Published on Aug, 2019
This was our second visit to the exquisite Curonian Spit. We were looking for a way to experience the dunes and the lagoon from a different perspective, so this kayak tour was perfect.
We joined the tour in Nida, and were transferred by minibus to the starting point in Juodkrante. From there, you kayak southwards on the lagoon for 14km - stopping en route for a picnic lunch - and are then picked up by bus to return to the starting point.
The scenery is glorious, and it's a privilege to experience sometimes precipitously steep dunes that access is prohibited to from the landward side.
Early on in the tour, you'll pass one of Europe's largest cormorant colonies, which boasts 6000 birds, and you'll also spot other water birds on the lagoon and in the fringing reed beds. We were very lucky, as we also saw a white tailed eagle soaring over the dunes.
In terms of organisation, the staff are friendly - mostly students on their summer vacation when we visited - and were obliging (for example, offering to pick us up from our accommodation). The kayaking equipment and life vests are in good condition, and a 'dry bag' is provided for your valuables. Just bear in mind that although you're provided with a cushion for comfort, the kayaks do not have back rests and the entire trip takes about 5 hours, so if you have a bad back, this might be a little challenging.
Lunch is a fairly basic picnic on a beach, and comprises bread, cheeses, cold meats and cucumber, with some biscuits and sweets. Tea, coffee and water are also provided.
This trip is definitely family-friendly. We did this trip with our son (who's just about to turn 13), and the other family who were on the same tour had sons of about 7 and 10 along. Kids can either participate in paddling, or can just let their parents do the hard work.
Overall, a lovely day's activity, and highly recommended.
