The route brings you to Kaunas, multiple Lithuanian regional parks and allows to enjoy the landscapes of the river Nemunas. Kaunas is Lithuania’s second largest city. It is notable for its modernist architecture. The city is located at the confluence of the two largest Lithuanian rivers: Nemunas and Neris. Moving further from Lampėdžiai to Vilkija, the Forest Trail runs for two days along trails and small countryside gravel roads next to the right bank of the river Nemunas. This section is shaped by beautiful landscapes with views of the river, the waterfront meadows and small villages. Do not miss the ferry in Vilkija crossing over the river Nemunas, one of the few still in operation in the Baltic States. For the next two days from Vilkija, the Forest Trail runs through its most spectacular sections in the Dubysa Regional Park from Kirkšnovė to Šiluva with mounds on riverbanks and historical churches now and there. This regional park covers the impressive Dubysa river valley, which reaches a depth of 40 m and a width of up to 500 m. Be prepared for a rolling terrain. Next, the route will take you to the town of Šiluva – the Catholic pilgrimage site – and to the Kurtuvėnai Regional Park. It is among the most forested areas of Central Lithuania; thus, the regional park with its glaciated valleys is a wonderland of forests, waters and wetlands. The Forest Trail leads along small forest paths, tourist trails, beautiful tree alleys and wetlands. The walk ends in Šaukėnai village, from where the city of Šiauliai is easily reached.

The oldest elements of the Oleri Estate date back to the 17th century.  Initially there was a wooden mansion with an ancillary building.  The new centre was built in the late 18th century in the style of Early Classicism.  After agrarian reforms, the mansion housed an elementary school, and during the Soviet occupation and until the 1970s it was a school for children with mental disorders.  The mansion suffered in a fire in 2000, after which it was restored.  A local organisation was of great importance in this regard.  The mansion is known for its Classicist paintings, with a unique “Painting Gallery.”  The mansion is surrounded by a lovely park.  The Oleri Estate is known for hosting chamber music concerts.  The local Oleri swamp has a wooden pathway and a little viewing tower.

In a document from 1387, the village is named Minor Irva.  Until the mid-20th century, Mazirbe was the largest Livonian village on the coast of Kurzeme.  It was a fishing village and a centre for fishing.  The village had a church, school, pharmacy, forestry company, several stores, a post and telegraph office, train station, barber shop, bakery and photo workshop, as well as a brick kiln.  During the 1930s, a local fishing co-operative built a fish processing plant here.  The Livonian Association was established here in 1923, and the Livonian People's Centre was opened in 1939.  Oppoite the centre is the Stūrīši homestead (the home of the Taizel dynasty), where you can learn about everyday household objects and, by ordering it advance, taste local foods.  The first chairmen of the Livonian Association, Kārlis Stalte and Māritņš Lepste, lived in Mazirbe.  Cultural worker Kārlis Stalte (1870-1978) spent man years as the verger and organist of a church in Mazirbe.  Mārtiņš Lepste was a Livonian language teacher in the 1930s.  The former Maritime School building can be viewed from the outside.  Some 2,000 students attended the school between 1894 and 1914.  During Soviet years, the army had a base here.

The farmwoman grows vegetables and fruits to produce tasty preserves, syrups, jams, chutneys and dried fruit. You can taste and purchase the products, go on a tour of an escargot farm, and taste escargots cooked in the Burgundy style. Children’s camps can be organised.

Built in the turn of the19th to 20th century. Next to it-on the right bank of the river Vēršupīte, there is located one of the most popular Latvian sulphur water springs, called "Small lizard". The spring runs out from a stone-designed lizard sculptured in 1949 (Sculptor J. Bajārs). Its water is healthy for using both internally and externally. Not far from the pavilion there can be found Jānis Lībietis alley sign. J. Lībietis worked in the position of a director for the sulphur water spring authority of Kemeri from 1928 to 1944.

Iespaidīga koka celtne un izcils koka arhitektūras piemērs, kuru pamanīs katrs Plateļu apmeklētājs! Plateļu baznīca ir viens no Lietuvas vecākajiem koka dievnamiem. Pašreiz redzamais ir būvēts 1744. g., bet zvanu tornis – 1899. g. Dienvidos no baznīcas plešas Plateļu muižas parks.

The craftsman produces wooden dishware and other products, making use of many local species of trees. The technique is unusual and reveals the specific texture of timber. The artist has masterfully integrated amber, bone and animal horn in his dishware. He also engraves spoons with ethnographic signs. You can commission or purchase products from the master craftsman, who also restores wooden furniture.

Durbe is the smallest town in Latvia with a distinguished history, as well as the smallest city in the country in terms of population (some 500 residents).  Durbe was first mentioned in a Courlandian document.  In 1260, there was a legendary battle at Durbe between the joint forces of the Livonian Order and the German Order and local tribes, including Courlandians who left the German forces to join the tribes.  One of Latvia's first professional gardeners, Sīmanis Klevers (1834-1922) lived and worked in Durbe, and it is thanks to him that the local gardens feature many rare types of apple trees.  The herald of Durbe, which was approved in 1925 features a silver apple tree.  Several local farms have fruit orchards, and there are many active gardeners.  An apple festival is held each September in Durbe. 

The restaurant is at the seaside and in an ancient Latvian fishing farm with the view of the beach. Live music is performed during the season.

Latvian cuisine: Potato salad with sausage, cold soup, grey peas with bacon, blood sausage, boiled pig’s ear, leg of pork with sauerkraut, pork roasted on coals, bull testicles, potted beef.

Special foods: Low-salt herring cooked on coals.

On the left bank of the ancient Gauja River valley, between the Paparžu ravine and the ravine along which the Sigulda-Turaida road passes through the valley there are the ruins of a castle built by the Order of the Brethren of the Sword.  Construction on the castle began in 1207, and three decades later, in 1236, the castle was rebuilt for the needs of the Livonian Order.  The Sigulda Castle suffered much damage during wars in the late 16th and early 17th century.  During the Great Northern War, it was burned down and never restored.  What is there today is the south-western segment of the castle's convent building, as well as the tower of the main gate.  Beyond that is the internal forecastle, where there is an open-air stage for the annual Sigulda Opera Music Festival and other public events.  There are also impressive views of the ancient Gauja River valley, Krimulda and Turaida.  Reconstruction of the ruins is currently ongoing, and after the work is completed a second tower on the left side of the stage will be available to visitors.  The plan is to install crossings around the walls of the convent building.  Presently the ruins are available on a 24/7 basis and free of charge, but after the restorations are completed in 2012, admission will be charged.