Self-drive tours


Family Fun

Animal farms, medieval castles, nature trails in the Gauja National Park and North-Latvia
Latvia (8 days)

Read more about protected nature areas en route in the description below.

1st day / Arrival in Rīga
Arrival in Riga.
Optional: pick up the hired car**.
Pick up the map and detailed itinerary from the hotel reception.
Rīga city sightseeing.

Overnight the hotel in Rīga.

Stirna
2nd day / Rīga –Sigulda – Turaida- Līgatne (~100 km, 100% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Options of sites and attractions en route:
• Castle ruins, caves and hilly landscapes at Sigulda.
• The Livonian Order castle in the Turaida museum reserve. Kids can see armours of medieval knights and other things, found in excavations on the site of the castle.
• The Līgatne nature park – walking along trails and from a viewing tower, you can watch deer, racoons, bears, aurochs and other animals.

Overnight in the guest house in Līgatne. in Līgatne. in Līgatne.

Lācis
3rd day / Līgatne- Cēsis – Rauna- Vecpiebalga- Mārciena (~170 km, 90% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Options of sites and attractions en route:
• Kids can play with rabbits at “Zaķīši”, one of the largest rabbit breeding farms in Latvia.  Rabbits can be seen in the open-air paddock.
• The Āraiši ezerpils - ancient Latvian settlement right in the lake Āraišu. The log cabins of this small fortification have been authentically reconstructed.  The Āraiši windmill is nearby.
• The medieval Old Town of Cēsis and the castle ruins. An optional visit to the jeweller’s workshop, specialised in reproductions of medieval jewellery.   
• A guided tour in a farm, breeding wild horses - you can watch them in a paddock, from only some metres distance.

Overnight in the manor-house in Mārciena.

For kids: in summer,  the "Zoo" with geese, turkey-cocks and lambs, which the kids can feed, the Berry trail in the forest. in winter, sliding hill, skis for kids, sledges, skating ring. In bad weather: cartoons (DVD), table games, playroom on a covered terrace.
For parents: SPA services.
Araisu pils
Brivie zirgi

Kazas
Banitis
4th day / Mārciena- Cesvaine- Gulbene- Alūksne (~105 km, 80% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Options of sites and attractions en route:
• A goat farm with some 80 goats, where it is possible to taste goat cheese.
• The Cesvaine castle.
• Latvia’s only narrow gauge railway line Gulbene- Alūksne. Simply buy a ticket and take a ride or follow the special event programme at http://www.banitis.lv/.

Overnight on the farmstead in the surroundings of Alūksne.

Skaņaiskalns
5th day / Alūksne- Ape- Smiltene- Valmiera (~200 km, 90% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Sites and attractions en route:
•Alūksne town with Livonian castle ruins, a neo-gothic style castle and the museum of the Bible
•The Opekalna lutheran church and scenic surroundings.
•The Korneti-Peļļi lakes and hills, from where one can see the neighboring Estonian countryside.

Overnight on the farmstead in the Valmiera district.

Zirgs
6th day / Valmiera- Mazsalaca- Staicele (~80 km, 80% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Sites and attractions en route:
•The Burtnieki stud-farm. Optional guided tours, rides in horse-drawn cart or on horseback.
•The Burtnieku lake. It is possible to rent boats and paddle boats in the local camping site. 
•The Skanaiskalns nature park with nature trails, caves, rocks and attractive wooden statues. 

Overnight on a farmstead in the surroundings of Staicele.
Burtnieku_ezers


Saulkrastu taka
7th day / Staicele- Salacgrīva- Saulkrasti- Rīga (~150 km, 100% asphalt)
Breakfast.
Sites and attractions en route:
•Hiking trail through the Baltic Sea coastal meadows in Ainaži – bird watching possibilities in spring and fall
•The coastline of the Gulf of Riga between Vitrupe and Tūja - boulders, scenic bays.
•Forest hiking trail of the Baron von Munchhausen in Dunte
•Nature trail over the dunes and through the pine forest in Saulkrasti (at the Baltic seaside)

Overnight in hotel in Rīga.

8th day / Rīga
Breakfast.
Individual departure or extra days in Riga or in the countryside in Latvia.

Package price: from 310.00 EUR*
*Minimum number of persons - 2.
*A price of the tour can change in case the planned guest houses/hotels are fully booked and we have to choose other accommodation sites.
*Prices may change due to changes in national tax legislation or other independent reasons.


Services included in the package price:
  • 7 overnights with breakfast in mentioned hotels, gusthouses and farmsteads (double or TWIN room with WC, shower/ on the floor according to program) 
  • Maps and detailed description of the itinerary
Extra costs not included in the package price:
    • Hired car
    • Single supplement per person: from 85.00 EUR
    • Additional night in Rīga: from 57.00 EUR (DBL/ night)
    • Entrance tickets to attractions and sites

Information & booking - tel: +371 67617600, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv