Before visiting the park

How to get there

By air
There are three airports in Lithuania. Vilnius and Kaunas are the closest destinations to  Dzukija National Park (about 100 km). From Palanga airport it is about 300 km.
Vilnius: http://www.vilnius-airport.lt/en/
Kaunas: http://www.kaunas-airport.lt/index.php?lang=en
Palanga: http://www.palanga-airport.lt/en

By bus
You can reach Dzukija National Park by bus from all bigger towns. For timetables, please check http://www.autobusubilietai.lt/

By car
Choose the following roads: from Vilnius take roads A4, 127, from Kaunas roads A1,129, from Klaipėda roads A1, 129, and from Poland road A133.
You can rent a car in every bigger Lithuanian town.

By train
There is a direct route from Vilnius to Marcinkonys. For more information, please go to: http://www.litrail.lt

By ferry
You can reach Klaipėda port by ferry and continue your journey in Lithuania via other means of transportation listed above.

Visitor Centre

Marcinkonys Visitor Centre and Cepkeliai Visitor Centre
One of the largest Lithuanian villages, Marcinkonys boasts two visitor centres, both dedicated promoters of natural as well as cultural sights of the region. In addition to the exhibitions on the history and the flora and fauna, the Centres provide visitors with useful information regarding the sights of the National Park, as well as accommodation, and tourist activities in the area. Other points of interest in the village include the ethnographical museum and the wooden church of St. Apostles Simon and Juda Teddeus.
Šilagėlių str. 11, Marcinkonys, LT-65303 Varėna region
Fax: (+370 310) 44428
Phone: (+370310) 44466
E-mail: info [at] dzukijosparkas [dot] lt

Merkine Visitor Centre
Located in Merkine, a small town with a long and rich history, the Centre provides visitors with information about the National Park, local accommodation and fun activities in the area. When visiting, do not miss the breathtaking view from the Merkine castle hill out onto the confluence of the Nemunas and the Merkys rivers. The valley of the Merkys river is not only one of the most picturesque landscapes in South Lithuania but also harbours some very special flora and unique insects worth finding while roaming the land. http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/salcinis/Merkine_eng.pdf
Vilniaus str. 2, Merkinė, LT-65334 Varėna region
Fax and phone: (+370 310) 57245
E-mail: merkine [at] dzukijosparkas [dot] lt

Opening hours:
October – April
Monday-Thursday – 8:00 – 17:00
Friday – 8:00 – 15:45
Lunch-hour: 12:00 – 12:45
Closed on Saturday and Sunday

May - September
Monday-Friday – 8:00 – 17:00
Saturday - 8:00 – 15:45
Lunch-hour: 12:00 – 12:45
Closed on Sunday

Park Facilities

We recommend that you start to get acquainted with the park in the visitor centres of Marcinkonys and Merkinė. Here, you will find everything from excursion guides to an exhibition about the park as well as information on camping places, accommodation in the villages and useful tips before the actual visit to the park. The information centres regularly offer art exhibitions and sell souvenirs and booklets. For more exhaustive information on the nature and culture of Dzūkija, we would recommend a visit to the educational centre for environmental preservation and ethnography in Marcinkonys, where highly qualified specialists of the National Park provide the following services:

• lectures on ethnocultural and natural treasures of the park;
• specialized excursions for naturalists;
• acquaint you with local customs, traditional craftwork and trades of Dzūkai.

The centre has fully equipped, convenient facilities to organize seminars, conferences, or courses of traditional crafts, for groups of  25 participants at a time.

Trails in the park
http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/informacija-en.htm
http://www.cepkeliai.lt/m7_2.php

Equipment rental
Kayaks and bikes are available for rent in the area. Please contact the visitor centres for more information.

Rescue service
Call 112 for help.

Services for disabled
There is a trail accessible for the disabled in Čepkeliai Nature Reserve, and  you can visit the Merkine and Marcinkonys Visitor Centres and their exhibitions in a wheelchair, too.

Useful links and downloads
http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/kontaktai-en.htm
http://www.cepkeliai.lt/
http://www.vstt.lt/en/VI/index.php
http://www.am.lt/VI/en/VI/index.php

Overnight stays in the park

Those who wish to spend some more time in the silence and serenity of nature and sense the rhythm of Dzukija village life at the same time, are invited to stay in one of the 18 homesteads of rural tourism operating in the territory of the national park. For more information, please visit http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/informacija-en.htm

Campsites
Camping is allowed in designated campsites only, found typically near picturesque lakes or rivers. Information about the exact location of the 15 fee-paying campsites of the national park may be found on local information boards and tourist maps.
http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/zemelapiai.htm

Rules

Čepkeliai Strict State Reserve may only be visited  with an accompanying staff member of the national park. From 1 April to 1 June small groups of visitors are accepted only.
Special permits needed for kayaking down the Ūla River, which flows through the Ūla landscape reserve and the national park, may be obtained in the visitor centres.
http://www.dzukijosparkas.lt/naujienos-en-ula.htm