Before its flooding, the canyon of the Daugava River between Pļaviņas and Koknese was one of the most outstanding and beautiful parts of the Baltic terrain, and Oliņkalns hill was one of the largest castle hills in Latvia.  The Andrejs cliff as up to 20 metres high, and it was part of the Daugava canyon.  Before the area was flooded because of the construction of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant, there were rapids near the hill that made it hard for rafters to sail down the river.  Today it is a small island in the reservoir of the plant (it can be seen from the side of the Rīga-Daugavpils highway (A6) opposite Stukmaņi).  It is separated from the shore by 300 metres of river, under which the Dūņas valley is now resting.  A small part of the ramparts of the castle hill can still be seen on the island along with the ruins of an open-air stage and a few metres of the dolomite cliff that have remained above water.  It is thought that the Alene castle was on the hill in the 13th century.  Latvian mountain climbers installed a memorial stone in 1998 opposite Oliņkalns hill.

The Lithuanian Pomiculture and Gardening Institute became a national scholarly institute in 1992.  It engages in scholarly studies, as well as experimental manufacturing.  The institute produces Lithuanian fruits and vegetables that are used to manufacture high-quality, natural and healthy products. 

The farm grows some 25 types of plants and prepares products from approximately 50 types of plants. Visitors will learn about the use of medicinal plants not just in teas, but also in oils, extracts, tinctures, syrups, etc. These can be used for everyday nutrition. Products can be tasted and bought, and you can help out with the farm’s operations. There is also livestock to view.

The name of the Žemaitija region means "lowland." You will visit traditional and unusual farms to learn about gardening traditions and enjoy teas and herbs from a biodynamic farm.  The lady of the house will teach you about traditional local foods.  Next you will visit a place to discover the secrets of medicinal plants.  An impressive exhibition about military history will be found at the Cold War Museum, which is on the territory of a former missile base.  Then you will visit the Energy Labyrinth to enjoy peace and quiet while learning about how various geometric forms influence human emotions.  Next you will visit a traditional farm with characteristic foods, beverages and songs.  Along the way you will visit Telšiai, which is the informal capital of Žemaitija.  Finally, you will visit a farm where traditional pastries are baked on a campfire, and a true Latvian sauna is offered.

The family enterprise (formed in 2006) makes home-made ice-cream from fruit and berries. They make both classical – such as plombieres, cream, joghurt ice-creams and sorbets and nowadays cuisine’s „miracle”- sprat, blue cheese, horse-radish and potato ice-cream with tomato sauce. Till now 80 different ice-cream recipes have been tried. If you book a visit beforehand, you can have an excursion and learn everything about the process of making ice-cream from the chefs themselves. In the cafe it is possible to try different ice-cream dishes – each one with a different ice-cream sauce. The cafe also welcomes pets!

Special foods: Horseradish ice cream with herring.

Dodieties ekskursijā, lai gūtu ieskatu lauku profesijā un dzīvesveidā, kā arī iegūtu jaunus iespaidus un labu atpūtu visai klasei. Ekskursijas laikā apskatiet līdz 16 m augsto stāvkrastu ar gana iespaidīgiem skatiem. Pēc tam apmeklējiet lauku maizes ceptuvi, kur iespējams izveidot un izcept pašiem savu kukulīti.  Ekskursijas noslēgumā dodieties uz pili, kas pazīstama ar stāstiem par spokiem, par rūķīšu kāzām un citiem nostāstiem. Pils parkā apskatāma Mīlestības aleja un Rūķīšu ozola vieta.

This route will allow you to see Latvia's most impressive medieval castles or their ruins, as well as outstanding manor houses from aristocratic estates dating back th the 18th and 19th century. The mansion of the Ungurmuiža Estate is one of the only wooden palaces left in Latvia from those that were built in the early 18th century. The ruins of the Cēsis Castle are among the most impressive Medieval ruins in the country. The tower of the Turaida Castle offers panoramic view of the ancient Gauja River Valley. About one-half of  the route passes through the Gauja National Park. You will arrive at the place where the oldest crossing of the Baltic rivers exists - the rafts which transport people across the river are still powered by the stream itself. 
Accommodations is organized at baronial estates and castles wherever its possible. Suggested meals are organized at the upper class restaurants or places where traditional Latvian atmosphere and dishes can be tried.