| No | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
 10 days
|
From Riga the tour goes along the right bank of the river Daugava and crosses it over at Plavinas HES to Salaspils. Visit National Botanic Garden then continue along the left bank of Daugava. On the route there is a model of ancient wooden castle where you can walk about. . Then visit the Kingdom of Rabbits where their homes are made like a little castles too. Time to taste some wonderful home-made ice-cream at Skriveri and visit legendary Koknese castle ruins park. Next day visit ethnographic working farmstead where you can see wild horses and cows as well as various waterbirds in the pond. Then the route goes to private mini zoo "Ezerlejas" with some exotic animals, visit ceramics factory where you can see how the hand-made clay products are made from the beginning to the end, walk around Rauna medieval castles ruins. Cesis town with mighty medieval castle and pretty old town is the next on the route. At Ligatne walk nature trails where you can see local wild animals. At Sigulda kids would love to visit "Tarzans" adventure centre. There is also Olympic bobsled centre and two medieval castles located. From Sigulda the route goes towards the coast with a stop at elegant Birini Manor with large park where you can try horse ridding. Then you are at the sandy beach of Saulkrasti. Before returning to Riga you can visit a farm with goats and ponies to taste goats products and cuddle animals. |
|
 |
The farm produces six different kinds of blackberries. You can tour the surrounding fields, learn about how blackberries are grown, and taste and purchase valuable berries. Your children will love the rabbits and goats that are at the farm. |
|
 |
Until 13th century, Smiltene region was a part of Talava country, inhabited by Latgalians. After Crusaders invasion it was won by the Archbishop of Riga, and he built a stone castle on the steep river bank of Abuls in 1370. The following wars and epidemics did not spare the development of settlement, nor the people. Present shape of the town began to emerge in 19th century along with the vigorous activities of owner of Smiltene manor first Lieven. Until the World War I, wood working factory, hydroelectric power plant (established in 1901, first in the Baltics), and other companies were operating in Smiltene. In 1944 when the German forces retreated, much of the Smiltene historical buildings were destroyed in the fire. |
|
 2 days
|
This part of the Forest Trail passes through the historical centre of Valmiera. In Valmiera you can visit St. Simon’s Church, the Ruins of the Livonian Order Castle and Valmiera Museum. We also suggest walking the barefoot trail in “Sajūtu Parks” (Park of Senses). After sightseeing in Valmiera, the Forest Trail goes through Atpūtas (Recreation) park, the beautiful pine forest and Baiļi winter ski centre. Further on you will walk along the River Abuls Trail, curving along the banks of the river until reaching the Brenguļi brewery built in an old Hydroelectric power plant. You can enjoy unfiltered and unpasteurised beer here. Further down you will enter unpopulated forest areas and the Northern Gauja protected landscape area. The forests in Northern Gauja (“Ziemeļgauja”) are very diverse. There are old or natural boreal (northern) forests and marsh forests, oak forests, alluvial forests (formed on river sediments which periodically flood) and mixed oak, wych elm and ash forests along the river. The tour will end in Strenči Town. |
|
 |
Located at 10 Sēravotu Street. The historicism style building is built from wood in 1889 and it is the newest of the three churches in Ķemeri. It is possible to see the church from the inside on the days of worship services. On other days-from the outside. |
|
 |
The tower is at the western end of the Seda swamp, accessed from the side of Jērcēni. Transport is limited here. The tower is in the area of the swamp where peat moss is extracted. It offers a broad view of the ponds of Seda and a boat rental facility that is nearby. It is an appropriate location for bird-watching during the season of migration. There is another bird-watching platform near the town of Seda. This is part of the ZBR. |
|
 |
This mixed-type park dates back to the latter half of the 19th century and has remained all but unchanged. It is in a lovely place between two lakes, and its spatial structure was preserved when it was restored. The park covers 10 ha and has two parts. One is a fairly precisely rectangular territory alongside the state, surrounded by a stand of linden trees and introduced trees. The other part has a natural forest. The largest oak tree in the park has been declared to be a protected element of natural heritage. The mighty trunk of the tree is 6.3 m around, has a 2m diameter and stands 30.5 m high. |
|
 |
Baltijā lielākā keramikas fabrika. Tūristu grupām piedāvā ekskursiju pa ražotni. Blakus atrodas veikals, kurā var iegādāties keramikas izstrādājumus – gan praktiskas lietas, gan interjera priekšmetus un suvenīrus. |
|
 |
Located in one of the most untouched corners of northern Latgale. Already from the spring they offer worker bee and later both, young and producing bee, propolis and wax mixture candles, pollen bread and propolis in butter. The workshop produces bee hives and other apiary equipment. |
|
 |
The cafe is situated in Jekabpils, in the shopping centre Aura, on the left bank of the river Daugava. The premises are comfortable and have a touch of a countryside, which can be felt in the wooden interior of the place. They offer breakfast, dinner or supper here. Working hours: 9:00 – 20:00 |
|
 |
This park dates back to the mid-18th century and is to the south of Lake Stelmuže. There are winding trails on all sides of the hillock that lead to the Christ the King Church, with linden, maple, oak, birch, fir, elm and pine trees. At the foot of the hillock is the Laime stream, and visitors are welcome to stroll along the alley of oak trees. The oldest and fattest oak tree in Lithuania is one of the oldest ones in Europe. It is though that it is 1,500 to 2,000 ears old, and its record-setting diameter is 3.5 metres (eight or nine people linking hands are needed to encircle it). The tree is 23 m high. |
|
 5 days
|
This route passed along many places where events directly related to the emergence of the Latvian state and to the subsequent freedom battles occurred. The historical route from Rīga to Liepāja via Dobele, Saldus, Skrunda, Durbe and Grobiņa was used as long ago as the 13th century. People in the Kurzeme region of Latvia have always eat sea, river and lake fish, particularly smoked fish. Potted smoked cod, served in a clay pot, is a particular delicacy, as are smelts, sea pike, sprats, herring and salmon, available all year long. Ladies of the house bake tasty rye bread, sourdough bread and tasty carrot buns, and they also cook various porridges from barley. Dairy products, Summer Solstice cheese and “white butter” has an important role. Fresh goat milk cheese is prepared with dills and garlic, and goat milk cheese is also tasty. Menus will include local domestic fowl and meat dishes, including roasts, ribs, sausages, as well as more exotic dishes such as pig’s tongue and bull testicles. Fancy taverns will offer pheasant and wild game with mushrooms, lingonberries, juniper berries and wild herbs. In Kurzeme you will be greeted with delicious pies, sheet cakes, poppy seed pastries and honey cakes, biscuits with poppies and cranberries, dessert from rye bread, lingonberries or cranberries and sweet cream.Blackberry dumplings are popular. More unusual are marmalades made from wild plants such as mountain ash, cranberries and even fir needles. Slake your thirst with aromatic herbal teas with honey and enjoy a mug of beer or some homemade wine. |
|
 |
Engures apkaimē aug 22 no Latvijā sastopamajām 32 orhideju dzimtas sugām .Lai dabas parka apmeklētājiem dotu iespēju aplūkot šīs interesantās augu sugas, ierīkota Orhideju taka. Kopējais takas garums ir 3.5 km, tā sākas netālu no Engures Ornitoloģisko pētījumu centra, līkumo caur kalcifilajiem purviem un mežam putnu novērošanas torņa virzienā, un aizvijas tālāk gar atjaunoto ezera piekrastes pļavu, kurā mīt govis un zirgi. Takas sākumā novietotajā informācijas zīmē attēlotas ne tikai apkārtnē sastopamās orhidejas. Tur iespējams gūt daudzpusīgu informāciju arī par citām interesantām Engures ezera dabas parka augu sugām.
|
|
 |
The Sunset trail starts in the centre of Saulkrasti town and takes you to the White Dune. Saulkrasti town with its municipal rural territory, occupies a 17km long stretch of coastal land to the North from the river Lilaste and the lake Lilaste. The White Dune stands on the right side of river Inčupe mouth. It is covered by old pine forest. The white, 18m high sand outcrop in olden times served as a landmark for fishermen. The White Dune formed as winds carried the sand from the beach over clay sediments of the Baltic Ice Lake. Some 150-200 years ago, the dune had been drifting as witnessed by several layers of soil buried within it. Local fishermen and farmers at Bātciems initiated afforestation of the drifting dunes. At that time, the 30m high dunes which are now covered with forest, were bare, shifting and even buried a farmstead. To speed up afforestation, mountain pines were planted. The White Dune was partly washed away in heavy storm in 1969, and 4-6m high precipice formed. Now the wind and sand have levelled out the dune surface, it has been fixed with willow-twigs or grown with forest where the largest pines are more than 170-190 years old. The pines are notable with their large trunks and branches, the scars obtained during their lifetime and the typical “crocodile skin” – the bark forms rhombuses resembling those of the reptile’s scales. Scots Pine (Pinus Silvestris) is one of the most common tree species in Latvia. It grows in dry, meagre sandy soil in dunes as well as in marsh. However, it does not stand overshadowing. Forest fires help pines to get rid of competitors as pine endures fire better than other trees because of its thick bark and high crown. The wood exudes resin and burned wounds close soon. Fire cleans space for seedlings of young pines. Pines can live 300-350 years. Ground cover in dune forests is very sensitive. If the sparse vegetation is destroyed, not only the natural biodiversity and landscape is damaged, but also the dangerous shifting dunes can possibly “wake up”. Embryonic dunes, White (yellow) dunes, Grey dunes and Wooded dunes are EU protected biotopes. Grey Dunes are protected by Latvian law as well. |
|
 |
This is the most modern rabbit farm in the Baltic States. The animals live in cages in a shed, but there are also cages outside where they can be viewed. Children will love contacts with 24 types of rabbits, as well as an opportunity to study the surrounding area from a viewing tower. If you apply in advance, you can purchase fresh rabbit meat, sausages, dried meats and pâté. A new thing at the farm is the Mangalicas breed of wild pigs from Hungary. |
|
 |
This pile of big rocks stands around 9 m high and is some kind of monument to Krišjānis Barons and his achievements on behalf of the Latvian people. His parents lived at the Valpene Estate, and the rocks contain engraved names of lost homesteads from the region. Their direction in the pyramid indicates where the homesteads used to be. The idea for the rocks came from Imants Ziedonis, and the pyramid was built by the sculptor Vilnis Titāns. |
|
 |
This company has, for the past 16 years, produced classical candies of honey, peppermint, ginger and buckthorn, as well as other products. It also offers juice made of the common stinkhorn mushroom – a medicinal substance well known in Latvian folklore. You can purchase the products that are on offer. |
|
 7 days
|
Mushrooming is one of the most popular autumn activities in Latvia. The tour is lead by a professional mycologist and combines the mysterious world of funghi with local historic heritage and mushroom preparation traditions. Mushrooming starts at one the most popular mushroom pickers' sites in the suburbs of Riga. Then it's on to try various locations in the mushrooming paradise of the Gauja National Park, walk nature trail along the Amata river and have a picnic at picturesque outcrop Zvārtes Rock. Further on, the route reaches charming Ungurmuiža Manor park with its ancient oak trees and some specific fungal species. Next the tour visits a shiitake mushroom grower and mysterious Zilaiskalns hill featuring a highland landscape as well as the flatlands of Lake Burtnieks. Zīle Forest is a rare European biotope with ancient oak forest and park type meadows while the natural coniferous forest at Mežole is one of the richest interms of biological diversity. Here you can find mushrooms which are indicators of natural forest. You also visit oyster mushroom growers along the route. Then it's Āraiši reconstructed Bronze Age settlement built on a lake where there are good examples of how mushrooms can damage and destroy man made objects. At one of the guest houses the chef will demonstrate how to cook your collected mushrooms the local way. |
|
 |
Ap 6 km garā pussala ir vieta, kur jānokļūst tiem, kas grasās doties vienā no neparastākajiem pārgājieniem pāri jūras šaurumam. Cauri Kūsnemmes pussalai līdz tās ziemeļu daļai iet šaurs un ļoti līkumains grants ceļš (ar garāku tūristu autobusu jābrauc lēni un uzmanīgi), kura galā izveidots autostāvlaukums, neliels namiņš, kur patverties lietus un vēja laikā, kā arī informācijas stends. Turpat redzamas divas Padomju armijas „KRAZ” tipa automašīnas. Lai sasniegtu robežkontroles posteni, Padomju robežsargi brauca pa jūru un mazajām saliņām, kas kā pērļu virtene savieno Kūsnemmes pussalas galu ar Vilsandi salas dienviddaļu. Turpat divas desmitgades pēc Igaunijas neatkarības atjaunošanas „KRAZ” automašīnu kravas kastēs vasaras laikā uz Vilsandi vizināja tūristus, taču spēkrati savu mūžu ir nokalpojuši un unikālais piedāvājums vairs nav spēkā! Ko darīt? Pa mazajām saliņām uz Vilsandi var doties ar kājām. To var īstenot tikai siltā laikā, kad nav gaidāms stiprs vējš un ir zināma laika prognoze vismaz divām tuvākajām dienām. Kā sava veida orientieris var kalpot augstsprieguma elektrolīnija. Kopumā ir jārēķinās arī ar 1 h 40 – 2 h ilgu un ~ 4 km garu gājienu. Dziļākā vieta (ja ietur pareizo „kursu”) atrodas pārgājiena sākumdaļā, kur starp saliņām izveidots laivu ceļš - ~ 1 m dziļa vieta atkarībā no vēja virziena un ūdens līmeņa. Zināmu priekšstatu par maršrutu sniegs redzamā ainava, kas paveras no skatu torņa. Kaut arī šis maršruts tiek reklamēts dažādos informatīvajos materiālos, atbildību par tā veikšanu uzņemas katrs pats! |
|
 |
Cēsu centrālais laukums – Vienības laukums (20.gs.sākumā – Konventa laukums) – atgādina par Cēsu kauju notikumumiem, kuru nozīme un ikviena dalībnieka ieguldījums aprakstīti devīzē uz pieminekļa “No zobena saule lēca”. Cēsu kaujas 1019.gada jūnijā bija svarīgs Latvijas valstiskuma vēstures pagrieziena punkts, kad apvienotais latviešu un igauņu karaspēks sakāva vācu landesvēru, kas apdraudēja Baltijas valstu pastāvēšanu. Vienības laukums turpina būt par nozīmīgu notikumu liecinieku. 1989.gada 23.augustā daudzu cēsnieku ceļi veda uz Vienības laukumu, kuram cauri vijās Baltijas ceļš. |
|
