Labanoras Regional Park is the largest in Lithuania. It is noted for the variety of landscapes and the particularly rich plant and animal life. The park protects the landscape of East Aukštaitija featuring many hills, lakes and forests, along with its sites of natural and cultural heritage and valuable recreational resources. The major part of the park is covered by Labanoras Forest, one of the largest in Lithuania.

Nature

Labanoras Forest contains an array of lakes and concentrations of raised bogs and lakeside marshes: the swamp of Kanys, the wetlands of Kiauneliškis, Beržalotas, Girutiškis, Aisputiškis and others, as well as numerous larger and smaller fens. These places provide a habitat for the crane, osprey, willow grouse, black grouse, great grey shrike and other rare species. It is only in the lakes of this park that black-throated divers are found, and other rare aquatic birds reside in large numbers. On the lakeshores tourists can come across water lobelia, and thickets of dwarf birch in marshlands, which are very rare plants throughout Europe.

The park boasts 285 lakes: from mysterious openings to the horned lakes Stirniai (862 ha), Baltieji Lakajai (699 ha) and Kertuojai (545 ha). Lakes cover about 7,000 ha or 13 % of the park’s area. The park numbers 30 rivers and streams that belong to the Žeimena and the Šventoji river basins. The largest among them, the Lakaja, is one of the most beautiful and unusual rivers in Lithuania. The smaller rivers include Peršokšna, Luknelė and Dumblė. The park features such unique sites as the upper Indraja-Luknelė with a sandy, boggy and tree-covered landscape, and Lake Kertuojai, a hollow made by the glaciers.

Cultural heritage

Visitors will find more than 20 accumulations of burial mounds, ancient settlements, the mounds of Pilalė (Budriai), Čiulėnai, Kertuojai, Kulioniai and Želva, hollowed-out boulders and architecturally valuable villages and individual farms scattered throughout a large territory, most often by the main roads. The best-known villages are Januliškis, Lakaja, Rudesa, Kulionys and Stirniai. The town of Labanoras, first mentioned in historical sources in 1373, should not be overlooked either. Surrounded by forests and lakes, Labanoras boasts an 18-19th-century wooden church with 17 monuments of art and a bell tower. The town is also known for the Labanoras bagpipe, cosy old farmsteads and history. The churches in Stirniai and Januliškis and the chapel and the bell tower in Rudesa are also noteworthy.

Museums

Visitors will be unforgettably impressed by the Ethnocosmology Museum with its Astronomical Observatory and an ancient site for watching celestial bodies. The museum’s tower (45 m) offers an excellent view of Aukštaitija lakes and forests.

On the initiative of local teachers and enthusiastic schoolchildren, a Fishing Museum has been organised by the secondary school in Mindūnai. The museum features a display about the life and ancient crafts of the people of this lake land.

Recreation

The information centres in Labanoras Regional Park and the towns of Labanoras, Molėtai, Švenčionys and Utena provide full information on recreation possibilities. Tourist guides and maps are available there.

The park has 13 camping sites for holidaymakers with tents by lakes Baltieji and Juodieji Lakajai, Didysis and Mažasis Siauras, Kertuojai, Želva, Baltis, Aisetas and Alnas.

The park provides excellent conditions for walking and cycling along the shores of picturesque lakes and through forests of exceptional beauty. The Peršokšna walking trail is designed for acquaintance with the varied and rich nature of Peršokšna, which is untouched by man and amazing to most travellers. Walkers on this trail will learn caution and watchfulness.

Water tourists will have unforgettable impressions from several routes. One can go through the lakes of Molėtai, down the river Lakaja to its confluence with the Žeimena. Those without the proper gear can rent it from Locija in Kaltanėnai.

Labanoras is among the forests that are the richest in mushrooms in Lithuania. For most local people the picking of mushrooms and berries is not only an unusual pastime but also a source of subsistence. Fisherman’s luck can be tried in the lakes and rivers of Labanoras where fishing requires a permit. For the lakes that have been leased out a permit from the leaseholder should also be obtained. 

During winter the park, especially the environs of Kulioniai with its skiing trail, offers excellent conditions for cross-country skiing.