Time in Latvia: A Fascinating Trip Of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania on Foot

Day 1: Arrival in Tallinn

Description

The trip begins in the Estonian capital, Tallinn. Located on the coast, in the Gulf of Finland off the Baltic Sea, the city is also a major port. The 'Old Town' of Tallinn is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the city used to be a European Capital of Culture in 2011.

Day 2: Traveling to Lahemaa National Park

Description

After a walking tour of Tallinn's 'Old Town', travel east to the largest and oldest national park of Estonia, Lahemaa National Park. Apart from its rich nature the park also honors Estonia's cultural heritage, embracing ancient fishing villages as well as 17th and 18th-century manor houses. Today, wander the 'Beaver Trail', discovering the diversity of the park’s plant and animal life and looking out for beaver dams and dens along the Altja River Valley. If you happen to be lucky, you will get to witness the beavers themselves amongst the trees or in the water. This walking tour ends in the 400-year-old fishing village of Altja. After enjoying an optional lunch, learn to bog walk in specially designed bog shoes. Typically used by local villagers, these special shoes allow you to hike through this captivating ecosystem. You will be staying overnight in the national park.

Todays walks cover a total distance of 18 km over approximately 6 hours. The terrain on the Beaver Trail is mildly whirling and forested, and also wet and flat for the bog walk.

Day 3: Venture to the medieval town of Cesis

Description

Today you will be crossing the border into Latvia, driving to Cesis in Gauja National Park. This is going to take approximately 3.5 hours. Latvia's biggest park, it is famous as 'Latvian Switzerland' because of its rolling landscapes. The park incorporates the valleys of the Gauja River and its side stream, and also more than 500 historical features including stone castles, hill forts, churches, windmills, and watermills. Cesis itself is an ancient town, about 800 years old, and its 13th-century castle used to be the main stronghold of the Livonian knights who ruled a majority of Latvia and Estonia during ancient times. Later in the afternoon, head out for a walk in the park along a forested nature trail to Gauja River and Gauja Rocks, a well-known local site.

Today's walk is approximately 5 km and takes about 2 hours. The terrain is mildly hilly and forested.

Day 4: Exploring Gauja National Park

Description

Today morning, you’ll be driven to Sigulda and walk a nature trail through the forests and river valleys of Gauja National Park. Wandering past the ruins of Livonian ancient fortresses and a neo-gothic castle, this walk terminates at the 13th century Turaida Castle. As part of the route, you’ll take a cable car and enjoy stunning views down over the forest. Later in the afternoon, you’ll be driven to Riga, the capital of Latvia, where you’ll have a short introductory tour of the city and overnight. Situated at the mouth of the Daugava River on the Gulf of Riga, the 'Old Town' of Riga is also a UNESCO Heritage Site, especially renowned for its Art Nouveau as well as 19th-century wooden architecture.

Today’s walk covers a distance of 8 km over approximately 3.5 hours. The terrain is swinging and forested.

Day 5 - Wandering Through Kemeri National Park

Description

This morning, you’ll be driven west to Kemeri National Park, discovered in 1977 to conserve the local wetlands, coastal lakes, and dunes. Make a walk on a raised boardwalk above the wetlands and discover the unique mosses, bog pine trees, and tiny pools and lakes. Later return back to the seaside and spa resort of Jurmala to relish an optional lunch. Jurmala is famous for its therapeutic mineral waters and curative mud, and also its fascinating multi-style architecture. After lunch, continue south and cross the border into Lithuania. Travel southwest to Klaipeda and board a ferry to Nida on the Curonian Spit, your base for the next 2 nights.

Today’s walk in Kemeri National Park is approximately 3-4 km and takes about 1.5 hours. The terrain is typically flat - an elevated boardwalk over wetlands.

Day 6: Visiting Curonian Spit

Description

The Curonian Spit National Park is an approximately 98 km long sand dune spit that bisects the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. Chains of sand dunes elevated up to 60m high, pine forests, old Curonian houses and breaking waves make up this UNESCO Heritage Site. Today, you’ll walk through the various landscapes of the spit - sand dunes, coastal and pine forests in and around Nida.

Today’s walk on the Curonian Spit is approximately 12 km and takes about 4 hours. The terrain is majorly flat and sandy. Some of the areas are forested.

Day 7: A Tour of Lake Galve and Trakai Castle

Description

Today, you’ll be making a long journey southeast to Trakai which is going to take approximately 6 hours. Trakai, the formal capital of Lithuania’s Grand Duchy, is situated on a peninsula in Lake Galve. It is now well-known for its 15th-century castle sitting outside the town on a tiny island. Embark on a picturesque walk around the town and lake, and make a visit to the castle. Later, head out on a short journey to Vilnius, where you’ll have a short city tour and an optional last dinner. Note that the Vilnius’ 'Old Town' is also a UNESCO Heritage Site.

Today's walk around Trakai is approximately 4-5 km and takes about 1.5 hours. The terrain is typically flat and forested in some areas.

Day 8: Departure

Description

This morning, your trip ends as you return back to the international airport and catch a flight back home.