Authentic camping and glamping with a touch of glamour
Latvian camping and glamping offers a variety of accommodation options and contrasts – you can stay under simple tents, or even in originally designed barrel huts, comfortable cabins with panoramic windows and luxury interiors. The presence of nature allows you to breathe in the air that smells of evening mist and morning dew, enjoy cooking over a campfire and feel the wind rustling under a starry sky, which makes this experience especially magical, unique and unforgettable!
What is the difference between camping and glamping?
Glamping is a relatively new term in the traveller’s dictionary, and it could be called an improved version of camping that has you feeling glam! It refers to a special combination of luxury, splendour and camping, which at the same time is close to nature and has high-level accommodation and amenities. That is why in glamping, you feel like you’re in a campsite, but enjoy the comfort usually associated with hotel service, which will be a particularly good choice for those who are used to the comfort of the city.
Where to find such charming places in Latvia?
Such places can be found in all regions of Latvia – and each site’s unique atmosphere depends on the natural landscape and historical character of each location. We will offer a description of the development of campsites and the special atmosphere created in them, we will introduce you to some authentic camping and glamping sites on the Kurzeme coast – starting just past Jurmala (a short drive from Riga) and all the way to Pāvilosta. The selected places are especially charming in the summer, as they offer the presence of the sea and unique natural views.
Closeness to nature and landscapes
Many Latvian campsites and glamping sites are often located in pleasant pine forests, where birdsong can be heard in the treetops even before sunrise. Others are located by lakes or rivers, which allow you to watch the mist blanket the water surface in the evenings and swim in the sunlit water in the mornings. Campsites by the sea and lake shores often have observation towers or boardwalks, which allow you to feel the presence of nature, peacefully gaze into the mirror of the water, or observe the seemingly unattainable horizon. The forest air in harmony with the freshness of the sea breeze creates a fabulous energy that recharges the body and delights the soul.
Activities and adventures
Camping sites and glamping sites traditionally offer bicycle, SUP board and boat rentals, so that everyone can go on adventures in nature. One of the most popular activities is peaceful boating on lakes or rivers. Meanwhile, the bends of faster rivers allow you to test your individual skills and enjoy the fascinating landscapes. Similarly, lovers of active entertainment can go fishing, explore nature trails or challenge and test themselves by navigating an unfamiliar area. In the evenings, upon returning to the campsite, many places offer sauna treatments that not only warm the body, but also calm the mind, allowing you to enjoy the rituals as a unified part of the rhythm of nature.
Kurzeme Coast Offer
Let us describe just a few exclusive campsites and glamping sites on the Kurzeme coast from Jūrmala to Pāvilosta, which offer an interesting experience, combining the presence of nature, comfort and style. Let us introduce you to high-class designer tents, cottages, and traditional campsites that stand out with something special, such as wine barrel cottages, an outdoor hot tub and sea waves right next to the tent. Each place has its own unique “aura of nature” – whether it be a bathtub overlooking the forest, or an exclusive cottage with a panoramic view of the harsh Baltic Sea. All these sights are united by the presence of nature, a touch of the majesty of the sea, and comfortable or even royal living conditions.
City-dwelling comforts in a tent
Imagine a place where nature and city comforts merge in one harmony. Glamping Anemones in Plienciems offers a unique opportunity to enjoy the closeness of nature without losing modern comforts. Here, just a few hundred metres from the sea, you will find spacious and tastefully furnished tents with air conditioning, a bathroom and a terrace overlooking a charming garden. After a day spent by the sea, enjoying the unique landscape, you can relax in a sauna or a hot tub under the starry sky. Here you can enjoy silence, comfort and the beauty of nature all in one place.
Tent with a hot tub
In Plienciems, Engure municipality, there is another picturesque place where the daily rush turns into a peaceful respite, and the sound of the sea waves acts as a meditation. Glamping Pūkainie Ragi offers an excellent relaxation experience – a romantic getaway surrounded by nature just 300 metres from the sea. Here you can choose between a cosy camping cabin, suitable for 2 to 4 people and adapted for people with disabilities, or one of eight well-equipped glamping tents. For a special romantic evening, you can choose a wigwam-style tent with a private hot tub. Pūkainie Ragi is the ideal place to disconnect from the daily rush and indulge in the peace and romance of nature.
Overnight stay in wine barrels
Have you ever stayed in cabins that resemble wine barrels? Such an unusual experience is offered by Camping Melnsils, located right on the shore of the Baltic Sea, and is as if created for a romantic getaway for two or peaceful solitude in the embrace of nature. Here, guests stay in unique barrel cabins right by the sea – from the cabin windows you can see the harmony created by the sea. These cabins are simple, but this is exactly what allows you to fully enjoy the closeness and peace of nature. If you want an even more special experience, choose one of the guest house rooms, which are located in a 100-year-old fishing farm building. Each room has its own story and atmosphere, for example, the Captain’s Room with a spacious terrace and a view of the sea, or the romantic Love’s Boudoir. Various activities are also offered – from walks in the Slītere forests and bird watching, to boat trips on the sea and the Melnsilupi River.
Glamping with luxury rooms
The Glamping Bērzciema Lagūna is located in the territory of the Engure Lake Nature Park. This place is especially suitable for those who want to enjoy a peaceful rest, watching picturesque sunrises over the Gulf of Riga and the shores of Lake Engure. The glamping tents are designed with special care – they are spacious, equipped with elegant wooden floors, stylish designer furniture, air conditioning, a comfortable double bed and a cosy relaxation area. This atmosphere creates a feeling similar to the comfort of a luxury hotel. A special relaxation area with outdoor furniture is set up near the tents, from which a charming view of the sunrises over Lake Engure and the nearby seashore opens. The surrounding nature is particularly rich – guests have access to several nature trails, including the Engure Lake Trail, where you can observe wild animals and birds from the observation tower, as well as walk along the orchid trail. Nearby is the Roņu Ragas nature trail, which starts just a few hundred metres from the unique Bērzciems grey dune.
In the treetops
Have you ever longed to spend the night like a bird among the branches of a tree? Port of Peace makes this dream come true – it offers cosy, romantic tree houses in a forest surrounded by pine trees, just a step away from the beach. Accommodation suitable for families is found in comfortable camping houses, but pleasant relaxation also awaits in a sauna built on the seashore. Lovers of leisurely walks can go along the coast to the Akmeņrags lighthouse or enjoy the road to the charming Pāvilosta. Here you will be greeted by clear sea, white sandy beaches and the unique fresh air of the pine forest. This is a place that will not leave you indifferent – the especially thoughtful design and the opportunity to be “in the treetops” create a unique, unforgettable atmosphere.
A place where two seas meet
If you have arrived at Cape Kolkas, take a moment to breathe and enjoy the place where two seas greet each other. Only here can you hear the songs of the sea and see how the wind draws unique patterns in the sand. This is the land of the stubborn and persistent Livonians – the Livonian Coast, where the history and character of the place are symbolised by old pine trees that have bent, surrendering to the power of the wind. Cape Kolkas is one of the few places in Latvia where you can watch both sunrise and sunset over the sea.
This place is also an important stopping point for bird migration, so every year the birds delight every visitor. In the evenings and at night, the Kolka lighthouse blinks friendly in the distance.
Take your time, stay in this place a little longer. Spend unforgettable evenings or holidays at the glamping site Saules mājas, enjoying a peaceful rest close to nature with your loved one or friends, just a few steps from the sea, in the very heart of Kolkasrags!
The ABC of Sea Navigation
If you think you have seen and experienced almost everything, head to Pāvilosta. There you will be surprised by the glamping Peldmāja. It is made up of six separate cottages and is located on a floating pontoon. The names of the cottages are borrowed from the NATO phonetic alphabet widely used in sea navigation – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo and Foxtrot. Each cottage has a spacious, combined space, which includes a kitchen, a living area and a sleeping area with a double bed, as well as a mezzanine with two additional beds. Each cottage has its own private terrace, from which a picturesque view of the Saka River opens. These accommodations are particularly distinguished by their unique atmosphere and the opportunity to leisurely stroll through the summer-attractive Pāvilosta.
Development and demand
In Latvia, the camping and glamping offer has developed and remained diverse in recent years – this segment is gradually moving from an “ascetic pine forest” approach to a “comfort in nature” offer. In Latvia, the camping season officially starts in May and reaches its peak in July and August, when the days are long and the water in the Gulf of Riga reaches as much as +21°C. However, it is also worth choosing to relax in one of these places in early spring and late autumn, when nature has a different mood and a different experience. Since the pandemic, the demand for private but comfortable accommodation has grown, and designer glamping has flourished alongside classic campsites – dome tents, glass mini-villas and even tree houses, which are often booked months in advance.
Whether it is an evening in a hot tub by the sea, a morning by Lake Engure or a starry night in the treetops – these moments become beautiful stopping points in life. When we travel, we find not only new places, but also ourselves – a little freer, calmer, and more inspired.
