No 50069
Bus tour
Bus tour Independent travel Latvia

Beer, cheese and bread at Vidzeme and Zemgale regions

7 days

The tour will guide you through the Latvia using its main tastes. Out of Riga you visit a farm which specialises in grain growing and bakes great cracknels and makes regional dishes using whole-meal grains. Afterwards there is a visit to Bauska Castle locates between two rivers and Bauska Brewery which takes pride in their produce free of preservatives. Then there is a visit to ethnographic museum at Ausekli Mill where you could try to make your own traditional piragi (bacon pasties). Further on the route cross the river Daugava and there is a stop at home -made ice-cream cafe to try savoury ice- cream salads.

A ride on Viking ship around the legendary Koknese castle ruins and a visit to Cesvaine Castle is next. Then you have a visit to the goats farm and cheese tasting which is followed by cows cheese tasting at nearby production. Overnight is at Vecgulbene Manor with spa facilities. Next day you have a chance to make your own traditional black bread accompanied with humorous stories and instructions by the baker-lady. While the bread is baking there is another cheese tasting and visit to producer at Trikata. Then visit to Valmiermuiža Brewery which produces upmarket beer and promotes Latvian beer drinking tradition as a component in every celebration. Charming provincial town of Cesis with mighty medieval castle ruins, narrow ancient streets and home of famous Cesis brewery next. Historic brewery building there is nowadays only a tourism object but production is moved into big, modern building. It is the second largest beer producer in Latvia nowadays. Visit to the Cesis Brewery followed by excursion at Araisi windmill and having a traditional mill's porridge there. Then excursion at the Turaida Castle before returning to Riga.