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- Ginučiai watermill and hillfort — A picture-ready spot: a well-preserved wooden watermill sitting on the Šventoji River beside an ancient hillfort mound. The mill and the riverside setting capture the slow, lived-in feel of the park and are great for a short walk and photos.
- Palūšė village and its wooden church — The lakeside village everyone stops in for a reason: a charming cluster of traditional wooden houses and an old wooden church right on the water. It’s a handy base for kayaking, renting bikes, or just watching sunset light hit the pines.
- Lake Asveja (Ašvaja) — One of the park’s showstoppers: a long, clear glacial lake with sandy bays and scattered islets to explore. Good for swimming, paddling, or simply lazing by the shore with a map and a beer.
- The chain of glacial lakes and
- Ginučiai watermill and hillfort — A picture-ready spot: a well-preserved wooden watermill sitting on the Šventoji River beside an ancient hillfort mound. The mill and the riverside setting capture the slow, lived-in feel of the park and are great for a short walk and photos.
- Palūšė village and its wooden church — The lakeside village everyone stops in for a reason: a charming cluster of traditional wooden houses and an old wooden church right on the water. It’s a handy base for kayaking, renting bikes, or just watching sunset light hit the pines.
- Lake Asveja (Ašvaja) — One of the park’s showstoppers: a long, clear glacial lake with sandy bays and scattered islets to explore. Good for swimming, paddling, or simply lazing by the shore with a map and a beer.
- The chain of glacial lakes and island-hopping — Aukštaitija is famous for its hundreds of kettle lakes and little islands; you can spend a day paddling between bays, stopping on islets for a picnic or a wild swim. It’s a micro-archipelago feeling without the airfare.
- Šventoji River canoe routes — A mellow, meandering river that’s perfect for multi-day canoe trips or easy day paddles; expect sandy beaches, slow-flowing channels, and the odd beaver dam. If you like quiet water and bird calls, this is your lane.
- Wildlife and wetlands — Beavers, otters, deer and lots of waterfowl live here; dawn and dusk are when the park feels most alive. Bring binoculars and patience — you’re more likely to hear croaks and wings than see crowds.
- Marked hiking and cycling trails with observation points — Well-maintained trails thread forests, marsh boardwalks and hilltops, often ending at little wooden observation towers for panoramic views. Trails vary from short nature walks to full-day routes, so you can pick quick strolls or proper hikes.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.