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Mushroom Tour at Kurzeme Region 
Latvia (6 days)
Who is it for? This is for people who enjoy forests, wildlife, local traditions and has an interest in mushrooms- different species as well as their various ways of preparation.
The tour passes several national parks, stops at charming provincial towns and historic sites. During the tour you will learn not only about various species of mushrooms, different forests with their typical habitat but also find out how locals prepare and preserve wild mushrooms. We will visit also one of shitake mushroom growers for comparison reasons.
Period of Travel: Mid August-First half of October
 Print version of the tour |
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1st day/ Arrival in Rīga-Transfer to the hotel.
-Meeting with the guide at Nature History Museum and introduction with the tour. Walk to the Central Market to see mushrooms for sale.
-Free time.
Accomodation at the hotel in Riga.
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2nd day/ Rīga – Sloka – Ķemeru nacionālais parks - Lapmežciems – Antiņciems – Valguma ezers – Milzkalns – Apšuciems - Rideļi Breakfast.
- Mushrooming around Antiņciems at pine-tree forests as well as damp forests. Possible to find King Bolete (Boletus edulis), Orange Aspen Bolete (Leccinum rufum), Orange Birch Bolete (Leccinum versipelle).
- Lustūzis – the highest hill at the Ķemeri National Park, rolling landscape, varried types of forests and rich world of mushrooms. Among many others, possible to find Golden Chanerelle (Cantarellus tubaeformis), Horn of Plenty or Dead Man`s Fingers (Craterellus cornucopioides), Common Stinkhorn (Phallus impudicus), Golden Larch Bolete (Suillus grevillei), edible Sheeps Polypore (Albatrellus ovinus), deadly poisonous Death Cap (Amanita phalloides).
- Mushrooming at the coastal pine-forests near Apšuciems: traditional eadable mushrooms – Common Chanterelle (Cantarellus cibarius), Variegated Bolete (Suillus variegatus)and others. Then mushrooming at Rideļi for diffferent species of Russule Russula as well as Boletes.
- In the evening oportunity to go through gathered mushrooms with the guide and cook them in the meal.
Accomodation in hotel Apšuciems.
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3rd day/ Engure – Šķēde – Talsi – Valdemārpils – Lube - Tiņģere - Dundaga Breakfast.
Šķēdes beechs growth with some rare for Latvia mushrooms.
- Visit local wine maker at Lauciena.
- Then we'll follow Botanical trail along Krovalki house located at Talsi down nature park. Possible to find Red-Cracking Bolete (Boletus pascuus) and other mushrooms.
- Walk through picturesque Old Town of hilly Talsi located by two lakes.
- On the way we'll stop at Valdemārpils Idol linden tree and then gather mushrooms along the banks of the river Roja. Here possible to find such valuable eadable mushrooms as Deer Truffle (Elaphomyces sp.) with parasitic Slender Truffle-Club (Cordyceps ophioglossoides) as well as Orange Caterpilar-Fungus (Cordyceps militaris) which emerges from lavae or pupae of moth.
Accomodation at the guest house in Dundaga. |
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4th day/ Dundaga – Pāce – Ance – Ugāle - Zlēkas Breakfast.
- Excursion to Dundaga Castle which is the largest well preserved castles at Kurzeme region. It's history dates back to 13th century and its surrounded with lots of legends.
- At the Dundaga Park we might find Hen-of –the-Woods (Grifola frondosa) and Ceramic Parchment Fungus (Xylobolus frustulatus) while on the banks of Pāce Lake is a chance to find Chesnut Bolete (Gyroporus castaneu).
- Lonaste and Raķupe ancient oak where we look for Saffron Yellow Polypore (Hapalopilus croceus) and other typical oak mushrooms.
- At the largest array of forest between Ugāles – Zlēku is possible to find Cauliflower Fungus (Sparassis crispa).
Accomodation at the hotel in Kuldiga.
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5th day/ Kuldīga – Aizpute – Rudbārži – Rīga Breakfast.
- We'll start a day with excursoin through charming Old Town of Kuldiga with its widest waterfall of Europe, well preserved wooden buildings and 19th century brick bridge across the river Venta.
- Then continue to Tebra oak growth where possible to see the strange Hen-of-the-Woods (Grifola frondosa), Hare' s Ear(Otidea onotica) and other unsual looking mushrooms.
- Visit to shitaki mushroom growers at Garīkas
- At Rudbārži park possible to find Lingzhi (Ganoderma lucidum) which widely used in Chinese traditional medicene.
Returning to Riga.
Accomodation at the hotel in Riga.
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6th day Breakfast.
- Free time.
- Transfer to the airport.
Departure. |
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Package price per person: from EUR 435.00
Includes:
- Accomodation based on dbl room with breakfast
- Bus transfers
- Guide/mycologist
- Four dinners
- Information pack
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| Information & booking - tel: +371 67617600, e-mail: lauku@celotajs.lv |
