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LATVIA OUTDOOR
Hellersdorfer Weg 35
12689 Berlin
© LATVIA OUTDOOR
Self-drive tour Estonia - Latvia
13 days / 12 nights
From April to September
Tallin- Sagadi - Tartu - Cesis - Sigulda - Kuldiga - Jurmala- Riga
Embark
on
a
journey
to
discover
the
adventurous
side
of
Estonia
and
Latvia!
Join
such
outdoor
activities
as
hiking,
biking
and
kayaking,
visit
places
and
have
experiences
that
will
make
your
vacation
memorable!
This
journey
will
bring
you
from
the
capitals
to
the
tranquillity
of
the
Baltic
nature.
You
will
have
a
chance
to
get
to
know
and
experience
local
traditions
that
are
still
alive
and
honoured
-
sounds
of
Latvian
traditional
music
instrument
“kokle”,
as
well
as
the
Russian
Old
Believers
tea
ceremony
at
the
shore
of
Lake
Peipus.
You
will
see
the
unspoiled
nature
of
Lahemaa
National
Park
at
the
Baltic
coastline,
and
the
ancient
Gauja
River
valley,
visit
the
vibrant
seaside
town
Jurmala
and
go
swimming
in
the
Baltic
Sea.
You
will
see
Kuldiga,
the
most
romantic
town
in
Latvia
with
small
winding
streets,
channels
and
the
widest
waterfall
in
Europe,
as
well
as
many
other
places.
What
is
waiting
for
you
on
this adventure? The beauty and remoteness of the Baltics and a lot of adventures!
DAY 1. ARRIVAL IN TALLINN
Welcome to Tallinn! Pick up your rental car at the Tallinn airport and check into the hotel.
Overnight: Tallinn at St. Barbara*** or similar.
DAY 2. DISCOVER TALLINN
On a guided walking tour of Tallinn you will explore a well-preserved medieval center known
as the Old Town. You will visit many historic sites including Toompea Castle, a stately baroque
castle which today houses the Parliament of Estonia, the 13th century Dome Church, the
Russian Revival Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and many more.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Tallinn at St. Barbara*** or similar.
DAY 3. LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK | TALLINN – SAGADI (DRIVE ~85 KM, HIKE ~7 KM)
After breakfast, drive to a scenic coastline northeast of Tallinn. Lahemaa National Park is
considered one of the last unspoiled regions of the Baltic coastline. You will go on a 7 km
guided hiking tour starting from Sagadi to Kasmu Peninsula and back. On the Kasmu
Peninsula you will find the biggest natural accumulation of rocks in Estonia. You will see the
Kasmu village, one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Estonia. In the late afternoon,
return back to Sagadi and stay overnight at Sagadi Manor hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Lahemaa National Park at Sagadi Manor hotel*** or similar.
DAY 4. ALONG THE LAKE PEIPUS | SAGADI – MUSTVEE – TARTU (DRIVE ~170 KM)
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, and afterwards drive along the shore of Lake Peipus, which is
the fifth-largest lake in Europe. It is also the largest transboundary lake on the continent, as it
shares borders with both, Estonia and Russia. The old traditions are still alive and honoured by
the Old Believers living on the shore of Lake Peipus. At the Old Believers Museum, a tea
ceremony is waiting for you. The ceremony will be led by an instructor wearing a headscarf
required by local customs. In the late afternoon, arrive in Tartu, the second-largest city in
Estonia.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Tartu at Lydia hotel**** or similar.
DAY 5. CHARMING UNIVERSITY TOWN | TARTU
In the morning, join a Tartu Old Town walking tour. Enjoy the historic streets, Town Hall
Square with the statue of Kissing Students, St. John's Church with its many terracotta
sculptures, and Tartu University, which was founded in 1632. Free time in the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Tartu at Lydia hotel**** or similar.
DAY 6. GAUJA NATIONAL PARK | TARTU – CESIS (DRIVE ~ 175 KM)
In the morning, cross Estonian-Latvian boarder and stop in Cesis, a medieval gemstone and
the third oldest town in Latvia. During the guided walking tour visit the charming ruins of the
Medieval Castle, explore the history and feel the medieval spirit in a candle light.
Despite the wars, the Old Town has remained almost unchanged. On the tour you will see
such highlights as the Roze Square, Princess’ House and St. John’s Church. Eight hundred
years long history of Cesis is visible not only on the streets but also in Cesis castle complex.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Cesis at hotel Cesis *** or similar.
DAY 7. MAGNIFICENT SANDSTONE OUTCROPS ON GAUJA RIVER |
CESIS – LIGATNE - SIGULDA (DRIVE ~ 40 KM, KAYAK ~4 KM)
The morning begins with a drive to the River Gauja where you have to start a self-guided
kayaking tour. On the 4 km long paddling distance you will see magnificent sandstone
outcrops.
After, visit a paper-mill village Ligatne that still looks almost the same as in the 19th century.
In the afternoon, continue driving south to Sigulda, the heart of the Gauja National Park.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Sigulda at hotel Sigulda *** or similar.
DAY 8. HIKING IN GAUJA NATIONAL PARK | SIGULDA (HIKE ~17 KM)
Today is reserved for hiking. On a guided hiking tour, you will walk around 17 km. The hike
starts in the heart of the Gauja National Park – Sigulda. Siguda is also known as the Little
Switzerland of Latvia. Scenic views are guaranteed! Do not worry if the hiking path brings you
up to steep bluffs – the Gauja National Park has established good infrastructure for hikers to
climb to the best viewing points.
A meditative musical experience is waiting for you during the hike – ancient sounds of Latvian
traditional string instrument “kokle”. Latvians have a saying that “kokle” is given to them by
God. Relax and enjoy the ethno-music concert!
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Sigulda at hotel Sigulda *** or similar.
DAY 9. THE LATVIA’S PALACE | SIGULDA – RUNDALE PALACE – KULDIGA (DRIVE ~290 KM)
In the morning, drive south and pass by Riga to Rundale. On the Rundale Palace guided tour
you will see the 18th century baroque palace that was built for the Dukes of Courland and
Semigallia. The palace was built by Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli, who also
created Russia's ornate Winter Palace and Tsarskoye Selo. In the afternoon, continue to
Kuldiga, the most romantic town in Latvia.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Kuldiga at Jekaba Seta hotel*** or similar.
DAY 10. THE MOST ROMANTIC TOWN IN LATVIA | KULDIGA
Join a guided walking tour to see the romantic blend of Kuldiga’s architecture, small winding
streets and channels. The heart of the town is the Venta River and the Ventas Rumba, the
widest waterfall in Europe. Discover this charming place at a slow pace. Free time in the
afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Kuldiga at Jekaba Seta hotel*** or similar.
DAY 11. LATVIA’S COAST | KULDIGA - JURMALA (DRIVE ~ 120 KM, CYCLE ~12 KM)
In the morning, drive to the Latvia’s most famous resort town Jurmala that stretches 30 km
along the seaside. Take a break from the city on the sandy Jurmala beach. Enjoy a peaceful
walk along the pine forest dunes without any rush. Do a self-guided bike tour and explore
Jurmala. In the mid-19th-century holiday makers began escaping the city to relax in Jurmala,
and it developed as a resort, often called the ‘’Northern Riviera”. You will cycle along a pine-
covered dune, see the expressive wooden architecture, modern villas, and endless sandy
beaches. Stop for a swim at one of the eleven established swimming places.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Jurmala at Dzintari Hotel*** or similar.
DAY 12. DISCOVER RIGA | JURMALA – RIGA (DRIVE ~ 40 KM)
In a short drive from Jurmala you are in Riga, the largest city in the Baltics. Take a guided
walking tour to see the Art Nouveau most famous buildings on the streets of Alberta and
Elizabeth, as well as the Old Town with Riga’s Castle and the Three Brothers houses, oldest
dwellings in the city.
Make a visit to the Riga Central Market, one of the largest covered markets in Europe. Taste
smoked meat, pickled vegetables, Latvian bread, seasonal treats, and more. The market
opened in 1930, and it consists of five former Zeppelin airship hangars.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight: Riga at AC Hotel Riga by Marriott**** or similar.
DAY 13. DEPARTURE FROM RIGA
Drop off the rental car at the Riga airport.
Services included:
•
12 overnights per program in
centrally located 3-star / 4-star
hotels;
•
VW Polo car rental for 13 days;
•
Guided walking tours in Tallinn,
Tartu, Cesis, Kuldiga, and Riga;
•
Guided tour in Rundale Palace;
•
Tea ceremony at Lake Peipus;
•
Ethno-music concert;
•
Guided hiking tours in the
Lahemaa National Park and the
Gauja National Park
•
Kayak rental in the Gauja National
Park;
•
Bicycle rental in Jurmala;
•
Entrances in Cesis Castle, Latvian
Open-Air Museum and Rundale
Palace.
Price in double occupancy:
Two persons travelling is 1540 EUR per
person.
Physical rate from 1 to 10:
5
Level of difficulty:
The tour has easy biking and hiking
trails with a few steep climbs. The
terrain is mostly flat. The hiking tours
include small footpaths through the
woods, walking around the town,
boardwalks and countryside roads. In
the rivers and lakes, the current is slow
and safe to kayak without any previous
experience.
Season:
From April to September.
Bookings:
Bookings are on the request and
should be made at least one week
before the departure date. The itinerary
can be modified according to the
client’s wants and needs.