever-- this was an excellent one! It's mostly flat, so the biking wasn't that hard, but hard enough that I felt I got a great workout every day. Our leader, Lina, was absolutely superb in every way. She organized us and kept track of us beautifully, calmed the waters during stressful situations (our bus broke down on the highway! But we got a new one ASAP), chose FANTASTIC restaurants for us, and told us volumes worth of history in a captivating way. These countries are fascinating, beautiful, quirky, with delicious food, great beaches, stunning architecture, excellent biking paths (it was never scary!), and perfect weather for us (August). Highly recommend!

Weather was challenging but overall this trip was well worthwhile.

I enjoyed the trip tremendously, even though the weather did not cooperate all the time. The biking was exactly as described, not too strenuous, but long enough each day to feel like one got a workout. In addition, the cycling route gave us a good sense of how each country viewed cycling. I also enjoyed the walking tour of Tallinn before the start of the bike trip, and the extra days in Riga and Vilnius.

Excellent review of recent and past history in the region

I honestly had no idea what to expect when I booked this cycling trip, but wow - what an absolute gem! The route took us to charming medieval towns, along stunning coastlines, and through peaceful national parks, showing us a side of these countries you'd likely otherwise miss. The absolute highlight for me was cycling Lithuania's Lake District, where we pedaled past gorgeous lakes and through pine forests, discovering adorable wooden villages that looked straight out of a storybook. The unexpected moments made it unforgettable - like when our guide insisted we try this tiny restaurant that only served dried fish (I was skeptical), but it turned out to be the best meal of the entire trip. Every evening, our small group would gather over wine and local beer, laughing about the day's adventures. From the incredible old town of Tallinn to tucked-away fishing villages, every day brought something new to discover, while the thoughtfully planned routes made the journey challenging yet incredibly rewarding. If you're on the fence about this trip, just book it.

Fascinating trip through interesting cities and countryside in the Baltics, led by the brilliant Lina. I was surprised to read recent negative reviews of this tour as it certainly didn’t match our experience. We were lucky to have a great group that really gelled and we all thought Lina was a brilliant leader. It is more of a cruising sight seeing tour then a full on cycling trip, the cycling is incidental on some days and the bikes are heavy shopping type bikes, but the terrain is generally flat and the riding is easy. The hotels were fine, though towels in the in Baltics are very thin and cheap and the trip would perhaps benefit from a non cycling day in the middle with a free afternoon to allow time for laundry and chilling.

Fascinating trip through 3 countries led by an excellent group leader, Lina

Brilliant time with Cycle The Baltics. This was our first cycle adventure but now plan to do more. All three countries were beautiful with such interesting histories. Cycling each day was tough but manageable with plenty of enjoying breaks.

A wonderful cycle through some of the best parts of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania averaging about 35-40 km a day. It takes in the cultural highlights of the three Baltic states including some stunning scenery, forest trails and four swimming opportunities in the sea and a lake. The trip was made truly memorable by our awesome guide Lina, who combined being an excellent cycling leader with her 'en-cyclo-paedic' knowledge of the history and culture of all the places we visited. She also shared her own experience of life in Soviet-era Lithuania including facing the Russian tanks after independence was declared in 1990. The trip was made extra-special by traveling with such a great group of like-minded people, making it all my best Exodus trip so far. Highly recommended!

An easy cycling trip exploring the 3 Baltic states, their capitals, countryside and beaches, as well as gaining a good understanding of their social, political and historical background up to the present day.

Good trip enjoyed by all

This was a fasinating trip and and an excellent way to experience the three countries. The culture, the people, the food and drink. The cycling was generally easy and flat. The bikes were fairly heavy but behaved well. The pannier was a great way to easily carry gear you may need during the day. Andrius was a great guide with masses of information about the history of the countries. His sense of humour was brilliant and he looked after us very well organising places to eat, getting snacks for lunches and choosing a beer! We had a great driver in Anatoli who was very patient waiting for us when we had an impromptu stop, or two, for an icecream.

A great way to see all three Baltic Countries with really pretty reasonably easy cycling.

This trip was fantastic. Every day we had something different to look forward to knowing Andrius would give us the best experience possible. There was so much to learn about the history of the three countries, it really makes a difference actually being there to hear first hand from locals how life has changed for them over the years. Beautiful scenery, swimming in the Baltic, cycling along a beach, visiting all three capitals, eating the local food, all highlights of the trip. The cycling was enjoyable as not to demanding and the bikes did the job although basic. The hotels were fine, especially as we hardly spent any time in the rooms due to the constant activities organised. Our group gelled well and we had much fun together, including with Andrius who arranged all of the dinners and lunches for us. Nothing was too much trouble for him. Our coach driver was excellent and a good support to Andrius fixing bikes etc. He also worked tirelessly to ensure we all had a good time. If you are considering this trip, do it!

Everything was good from booking the trip to finishing the cycling. The trip itself was so interesting - hearing all the stories about living in the former Soviet republics, seeing the stunningly beautiful Baltic beaches, easy cycling, tours of all the major cities, great restaurants, mostly cycling paths. I loved the trip and would highly recommend it.

Easy flat cycling. excellent guide' good weather. great group

This is a brilliant trip, which we really enjoyed. The accommodation was better than we expected, apart from one hotel/motel, The Green Park, which feels like you are sleeping (or not sleeping) in the middle of a main road. I think the tour would benefit from being very slightly more expensive and have better hotels, which are little difference in price in these countries. The itinerary was good, but it felt a bit rushed. We hardly saw Latvia and we had a couple of very long transfers. It would benefit from being a couple of days longer. Our guide, Andrius, was superb. He was so lovely, sociable and knowledgeable and was a pleasure to have around. The driver, Dmitri was a very good driver, without a single word of English. This was a shame, as we could not socialise with him. My big problem with these trips, and it is not just Exodus, is that, to save money, they have gone from 2 guides, to one guide and a mechanic/back-marker, to only one guide. This created a potentially big problem when I had an accident (and it was no-one's fault). I had to be taken to hospital by the guide as walking wounded (stitched up and continued cycling for the remainder of the holiday). That meant there was no-one to lead the cycling. Fortunately, we had a very competent fellow traveller who did this job. However, this is not the first time we have been caught out in this way. Exodus needs to take a serious look at health and safety, because it does matter. This is where the star has been dropped.

This was a brilliant trip from start to finish. We have learnt so much about the history of these three countries, the trip was about so much more than cycling. The scenery is beautiful, and we cycled a variety of terrains including along a beach! We were lucky to have a really good guide who is local and rich in the history of the Baltics. The cycling was gentle, not too challenging, which was fine for us. There were many activities to participate in, aside of just cycling. It was just non-stop from the beginning of the day until we flopped into bed every night! The hotels were all perfectly adequate, some really nice - with the exception of the hotel in Riga - tiny rooms, a teeny shower and poor breakfast. We had group meals every night bar one, and mostly they were good restaurants. Lunches were well thought out and mostly in small cafes. We loved this holiday. We were blessed with a great group of people to travel with and have made some fantastic new friends. If you are thinking about this trip, I would not hesitate. Do it!

I’m sitting on our return flight, reflecting on our Exodus cycling tour of the Baltic - I believe it was probably the best cycle trip we’ve had so far. Why? For me, these tours are a way of immersing myself in the culture, the folklore and the history of the countries we visit - as well as finding out “up-to-date” information on topical issues ranging from Ukraine and Russia, politics, economics - right up to today’s take on technology, education and culture - all washed down with some fabulous authentic local food and beverages. This trip primarily hit the mark because our guide Andreas was unbelievably knowledgeable, intelligent and bang up to date with everything - be it the best brew or the latest technological trends. Andreas‘ humour kept the entire team motivated and amused, thus ensuring that we all had an excellent trip. Andreas always ensured everyone was happy - be it having all the detailed information they wanted (on whatever they needed), selecting the best cuisine in a remote cafe or ensuring they enjoyed the right beer (there are literally dozens of delicious Baltic ales from which to choose). My knowledge of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is greatly improved for which I thank Andreas. From the holiday “logistics” view point, we had an excellent driver, good sound bikes, great local food and, I’m my opinion, the cycling was the right level/distance for what we wanted to achieve. We shall definitely visit again.

The Baltic countries are really interesting and so this trip is much more than the cycling - it was a cultural trip with bikes! We learnt a lot about the similarities and differences between the three countries, their history and their experience over the last hundred years. We also enjoyed some really nice food and drink and some good socialising - we had a really nice group. The cycling was pretty easy if you're reasonably fit - the routes aren't that hilly and quite a bit is through pine forest rather than open road. Several of us had e-bikes to take the strain on the longer days. The hotels were all pretty good.

I was drawn to this trip because I wanted to visit and learn more about this fascinating part of the world which has such a dramatic history. As it was my first cycling holiday I was also keen to choose a trip that wasn’t too strenuous and offered a good balance of activity and cultural interest. The trip fully met, and in fact, exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend the trip as a way of having a really enjoyable and active holiday while experiencing the history and culture of these proud and vibrant countries. (The fantastic weather was a lovely bonus!)

A fascinating trip through the 3 Baltic countries. The terrain was quite flat and the cycling easy over an amazing mix of forest trails generous cycle paths and some road travel. We were blessed with good weather and even managed to swim in the Baltic 3 times. The tour gave us a great insight into the conditions within all 3 countries during the Soviet era and how things have changed since then. The trip encompassed a wide range of activities and experiences ranging from climbing a forest fire watch tower to descending into the depths of an old Soviet nuclear missile site. Our travels were very much "off the beaten track" and we were able to meet the locals and had the opportunity to sample the local cuisine, including pink beetroot soup, smoked herring and potato-covered "zeppelins".

Absolutely beautiful countryside, hotels, people and scenery. My holiday was marred by the fact I had contracted covid on day 2. Exodus policy is to just leave you where you are without any support and manage through your insurance policy. ANDRIUS the guide spoke with the group in their thoughts and made it possible for me to enjoy some cycling, albeit I had to travel on public transport for some bits the group were very accepting and gradually I was included in more activities. The guides were brilliant and the holiday for me was saved in most part. I would recommend the trip for the experience, friendliness and knowledge of the guides....but beware of exodus policy regarding covid.

I think this trip is probably one of the best, if not the best, we've ever done and having visited every continent, we've done a few! We were blessed with glorious weather and a fabulous guide and driver, so that always helps. Lina was so knowledgeable and informative, sharing her family's story to put the history of the country in context. The days were planned with thought and care, a great balance of cycling and sightseeing, itineraries were changed, always with consensus, to accommodate the very hot days. The cycle network is really good, the roads were quiet and importantly, mostly flat. The beautiful beaches were a revelation, I hadn't appreciated that the coast would be so sandy and the sea so clean. It was such a treat to be able to swim at the end of some of the days in clean, clear and not so salty water. We knew very little about this part of the world and this trip is a really good way to explore it and get know a little of it's history; we really enjoyed it, and would highly recommend it

It was the first cycling holiday with exodus and lived up to all my expectations with a great mix of leisurely cycling and cultural visits. Our tour Leader Andrius contributed to the success of the trip with his thoughtfulness, caring attitude, and sheer determination to ensure our group had a lovely holiday. Nothing was left to chance and each day was so varied with a packed itinerary to explore three countries Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania with all its history, culture food and drink. I enjoyed the leisurely cycle to admire the beautiful landscape of each country along Rivers Lakes, Forests and coastal shoreline. Swimming or paddling in the Baltics sea together with having lunches to taste the local cuisine to include smoked fish, soups and of course Zeppelins.

Knowing very little about the Baltic States this trip was revelation. Beautiful countryside historic cities and so many places of interest. The cycling was enjoyable and not too strenuous as we passed along mainly flat routes giving us the opportunity to appreciate the the countryside. Our guide, Andrius, was excellent with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history and culture of the towns and cities we passed through. We even got an introduction to Tom Lehrer as a bonus.

Knowing very little about the Baltic States this trip was revelation. Beautiful countryside historic cities and so many places of interest. The cycling was enjoyable and not too strenuous as we passed along mainly flat routes giving us the opportunity to appreciate the the countryside. Our guide, Andrius, was excellent with an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history and culture of the towns and cities we passed through. We even got an introduction to Tom Lehrer as a bonus.

Originally booked for 2020, we were glad to finally get going after Covid interrupted our plans. Any fears we were not as fit as we might’ve been were quickly dispelled. The terrain was varied, largely flat and very manageable. The weather was brilliant and we could cycle at a good pace. The 3 countries are very different in their own way and we were lucky to have an excellent guide Andrius to explain those differences with his vast knowledge and experience.

Having never been to the Baltics, and having recently started looking after customers in the three countries for work, I was keen to discover more about Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. A friend from another trip recommended the trip. He was spot on! Andrius is a superb guide and looked after our group very well. We were treated to many hidden gems in each country, none more hidden than the Cold War Museum. We rode through pretty little fishing villages and lovely cities, such a rich tapestry of scenes. Riding was not too strenuous for those new to cycle tourism, yet plenty of scope for those of us used to clocking up the miles. Something for everyone. Make sure you add this trip to your list of trips to do.

Thanks to wide comfy saddles and mostly flat terrain the cycling was easy and enjoyable. My favourite area was Laheema National Park in Northern Estonia with wooden fisherman's houses, empty beaches and BIG swings. Swimming in the Baltic is lovely - the temperature is perfect and it's not salty. Our guide, Andrius, was great at setting the historical scene and teaching us what it's like to be a Lithuanian with an off-beat Lithuanian sense of humour. He led us round Talinn, showed us the art nouveau in Riga, cycled us through Vilnius as well as various smaller towns, castles and even a nuclear launch site. He was particularly good at organising places for us to eat Zeppelins, drink mead and dig our fingers into freshly smoked fish. But he was even better at setting up musical experiences. We heard a pipe organ concert in a Riga church, a big swing band on the water-front in Klapedia and best of all, our fabulous group spent a memorable night dancing like no-one was watching to a funky jazz band playing classics. Thanks Andrius. A special mention also for Mindogas, our ever-attentive driver who kept the whole show on the road.

The trip was well organised and offered the perfect mix between cycling and cultural visits. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. The driver was supportive and friendly. We tasted the local dishes and I enjoyed the variety of food offered. It was great to have a local guide who knows the background and personal stories that greatly contributed to learning about the countries we visited. The routes chosen to cycle were really beautiful. I also appreciated the time we had in each capital city.

I went on this trip with my mom and we had the best time. The biking for the most part was relatively flat with only one day being rather hilly. We were a small group-7people-but everyone got along well and we all had so much fun. It was a great trip with beautiful sights to see both in town and in small villages along the coastline.

Just returned from a wonderful 10 days cycling in the Baltics. Absolutely loved it! I only cycle around town so ordered an electric bike which was fantastic. I could have managed without as it mainly flat but wanted to enjoy rather than exert myself. It was great to see three completely new countries and hear about their history and culture. It was incredibly varied: loads to see, wonderful countryside, sea, towns and cities, with swimming, concerts, city tours, boat trip, nuclear missile launch site, and wonderful little places for lunch and elevenses and coffee breaks. Lovely restaurants and food, excellent hotels. Fantastic guide and driver and a very nice group. Heaven.

Having had a number of cycling trips cancelled due to the Covid pandemic, I was immensely pleased to finally be able to travel again. This particular trip had been on my wish list for for a number of years and it didn't fail to live up to my expectations. On the whole the cycling was fairly leisurely and the trip also provided the opportunity to get a flavour of the three Baltic capital cities (Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius).

This is a fabulous way to see three beautiful countries, their cities, towns, cultural hot spots and coastline!! Our awesome tour leader, Andrius, seriously optimised our time at each stop, and made sure we cycled the best routes. His local knowledge, attention to detail, sense of humour, and ability to ascertain and accommodate everyone’s wishes is exceptional. This is an amazing trip, and if you land Andrius as your guide, you've hit the jackpot!!

This trip fully met my expectations. I had never visited any of the Baltic countries and I was pleased to be able to see something of the countryside and coastal areas as well as brief stays in each of the 3 capitals. I also wanted to return to cycling with a fairly gentle trip and the itinerary allowed for a reasonably leisurely pace with mostly quiet roads. I found the balance of cycling, sightseeing and relaxation (sampling local cuisine and drinks!) to be good. What made our trip special was a great bunch of fellow cyclists and a superb guide in Andrius.

Trip was worthwhile. Interesting cities. Good food. Excellent guide - Andreus - who made the trip special. He had a good rapport with the whole group and his knowledge of the Baltics was first class.

A great introduction to Exodus for me. Although I had originally booked Northern Italy, that was cancelled due to Covid- this was a last minute booking - and glad I made it. Good local beer, pleasant well-matched company , lot of good locally produced food and an excellent tour leader Andrius Mazrimas with a very dry sense of humour ( which,on occasion, he needed). The cycling was not overblown (longest day 55kms) through mostly rural surroundings. Bikes were brand new and well suited to the terrain, though sturdy tourers rather than the racing style some may prefer. Hotels were all very good, with one exception, which is the only reason I haven't rated this holiday 'Excellent'. I will definitely be looking at some of the other options in the Exodus catalogue. Well done Andrius and thank you for showing us the heritage of some beautiful countries.

Thanks Exodus for working with us to make this trip happen. Cancelled in 2020 and 2021, due to COVID, we we finally made it in 2022. The Baltics are amazing, so rich with history, spectacular scenery and the weather was great. Best part of the trip was Andrius our remarkable guide. His knowledge of the Baltics is commendable, his humour infectious and his ability to adapt outstanding. His recommendations wether it was to the route itself or for places to visit or eat were well received by all. Thanks also to Mindaugas our driver who always where he needed to be. Definitely recommend taking a tour with Andrius. Randy and Annette

We were lucky enough to have Andrius as our guide. He ticked all the boxes you'd want from a tour leader, and then some. Aside from a cracking sense of humour (that initself says he probably should have picked a career as a stand up comedian), most impressive was his ability to adapt and innovate as went along, meaning we got the very best out of our tour. Exemplary stuff, chapeau.

A gastronomical experience on 2 wheels. Every day had a culinary surprise including grilled salmon, onion (not the crappy French) soup, onion pie, pink soup, mushroom soup, venison, pork knuckle and Zeplins!

The trip was very interesting with lots of variation, capital cities lovely little fishing villages. Lots of culture and history and easy cycling. Excellent food. Andries was a really great tour leader with a great sense of humour.

A thoroughly enjoyable and interesting trip. The Baltic states are great places to cycle with lots of dedicated and well maintained cycle paths away from the main road. Cycling through beautiful forests and by lakes and the sea, we also had time to sample the culture as well. Very good food too. Highly recommended.

Easy cycling with mostly flat terrain throughout. The three main cities, Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius are all a very interesting but quite different. The climate drier and warmer than I expected but maybe we were lucky. Food and drink really good.

Overall this was a very enjoyable trip, visiting the Baltic capitals and countryside, learning about the history of the countries and enjoying some very good local food. It is a relatively flat route through the countries on some very good quality cycle paths and roads (compared to the pot holes in the UK) and the distances are not too challenging.

Our trip was full of surprises, it was warm and sunny, the Baltic sea wasn't freezing, there were flowers everywhere, the food was great for a vegetarian and it's not boring cycling through a forest. Andrius was a great guide and storyteller, lots of jokes, folk tales, history and local information. We ate as many local specialities in unique locations as he could track down. On our one wet day he came up with a brilliant alternative of cycling round Kaunos instead which was lovely. A great holiday.

We enjoyed ten days of fun, sightseeing, riding and good food. The countryside we rode through was picturesque and always interesting. The villages, towns and cities all had their own unique charm. Our accommodation was very comfortable and our group were all friendly and good to ride with.

Andrius was an excellent guide through the three Baltic countries. Th cycling was not too challenging but at times rather monotonous as we cycled in forests or along roads with little changing scenery.

A brilliant trip all round. The cycling was very moderate on good comfy hybrid bikes through a variety of landscapes. The cities in the countries were interesting and vibrant. The group were a fantastic bunch of people and our guide was superb. Very informative , humorous , inclusive and clever with his little extras.

The trip was a leisurely cycle and very much as described but further enhanced by the sites of interest we visited. The food was great and Andrius took us to a variety of restaurants, all reasonably priced - eating in the fisherman's garden and the folk evening were highlights. This was our first trip with Exodus, we thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend.

A great, relaxing cycle tour of the 3 Baltic countries Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The cycling is gentle with few hills to worry about. The accommodation was great particularly the distillery hotel. The bikes were great, robust and panniers provided. The tour leader, Android, was fantastic and very knowledgeable about the history and cities we visited. He arranged some great lunch and dinner stops where he ensured all distant requirements were met. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to try out a cycle tour.

This was a very enjoyable trip with wonderful rides, sightseeing, and a fun group of 9 other riders.

If you are after some easy cycling in three very interesting countries, this is the trip for you. It is a good mix of each country's scenery, rich history and lovely capital cities. The cycling is relatively easy with most days cycling on flat, quiet roads and bike paths. There are a couple of undulating hills here and there but nothing too taxing so this trip is well within the capabilities of a new cyclist or someone wanting a relaxed trip. Each day is well paced with plenty of rest stops. The bikes were solid and comfortable and we were provided with pannier bags for carrying essentials.

This was our first ever cycling holiday and so we were unsure before going whether we'd be fit and prepared enough. Building up our cycling beforehand as per the Exodus training plan definitely helped our fitness. The distances and routes each day were very manageable. We did buy padded shorts for the trip and these were definitely helpful. We also took our own bike seats and after a couple of days using the one that came with the bikes (which I found a bit narrow and hard) I switched to my own which was definitely more comfortable and supportive for me, while my husband was happy with the Exodus one. The bikes were good with more gears than expected and an easy lever to flick the suspension on for bumpy ground. The pannier bag provided was an unexpected bonus and easily came on and off so can be taken to your room at night and packed for the following day. There are no separate compartments in them so after a few days of groping around in the dark space at the bottom every time I needed something, I organised smaller items into separate plastic bags which could be pulled out easily. Hotel rooms were clean and spacious with good facilities, though we may have hit lucky with our room allocation as some people felt cramped and not so happy with theirs. The hotel in Palmse was more basic but this was definitely compensated for by the lovely location. Breakfasts at all the hotels were good with plenty of choice. A gluten-free Exodus guest managed ok, helped by bringing a print out of 'I can't eat gluten' translated into the 3 languages to show staff and by buying a loaf of gluten free bread for when rice cakes got too boring. As non-meat eaters our meals out tended to be dominated by fish with very limited choices at some places for total vegetarians. Generally though the food was tastier and more varied than I had expected with some great places suggested by Andrius - we definitely needed those bike rides to keep the calories from piling on!

I joined this trip as an alternative way of seeing the 3 Baltic States which got you away from the 3 capital cities, but it may have converted me to non too strenuous cycle holidays too. Not only was the trip a very enjoyable 9 days of cycling but we also had a foodie experience and a cultural experience thrown in too thanks to our amazing guide Anders

Apart from a bevy of Brits on our trip there were a couple of kiwis intent on causing havoc and taking flight. Unwilling to despatch them down under our tenacious guide, Andrius, set out to distract and subdue them with Baltic diversions of seaside villages, a smoked fish and wild apple juice lunch in a hidden location, elusive beer tents, lavazza coffee car and a rotunda with champagne. Fresh berries and fairytales in the forest. Ice creams, beer and Pink Soup. And a freezing but fun swim. And then he iced the cake with with his humour, baltic jokes and music. Andrius turned out Baltic Bike trip into a delight of unexpected adventures. It didn't shut those kiwis up but at least they were bearable. Just.

We thoroughly enjoyed the easy cycling on mostly flat terrain through lovely countryside mixed with city visits. We were lucky with the weather as it was warm without being too hot, much of the cycling is through forest providing welcome shade. There was a mix of personalities and fitness levels in our group that overall was supportive and gelled well. The trip visits all 3 capitals but also more rural spots and much of the cycling is near the coast or lakes. The amount of cycling per day was such that there was never any rush and plenty of time for breaks. The cycling infrastructure (segregated paths) and courtesy of the drivers when cycling on roads is something I miss back in Britain. In most cases we stayed 2 nights in the same hotel giving time to explore the city or in the case of Palmse – explore the wonderful gardens and enjoy the peace and quiet. See Stephen Mardon's extensive write up for further details.

Interested in visiting a corner of Europe which is not on most people's itinerary? If so, then the cycle trip around the three Baltic Countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is definitely worthwhile considering. You get to see a variety of the countryside as well as the three Capitals so a full package. However, it's not a rushed holiday so it never feels like you're trying to cram everything in.

This was an excellent way to visit 3 countries, including the opportunity to explore their capital cities as well seeing the best parts of the countryside. A mixture of cycling and culture which appealed to me. Having made my own travel arrangements, I arrived at the hotel in Tallinn in advance of the main party flying in from Gatwick so had a chance to explore the city that evening myself. After meeting up with the others at breakfast on Sunday morning our leader gave us a short guided tour of the city before our minibus took us to the Lahemaa National Park where our cycling started.. The bikes we had were brand new sturdy Merida trekking bikes with water bottle holders, rear pannier frames and front suspension. Everyone was given a waterproof pannier to carry their belongs and a number of cycle locks were distributed to secure cycles when parked up unsupervised at stops. The bikes were well suited for the cycling which was primarily on flattish terrain with mostly tarmac roads, but with some gravel trails. The cycling was mainly on rural roads and cycle paths, with a small percentage of urban cycling. Maps showing the route were given out each day, and there were regular stops during the day to get water(supplied) from the minibus and to allow the group to come together. Apart from one day when we bought a picnic in a supermarket, daily lunch stops were at cafes or restaurants where food selections could be limited but there was always a vegetarian option. The leader suggested a restaurant for an evening meal which group members were welcome to join him at. These were local establishments which served local dishes which were well worth trying. There were a couple of long vehicle transfers towards the end of the holiday but these were broken up by stops along the route to stretch legs and buy drink and snacks. Overall prices of food & drink were very good value.

A memorable holiday with a group of compatible people who were all keen to enjoy the experience and learn about the region

Three different countries starting a little chilly but warming up nicely. Three different capitals with lots of different foods to try. Generally flat cycling with good maps on bikes which were adequate but probably heavier than most people were used to. Hotels variable but always well positioned.

Interesting countries that I’d not visited before. Good guide. Lovely food. Interesting cities. Easy riding but heavy bikes making the trip harder and more demanding. Pretty unspoiled countryside and lovely views across the Baltic Sea.

Excellent trip with wonderful guide. Andrius was extremely interesting, focussed and engaging. We thoroughly enjoyed the itinerary and the add-ons he introduced. Cycle tour of Vilnius was terrific.

The trip was well organised and the leader was excellent. The bikes were disappointing. The bikes were new and in excellent condition but they were very heavy and had only 8 gears and were not to the standard I have experienced in previous exodus cycling tours. In addition neither the guide nor the driver were experienced mechanics which resulted in one of the experienced cyclists on the tour helping out.

There were only seven of us on our trip but we all felt this was a perfect number. Our guide Minda was wonderful. He was patient, flexible, had a great sense of humour and was full of information. He answered all our questions and had so much knowledge about the history of the Baltics. We rode in May and it was cool when we started in Estonia but warmed us as we went south. The added bonus was we were doing it before the season really started so we didn’t have the crowds. We all enjoyed the varied itinerary and have learned so much from our experience.

A very enjoyable trip thanks to a great guide (Lena), a very friendly group ,a very professional driver, a well planned itinerary &,good weather.

We had a very enjoyable cycle through the Baltic States form Tallinn to Vilnius. We left on August 28 and finished on September 9th. Our guide Lena was excellent, the group were all friendly and our driver was highly professional. We were blessed with fine weather and we thought that the Grading of 2 was spot on.We would have liked more time in Riga.

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.

The riding was great. The leader knowledgeable and inspirational. Accommodations were pretty basic - not much charm there.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great trip

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.

A very well organised and interesting trip, combining exercise and sightseeing in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Our guide Vaida was calm, helpful, knowledgable, kind and fun - an ideal cycling guide. The trip gave 4 nights in Estonia, 2 in Latvia and 4 in Lithuania, with a combination of cycling, learning about the cities we visited, and socialising with the group. The cycling was straightforward, mostly flat riding in forests or by the sea, sometimes with a headwind. It was mostly cool which is good for cycling. The group were of mixed ability, so some went ahead whilst others went more slowly to enjoy the views. It was good to visit this area of Europe to get to know more about it. Breakfasts were substantial, and I have developed a love of herring - though this is not necessary!

Our guide Vaida took us to see a fabulous variety of highlights in both large cities and small villages. The three capital cities - Tallin, Riga and Vilnius all had exceptionally interesting landmarks, historic sites and interesting excursions into areas of the every day lives of the people. Large national forests, small fishing villages and lovely seaside towns provided a pleasant contrast to our days in th3 featured cities.

Great trip with a wonderful group and just sooo much to see plus lots of great food!

Good trip overall for both culture and cycling. You learn a lot about the Baltic countries and their uneasy relationship with Russia. The cycling was mostly flat, which is hard in the legs especially in a head wind. At times their were unavoidable long flat straight stretches on roads which were dull.

The itinerary is accurate. This was my first experience with a group cycling tour and I was a solo traveler. I would say the trip exceeded my expectations because I saw local towns/areas that I would not have normally visited on my own in the country-side, the travel group was a great set of people from all over the world, and the places we visited for food were very tasty and a great sampling of local cuisine. During the visits to capital cities, I learned a lot about the history of various Baltic countries from the medieval to modern era. Overall, I enjoyed the routes we cycled (generally minimal car traffic) as they were in scenic areas.

It was a fantastic trip, every day was a new adventure. The cycling was varied, and there was a lot of custom made cycle paths, e.g. on the Coronian Spit which consisted of just miles of cycle paths. The hotels were great, the best being the one in the National Park called Palmse Manor, with a stunning lake. The Hotel Braavo in Tallin was probably one not to return to, as they were obviously doing some refurbishments and it was a bit like a "work in progress".

A great trip, blending cultural aspects, great sightseeing, exploring the 3 capital cities as well as some nice cycling. Terrain was nice and flat and was within the capability of everyone in our group. Distances were very manageable and there was a minimum of waiting around. Lukas, our guide and the driver were simply outstanding in getting us up on our bikes each day with a minimum of fuss. Fast turnaround time between finishing our cycling and being back on the move again on the bus.