Walking along educational trails is one of the best ways to enjoy Lithuanian nature. At the same time, it is both a healthy movement and a broadening of horizons, getting to know plants, animals and even the history of the country better. A spring hike along the educational trail always gives strong impressions, because a person can experience the transformation of nature. And when walking on the paths with bare feet without shoes, the body is flooded with energy from the awakening earth. Therefore, VšĮ "Travel in Lithuania" offers to welcome spring with hiking in nature.
"The choice of educational trails in Lithuania is really abundant, and visiting them is among the most popular choices of visitors. Walking with shoes or bare feet, you will notice how different the nature of our country is and how many different experiences it offers. Therefore, it is worth reviewing the descriptions of the trails and choosing the right route for you, after evaluating its length, complexity and other parameters. Pack a bag of snacks and go to nature," says Neringa Sutkaitytė, a local tourism expert at Keliauk Lithuania.
"Using the funds of the European Union, many of the most valuable places in Lithuania's protected territories have been newly adapted for visiting. For example, educational trails invite you to actively and sustainably travel around national and regional parks. These include the popular Arlavishki juniper trail in the Kaunas Marians Regional Park, the wooden Mūša Tyrelios trail through the marsh in the Žagarė Regional Park, and the Meironių trail in the Aukštaitija National Park, introducing you to the lake landscape and protected biodiversity... Travel and discover Lithuania's protected territories," says the State Security Service. Director of Territorial Service dr. Agnė Jasinavičiūtė.
People who walk the hiking trails every year say that after exploring one, they want to immediately plan another hike. When the sun warms the ground in spring and summer, it is worth trying an alternative to the educational trails - walking barefoot in sections specially equipped for barefooters. The national tourism promotion agency VšĮ "Keliauk Lithuania" invites you to discover the secrets and legends of nature in the regions of Lithuania - try more than 100 trails, the full list of which can be found here.
1. The educational trail of the Amalva swamp in the Žuvintas biosphere reserve (Marijampole district) is called a dwarf. Because it is very short (121 m long) and perfect for beginners and very small hikers. However, while walking along it, you can look at the largest Amalva swamp in Suvalkia. Along the trail, there are informational stands about wetland plants and animals, and there is an observation tower.
2. Moose trail (Širvintos district) is the best place to start getting to know moose. The giants of the forests do not run anywhere and are not afraid of people, because they are wooden, built around Širvintais pond. Elk - weathervane, elk - bench and other wooden kings of the forest appeared on the trail after the woodcarvers en plein air. The green zone near Širvintos beach is constantly being filled with new residents, there are already about 30 of them.
3. The craftsmanship of the wood carvers will also surprise the explorers of the Kazlų Rūda educational forest trail (Kazlų Rūda district). Those who want to see animals in nature will definitely "meet" wooden inhabitants of the forest on this trail. The trail is interesting because it presents the origin of the name Kazlų Rūda and the history of iron mining. One of the attractions is the German roller coaster waiting for hikers.
4. Dubingiai castle site educational trail in the Asvejas regional park (Molėtė district) is like a ticket to a trip to the history of Lithuania. It was from this place that Barbora Radvilaitė's love letters to Žygimantas Augustus flew 500 years ago. Barbora stayed in the Radvil Palace after a secret marriage. The 1,5 km long trail brings to life the story of royal love: it leads through the exhibition of the remains of the Radvilai Palace covered with a special hood, the site of the former Evangelical Reformed Church, and the Radvilai burial crypt.
5. Sadargo Mounds Barefoot Trail (Šakių district) is an opportunity to touch history and legends as well as nature. The complex of five Sudarg mounds is considered the most important after the famous Kernavė mounds. It commemorates the period of battles with the Crusaders, so trying the barefoot path in this historical place by the Nemunas is a unique experience. The length of the path is almost 200 m, the surfaces are prepared only from what is found in nature.
6. Sensory trail in Taurai adventure park (Tauragės district) - attraction and therapy waiting for the visitors of the largest amusement park in Žemaitia. The barefoot path created here is a record holder, as it has as many as 100 different surfaces and 100 different sensations for bare feet.
7. After massaging your soles, it is worth visiting the observation tower at the confluence of the Akmena and Jūra rivers, located in the Pagramanis regional park, about half an hour's drive away. The observation tower greatly contributed to the discovery of the nearby Akmena educational trail by visitors. The beginning of the trail, which is almost 1 km long, is at the fun-equipped recreation area "Lakštingalu slėnis". The attraction of the trail is two hanging bridges over the river.
8. The educational trail of Lake Germantas (Telšiai district) invites you to travel deep into Žemaitija. Or is it the devil's spell that draws you to this landscape sanctuary? Because while walking along the path along Lake Germant, you will even learn about several legends, the main heroes of which are devils. You'll even meet a horned deer frolicking by the spring. Family swings, an energetic stone labyrinth, and meditation huts also await on the trail. A good idea is to take a bathing suit on the hike and try the sandy beach of the lake.
9. Travelers who like to observe the flow of the river rather than the lake should come to the Nevėžio Valley educational trail in the Krekenava Regional Park (Panevėžio district). Winding through the regional park, Nevēžis with 100 different old-fashioned trees creates a special landscape. Next to one of them, a horseshoe-shaped old thief, a 1,6 km long educational trail of the Nevėžis river valley winds. There is a viewing platform nearby.
10. The footpath next to the Venta river in Dirvonėnai (Šiauliai district) opens a section for walking without shoes. Here you will remember that the feet are a map of the human body. Walking barefoot along the Venta river, you can try the base of various textures - from various sawn wood to various needles, pine cones or even several types of sand.
11. Those planning to go to Kretinga should try the Jauryklas barefoot reflexology trail (Kretinga district). The park along the Jauryklos stream has become a favorite place for local residents and visiting guests, especially families with children. Because in addition to walking paths, recreation areas and playgrounds, there is also a path for barefooters, which encourages relaxation, discarding everyday worries, and getting stronger.
12. And it is better to go to the "Badger's Cave" with shoes. "Barsuko ola" invites you to an educational geological trail in the Biržai Regional Park (Biržai district). As you walk along the 700 m long path, you can see as many as 13 sinkholes that have mysteriously opened here. Among them are sinkholes named "Geologists' pit", "Fox cave", "Badger cave" and others.
13. Hikers who admire birds more than badgers should try the Skaistgiris barefoot trail (Joniškios district). In the valley of Skaistgiris Uolyna mountain, an observation tower rises to the sky, and impressive wooden sculptures of birds catch the eye on the ground. There are also children's playgrounds on the trail. The barefoot path here can be covered even at night, because the night lighting works.
14. In the south of Lithuania, an educational trail through the forests of Bijotų-Širvintos awaits travelers in the Metelei regional park (Lazdijų district). You can get to know the Metelei Regional Park, where the Great Southern Lithuanian Lakes: Dusia, Metelys and Obelija, are still inhabited, and large flocks of migratory waterfowl stay in spring and autumn, by walking along the 3,5 km long Bijota-Širvinto forest educational trail. It starts at the Metelei Regional Park Visitor Center.
15. Not three lakes, but three mounds are a magnet for visitors of the Dūkšta educational trail in the Neries Regional Park (Vilnius district). In addition to them, you will also find one of the Lithuanian mountain streams in the park. The water of Sraunioji Dūkšta falls even from a height of 20 m. And all this - just half an hour's drive from Vilnius.
The length of the Dūkšta educational trail is 5 km. The route is considered one of the most difficult in the Neris Regional Park, but it is full of breathtaking stories. For example, three hillforts - Bradeliškii, Karmazini and Buivyda - will tell about the land Vikings who founded the state, and the abandoned Bradeliškii mill - about local ghosts. Don't forget to admire the natural values: the deep valley, the Dūkšta valley, the vegetation.
16. Kaunas residents who like the educational trails near the Kaunas lagoon should also discover the Gastilonis educational trail in the Kaunas lagoon regional park (Kaišiadorių district). The thickest pine tree in Rumšiškių forest in Lithuania, which is about 400 years old, marks the beginning of the trail. A 3 km long trail leads along steep slopes to the Gastilonis outcrop, which opens up the panorama of the Kaunas Lagoon from a height of 30 meters. Together with tourism information centers and the State Service of Protected Areas, the team of VšĮ "Keliauk Lietuvoje" gathered information about educational trails and notices that next to educational trails in various regions of Lithuania, you can find other attractive tourist objects, such as observation towers, museums or mansions. All of them are worth including in the plans of a weekend or longer trip to Lithuania.
