Traditional Estonian food from products of organic farms Saare Ubin and Vatsliku.

Work on the Valmiera Castle began in 1283.  The castle was burned down in 1702 during the Great Northern War, and the city’s walls were torn down in the late 17th century.  Ruins of the castle and remnants of other Medieval fortifications have been preserved.

The “Ieviņa” café and bakery is in the centre of town and near Market Square. It sells cookies, pastries, tortes, carrot buns, pierogi, etc.

The narrow gauge rail line between Alūksne and Gulbene  has tracks that are 750 mm wide and was once part of a rail line between Stukmaņi and Valka.  Today it is the only passenger train on a narrow gauge railroad in Latvia, offering services every day.  The Alūksne station was opened in 1903, and 33 km line with 10 stations and other stop scan be covered in approximately 90 minutes.  A festival is held each year  -- one that is very popular among fans of small trams.

Kalnbundas offer possibilities for active rest – horse-back riding and horse riding.  

Jau pēc dievnama veidola var spriest, ka vēl ne tik sen – padomju laikos ēka bija izmantota citām vajadzībām. Pēc 2. pasaules kara to atsavināja draudzei, bet torni – uzspridzināja, dievnamā ierīkojot noliktavu. 20. gs. deviņdesmitajos gados draudze uzsāka baznīcas atjaunotni un tagad tā kalpo savam pamatmērķim.

The Grey Dune of Pāvilosta nature reserve covers 42 hectares of land and has been designated to protect Latvia’s widest dune (1.5 km parallel the seacoast, and 812m in the direction from the sea to inland) and the biotopes and species found there. A two-storied watching platform is built to savour the scenery.

 In Soviet time, local fishermen used to dry seaweed in dunes for production of agar, and thus rich vegetation developed in the dune. The Gray Dune is part of a unique landscape with the sea view, the traditional architecture of Pāvilosta fishing town, and biotopes, including protected, which border the nature reserve: pine forest, embryonic dunes, white dunes, and wet beech where once can find springs. Biotope 2130, “Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation (grey dunes)” is found here. At present, pines are taking over the biotope, therefore some maintenance activities are required. The Grey Dune is most beautiful in the second half of July and in August when the blossoming Breckland Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and Narrowleaf Hawkweed (Hieracium umbellatum) colour the dune in shades of yellow and violet. The most typical species here are Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pretense), Grey Hair-grass(Corynephorus canescens), Blue Hair Grass (Koeleria glauca), Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius).

The Gray Dune earned wide recognition when a group of enthusiasts actively campaigned for six years to achieve the status of the nature reserve. Guna Grimsta, a group representative remembers that they organised events and activities throughout Latvia involving large part of the society, prominent personalities, church parishes, NGOs, school youth and university students. The activists were writing letters, making videos, doing research articles, composing music, collecting signatures and submitting proposals to achieve official status of the Grey Dune as an especially protected nature site. They organised seminars, concerts, art plenaires and exhibitions, educational excursions, joint-work, musical church services, meetings with high officials and their on-site visits to the Gray Dune.

In 2006 the group received the title „Proudness of Latvia” awarded by the national TV3 broadcasting company and daily paper „Diena”.
The nature reserve „Gray Dune of Pāvilosta” was established in October 30, 2007. It is the most recent Natura2000 site in Latvia.

Kihnu farm offers traditional Kihnu island dishes from home-grown vegetables and local fish.

The “Banquet With Fishermen” event in Roja allows guests to examine the work of fishermen and to enjoy the seafood which they produce. Guests will ride out into the sea in fishing boats and then dine together with the fishermen (fish soup cooked on a campfire, rye bread, butter, smoked fish, beer or kvass, and pastries). The fishermen will teach guests local songs and dances, as well as games related to strength and cleverness. The “Otra Puse” restaurant offers meals.

Latvian cuisine: Fresh fish (“The Morning Catch”), Latvian onion soup, porridge, grit sausage, smoked fish, potato pancakes, rye bread dessert, beer, the “Dzimtenīte” beverage, herbal tea, birch juice, apple cider. 

Special foods: “Made in Roja” – fish from the region, “mackerel in in grass,” “cottage cheese tower with fresh strawberry sauce”.

From Riga the tour goes to Sigulda where you can see the Olympic Bobsled truck, visit Sigulda medieval castle and take a cable car across to Turaida medieval Castle with beautiful views across the Gaujas Valley. Kids would love activities at the adventure centre Tarzans. At Ligatne walk Nature trails to see the local wild animals at their enclosed territories and wonder around the historic village originally formed around the Paper Mill. Further on visit impressive medieval castle ruins at Cesis town and the picturesque Devonian Zvarte outcrop at Karli. Then the route goes along the coast with sandy beaches great for walking, playing and swimming. There visit museum of the biggest liar in the world - Munhauzen and listen to his fantastic adventure stories.

Then the route goes to the Western part of Latvia and focuses on the sea and coastal life. From Riga visit the sea resort Jurmala, stop at Pure Chocolate Museum and then continues to Cape Kolka where open sea meets Riga Bay. There explore trails at Sliteres National Park, visit villages of Livs which is one of the smallest ethnic nations in the world, enjoy freshly smoked fish. At Ventspils enjoy endless facilities for children - kids town, narrow gauge train, aqua parks, well equipped beach and adventure park. On the way to Riga visit charming Kuldiga with well preserved wooden architecture and stop at the farm where kids could enjoy different farm animals