The best place to look at the restricted area of the Vīķi swamp and the Lielauce lake which is in the middle of that swamp is the Lielauce castle, where a wooden pathway stars. The pathway will lead visitors across the swampy shores of Lake Lielauce and deliver them at a boating area on the open part of the lake. The swamp itself is to the South-east of the lake. The restricted area is there to protect biotopes and species in the area.

The craftswomen produce clay dishes, vases, candlesticks, chandeliers, garden ceramics and small objects. Clay dishes with wooden handles are interesting. The women will offer you a tour of their workshop, a chance to see them at work or to try out your own skills at the potter’s wheel, as well as to purchase objects which have already been manufactured.

No Vilces muižas pa pastaigu taku var aiziet līdz pilskalnam (12 m virs apkārtnes, labiekārtots), kas atrodas Vilces un Rukūzes upīšu satekā. Atradumi liecina, ka cilvēku apmetne šeit ir pastāvējusi jau vidējā dzelzs laikmetā. Pilskalna piekājē atrodas atpūtai labiekārtotā Zaķu pļava. Nostāsti vēsta, ka Vilces grava bijusi laupītāja Kaupēna slēpšanās vieta.

Kihnu Island is the largest island in the Gulf of Rīga and the seventh largest island in Estonia. Its total area is 16.9 km², the island is 7 km long and up to 3.3 km wide. The former seal hunter and fishermen’s island, with around 600 inhabitants, is currently eager to maintain its identity in spite of everything. The unique characteristics of the Kihnu cultural space, like the lifestyle of the community, the diverse cultural traditions, the Kihnu language, music, national costumes and nature, are included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.

A coastal route that goes through four villages – Sääre, Linaküla, Rootsiküla and Lemsi - will help you to discover the cultural and natural values of Kihnu Island. You can visit Kihnu Museum all year round and get insight into the history of the island, including the life of the famous local captain, Kihnu Jõnn. It is also worth seeing Kihnu Church and the cemetery located across from the museum. In the summer, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the island, the surrounding sandbanks and the sea from the lighthouse. The commemorative stone by the former house of Kihnu Jõnn introduces you to the island’s legendary “wild captain”.
 

The Baltic Way was a unique demonstration at the Baltic, European and global level.  Never before had the residents of three countries joined hands in a single chain to link the capital cities of the three nations – Vilnius, Rīga and Tallinn.  The historical event occurred on the evening of August 23, 1989 and involved some two million people to recall events that had happened 50 years before – the conclusion of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact that allowed the two superpowers of the day, Germany and the USSR, to divide up spheres of influence in Europe before the new world war.  The Baltic States lost their independence as a result of the pact.

The chain of demonstrators was some 600 km long, marking out the Baltic Way from Bauska to Rīga and then on to Sigulda, Cēsis, Valmiera and Rūjiena.  The route was known and used in the 14th and 15th century, or even earlier.  Testimony to this is given by the mighty castle hill at Mežotne and the ancient port alongside it.  The Bauska Castle was an important fort during the age of Livonia and, later, one of the residencies of the dukes of Courland.  Sigulda was well fortified on the banks of the Gauja River, with three stone castles nearby.  It was also a health spa.  Līgatne is important in industrial terms because of the paper factory that is there.  Āraiši is another ancient trade crossroad with a lake castle, ancient church, castle ruins and a famous windmill.  Cēsis is one of the historical diamonds of Vidzeme with its old town, the old and new castle, and the majestic views of the ancient Gauja River valley at the cliffs of Ērgļi.  Valmiera boasts of his St Simon’s Church, the Dāliņš stadium, its own theatre and the youthfulness of its own university college.  In Rūjiena, there is a monument to the Bugler of Tālava, which was carved by Kārlis Zemdega and installed in 1937 to commemorate the liberation of Rūjiena.  The monument survived all of the years after the war.  The engraving, “the bugler had to die, but the Latvians heard his call,” is very much in line with the Baltic Way on August 23, 1989.

This part of the Forest Trail gives an opportunity to see Setomaa or “the Land of Setos” which is inhabited by Setos – an ethnographic group with specific ancient traditions and a unique language dialect. Forest Trail hikers can visit the traditional Setos homestead and enjoy Setos cuisine. The forests of the region are especially charming in early autumn, when the ground is coloured lilac by the blooming heather. There is a good chance to pick wild mushrooms and berries. One of the most beautiful sections of this trail in Setomaa leads along the River Piusa, where the river is surrounded by sandstone outcrops. You will also visit the Piusa caves. The tour will end in Värska resort – with its sanatorium and SPA, which use the strengths of local nature: mineral water and lake mud. Värska mineral water is well known in Estonia and elsewhere.

Atrodas Vecpiebalgas centrā pie Inešu ceļa. Vieta, kas jāapmeklē katram savas valsts patriotam, jo šeit atdusas leģendārā romāna "Mērnieku laiki" autori - brāļi Reinis un Matīss Kaudzītes, sabiedriskais darbinieks un valodnieks Atis Kronvalds u.c. Kapos apskatāmi brāļu Kaudzīšu un A. Kronvalda pieminekļi. Tos atrast palīdzēs izvietotās kartes un norādes.

Latvians live in close connection with nature and annual circle of life. The ancient knowledge how to use the goodies of the nature is still very much alive. Wild mushroom and berry picking is very popular as well as collecting of herbs and flowers for teas and infusions. This tour is trying to give an insight of various angles how to use and enjoy nature's resources. The route goes to Kemeri National Park which is rich of flora and also interesting for its sulphur springs which water is used to improve several health related problems. Then you visit farm which specialises on herbs and teas where owner is keen to share her knowledge about different properties of the plants and how they can be used. Then there is a sightseeing at picturesque Kuldiga and proper fishermen soup on bone fire by the coast at Pavilosta. Next day short trip in the river by traditionally made fishermen boat and experience trip how to make meals using wild products. Sightseeing at Liepaja with white sandy beach and exiting military heritage. Overnight at the Pape Nature Reserve. There is a chance to fish in the lake and learn traditional fish smoking technique. Visit Rucava tradition house where you can feel and see ancient cultural environment and try typical meal. Then you visit Shitaki mushroom grower and could taste them. Afterwards visit to herbal tea growers and producers. Excursion to reproduction of ancient Semigalian Castle. Next day wild mushrooming expedition into forest awaits and preparation of collected ingredients. In the afternoon visit to the producer of products from birch juice where you could learn how to extract the juice from the birch tree and try its juice and sparkling wine. Then back to Riga.

This is a shallow lagoon-type lake which, along with the area around it, is a wetland of international importance. The presence of 271 species of birds has been found in the area, including 43 birds which are listed in the Latvian Red Book and 15 that are listed in the European Red Book. The nature park includes the Nida swamp and the part of the sea which is alongside the park - newly estabilshed sea protected area "Nida - Pērkone". Between Lake Pape and the Baltic Sea we find Latvia’s oldest bird ringing station, where rings are attached not only to birds, but also to bats. Lake Pape is the first territory in Latvia where livestock adapted to life in the wild have been released for the proper management of the lake’s flood-land meadows. First there were wild horses (“Konik” horses), then aurochs and the European bison. Visitors can use bird and nature observation towers, nature trails, etc. The Ķoņi village is a unique example of a seaside fishing village. Pape is popular among bird-watchers, and the park’s visitors centre is found in the “Nature House” of the Worldwide Fund for Nature.