When we were staying in Nida and planning our seaside holiday, we knew we only had a few days and there was so much to see, so the itinerary was the perfect solution for us. We put the dunes of Nida and the coast of Neringa on our list of places to visit. We also decided that it would be very interesting to reach Juodkrante and see the panorama of the dunes from the water. Nida is really full of boats that run group cruises along the dunes and coastline, and we wanted a private cruise just for our group of friends, so we chose a speedboat to complete the trip. We were pleasantly surprised when, during the booking process, we were offered a food delivery service on our return from Juodkrante. We were glad that they had thought ahead – after all, we would definitely be hungry after an active day.
What did our trip look like?
We left Nida on a speedboat, which cuts through the waves quickly, so we reached Juodkrante in just 1.5 hours. The fresh breeze and the sun are even more delightful when you are sailing in the Curonian Lagoon and enjoying the beautiful views: while sailing, we also saw the Dead or Dead Dunes, which are really the longest sand hills in Lithuania, so named not only because of the way they look and the vegetation, but also because of the historical moments. The dunes, battered by strong winds, preserve the sad history of the Curonian Spit villages – between 1675 and 1854, as many as four villages of Nagliai were destroyed here, and they are still hidden deep under the sand. Seeing such sights doesn’t make the journey any longer.
We also learnt one great advantage of the speedboat – smaller boats can dock at the pier in Pervalka, giving us the chance to see the smallest and quietest settlement. It’s nice to take a short walk along the quiet streets and see the unique old fishermen’s houses. It is interesting when architecture preserves such a long history.
After visiting Pervalka, we headed to our main stop – Juodkrante – a cosy fishing village, considered to be one of the oldest villages in the Spit. This village on the shore of the lagoon has a lot to offer, so we disembarked for a couple of hours to get to know the resort, where we visited the fabulous Witches’ Hill. We were delighted to have a guided tour of it – there are so many stories behind this place, which is decorated with various sculptures of fairy-tale and fairy-tale motifs.
After an interesting time in Juodkrante, we were in no hurry to return to Nida, but we did try the new restaurant BLIŪDAS in Juodkrante – this is where we ordered exotic dishes directly to our boat.
We were surprised by the restaurant’s range of choices, from summer rice dishes with vegetables and fresh fish, to meat and vegan options.
A day out enriches a holiday, and the memories will live on in the photo archives. This trip is perfect for small groups who want to experience and see new places together, with team games and conviviality strengthening the bonds.
Dune by dune, you’ll discover the untold secrets of the Curonian Spit!