The best of Latvia-10 day - Baltic Nature Travel

Best of Latvia in 10 days

Private tour

Best of Latvia

10 days / 9 nights

Latvia

Riga – Sigulda – Turaida – Cesis – Ligatne – Rundale – Kuldiga – Liepaja – Jurkalne – Ventspils – Kolka – Jurmala – Kemeri – Riga

Program

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN RIGA

Welcome to Latvia! Arrival in Riga. Private transfer to the hotel. Check in to the hotel.

Overnight: Riga

DAY 2: RIGA

Founded in 1201 by German bishop Albert, Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals. Riga is famous for its sophisticated Art Nouveau architecture – about 40% of the city center consists of Art Nouveau buildings, more than in any other city in the world. Join the guided walking tour and explore the most famous Art Nouveau buildings on Alberta Street and Elizabetes Street. On the tour, you will also discover the jewels of the lovely Old Town: House of the Blackheads, City Hall Square, Riga Cathedral, St. Pether’s Church, Riga Castle, the oldest dwellings in the city – Three Brothers, and others. Let yourself fall in love with the cobblestone streets of Riga Old Town.

The afternoon is reserved for the guided walking tour of Other Riga. This tour will bring you to a completely different scene of Riga and show around the so-called Moscow Suburbs. You will also have a chance to visit the Latvian Academy of Sciences, an impressive Stalin-era skyscraper that offers the best panorama of Riga.

Later you will dive into the rich and colorful aisles of the Riga Central Market, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Riga Central Market was opened in 1930, and it consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars. Riga Central Market is a perfect place for tasting local products, such as smoked meat and fish, pickled vegetables, rye bread, Latvian craft beer, various dairy products, and seasonal treats.

Overnight: Riga

DAY 3: RIGA – SIGULDA

This day will bring you to the Gauja National Park, the largest and oldest national park in Latvia. Sigulda is one of the most popular places in the Gauja National Park where you can enjoy truly scenic views of the Gauja River valley, several castles, nature wonders, and countless hiking trails that go up and down along the river. You will explore Sigulda Castle Complex which consists of two castles built in different centuries. Sigulda Medieval Castle Ruins mark the beginnings of Sigulda as a town while Sigulda New Castle serves as a wonderful example of a 19th-century manor house and is famous for unique 20th-century interiors in the style of national romanticism.

Later you will enjoy a fun and scenic ride in the Sigulda Cable Car. The cable car connects both sides of the Gauja River, offering picturesque views of the river valley, three castles, and the Sigulda Bobsleigh Track. The ride above the tree tops and the river is about one kilometer long.

You will also explore Turaida Medieval Castle which looks just like out of a fairytale about princesses and dragons. Not far from the castle, you will visit Gutman’s Cave – the biggest cave in the Baltics and the oldest tourist attraction in Latvia.

Overnight: Sigulda

DAY 4: SIGULDA – CESIS – LIGATNE – SIGULDA

On this day you will keep exploring the Gauja National Park. First, you will go to Cesis, a real medieval gemstone surrounded by picturesque nature. You will join the guided walking tour and explore this beautiful town: Rose Square, Princesses’ House, St. John’s Church, and other places in Cesis Old Town will create a wonderful atmosphere and allow you to travel back in time.

Later you will visit Cesis Medieval Castle, the best preserved medieval castle in Latvia. To make your visit more special, you will be given a lantern with a candle to illuminate the dark passages of the castle. You will also visit Cesis New Castle and have a wonderful panorama from its tower. In your free time keep strolling around the lovely cobblestone streets of Cesis or enjoy some great food in one of the restaurants.

In the afternoon, you will go to the nearby historical paper mill village Ligatne which still allows you to experience the 19th century vibe. Once, the Ligatne paper mill produced such high-quality paper that it was used for the most important documents of the Russian Empire. Today, Ligatne is a peaceful and calm village, perfect for nature and history lovers. Walk around the historical village, explore its sandstone caves, used as cellars for storing different food products, or stop by the local winery to try out some fruit wine.

Overnight: Sigulda

DAY 5: SIGULDA – RUNDALE – KULDIGA

In the morning you will go to the magnificent Rundale Palace, the former summer residence of the Duke of Courland. Join the guided tour and get to know the most exciting secrets of the palace. The Rundale Palace surprises its visitors with impressive baroque architecture, wonderful interiors, breathtaking paintings on the ceilings, and wonderful gardens. The splendor of Rundale offers to experience the vibe of Versailles in the Baltics.

Later you will go to Kuldiga. Enjoy a peaceful evening in this lovely town: sit down at a restaurant in the very heart of the old town or choose a cafe with a panorama of the Venta River, get inspired by the historical atmosphere of the town, take some great photographs, or simply relax.

Overnight: Kuldiga

DAY 6: KULDIGA

Kuldiga is one of the most romantic and charming towns in Latvia which is often compared to Venice. It is a very popular weekend getaway destination thanks to its lovely blend of cobblestone streets, historical 16th to 18th-century architecture, small canal meandering through the town, and the widest waterfall in Europe – Ventas Rumba. In the morning you will join the guided walking tour and visit the most important and beautiful places in Kuldiga. Later you will have a chance to discover the town at your own pace: wander around the curvy streets, enjoy some great food and drinks, and look inside art galleries, designer stores, and museums.

Overnight: Kuldiga

DAY 7: KULDIGA – LIEPAJA

This day will bring you to the western coast of Latvia, where the seaside city Liepaja awaits you. It is a vibrant port city with its own character. As most Latvian rock musicians come from Liepaja, the city is known among the locals as the Capital of Rock Music. Discover Liepaja by joining the guided walking tour: discover the most spectacular Art Nouveau buildings in the city center, look for street art pieces, and stroll along the Promenade.

Liepaja is also known for the longest breakwater in Latvija – Liepaja Northern Breakwater that stretches into the sea for 1,8 km. The breakwater was built in the 19th century as a part of the military fortress, but today it is popular among local fishermen, as well as couples meeting up for a romantic picnic. In your free time, relax at the beach, explore the most hidden alternative bars with great live music, or head towards Karosta, a former closed military territory.

Overnight: Liepaja

DAY 8: LIEPAJA – JURKALNE – VENTSPILS – KOLKA – JURMALA

For most of this day, you will be following the coastline of the Baltic Sea. First, you will stop at Jurkalne, a small village that is known for the Jurkalne Seashore Bluff. Enjoy the vast panorama from the top of the bluff, as well as climb down to the wild beach, see the magnificent coastline close up, and listen to the waves and seagulls.

Later you will explore Ventspils, a colorful and lively port city. Ventspils offers a wide range of exciting activities for everyone. One of the most scenic views can be found on the Ostas Street Promenade that stretches along the Venta River: big and small ships waiting for their next trip, old warehouses, an impressive collection of buoys that always surprise with their huge size, and some of the cow sculptures, an iconic symbol of Ventspils. Another popular place for leisurely walks is the Southern Breakwater.

Later you will continue following the coastline until you reach Cape Kolka, a windy place on the beach where the water of the Gulf of Riga meets the waves of the open Baltic Sea. If you look carefully enough, you will see Kolka Lighthouse sending you greetings right from the sea.

In the evening, you will arrive in Jurmala.

Overnight: Jurmala

DAY 9: JURMALA – KEMERI – RIGA

Jurmala is a popular seaside resort famous for its wonderful wooden architecture from the 20th century, fancy lifestyle, and white-sand beach. In the morning, stroll along Joma Street, a very lively pedestrian street full of restaurants and cafes, walk around the town to see the most beautiful wooden villas with magnificent woodwork, or simply enjoy the beach.

After Jurmala, you will go to Kemeri National Park and visit Kemeri village, once a very famous sulfur water and mud resort. You will go for a walk to discover the splendor of the former resort: Kemeri water tower, sulfur water spring Kirzacina, Love Island, and Kemeri Hotel.

Later you will go to the Great Kemeri Bog, a must-visit sight in the Kemeri National Park. The bog is a magical place with an inexplicable beauty at any time of the year. Follow the boardwalk and enjoy the mesmerizing beauty of the bog: vast landscapes, tiny pine trees, mysterious mist, dark lakes, and the dizzying smell of marsh Labrador tea.

In the evening, you will return to Riga.

Overnight: Riga

DAY 10: DEPARTURE

Departure day. Check out from the hotel. Transfer from the hotel to the airport.

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Price in double occupancy

In 4-star hotels:

2 people traveling: 1820 EUR per person
4 people traveling: 1160 EUR per person
6 people traveling: 945 EUR per person
8 people traveling: 840 EUR per person

In 3-star hotels:

2 people traveling: 1695 EUR per person
4 people traveling: 1045 EUR per person
6 people traveling: 830 EUR per person
8 people traveling: 720 EUR per person

Single room supplement

Single room supplement: 340 EUR

Services included

Accommodation in centrally located hotels with breakfast
English-speaking driver and tour leader throughout the program
Transportation in a private car or minivan per program
Walking tours in Riga, Kuldiga, and Liepaja
Gauja National Park and Kemeri National Park sightseeing tour
Entrance tickets for the Observation Platform of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, Sigulda Castle Complex, Sigulda Cable Car, Turaida Medieval Castle, and Rundale Palace

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What travelers say about us

EXCELLENT

36 reviews on

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

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

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.

David Morris

2024-09-10

Excellent booking experience - very easy and all the information we needed. Hire car arrived at the hotel as arranged and the handover was excellent. All the hotels that were booked for us were great and the itinerary was really wide-ranging and interesting. Estonia people were almost always friendly and helpful, and the restaurant food was great. Would definitely recommend Baltic Nature Travel and Estonia as a destination

Karen Green

2024-07-23

Valdis, the owner of Baltic Nature Travel, is a terrific tour organizer. His advance communication and arrangements were unfailingly responsive, prompt and helpful. On the trip, we had different guides as well as drivers in the different cities (Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn.) In each case, they were well-informed and on time at the meeting point. We never needed to worry or contact the guide (though we were provided with their information.) Every hotel Valdis chose for us was of a very good standard, well-run, clean, exceptionally well located, and with wonderful breakfasts. The restaurants he recommended were also excellent – we learned to just go where he suggested! The tour was an exceptionally good value. In sum, we couldn’t have been more pleased. Our trip was wonderful and we left wanting to see more of the Baltics' beauty. If we do go again, we would unquestionably work with Valdis. In the meantime, we will recommend him to all of our friends.

Lucía Gómez

2024-07-17

Fantastic Self-Guided Hiking Experience! We recently completed a self-guided hike in Gauja National Park, which was wonderful. The trails were serene, and we rarely encountered other hikers. The provided materials and app were excellent and highly accurate. The hotels, luggage transfer, and overall transportation arrangements were flawless. Highly recommend this experience!

Paul Green

2024-07-12

Anna Brish was a fantastic tour guide for understanding Jewish history and culture in Vilnius. She was friendly, deeply knowledgeable, eager to answer our questions and accommodate our specific interests. Anna does other tours and we would take any of them, she’s amazing!

James Cornez

2024-07-11

Myself and my best friend came across this company whilst researching options to travel in Latvia and we are very pleased we did. Valdis was very amenable during the planning process by arranging video calls with both of us so we could better understand what was on offer for us to do. He compiled an 8 day itinerary for us that did not disappoint starting in Riga for 2 days. We paid for an optional 3hr walking tour which was very worthwhile to see the main sites of the city. Janis took us on the tour who is a great guy that gives you plenty of interesting information, ready to answer any questions regarding Latvian history/culture. We chose the self driving option to see as much of Latvia as possible which I would definitely recommend if you want to have more than just a city break. It took us to varied places ranging from the heavily forested and pretty areas of Sigulda (where we did a fun kayaking tour on the Gauja river) and Cesis to the pleasant coastal cities of Liepaja and Ventspills. Overall, definitely the company to approach if you want to authentically explore Latvia!

Esther A

2024-06-21

Valdis and his team helped us to organise a guided 16 day trip across Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Helsinki. We had a very enjoyable experience! Coming from Singapore and not knowing Valdis beforehand, we were initially worried about language and logistical challenges. All these were unfounded as Valdis and his guides were not only knowledgeable but also responsive, helpful and flexible. We had some minor hiccups during the trip but Valdis was able to resolve them very promptly. I would highly recommend engaging Valdis for your next trip!