Country Holidays

Group tours


Hiking, cycling and canoeing in the Gauja National park and along the Riga Gulf

Latvia (7 days)

The route starts and ends in Riga- in between you will spend an active 5-day holidays in the oldest national park in Latvia and by the Baltic sea. From Riga you drive to seaside town Saulkrasti to enjoy walking two nature trails, and then move inland for a bicycle ride from Valmiera, along the banks of the river Gauja, to Cēsis. Further the tour offers a bit of hiking along sandstone cliffs and caves in the Gauja National park, to enjoy a swim in a lake, some canoeing in the Gauja river or watching wild animals in the Līgatne nature park. Two nights are spent in a SPA hotel in Sigulda town (SPA services can be booked in advance). From Sigulda the tour returns to Riga where the open air ethnographic museum one gets an insite in historical architecture and craft traditions in Latvia. The final part of the tour brings your again to the sea in the resort town Jūrmala. If You are taking this tour in June, we recomend to stay for a couple of days longer in Riga and enjoy the musical events like Opera festival or National song and dance concerts taking place in summer season.

Read more about protected nature areas en route in the description below.
1st day / Arrival
Arrival in Riga Airport/
Optional: private transfer to the Hotel.
Overnight in a hotel in Riga.  
Saulkrasti
2nd day /  Riga - Saulkrasti - Valmiera
Breakfast at the hotel / Meeting with the English speaking guide.
Riga city tour. Half-day city tour in the Old Riga - the 800 year old Hanseatic town with one of the most beautiful medieval town centres in Europe, overlooking the river Daugava. The Blackhead's house, the St.Peters church, the Riga Dome Cathedral and the Art Noveau buildings.
Bus transfer: Rīga- Saulkrasti (~50km)

Walking the Saulrieta (Sunset) nature trail (~1 km, 1 hour)

Walking the Muenchhausen Forest trail

(~5 km, 2.5 hours, (entrance not included) and the Muenchhausen museum (entrance not included)

Bus transfer: Dunte – Limbaži – Valmiera (~100km)

Overnight in a hotel in Valmiera 
3rd day / Valmiera - Cēsis
Breakfast at the hotel.
Cycling: Valmiera - Cēsis (50 km, 5% Asphalt, 5% gravel road, 85% forest trails), en route sightseeing of Sietiņiezis white sandstone cliffs and Ērgļu red sandstone cliffs near the river Gauja.
Free time in Cēsis - visit to the Livonian Orders castle ruins, the manor complex and to the workshop of the traditional jeweller is recommendable (entrance not included).
Overnight in a hotel in Cēsis.
Tos see more photos from this day please click here.
Gauja
4th day / Cēsis - Līgatne- Sigulda
Breakfast at the hotel.

Bus transfer: Hotel – the Gauja river

Hiking along the Cīrulīši hiking trail in Gauja River valley (ca. 4.5km - 7.2km, 1.5 hours)

the Cīrulīši (Lark) rocks, the Spoguļu (Mirror) rocks, clear springs, the Līgavas (Bride’s) cave, the former toboggan track and the largest Baltic winter sports centre “Žagarkalns”.

Canoeing by the river Gauja from Cēsis to Līgatne (~ 17 km, ~4-5 hours) with a stop to see the Kvēpene hillfort The Ķūķu rapids, the Spriņģu rocks and the wooden ferry at Līgatne ar highlights of this short boating trip.

Walking in nature trails (5,5 km), one can watch wild animals in enclosed open air areas. A nature trail (1,3 km) takes you through the Paparžu (Fern ravine). You can also walk further along the Gauja river (1,3 km) to the Gūdu rock (entrances not included)

In the evening transfer: Līgatne - Sigulda
Overnight in a hotel in Sigulda.
5th day / Sigulda - Turaida 
Breakfast at the hotel.

Walking in the surroundings of Sigulda – Turaida – Krimulda (~20 km, forest, earthen and asphalt roads). The Sigulda castle ruins, the Gauja river bridge, the Gūtmaņa cave, the Turaida castle and Museum reservation, the Krimulda castle and park, the Velna (Devils) cave, the bobsled and tobbogan track, the Raganu katls (Witches’ Pot), Pētera (Peter’s) cave, the Satezeles hillfort, the Kraukļu ravine, a beautiful view of the Gauja river valley from the Paradise or Painters’ hill. Visiting the Turaida castle and museum reserve (entrance not included).
Overnight in a hotel in Sigulda.


6th day / Sigulda - Jūrmala - Riga

Bus transfer: Sigulda – Rīga (~60 km)

The Ethnographical open air museum near Rīga (entrance not included).

Bus transfer: Rīga – Jūrmala (~30km)

Walking the Ragakāpa nature trail (~2km, ~2 hours) and a short  tour of the Jūrmala resort town. 

Transfer to the hotel in Rīga.

End of guide services.

Overnight in a hotel in Riga.
7th day / Departure
Breakfast in the hotel.
Optional: Private transfer to the airport or extra days in Riga or in the countryside.
Individual departure.

Package price:  505.00 EUR per person
Services included in the package price:

  • 6 overnights with breakfast in the hotels as per programme (DBL or TWIN rooms with WC, shower)

  • German/ English speaking tour leader from the 2nd tour day in Riga to the 6th tour day 

  • Bus from the 2nd day to the 6th day

  • Bicycle rent (Mountain Bikes) with saddle bags (1 day)

  • Canoe tour from Cēsis to Līgatne (1 day)

Extra costs not included in the package price:
  • Single supplement per person: 150.00 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)

  • 6x half-board in the hotels as per tour programme: EUR 90.00 per person

  • Entrances to museums, attraction sites and nature parks/trails have to be paid on site: ~30 EUR per person

  • Extra night, e.g., in the Hotel in Rīga: from 57.00 EUR (DBL room/ night)

  • Booking of concert tickets or opera in Riga and/ or Cesis or Sigulda

Booking form
Information & booking - tel: +371 26433316, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv