Country Holidays

Individual cycling tours

route

Round the Riga Gulf and Estonian islands


Latvia, Estonia (15 days, ~760 km)
The tour starts in Riga, and via the Gauja National park, takes you along the shore of the Baltic Sea to the Estonia’s islands – Muhu and Saaremaa. The last stretch, from the Roja town to the resort of Jūrmala, along the sea, lets you to enjoy the variety of the coastal landscape – sandy or stony beach, meadows. On the way you will see:
  • Fishing villages and small port towns along the shore of the Baltic Sea.
  • One of Estonia’s most popular Spa towns – Pärnu.
  • Lovely and quiet beaches – some of them wild and rocky, others with white sand.
  • Estonia’s islands – Muhu and Saaremaa and the largest town – Kuressaare.
  • Ferry transfers from Estonia’s mainland to Muhu island and from Saaremaa island to Ventspils in Latvia.
1st day / Arrival
Arrival in Rīga Airport.
Optional: transfer to the hotel.
Pick up the info package with maps and detailed itinerary description from the hotel reception. Overnight in hotel in Riga  Hotel ABC  (***) or Hotel Multilux B&B, or Hotel Livonija.  
2nd day / Rīga - Sigulda - Igate 
Breakfast.
In the morning pick up the bicycles in hotel.
Cycle: Hotel – train station (15 minutes)
Take the train: Rīga – Sigulda (53 km, ~1 hour, ~1.60 LVL per person, ~0.80 LVL per bicycle)
Cycling: Sigulda – Turaida – Ragana – surroundings of Igate (~60 km, 99% asphalt).
The route leads through the Gauja national park which is located on both sides of the ancient river valley of the Gauja river. Sandstone cliffs and caves, hilly landscapes and deep forests and castles are characteristic for the park. Visit the Turaida castle complex en route where there is a museum, castle tower with observation platform and a sculpture park. On the way to guest house you will have possiblity to visit Bīriņu and Igate castle, where at the last can taste also local food. In the evening you can taste homemade wine.
Overnight in guest house Jokas (WC and shower in corridor) in the surroundings of Igate.
Limbaži
3rd day / Igate - Limbaži - Salacgrīva
Breakfast.
Cycling: Surroundings of Igate – Limbaži – Salacgrīva (~64 km, 80% asphalt, 20% gravel road).
The tour leads through Limbaži to the North Vidzeme Biosphere reserve. Most of the road will be gravel, but it  brings you to the picturesque Salaca river. Salacgriva is known for fishing of lamprey and salmon.
Overnight in hotel Brīze in Salacgrīva. 
4th day / Salacgrīva - Voiste
Breakfast.
Cycling: Salacgrīva - Ainaži - Häädemeeste - Võiste (65 km, 98% Asphalt)
The road leads along the Baltic Sea coast. Outside Salacgrīva town, on the left side of the road, the seacoast meadows and lagoons,  overgrown with reed, are a favourite rest stop for migratory birds. Tourist information and nature trail. The seacoast here belongs to the North Vidzeme biosphere reserve. After crossing the Latvian-Estonian border point, the road winds through old coastal villages - Ikla, Treimani, Kabli, Häädemeeste, and join the Via Baltica road at Rannametsa. There is a signpost to Rannametsa-Tolkuse bog nature trail (Rannametsa - Tolkuse Õpperada). It is worth climbing up the viewing tower to enjoy the view over the bog from the highest spot of the Rannametsa dunes.
Overnight in guest house Abaja in the surroundings of Võiste.
Maria Talu
5th day / Voiste - Parnu - Liu
Breakfast

Cycling: Võiste – Pärnu (~30 km, 98% asphalt)

At forenoon enjoy seaside.

Cycling: Pärnu – surroundings of Liu (~28 km, 82% asphalt)

After visiting Estonian summer capital Pärnu tour will lead you inland to centenarian country house with tipical Estonian sauna. Possible to do horse riding. 

Overnight in country house Maria Talu - WC and shower in corridor.
6th day / Liu - Paatsalu
Breakfast

Cycling: surroundings of Liu – Paatsalu (~54 km, 82% asphalt)

During the tour you can plan swimming break at the Matsi bay or make a day trip to the 7th biggest Estonian island- Kihnu. At the guest house you can do a boat trip in Pattsalu bay.

Overnight in guest house Paatsalu - WC and shower in corridor.
7th day / Paatsalu - Koguva*
Breakfast

Cycling: Paatsalu - Virtsu (~15 km, 100% gravel road)

Ferry: Virtsu – Kuivastu at 12:00 a.m. (~35.00 EEK per person + 15.00 EEK per bicycle, 0.5 h)

Cycling: Kuivastu - Hellamaa – Nõmmülla - Piin - Koguva (Muhu island) (~41 km, 70% asphalt)

The route leads through the 3rd largest island Muhu where the landscapes with juniper fields are typical. After passing the steep banks of Üügu zou will visit Koguva village which is still with historical atmosphere. It's buildings are from the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century. 

Overnight in guest house Vanatoa- WC and shower in corridor.

*It is possible to prolong the tour for 2 or more days and visit the second biggest Estonian island Hiiumaa. Please ask us lauku@celotajs.lv about the price.
8th day / Koguva - Kuresaare
Breakfast

Cycling: Koguva– Valjala – Pihtla – Kuressaare (Saaremaa island) (~75 km, 86 % asphalt)

The largest island Saaremaa you will reach crossing the dam. On the way to capital Kuresaare, in Valjala you will visit the oldest church of the island and mysterious Kaali metheorite crather.

Overnight in guest hosue Piibelehe or Transvalli.
Saaremaa, Sorves bāka
9th day / Kuresaare - Montu
Breakfast.
At forenoon enjoy the charm of the town, visting the impressive Bishop's castle or relax in the beach.
Cycling: Kuressaare - Salme - Läätsa – Ohesaare - Laadla – Sääre – Umbebung Mõntu (~75 km, 40% gravel road).
Discover the Sörve peninsula and cap from where can see Ruhnu island and even Kolka cap in Latvia.
Overnight in country house Sorve holiday house.
Ventspils
10th day / Montu - Ventspils
Breakfast.
Cycling: Surroundings of Mõntu – Mõntu port (~7km, 90% gravel and forest roads)

Cycling: Ventspils port - guest house (~3km)
In Latvia You will return in city Ventspils. The port city offers various entertainment: beach, Promenade at Venta river, museum in Ventspils castle, open air museum with narrow gauge railway or water recreation park.  
Overnight in guest house Raibie logi.
11th day / Ventspils - Dundaga
Breakfast.

Cycling: Ventspils – Ance - Dundaga (~60 km,  ~80 % asphalt).

In the suberb of Ventpils city you can take a swim or short boat trip in Bušenieku lake. Near the lake is also sitated deer garden where you can have a walk. The road will lead you to Dundaga, which is known for it's medieval castle.

Overnight in guest house Krūziņi.
12th day / Dundaga - Kaltene
Breakfast.

Cycling: Dundaga – Vīdale – Roja – Kaltene (~48 km, ~83 % asphalt).

The route returns to the Rīga Gulf. Enjoy the sandy beach, because at Kaltene starts stony one. We suggest to take a walk in Purciema white dune nature trail.

Overnight in guest house Vanaturs.
13th day / Kaltene - Ķesterciems
Breakfast.

Cycling: Kaltene - Mērsrags – Engure – Ķesterciems (~48 km, asphalt).

The tour will lead you through the small fishermen villages. In the surroundigs of Upesgriva once again you will see the sandy beach, but at Engure it will bacame as coastal meadow. In the banks of Engure lake nature park we suggest to observe the water birds and wild horses gazing in the meadows. 

Overnight in guest house Piejūras nams.
14th day / Ķesterciems - Jūrmala - Riga
Breakfast

Cycling: Ķesterciems - Jūrmala (~45 km, asphalt). 

On the way sandy beaches with white dunes and small fishermen villages where can you taste smoke fish, Jūrmala resort town which is known for it's wooden summer house arhitecture, sandy beaches. Possible to visit the Ķemeri nature park, where can take a walk in bog trail or taste a water of sulphur spring (additional kilomertes).

Cycling: Jūrmala – Rīga (~30 km, asphalt, cycling road)

Or train: Jūrmala (e.g. Dubulti) – central train station Rīga (~2-4 times per hour, ~40 min., ~0,75 LVL per person, 0,45 LVL per bicycle).

Cycling: train station – hotel (~0.5 h)

In evening give back the bicycles in hotel.

Overnight in hotel in Riga Hotel ABC  or Hotel Multilux B&B, or Hotel Livonija.
15th day / Departure
Breakfast
Optional: private transfer from hotel to Riga airport.
Individual departure or extra days in Rīga or in the countryside in Latvia.

Package price: from 725.00 EUR per person*
*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:
  • 14 overnights and breakfast in hotels and guesthouses (DBL or TWIN rooms with wc and shower, or in the corridor according to program)
  • Hired bicycles with bags (13 days)
  • Maps and detailed description of the itinerary
Extra costs not included in the package price:
  • Single supplement per person: 250.00 EUR
  • Individual transfer from airport - hotel in Riga or hotel in Riga – airport: EUR 20.00 (1-3 persons/one way) or EUR 30.00 (4-7 persons/one way)
  • Additional day for bicycle: 11.00 EUR per day/ per bicycle
  • Helmets upon request
  • Additional night at hotel in Rīga, outside  the city centre: from 70.00 EUR (DBL/ night)
  • Additional night at guesthouse/country house in Voiste, Koguva, Kuressaare, Ventspils, Kaltene, Ķesterciems: from 60.00 EUR (DBL/ night)
  • Luggage transfer is available from the 2nd day till arrival in Riga in the 14th day (in train and ferry clients have to take care for their luggage, payment on spot): 695.00 EUR.
  • 8x dinner according to program: 115.00 EUR per person
  • Train tickets and costs of entrances in museums and attraction sights
Booking form
Information & booking - tel: +371 67617600, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv