Curonian Spit Day Tour: UNESCO Heritage & Witch Mountain

Eighty oak witches and demons carved into a sand dune, overlooking the lagoon.

A 6-hour day tour from Klaipeda to Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Baltic coast, with ferry crossing, minibus transport, professional guide, and stops at Witch Mountain sculpture park, Parnidzio Dune, Nida fishing village, and Thomas Mann Memorial Museum. Hotel or port pickup is included. Eco-fee and museum entry are paid on site at certain attractions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Curonian Spit and Kursiu Nerija

• Start journey from Smiltyne ferry
• Visit Juodkrante village
• Explore Witch Mountain sand dune
• Tour Nida village and Great Dune
• Climb Parnidzio dune observation deck
• Visit Thomas Mann Memorial Museum
• Return to Klaipeda and overnight

The experience

The journey starts with a ferry crossing from Smiltyne into what locals call "the corner of the world": the narrow strip of land between the Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. Forests cover 83% of Kursiu Nerija, making it Lithuania's greenest landscape, and the route passes through three of its main settlements: Juodkrante, Preila, and Nida. A professional guide in English, German, Russian, or Lithuanian narrates the drive in a climate-controlled minibus, explaining the area's ecology and history as the dunes shift around you.

Witch Mountain in Juodkrante holds about 80 wooden sculptures (witches, demons, dragons, and other figures carved from oak) arranged across one of the most striking sand dunes. The stop at Parnidzio Dune includes access to an observation deck 52 meters above the lagoon, with views across both water and forest. Nida, one of the oldest settlements on the spit (known since 1429), preserves distinctive fishing lodge architecture, bright painted carvings, and an old cemetery with carved headstones. The famous Great Dune here is where German writer Thomas Mann spent summers in the 1930s. The Thomas Mann Memorial Museum, housed in his former vacation home, opens from 10:00 to 18:00 in summer and operates as a cultural center for concerts and readings.

The tour runs six hours total and returns you to your hotel or port in Klaipeda by early evening. Bring a camera if you want to photograph the sculptures and dunes: some objects require a separate photo permit. In summer, there is time for a swim or beach walk on the sandy shore before heading back.

What’s included

• Eco-fee for Curonian Spit entry.
• minibus transport with air conditioning.
• hotel or port pickup and drop-off in Klaipeda.
• professional guide in your chosen language.
• travel documentation.
• entertainment program and stops at Witch Mountain, Parnidzio Dune observation deck, Nida village, and the Thomas Mann Memorial Museum area.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (19 to 75 years) · Senior (76 and older) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 13

Live guideEnglish, German and Russian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 31 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Travel in Baltics

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a steady pace with short walks at each stop and time to explore Nida's architecture and the beach if you choose, so it suits travelers who want to see the main sights without a demanding itinerary. The ferry crossing and minibus transport mean you're not driving yourself, which lets you focus on the landscape and the guide's commentary about the dunes and their history.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, German and Russian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is Witch Mountain and why is it on this tour?

Witch Mountain in Juodkrante is an open-air wooden sculpture exhibition on a sand dune, featuring about 80 oak carvings of witches, demons, and fairy-tale figures. It's one of the most visually distinctive stops on the Curonian Spit and a key reason travelers choose this route.

Do I need to pay extra for the Thomas Mann Museum?

Thomas Mann Memorial Museum entry is not included in the tour price and is paid separately on site. The museum is open 10:00 to 18:00 (or 17:00 outside summer), and entry allows you to see the writer's former vacation home and the cultural center inside.

Is the ferry crossing included, or do I pay separately?

The ferry crossing from Smiltyne is part of the tour. The eco-fee to enter Curonian Spit is also included, though some attractions like museums charge separate admission at the time of your visit.

How much walking is involved on this tour?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You walk to the observation deck on Parnidzio Dune and explore Witch Mountain and Nida village at a moderate pace, but most travel between stops is by minibus. In summer, you can choose to swim or walk the beach, but it's optional.

Can I take photos of the sculptures and dunes?

Photography is allowed, but some objects on the spit require a separate photo and video permit, which you purchase on site. Plan for this small extra cost if you want to photograph certain attractions.