The Forest Trail leads down from the highest point of the Haanja Upland. The most important sight on this route is the Suur Munamägi Hill – 318 m above sea level. The highest point of the Baltics with its observation tower provides its visitors with a splendid 50 km range view of the Estonian nature. The 150 year-old western taiga spruce forests grow on the slopes of Suur-Munamägi. Further on the trail circles around the southern part of Lake Vaskna, and continues down small country roads surrounded by solitary homesteads and small clusters of farms. The route ends in a small village, Tsiistre, where the Linen Museum is located. The museum has a collection of folk linen. Flax is one of the oldest cultural plants in Estonia and a few decades ago, blue flax fields were a common sight in southern Estonia.

The Lojas farm in the Mazsalaca Administrative District is a mixed-use farm, including grain farming (wheat, barley, rye, rapeseed) and manufacturing of straw granules as litter for animals.  The farm breeds beef cattle.

This is appropriate for active hikers who enjoy looking at nature and learning about cultural and historical environments.  The hike is down the valley of the most impressive river in the Baltic States – the Gauja, as well as the deep and ancient valley of one of its tributaries – the Amata.  Lovely Devonian sandstone cliffs rise above both sides of the rivers.  The Līgatne Paper Factory village is an outstanding example of industrial heritage at the European level, with a unique environment from the 19th and 20th century.  The Cēsis castle that is at the end of the route was once the mightiest Medieval fortress in Livonia.

Route information from Latvijas Lauku forums

Biškopības produkti bioloģiskajā saimniecībā, informācija par biškopību un dabas aizsardzību.

Kodas is a forward-thinking cider brand from Southern Estonia, known for its sustainable and precise approach to cider-making. They grow over 30 apple varieties organically, ensuring authentic flavors without artificial additives. Kodas emphasizes pure, undiluted apple juice in their ciders, collaborating with fermentation experts to refine unique production methods. Sustainability is central to their philosophy, with a zero-waste approach that transforms apple byproducts into spirits, purees, and more. Kodas rebranded in 2021, expanding its focus to include non-alcoholic beverages, spirits, and food products, all crafted with a balance of tradition and innovation.

The café is located 1.5 kilometres from the Ķegums hydropower plant. Home-grown ingredients are used to produce berry sauces, pumpkin, and marinated cornichons in brine.

Latvian cuisine: Cold soup, pork in mustard, crepes.

Special foods: Crème of cottage cheese with stewed berries.

The second biggest city in Lithuania and from 1920 – 1939 - a temporary capital. The Old Town, The Town Hall (16th century), St. Peter and Pavil cathedral - basilica (15th century), Thunder building (15th century), Laisves alley, Ciurlionis Art and Devil Museum.

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.

Lāči brand bread is popular in Latvia and abroad, because the bakery uses ancient mastery and skills. Baking traditions are supervised by 2 master bakers and 4 journeymen. You can take a tour of the bakery, knead and bake your own little loaf of bread, have lunch at a cosy saloon and purchase the bakery’s products. Lāči uses its own ingredients for its dishes, combining them with seasonal products from local farms. The bakery shop offers a wide range of products from bread to confectionery.

Latvian cuisine: Cream of mushroom soup, various hot potted dishes, bread soup, baker’s dessert.