€420
/group
Daytrip to Liepāja
A full one-day all inclusive trip to the city of winds and rock'n'roll. Cobblestoned streets, architecture, parks, beaches, nature and military heritage.
Embrace Latvia’s Courland
2 Days in Courland
€956 / group
- Photo Friendly
- 2 Days
- Max 4 people
2 Days in Courland - Historic Towns, Food and Nature (All Inclusive)
A really eventful private all inclusive (yes, also accomodation and all of your meals) two day trip in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle to the western part of Latvia - Courland. You'll see and experience so many things that after these two days, you'll feel like it's been a week. Besides Liepāja, the main highlight of this tour, you'll enjoy: Lots of natural wonders like a hike on a peat bog, view over Europes widest waterfall, a sight of seashore cliffs at Jūrkalne, a footbridge and bird-watching tower on a lake, Latvia's most beautiful beach and some magnificent parks; Lots of cultural heritage like wine tasting at former worlds northernmost wineyard, trying Latvian traditional cuisine in the Art-noveau market of Liepāja, visiting former military prison (a prison lunch included) and much more; Guided walks through historic streets of Liepāja, Kuldīga and a few nice smaller towns; The tour is highly customisable, if you want any changes to the itinerary, just get in touch.
Typical Tour Itinerary
This is what the default tour would look like, but we are happy to change it according to your needs. (click on timeslot to expand)
Day 1
08:00 - Pickup from Hotel
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Rīga and you’ll start your roadtrip to Courland – the western part of Latvia.
09:00 - Jūrmala - Ķemeri Bog
The Ķemeri Bog is more than 8000 years old and is one of the biggest bogs in Latvia. In 2013 a boardwalk was set up to create a route through the most beautiful parts of the bog. The boardwalk takes visitors to the world of moss, small pine trees, deep pools, tiny dark lakes, and the smell of wild rosemary. The astute visitor will notice the carnivorous plant of sundew, and a variety of birds – wood sandpipers, white wagtails, tree pipits, and also hear cranes further away. Those who prefer shorter strolls can take the short route (1.4 km), while those who choose the great arc (3.4 km) will be rewarded with the opportunity to climb an observation platform that offers a magnificent view of the bog from above.
12:00 - Kandava
Territory of Kandava was inhabited by Finnic tribes until 10th century when Curonian Baltic tribes took over. A settlement grew around Curonian hillfort, and it is first mentioned in 1230 in a peace treaty between the Livonian knights and Bishop of Rīga. Local residents was forced to accept Christianity, pay annual tribute and participate in crusading campaigns against pagans. The knights built a stone castle around 1257 and it was inhabited up until 1750. Now there’s just some ruins left, but together with the little colorful houses on the cobblestoned streets, they do make for a nice walk.
12:45 - Sabile
Sabile is mostly known for its wine-hill, but the town itself is worth a stroll as well. Sabile’s old town is but a few blocks, the main square with a nice view over the river and the synagogue, and then there’s the quaint “Doll garden” – a small and strange back yard filled with hundreds of pale straw dolls. There are over 200 dolls with more appearing each year. Most of them are doing everyday things – cooking, riding a bike, working in construction. The dolls are all the creation of one woman who tends to knock around the garden. She doesn’t seem to have any set explanation for the garden, simply saying, “They are just dolls.” The straw figures of policemen, singers, children, and parents all have a face that has been painted or drawn on their blank, fabric heads. Unsettlingly, they all have a similar grimace that can seem a bit… unsettling.
13:15 - Lunch
Traditional Latvian meal in a rustic restaraunt.
14:15 - Abava Vineyard
A walk in the garden + tasting of the wines.
15:30 - Kuldīga
Kuldīga is probably most recognised by what Latvians love to call the “widest waterfall in Europe” – rapids on river Venta, but the town’s real appeal comes from it’s quiet medieval streets. You won’t meet a lot of camera clicking tourists there (it’s just too far from Rīga for your regular daytripper), so you can have all the beauty to yorself. Kuldīga (or Goldingen as it was called back then) was the capital of the Duchy of Courland for a few decades during the turn of 16th and 17th century and even though Kuldīga lost it’s strategic and political importance during the Great Northern War there’s still a lot of evidence of it’s heyday. Those streets, buildings and bridges ar so well preserved that they’re often used as a set for period films. Here you’ll have a guided tour around the old town and a visit to the Old Bridge and the Venta Rapid as well. Even though it’s just 2 meters tall, it’s still the widest waterfall (up to 270m) in Europe 🙂
17:30 - Jūrkalne
The Jūrkalne Bluffs (or Cliffs) are one of the most picturesque parts of Latvia’s seashore, with a quiet beach untouched by civilisation and bluffs of up to 20 metres high. Recently CNN travel included Jurkalne Bluffs in their “20 most beautiful places in Europe” list – so it’s definitely worth a visit, right? The stairs that lead from the top of the bluffs to the beach have been replaced many times, due to the shore receding after powerful storms. The shore can recede as fast as a few metres a year.
19:00 - Liepāja
If you start your research on Liepāja by reading it’s history, it might not seem as nice place to be – a port city of red-brick warehouses, moored torpedo boats and an old military prison for the main attraction. But in reality Liepāja is tucked between a lake and the Baltic sea, has some of the nicest beaches on the whole of Latvia’s 500km coastline, it boasts a large amount of Art Noveau architecture, including the 1910 built Peter’s Market (second only to Rīgas Central Market), beautiful churches of all denominations, a marvellous seaside park and a lot of events all around the town. Liepāja has generated disproportionate number of most well known Latvian bands and musicians, so you’ll see them all around. Depending on the time you arrive and the time of the sunset you might go on either a short walk or a proper walking tour of the most impotant and beautiful places and leave the rest for the next morning.
Day 2
08:00 - Walking Tour of Liepāja
You’ll start the morning with a tour of the historic center and seaside park/beach. Then do a driving tour of the Neighbourhoods of Liepaja. Since your driver/guide is born and raised in Liepāja, he’ll give you the local’s perspective. First – to the lakeside, a place that used to be pastures for the residents, but now – soviet block apartments. There’s still some pastures left, but they’re turned into recreational area with some beaches, boardwalks and a bird watching tower. Then you’ll go through some areas of old wooden houses, and drive on to Karosta (literally – War Port), a naval base, originally constructed in 1890s for Tsar Alexander III of Russia. It consisted of a large man-made harbour including an inland submarine warren. Now it’s a very popular place for artists, since there are the scenic seascapes with partially blasted fortresses on the Baltic shore. There’s the czar-era mansions used by admirals, an impressive Russian Orthodox Naval Cathedral, underground bunkers, etc.
11:00 - Peter's Market
Peter’s market is the main Farmer’s market of Liepāja. Designed by architect Louis Melville in the style of Art Nouveau, Peter’s Market pavilion was one of the most beautiful market pavilions in Europe when it was first opened in 1910, and still is now. Trading takes place in the pavilion and in the area surrounding it, there’s always wide choice of seasonal fuit and vegetables from local farmers, as well as wild foods foraged from nearby woods. Unlike most bazaars in “tourist destinations”, Even though it’s second only to Rīga’s Central Market in terms of size, Peter’s market is still just a place for locals, you don’t see any souvenir stalls around. You’ll get your chance not only to see the produce, but also to try and taste whatever’s in season during your visit.
12:00 - Karosta
Karosta (literally – War Port), a naval base, originally constructed in 1890s for Tsar Alexander III of Russia. It consisted of a large man-made harbour including an inland submarine warren. Now it’s a very popular place for artists, since there are the scenic seascapes with partially blasted fortresses on the Baltic shore.
13:00 - Karosta Prison
The prison started functioning over 100 years ago. This is the only military prison in Europe open to tourists. The prison nobody has ever ecaped from. In different lists Karosta prison is named as the most surprising and most unusual hotel in the world – yes, you can spend a night in there and get treated like an actual prisoner. If you wish to switch your regular hotel to accomodation like this, get in touch early and we’ll organize that. Otherwise you’ll have a lunch in the prison canteen and a guided tour (prison’s local guide) through the place. Being treated awful is an option too 🙂
16:00 - Skrunda
Since the former military town now belongs to the Armed Forces and is off limits to visitors, we can only stop at a roadside and catch a sight from distance. Skrunda is a ghost town and former Soviet radar station. It was the site of two Dnepr radar installations constructed in the 1960s. A Daryal radar was being built there before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Skrunda was strategically important to the USSR as its radars covered Western Europe. The two radars were the most important Soviet early warning stations for listening to objects in space and for tracking incoming ICBMs. On 4 May 1995 the 19-storey tower that housed the Daryal radar system was blown up. The demolition that cost 7 million USD was sponsored by the United States, the Soviets main nuclear rival. All materials of value were carried back to Russia when the last Russian troops left in 1998; the 60 buildings that comprised the former town, including a school, barracks and an officers club, remained.
19:00 - Return to Rīga
Return to Rīga around 18:00-19:00. Alternatively, if you’re willing and still not tired, you can have one more hike on a boardwalk in a bog called Cenas Tīrelis. In that case you’d return to Rīga a few hours later obviously. You can decide that on the way, since this would be the last place to visit and doesn’t affect anything on the itineraty except your time of return to hotel in Rīga.
Historic Landmarks
Besides the historic buildings and prisons, you'll see some of the nicest beaches in all of Latvia, so keep your camera ready!
Fully Narrated Tour
Not only you'll see the sights, but you'll get to hear all the stories about the buildings, parks, monuments and the people behind them.
Hidden gems
Your guide will take you not only to the most important sights, but also to the roads less travelled, places that tour groups don't usually take.
Best* Guide Of Latvia
Tour is done by a certified tourguide who also happens to have a college degree in cultural tourism. * as described by his mother and some of his friends.
Tour Pricing
2 Days Tour
Max 4 people
€956/group
- Everything's included
- Pickup from Hotel
- Comfortable Vehicle
- Sightseeing
- Food and Drinks
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Have a Question?
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