Cedar canoe tour in Klaipeda - ideal for Cruise Ship travelers.
Description
Explore Klaipeda from a different perspective. Take a look at the city's industrial part, discover the old Memel fortifications and get up close and personal with the Meridianas sailing ship. This city tour is suitable for travelers with tight schedule. It is also a great introduction into paddling and an opportunity to experience a real cedar strip canoe in action.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Under the guidance of the engineer Charles Rose, the city was to be encircled in the manner of Holland-type fortifications, eastward from the former church of the St. John. Moulds and bastions measuring about 3.5 metres high were formed, and outer ditches (moats) were dug. Because of their size, the citie's fortifications are categorized as being amongst the great royal castles. The works were finished only in the late 17th century-early 18th century. Later, the moulds were reconstructed in the mid-18th century. The fortification system of Klaipėda at the time was complex. Because the city was surrounded by bastion fortifications in the East and South and secured by the Naujoji Danė River in the North, the only access was via three gates named after their main objects: Tiltas (Bridge), Kūlių (of Stones) and Malūnų (of the Mills). The latter two were built upon earthen ramparts. During the wars in the 18th century, the maintenance of the fortress was neglected, the gateways were starting to be disassembled for their bricks, the ramparts were torn-up, the ditches were filled with soil; in the 20th century, only small fragments of the former complex fortification system remained. Today, the former fortification system can be best observed at the end of Turgaus Street, from the bastions referred to in the historical records as the Geldern and Purmark. In front of the bastions, the water-area of the defensive ditch/moat, and the only surviving ravelin can be seen. The remains of these defensive fortifications were restored in 1994-1997 (author of project V. Šliogeris).
The educational vessel Meridian was built in 1948 in Finland in a Turku (Finland) shipyard as a contribution to the soviet union after the second world war, along with 48 other similar ships. Very few others remain. The ship that went to Estonia was perhaps the luckiest, as it is currently being displayed in Talin. Meridian, that went to the Klaipeda Navigation School, was the first vessel for many future postwar captains and helmsmen. Meridian as an educational vessel closed its doors in 1967 and opened up as a restaurant on the Dane river quay. In Autumn 2012, the ship changed hands, and the new owners (Aidas Kaveckas and Aloyzas Kuzmarskis) had it repaired, restored and returned on November 9th, 2013. The newly renovated Ship offers a marine exposition, in which you can learn about the history of Meridian, its journeys at sea, structure of the ship and various maritime gadgets.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We will pick you up at the cruise terminal, right at the dock. Look for our bright colored minibus with a canoe trailer right at the security gate.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 16 years
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Reviews(24)
Lovely day on the water in this beautiful city. Great way to spend the day. Give it a try - you'll be glad you did. The tour guide is also a the boat builder so you get to enjoy his art and his knowledge of the area.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had such a lovely day on the water and enjoyed exploring our city. It means a lot that you appreciated both the canoe and the stories about the area. Building this canoe has truly been a passion project, so it's especially rewarding to know that guests enjoy experiencing it. Thank you!
Janus was amazing guide. Make sure we were all safe and knew what we were doing his canoes which he hand makes are beautiful and easy to maneuver. Got a history lesson along with just a really enjoyable morning highly recommend. Would suggest that you have had some experience before it would make it easier for you.
Thank you so much for your kind words and recommendation! It was a pleasure having you on the tour. I'm glad you enjoyed both the paddling experience and the stories about the area's history. Hearing that you appreciated the handcrafted canoes means a great deal—they're built with a lot of care and passion. Thank you as well for the helpful tip for future guests. While beginners are always welcome, a little paddling experience can certainly make the trip feel even more relaxed and enjoyable. Safe travels! :)
What a fantasy tour, our guider was super nice , helpful & supportive. Even though we were the slowest from whole group, but everyone was quite chill & understandable… plus beautiful view alone the shore… a must try from my personal vote, lol
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad you enjoyed the tour and felt supported throughout the trip. There's no rush on our tours—it's all about enjoying the experience and the beautiful scenery. Thanks for the recommendation, and we hope to see you again!
We sailed along the Wilhelm Canal to Dreverna. We had the opportunity to admire the beautiful autumn nature. The route is calm and picturesque, especially when approaching Dreverna. The handmade canoes caught the eye of many people. The guide was helpful, pleasant, an enthusiast in his field. Amazing that he himself made the canoes we paddled.
Janis is a great dude. He took us along the canal in Klapeida, it’s a very easy ride. There is not much to see in the town, but Janis manages to make it exiting and lively. I would definetly engage him again for a tour in the region or ask for his advice, he has been around and is happy to share. Btw, i booked for a specific day but the weather wasn’t looking great so Janis reached out proactively by text and was flexible to plan another day. I found it very professional.
It was a great experience to paddle through Klaipeda. Also the weather was perfect and our guide was very nice. We've learned a lot about Klaipeda.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re glad you enjoyed paddling through Klaipėda, the great weather, and our friendly guide. Hope to see you again!
Excellent excursion! We were picked up at the port as promised. Given safety equipment and a lesson in canoeing. Enjoyed every minute on the handmade canoe and our guide. Perfect way to learn about Klaipeda, its history and Lithuanian life. Most highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your excellent review! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the canoe, the tour, and learning about Klaipėda. We really appreciate your recommendation!
This was horrible. Quick to take out money and they never showed up. We waited over 30 minutes. There was no form of contact to let us know they were cancelling and no one would answer or respond to any messages. Such a huge waste of our time
Dear Kendra, We’re truly sorry for your experience — this is far from the standard we set for ourselves, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration this caused you. Please rest assured this was not a scam — your payment was immediately refunded in full, and we did not receive any benefit from this situation. We did try to reach you several times to update you, but unfortunately, the contact number we had was incorrect, and we could not get through. We understand how upsetting this must have been, especially without any clear communication. We are a genuine business that takes pride in delivering great service, and it’s deeply disappointing to hear we fell short for you.
This was such a fun way to explore this city. The guide also is the one who built all the boats. He grew up here and really knows his history of the area. Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re glad you enjoyed exploring the city and hearing its history from our guide and boat builder. We really appreciate your recommendation!
This tour guide is an actual local which we feel really helps the authenticity of the tours. He literally made the canoes himself during the winter months!
This is what I do :) Thanks for finding a time to leave a review. Appreciate it!
