Military Underground Secrets and the Sea
Hike in Riga
  • 5 h
  • ~12 km
  • Riga

Program

This hiking tour brings you to Mangalsala, a neighborhood of Riga that is known for its industrial vibe, romantic breakwater and wonderful opportunity to observe ships passing by. Screams of seagulls, lonely fishermen standing on the breakwater, powerful sea wind and a bright lighthouse – these are the most common associations with Mangalsala. And yet there is something else very special about this place – military underground secrets that invite you to come and explore them. First coastal defense fortifications in Mangalsala were built during the Russian Empire and later expanded by various armies – Latvian, German and Soviet. Many bunkers, batteries and other buildings are still visible today, making Mangalsala one of the best military heritage gems in Latvia. Military underground secrets, lovely paths through the pinetree woods, industrial vibe and the sea promises a very adventurous and exciting hiking tour.

Highlights

  • Bunkers, batteries and other military heritage
  • Sunken ship “Lady Cotlin”
  • Mangalsala Breakwater
  • White sand beach
When and where

The meeting point is in front of the bus stop “Mangalsala” at 10 AM. The hike starts and ends at the same point. Return back to the meeting point around 3 PM.

Transportation

You have two options – bus or your own car. If you choose public transport, you can reach Mangalsala by bus No24 (1,5 euro one-way ticket) leaving from Abrene Street at 8:43 AM and arriving at the bus stop “Mangalsala” at 9:53 AM.

IMPORTANT!

The safety measures during the tour:

  • On the tour are not allowed persons who have to be in quarantine or are having symptoms like fever, and other signs of acute infection.

Photos and video:

By booking the tour the participant agrees to be photographed or filmed. Baltic Nature Travel reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at tours organised by Baltic Nature Travel without the expressed written/oral permission of those included within the photograph/video.

Meeting point

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Tour dates
  • 07.10.2023
Participation fee

15 € per person.

Included
  • Route planning;
  • English speaking hike leader;
  • Taxes.
Not included
  • Transportation costs;
  • Food and drinks.
What to bring with you
  • 1 l of water per person as a minimum 
  • Snacks and lunch for breaks and picnic
  • Flashlight or headlamp
  • Good and adventurous mood
How to dress

Please, dress accordingly to the weather forecast! Due to very changeable weather, layering is key to enjoying the hike, and rain protection is a must-have. Any comfortable shoes or sandals are good enough for this hike.

Level of dificulty

A quite easy hike that follows small paths through the woods and country roads, goes on a wooden boardwalk and along the sea. Hiking tour involves climbing down in the bunkers (entering bunkers is on your own responsibility!).

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Frequently Asked Questions

What travelers say about us

EXCELLENT
36 reviews on
claire wallick moy
claire wallick moy
2025-06-19
Our small family group 2 seniors and 2 adult children all agree our 10 day “best of” Lithuania was excellent. We were very happy we went with a private tour and driver. (same person, Tomas) This way we could include all (or most) of the destinations within the country in this short time. Valdis arranged our itinerary, suggested museums, parks and researched accomodations including local guest house and vacation rentals when there were no hotels (or not available) close to our destinations. We loved visiting the national parks and UNESCO heritage sites. Our travels with Tomas was excellent. He is very knowledgeable about the history and geography of Lithuania and happy to share this with us. He was very helpful with all the arrangements the tickets for entry at various attractions and accomodations (all of which was included and arranged by Baltic Nature Travel). Tomas was also helpful in guiding us for food and drink choices. And suggesting restaurants in Vilnius, Siauliai and kaunas. He is also an excellent driver and the van was very comfortable. We feel really lucky to have had this opportunity. The 4 of us agreed that where we visited and having Tomas as our tour guide made our Lithuania holiday very special. Although most people speak some English it is not enough to have the in depth conversations that Tomas was able to translate for us. The 2 days we had to tour the Curonian Spit were lovely even though we had some rain. And though thunderstorms interfered with our planned kayaking Aukstaitija NP, we were able to do a short kayak ride in Dzukija NP. Also our pottery visit in Merkine was a highlight. If you are planning a trip to Lithuania I suggest contacting Baltic Nature Travel and let them handle arrangements for you.
Laura Lopez Vinasco
Laura Lopez Vinasco
2025-06-19
Fue un viaje que llenó nuestras expectativas por mucho, una gran sorpresa cada lugar que visitamos
Michael Neilson
Michael Neilson
2025-05-26
We toured the Curonian Spit with Kristina who provided a great mix of nature, history and personal experiences to give us a very entertaining and enjoyable day.
michelle leow
michelle leow
2025-05-20
Kuldiga: charming streets, and wides waterfall in Europe on 7th May 2025 We joined a private tour of 6 people to this exotic location. Our vacation was made an even better experience by a knowledgeable and friendly tour guide Valdis, who provides us with all the information about the place and enlightens us on the history and culture of the region. Despite the chilly weather, Celsius 5 degree. It was a few hours walking tour around the newly built tower that oversees the magnificent view, waterfalls, and the old town. Valdis waited for us patiently taking photos. Because we saw so many beautiful places of interest, our vacation was well worth the time and money we spent on it. Apart from showing us the various places of interest, Valdis also managed our transportation and meals recommendation, all of which he did very efficiently. Please accept our heartfelt thanks, Valdis.
Priya Bhatt
Priya Bhatt
2025-05-12
Loved the trip, every day was truly amazing Estonia is worthy and so I would recommend people to visit Estonia through Baltic travels, Mr Valdis did a terrific planning, every details were given and made my journey memory very happy 😃
Samuel Lister
Samuel Lister
2025-02-08
We had a fantastic tour with Tomas around Vilnius. He was informative, friendly and helpful and despite there being no snow for snowshoes it was a brilliant experience. I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to experience Vilnius.
SisterBliss66
SisterBliss66
2024-11-02
Great day out - lovely walk in Gauja - Līgatne trail - in the crisp autumn air followed by the paper mill. Then on to Sigulda Castle and Gutman Cave. Valdis was very knowledgeable and we had some interesting conversations about the places visited, history, culture and lots more besides. Friendly guy, fluent in English. It was awesome getting out of Riga to see more of the country.
Jane Bower
Jane Bower
2024-09-30
My partner and I (69 and 75) are just back from a 17 day self-drive tour put together with the help of Valdis from Baltic Nature Travel. It was an absolutely delightful and fascinating experience. We asked for quirky or unusual accommodation and a mix of hotels and self-catering - great fun. We went at our own pace and chose what to see. Everything was beautifully organised - a couple of small hitches were dealt with straight away on the phone. We are well-travelled but didn't know these stunning countries at all. Our overall impression is CLEAN and GREEN. Thank you, thank you for such a unique and special holiday.
Andrew Golding
Andrew Golding
2024-09-16
First Class Personal Tour of the Baltic Republics organised by Valdis: a bespoke, friendly, intelligent, safe and varied introduction to this wonderful part of the world. Wholly recommended.

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