Baltic Hiking Tourism Conference and Group Hike on May 23–24th, in Apšuciems
17.04.2025
We invite you to participate in the Baltic Hiking Tourism Conference and a group hike on May 23–24 this year in Apšuciems.
This Baltic States conference focuses on environmental accessibility and presents the implemented solutions in the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route (Jūrtaka) and the Forest Trail (Mežtaka).
The conference is organized by LLTA "Lauku ceļotājs" together with partners from Latvia and Estonia, within the project "Improving the Accessibility of the Forest Trail and the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route for Different Social Groups."
Conference Program:
Speakers from Latvia and Estonia will present the accessibility solutions that have been implemented and are planned along the hiking routes. Guest speaker Sofija Shipona from France, representing a European hiking organization, will introduce aqua walking, a popular rehabilitation activity in Europe.
At the end of the day, there will be a unique opportunity to participate in a one-hour aqua walking session in the sea at Apšuciems beach, led by instructor Sofija Shipona. Participants will need: a neoprene wetsuit, running or water shoes, gloves, drinking water, a warm beverage for after the session, and a towel.
Conference Program (PDF, english)
Opening of Accessibility Infrastructure at Apšuciems Beach:
After the conference, all participants are invited to the beach, where the Kurzeme Planning Region will present newly installed accessibility infrastructure. This includes a boardwalk leading to the sea for people with mobility impairments, a sunbathing platform designed for wheelchair users, changing cabins adapted for those with mobility challenges, and two floating beach wheelchairs available for use in the sea.
Language of the conference, aqua walking session, and accessibility infrastructure opening on May 23: English.
We kindly ask you to register by May 16 by filling out the conference registration form: https://forms.gle/KuBwkUoGFSeD97K18
Hike – May 24:
The day after the conference, all interested participants are invited to join a ~14 km Jūrtaka coastal trail hike from Apšuciems to Engure. The hike will be led by the Jūrtaka team together with volunteers from the Latvian Hiking Club.
At the end of the hike in Engure, participants will gather for a campfire soup, learn about how the Latvian Hiking Club operates, and discover opportunities to get involved. This is the first community of its kind in Latvia dedicated to maintaining long-distance hiking trails on a volunteer basis. So far, Latvian Hiking Club volunteers have restored trail markings and cleaned several sections of the Forest Trail (Mežtaka).
Each participant will receive a pin to mark their membership in the Jūrtaka hiker fan community, as well as a special map – “My Hiking Map” – where they can log their completed hikes on the Jūrtaka and Mežtaka trails, including the section, date, distance, difficulty level, and any other details they find important.
If you wish to participate only in the hike, please fill out the hike registration form: https://forms.gle/uRNhbus4YV4tFdmt6
Practical Information:
The hike program and practical information are attached (PDF, in Latvian). Additional information about the hike is available on the Jūrtaka website and in the FB event section: https://fb.me/e/7d3NggNis
Participation in the conference and the hike is free of charge, but prior registration is required.
Contact information for questions and registration: Anna Palelione (Lauku ceļotājs),
E-mail: anna@celotajs.lv,
T.: +371 22495916.
