History of the area, knowledge of all the events happened over the years . Very courteous and knowledgeable

September 22, 2021

We (4 adults aged 32 – 76 travelling from the UK) went on a private 8 day tour through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania starting and finishing in Tallinn. Valdis is a fantastic logistical organiser and gave us a really smooth private tour through the Baltics, even with all the extras needed during Covid. Valdis made it all very easy for us, even booking and taking us for our PCR tests required for returning to the UK. He is very responsive; adapting the tour to our interests (wildlife and history), he is flexible, easy to get hold of, a good laugh, knowledgeable, passionate about nature and being in the outdoors. We had very wet weather and strong winds for August, but that didn’t stop Valdis giving us a fantastic tour. When we had problems with one of our hotels, Valdis was quick to respond and find a solution – we ended up being moved to a much better apartment (!). Valdis did some of the city and sight tours himself and at other places organised for really excellent colleagues to take us round. We’d go with Baltic Nature Travel again and may ask Valdis to take us hiking next time. Thank you Valdis and Baltic Nature Travel!

August 13, 2021

I booked a private hiking tour that was fantastic. Valdis (the tour guide) is a very enthusiastic person that knows everything one must see and visit. The tour even included some best homemade Latvian sandwiches. Highly recommended!

July 24, 2021

Kayaking in eastern Lithuania’s Aukštaitija (ox-sta-tee-ya) National Park is an amazing way to experience the beauty of its lakes and rivers and vast forests, enjoy picnic lunches on grassy islets and swim in crystal clear waters. Valdis and his colleagues at Baltic Nature Travel did a wonderful job in organizing a self-guided tour. In addition to a well-thought-out daily agenda, he was always available to answer our questions and offer helpful suggestions. My wife and I live in Switzerland and have traveled all over the world. We can honestly say this was one of our most memorable vacations.

The walking tour from Mindaugas of the charming capital of Vilnius (UNESCO world heritage site) and a guided kayak trip around Trakai castle was a great introduction to the history and culture of Lithuanians, who have preserved their identity despite incredible adversity.

We were then driven to our well-equipped wooden cabins, with a stop-off at a supermarket for provisions. Every morning, we were picked up punctually by friendly drivers who transported us and our kayaks to the starting point and then met us at the finish line in the afternoon. (We are both over 50, not experienced kayakers, and we managed the 4-5 hours of medium paddling per day with only a few muscle aches.) And on the last day, we were driven back to the airport. Everything went smoothly, and when we briefly lost electricity one evening, Valdis intervened remotely to fix it.

The only downside to the trip in summer is the insects – wear lightweight, long sleeves, pants and a cap to deter the deerflies and consider mosquito nets for the nights. We were lucky with the weather, but rain gear and zip-lock plastic bags (in addition to the supplied dry bags) are still a must. Another tip is to learn a few phrases in Lithuanian. You will get a lot of smiles, and it may even help you in some situations, as not everyone speaks English. A fun way to get started is the podcast Lithuanian Out Loud.

I can enthusiastically recommend this trip to anyone who is a fan of “soft adventures,” loves kayaking, appreciates pristine nature and wants to discover the fascinating story of this Baltic republic. Do this trip before it’s discovered by the crowds.

July 20, 2021

The trip started with a small tour of Ogre city center and continued along the Ogre river. After a short break we went hiking in the Blue Hills National park till the Dubkalnu quarry. The smell of pine trees brought back childhood memories, while the refreshing waters of the quarry helped to relax before heading back. We had many lively conversations with the tour guide, who was very attentive and adjusted the pace of the hike to my needs. I highly recommend this trip! It will be interesting to have it also in the winter and try skiing in the Blue Hills park.

June 26, 2021

Absolutely incredible tour by visiting two castles, Segulda and Turaida on December 17 with Valdis. Even during the Covid timing the tour was magnificent to learn more about history of this incredible and lovely country. Valdis was knowledgable, friendly and lovely. The tour started with ruins of Segulda castle and finished with visiting Turaida. This time of the year with less people and some uncertainties it was magical to wonder around the castles in more tranquil environment and learn more about history of Latvia. Thank you very very much.

December 16, 2020

Our guide Valdis Ceics was brilliant – sharing his local knowledge and fun facts, telling stories about the history of the Baltic States and how it affected the people. Not only did Valdis speak good English he also had to speak German. In fact on one occasion Valdis was only going to do the german tour, so several of us “jumped ship” and joined him.

June 6, 2019

Right from planning my trip through completion, Baltic Nature Tours team was a pleasure to work with. Ieva was always very responsive to my queries. Valdis was our tour guide and he was very good! He was very accomodating of the group’s preferences and when weather was dicey, he quickly helped pivot to alternatives. He had very good recommendations for things to do in free time as well as restaurant to try. The tours he led were very infortmative and always had a quirky fun edge. Certainly made my Baltics experience very memorable. I had a great experience and would certainly recommend them!

June 4, 2019

My wife and I had a wonderful time visiting Lithuania with the help of our guide Grazina. She was very knowledgeable about the places we visited, several of which were ‘off the beaten path’. Also, our local specialist Ieva arranged local guides for other places we visited such as the Open Air Museum of Lithuania, my grandfather’s village Zemaiciu Naumeistas, and the city of Kleipeda.

May 22 – May 30, 2019

My cousin and I had a great experience in Lithuania! Our tour guide Minda was fantastic and made the trip a special experience for us. We called him our Guardian Angel. As we drove or walked he gave us such great historical and cultural information just as we wanted. He felt like a friend or relative and was so comfortable to spend time with. We highly recommend him.

Leva did a great job helping us with our itinerary. I told her some places we wanted to go and the types of experiences we were looking for and she organized it perfectly for us. When I asked for some changes or soecial requirements like air conditioning she came through. Our only disappointment was not finding Kugelis! We found a dish that was very close though and enjoyed all of our meals. I will recommend Leva and Kimkimtravel to my fellow travelers!

 Jun 5 – Jun 11, 2019