This is an artificial body of water that was dug in the 1960s to obtain ice for fish processing plants in Kolka.

On this tour you will enjoy the diversity  of nature in Lahemaa National Park – the oldest national park in the Baltic states. Lahemaa – means “the land of bays” in Estonian. It is characterised by many bays, peninsulas, forests and villages rich in cultural heritage. The Forest Trail will go along the bays and peninsulas of Lahemaa National Park, introducing the hikers to its most significant natural and cultural heritage. The forests are rich with blueberries and mushrooms in autumn, and the air is very clean.

You will start the tour from Tallinn, going by bus to Lahemaa National Park, where you stay overnight in one of the beautiful manors. On the next day you will hike till Oandu. En route you will see Altja – a scenic traditional fishing village, where a traditional Estonian tavern is located and you can enjoy traditional meals. In Oandu there is the visitor centre of the Estonian State Forest Management (RMK), where hikers can learn more about forest habitat types and forest management traditions. Then you will reach Käsmu Peninsula with its wooded dunes and moss-covered rock fields, giving the feeling of being in a fairy tale. Käsmu is also a popular Estonian sea captains´ village. There you can visit the Marine Museum and lighthouse, as well as have an extra walk to the Vana-Jüri rocks.

During the day from Käsmu to Kasispea you will see some of the most impressive boulders in Lahemaa National Park, the Tammispea and Jaani-Tooma boulders, which resemble huge monoliths. You will end the tour in Viinistu Village, where we suggest visiting Viinistu Art Museum.

Historians say that the Livs or Livonians lived in the territory of Latvia long ago, starting in the 10th century.  They populated Northern Kurzeme and the river banks of the Daugava and Gauja rivers.  They asked the first German tradesmen who appeared in the area about the price of textiles at the market in Visby.  This means that they were familiar with the island of Gotland.  The Livonians were courageous and spiritually strong seafarers, because only strong men can live with the sea, go fishing and seal trapping, and take root in the by no means fertile sands of the seashore.

The territory between Ģipka and Ovīši is known as the Livonian coastline.  There are still romantic seashore fishing villages of Livonian origin, as well as Cape Kolka, where the great Latvian activist Krišjānis Valdemārs insisted that it was the centre of Europe.  Livonians all along the seashore responded to his call by taking part in building sailing ships all the way up to Ainaži, where there was a maritime school.  That allowed the ships to sail to the far corners of the world, thus creating a century of sailing ships.  This wasn’t possible without the Livonians.  Also on the coastline are the oldest lighthouses in Latvia, with the one at Ovīši still serving as a star that shows the route for seaborne ships that are heading for Rīga.

The Livonian heritage is also seen in the tradition of fishing for lamprey eels – something that is still very much in place in Carnikava, Svētciems and Salacgrīva.  Old-time fishing equipment that cannot be seen anywhere else is on display in the latter town.

The Latvian nation emerged when the Livonians flowed together with the Lettigalians, the Livonians joke.  It may be that there is some truth in the anecdote.  Liv or Livonian culture, lifestyles and history are closely linked to Latvia and cannot be separated from it.

Jelgavas pils dienvidaustrumu spārna cokolstāvā ir iepazīstamas Kurzemes un Zemgales valdnieku - Ketleru un Bīronu dzimtas kapenes (laika posms no 1569. – 1791. g.), kur apskatāmi 18 restaurētie sarkofāgi. Šī ir Baltijas mērogā nozīmīga vieta, kas noteikti jāapmeklē ikvienam vēstures interesentam.

Just 20 minutes’ drive from Pärnu, in the old Tõstamaa forestry building, Amps & Lonks café offers travellers a little rest and pizza made from fresh local produce. Especially popular, is the pizza with home-reared beef and fresh salad. You can also order in advance.

The historical route from Rīga to Liepāja passes through Dobele, Saldus, Skrunda, Durbe and Grobiņa, and it dates back to the 13th century.  Remnants of Scandinavian settlements near Grobiņa also testify to the antiquity of the region.

Many things happened on the road and around it that were directly linked to the establishment of the Republic of Latvia and to its subsequent freedom battles.  At the Tīreļpurvs swamp, Latvian riflemen demonstrated their battel capabilities and heroism during the so-called Christmas battles, thus proving that a new country had been born.  The trails of the swamp are open to visitors, and there is an historical exhibition at the Mangaļi homestead.  Rīga is clearly marked along this route by the Latvian National Theatre, where independence was proclaimed in 1918.  Later the hostile attack of Bermont’s forces was stopped at the banks of the Daugava, and the superior force was ejected from Rīga and Latvia.

Approximately 70 km from Rīga is the Pikšas museum, which is the birthplace of Latvian President Kārlis Ulmanis and a good example of farming between the two world wars.  The museum of Colonel Oskars Kalpaks at Airītes offers a look at battles that occurred in the region and at things that Kalpaks did during World War I and the subsequent liberation battles.  There were battles near Skrunda and Saldus, and it was in Liepāja that German General von der Goltz conducted a coup that led Latvia’s temporary government to seek refuge on the ship the Saratov, upon which it sailed to Rīga after the city’s liberation.  Liepāja has always been an important port, and once it offered passenger services all the way to New York.

This trail of pathways dates back to 2005 and it passes from the Dunte Estate (which has an exhibition about Munchhausen) along damp shoreline forests and on to the sea.  There are rest stops along the trail with wooden sculptures related to the famous Baron Munchhausen, as well as other attractions.  The trails are in the Northern Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve.

This is a professional livestock farming tour to visit farms that breed cows, sheep, goats and pigs.  During the introductory day, participants will tour the Latvian capital city of Rīga, which is on the UNESCO List of World Heritage, and meet with representatives of the Latvian Agriculture Ministry and agricultural NGOs.  The next morning it’s off to Kurzeme to visit a farm that breeds meat cattle.  The second farm on the list specialises in the breeding of purebred and mixed breed cattle for siring, fattening and meat production.  It sells piglets and offers pork, grains, potatoes and beekeeping products.  In the evening we will visit Kuldīga to see Europe’s widest waterfall on the Venta River.  The next morning we will travel to Vidzeme, where the first farm specialises in livestock breeding and intensive farming, while the second specialises in dairy farming and the production of grains and grasses.  We will visit the ruins of the Koknese castle, which stands along the banks of the legendary Daugava River.  In the evening, we will visit one of the largest goat farms in Latvia, with some 160 purebred goats (Alpine, Anglo, German White Noble), as well as hogs for breeding.  Several types of cheese will be available for tasting.  The next morning, we will visit one of Latvia’s largest sheep farms.  The biological farm has about 250 head of sheep.  The second farm grows grain and grasses and engages in dairy farming and livestock breeding.  We will visit the Medieval castle in Cēsis, which was the residents of the masters of the Livonian Order and one of the most fortified fortresses in the territory of the Baltic States.  At the conclusion of the day, we will go to Ungurmuiža Estate, which is one of the most outstanding examples of 18th century Baroque wood construction in Latvia.

Located on the main pedestrian thoroughfare in town, the baker offers bacon pierogi, cottage cheese and cinnamon pastries, sweet pretzels and tortes. Vintage bicycles can be rented.