Take a good breakfast, pack your lunch box and meet your guide at your hotel in Riga. Get ready for about one hour drive to the Gauja National Park.

Start your hiking adventure with one of the most beautiful hiking sections in the gorgeous Gauja River Valley. Enjoy walking on secluded forest trails, along the wild banks of Gauja River – the longest river in Latvia. Admire impressive sandstone cliffs on your way. Discover all types of forests from pristine pine woodlands to deciduous forests on the riverbanks. This hiking section is less than 20 km (12,5 miles) to go. Depending on your speed it takes 5 – 7 hours to complete. Your guide will provide you will all the necessary instructions and will keep in touch with you if necessary. Hiking difficulty level: MODERATE

End-up your first day hike in your prebooked hotel in Sigulda Town. Sigulda is the major hub for nature adventure seekers in Gauja National Park. Set up in one of the cozy hotels or guesthouses here (pro tip: choose one with sauna included). Have a delicious and filling local meal in one of the great local restaurants. Get some snacks in the local shop and have a good rest before your next day’s hike.

Have a good breakfast, pack your lunch pack, and get ready for another exciting hiking adventure today. From the top of the beautiful Paradise hill (one of the top local sightseeing spots) get back to Gauja River Valley and follow the route along Gauja River. Enjoy secluded forest trails and natural meadows. Cross a set of natural ravines formed by small clean streams of Gauja National Park on your way. By the end of your hike reach the steep beautiful banks of Līgatne River (one of the fastest rivers in Latvia) and eventually get into Līgtne Town. Be ready to hike around 24 km (15 miles) today and spend some 7 – 8 hours on your way. Hiking difficulty level: MODERATE

Get well-deserved rest and spend a night in a pre-booked guest house in Līgatne Town. Spend your afternoon and evening exploring the small and charming Ligatne town hidden in the beautiful forests of Gauja National Park. Have a look at the beautiful scenery and some of the (more than 300) unique man-made caves made in the awesome sandstone cliffs. Check out popular Līgatne Nature Trails. Get to know more about the history of this place and maybe have a taste of some local wines in the local winery. Have a filling dinner in any of the local restaurants. Get some snacks in the local shop and have a good rest before your next day’s hike.

Time for the most difficult but also the most rewarding hiking day today. Cross Līgatne old pulp factory village. Get on the “Forest Trai”l again and have a look at the currently famous but in Soviet days top-secret Soviet bunker on your way. Cross the bridge on Amata River – one of the biggest and fastest tributaries of Gauja. Admire the most beautiful cliffy banks of Amata River on your way and reach the famous sandstone cliff Zvārte. Have a look from the top of the cliff and follow the former “highway” Cēsis – Rīga on the top of the steep Amata Riverbank. Don’t worry it is currently just a small and wild country/forest road – perfect for walking. After several challenging ups and downs get back to Gauja Riverbank again and enjoy sandstone cliffs and water springs in Cīrulīši nature trails. Reach Gauja Street in Cēsis Town and there are ca. 3 km left to go to the Cēsis Old Town. Be ready for a fairly difficult 26 km (16 miles) hike today. You’ll spend some 8 – 10 hours on your way. Hiking difficulty level: HARD

Now it’s time to check out one of the most beautiful towns in Latvia – Cesis. Its history dates back to the 13th century and it is almost as old as Riga. Cēsis is both the historic and modern heart of Latvian culture. Stay overnight in one of the pre-booked hotels or guesthouses. We recommend staying at least one night here. Alternatively, you can have a quick look around and we’ll get you back to Riga the same day. Stroll down the historic Old Cēsis Town, see its beautiful squares, St. John’s Church (built-in 13th century), The House of Harmony, House of Princesses, and other sigh-seeings. Feel the special charm and atmosphere of this town that is very different from more cosmopolitan Rīga.Visit the famous Cēsis Medieval Castle. The castle was first built in 1218 and is still the best-preserved medieval castle in Latvia. Explore its beautiful park, dark medieval rooms, corridors, and get to know more about its history turns.

Enjoy a partially guided experience in Turaida Museum Reserve (near Sigulda) and/or in Cēsis Town. Depending on the hiking days you will get one or another, or both.

Feeling physically fit and adventurous? Ad two more hiking days from Cēsis to Valmiera Town (23 and 20 km respectively) thus reaching more than 100 km in five days. On 5 days’ hiking trip you will cross the whole Gauja National Park. In these two additional hiking days, you will see more sandstone cliffs on the Gauja Riverbanks including the famous white sandstone cliff “Sitiņieziezis, pristine and natural pine forests, and traditional Latvian rural areas on your way. Please indicate if you want a five-day hiking trip in your pre-booking request.

Filled with plenty of fresh air and a pack of new impressions and emotions get back to Riga. Stay in Sigulda, Cēsis, or Valmiera Town if you want to explore them a couple of days more. Or add an awesome kayking adventure in Gauja River with us on the top of your hiking trip.