Hike In Gauja National Park - Up And Down The Switzerland Of Latvia
Description
What is waiting for you on this hike? Impressive sandstone outcrops and the biggest cave in the Baltics – Gutman Cave. Ancient historical sites, like Sigulda Brother of Swords castle ruins and Krimulda manor. A well-established trail along the Gauja River. A bit of climbing on the steep river banks to see the primeval Gauja River valley. And… a lot of fresh air!
Tour Options
Itinerary
This 15 km long hike brings you to the heart of the Gauja National Park and Sigulda town, also known as the Little Switzerland of Latvia. Scenic views are guaranteed! Don’t 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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(23)
A walk through the park at our own pace with our guide Lauris, and his rich and lively historical explanations. Pure happiness!
Thank you so much for your excellent review!
A fantastic day out with the experienced Lauris in this beautiful National Park area. We did about 12 kilometres with only about 200 metres of elevation, so it was not too difficult. There was even a short stop where we could buy some light lunch and a drink if needed. Lauris explained not only about the trails we were on, but also a bit more about Latvia's history and culture, so it was very informative as well as an enjoyable walk in lovely scenery. Riga town is attractive, but it is nice to see some countryside and get a bit more perspective of a country covered more than half by forests.
Our guide, Lauris, did a great job! Very knowledgeable, friendly, with a good sense of humor. The hike was a lot of fun and not too difficult. There were a lot of great views, interesting geographic features, and historical sites.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had a great time on the hike and that Lauris made the experience even more enjoyable with his knowledge, friendliness, and humor. It's wonderful that you appreciated the views, the unique geography, and the historical sites along the way. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
This was a great experience, helped by the weather being a perfect sunny day! The guide was great company and provided top narration about Latvia and the national park. The trail is a beautiful part of the park. It was a relaxing day out.
This was the highlight of my trip to Latvia so far. The scenery was beautiful! We walked alongside the river for a good portion of the hike, and the view from the top of the hill was breathtaking. There was even a section of the hike that went through a beautiful grassy pasture with cows. It was such a cool experience to go from the Riga city scene to the peace and quiet of the park. The amount of walking and areas of incline was worth every second. The tour guide was so informative, and because I was solo it was a very personalized experience. I definitely recommend this hike if you want to see the essence of Latvia's nature!
A lovely (if tiring!) hike in the national park. Some lovely scenery, knowledgeable stories about the local area and some delicious homemade tea. We had a great day and would definitely recommend!
Thank you, Martha and David! Your review means a lot and hope to welcome you back for another adventure!
Great hike with Valdis! We were happy to have the opportunity to get outside in the forests and valleys of the national park in December. Valdis had planned a number of sites for us to see along the hike. Highly recommended!
We really enjoyed this tour! We were without a car on our recent trip to the Baltics, so we were looking for a way to see parts of the country without a car. We also love hiking and didnt want to miss out on seeing this part of Latvia. This tour was the perfect answer for us. It was December 26, which was a holiday. It ended up being only the two of us and Valdis, and we had a great day hiking up and down the hills. Valdis was a great tour guide. There are stairs throughout the National park, sometimes with railings, sometimes without. My partner wore hiking boots and I wore winter boots -- both were fine. We loved seeing the forest in the winter, especially as the sun was setting. The hike was a great trip and we would highly recommend it.
Amazing day out. We decided to change the plans based on the weather and did a wonderful hike nearby and saw some wonderful animals.
I loved this tour and it was a highlight of my five days in Latvia. After spending a few days in Riga, I wanted to explore more of the country and do some hiking. I considered renting a car for the day, but this tour provided just what I was looking for and so much more without the expense and hassle of a car rental and figuring out where to go. I was picked up and dropped off at my hotel and was able to enjoy the drive and an opportunity to see area surrounding Riga. Guide Valdis is a native Latvian and has a lot of experience hiking and much knowledge about the area and Latvia. The 15 K hike was rigorous, but doable. I found the park gorgeous and peaceful. We hiked through a forest, along the river, crossed bridges, explored caves and sandstone carvings and passed other notable places. Valdis made the hike very interesting with stories and he pointed out other activities available in this beautiful park and surrounding area. We stopped midday for a lovely picnic. Valdis also gave me information about other places to consider exploring in Latvia. A perfect day and I highly recommend this tour.
