Group tour for families/cycling, canoeing, walking

Group tour for families

Group tour for families - Multiactivity Holidays in Gauja National Park

cycling, canoeing, walking

Latvia (7 days/6 nights)

The route starts and ends in Riga. In between, it goes through the Gauja National Park and then loops along the coast of the Baltic Sea. Planned activities are cycling, walking and canoeing. But further down on the itinerary we recommend looking at the various optional activities.
A “Time Travel” experience offers an excursion to a former Soviet top secret nuclear bunker at Ligatne, while exploring medieval Cesis and its Livonan Order Castle by night will give another historical insight.
During the tour kids can enjoy beautiful nature and learn about local flora and fauna, get interested in a bit of history, learn traditonal crafts and enjoy various other activities.

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

Highlights:

Ancient Gauja River valley with sandstone cliffs, ancient forests and hill forts
Ligatne Nature Trails where indigenous wild animals can be viewed
Turaida Castle Museum Reserve
Romantic medieval castle ruins at Cesis
Ligatne Bunkers, base for former Soviet elite in case of nuclear war
Fine sandy beaches and pine forested dunes

General information:

Route: Rīga – Sigulda – Rīga
Group min. 6 persons, max. 12 persons
Children from age 6 upwards
1 cycling tour (~17 km)
4 walks (~5-10 km)
1 canoe tour from Cēsis to Līgatne (~17 km, 4-5 hours)
3 guided excursions
Full board
Level of difficulty: easy

To read feedback about this tour please click here.

1st day / Arrival in Rīga

Individual/group arrival in Riga
Optional: Private/group transfer from the airport to the hotel.

Overnight in hotel in Riga.

2nd day / Rīga - Sigulda

Breakfast

In the morning free time to explore Riga
Bus transfer Rīga – Sigulda (~60 km)
On the way stop at the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum, a collection of traditonal buildings (17th-20th cent) from different regions of Latvia. Located in 87 hectares of lakeside pine forest.
Overnight at the hotel in Sigulda.

3rd day / Sigulda

Breakfast.

Walking in the surroundings of Sigulda (8 km)
The route starts from romantic medieval Sigulda castle ruins and continues along the Gauja river valley to Turaida Museum Reserve with its medieval castle, viewing tower, traditional estate buildings, working smithy where coins can be forged and sculpture garden.
Walking tour (8 km) continue taking the scenic route along Piķenes bank, Velnalas (Devil's) cliffs and Ķeizarkrēsls returning to Sigulda at the Olympic Bobseld Centre.
Overnight at the hotel in Sigulda.

4th day / Sigulda - Cēsis.

Breakfast.

Bus transfer: Hotel – Cirulisi, Cesis
Canoe trip on the River Gauja from Cēsis to Līgatne (~17 km, ~5 h). Attractions include the Ķūķu cliff and rapids, the Spriņģu cliff and the old-fashioned wire ferry at Līgatne which still operates every day using just the power of the river flow.
During lunch stop kids can learn how to set a campfire and cook in the wild.
Overnight at the Hotel in Sigulda.

5th day / Līgatne

Breakfast.

Līgatne Nature Trails
An impresive park covering 200 hectares with enclosures for local wildlife including wild boar, bears, wolves, lynx and birds of prey. There is 4,5 km of walking trails as well as a 5 km long bicycle/car route. It is located in the Gauja River's ancient valley deep in the forest with beautiful views from a 22m high viewing tower. Sections of the trails are suitable for disabled visitors.

Option 1: Walking the Nature Trails (~5 km)
Well maintained forest trails, boardwalks and steps with viewing points. Transfer to Lāču Miga

Option 2: Cycling Līgatne Railway Station-Nature Trails-Lāču Miga (~17 km)
Scenic tarmac road with rolling hills weaving through forest and the ancient Gauja River valley. After watching wild animals cycle to Lāču Miga guesthouse for lunch.
Excursion to Līgatne Underground Bunkers. Hidden 9m under a rehabilitation centre is a former Soviet top secret location, extending for 2000 square metres. It is the only bunker of its kind to have survived intact and was designed to serve as a command post in the event of nuclear war. Sip a Russian tea in the Soviet canteen.

Lantern tour in Cesis. A guide dressed in medieval style will show you the secrets of the Old Town and Livonian Order Castle, revealing local legends and stories on the way as you follow with lantern in hand.

6th day / Sigulda - Riga

Breakfast.

Bus transfer: Sigulda–Saulkrasti-Rīga (~60 km)
Enjoy walking along Saulkrasti's white sandy beach walking to the large White Dune (~4.5 km).

Overnight in the hotel in Riga

7th day / Rīga

Breakfast.
Optional: Private transfer to the airport or extra days in Riga or in the countryside

End of the tour.

Options for individual activities in Sigulda (not included into the tour's price):

Wild Cat Challenge – forest park with high wires, slides etc.
Tarzan adventure park
Aerodium – simulated freefalling above a giant fan
Excursion by electric car around Sigulda
Olympic Bobsled Track – slide in a specially-designed bob
Spa treatments at the hotel

Rate per person in double room:

In a group of 6-8 persons: 899,00 EUR (child up to 11 years old – 590,00 EUR)
In a group of 9-11 persons: 785,00 EUR (child up to 11 years old – 475,00 EUR)
In a group of 12 persons: 666,00 EUR (child up to 11 years old – 356,00 EUR)

Services included:

6 overnights with breakfast in the hotels as per program
Escort bus from Day 2 until arrival in Rīga on Day 6
Bicycle rent (mountain bikes) with saddle bags (1 day)
Canoe tour from Cēsis to Līgatne (1 day)
Lunch and dinner
Entrance tickets and fees for the excursions and attractions included into the programme

Extra costs:

SGL supplement per person (6 nights): 150 EUR
Individual transfer from airport to hotel in Riga: 20 EUR (1-3 persons/oneway) or 30 EUR (4-7 persons/one way)
Entrance to museums, attraction sites other than specified in the programme
English speaking guide/tour leader

Booking form

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