Home to 126 lakes, Aukstaitija National Park was by far the most attractive place I visited in the Baltics, one of the flatter and less scenic parts of the world. Despite being a national park there are around a hundred settlements. I spent a couple of nights in Ginučiai surrounded by lakes and forest.

With all the water around a good way to explore the area was by kayak. It was great fun travelling downstream through narrow and shallow streams, dodging weeds, reeds, logs and bridges.

We crossed a couple of lakes, which were hard work with a strong cross wind before a thunderstorm arrived later in the day.

We stopped to walk up Ladakalnis (Ice Hill), a lookout with views over seven lakes in winter, more like four in summer with leaves on the trees.

Ginučiai is home to a 19th century watermill, which provided entertainment in the form of waterfalls underneath it and a powerful water shute. The stream was the perfect temperature to cool off in the unseasonal heat (30C+) when I visited in early August 2023.

Before kayaking I went for a walk around the area, heading up a sizeable communications tower / lookout for big views over the surrounding area.

There were some attractive houses.

And an interesting cemetery, surprisingly large given the size of Ginučiai.