Get inspired and go on nature-friendly hikes and bike tours - explore Latvian nature and Latvian national parks
Latvia's rich nature, majestic forest landscapes and enchanting coastline offer ample opportunities for ecological, interesting and immersive travel. Travelling through Latvia's untouched landscapes, you can not only enjoy its beauty but also support nature conservation by choosing hiking and cycling tours as sustainable travel methods.
In the article, we will outline what eco-friendly thinking is, tell you about the Latvian Nature Tourism Code, share tips for organising trips, and describe some potential destinations – four Latvian national parks, where you can go on eco-friendly adventures.
Eco-friendly thinking and travelling
How to experience nature without losing its identity? It's simple! An eco-friendly journey begins with a thoughtful approach to everything you do while in nature and travelling. It is not only a sense of responsibility, but also a value system that inspires you to do more and better to preserve Latvia's nature for future generations. Ecological or eco-friendly thinking is not a limitation, but an opportunity to live in harmony with nature and the resources it provides us. Living eco-friendly gives you the feeling that you are doing something global and lasting – protecting the world's diverse ecosystem, which our children and grandchildren will also appreciate in the long term.
Latvian Nature common code of conduct
The basic ethical principles of the Nature common code of conduct are: Use what is there; Respect and understand; Do not disturb; Do not harm; Use with care; Leave behind as it was; Take what you brought with you; Travel safely. The Code is intended as an advisory for everyone – a traveller, nature observer, researcher, holiday-maker, berry or mushroom picker, and active or passive recreation enthusiasts who love spending time in nature. Download it before you go! Latvia's natural resources – forests, rivers, lakes, the seashore, swamps, meadows and other natural areas – are available to everyone who can appreciate their diversity, beauty, biological significance and respect their right to exist. Our common task is to protect and preserve the values of nature for future generations – both the living and non-living components of nature, the integrity of ecosystems, biological diversity, landscape diversity, as well as the environment created in the symbiosis of man and nature. The cultural, historical and ecological heritage of this interaction is the basis of our collective responsibility to ensure the sustainable use of nature and a harmonious balance between human activity and nature protection.
Three friendly ways to travel – hiking, cycling and public transport
Three environmentally friendly modes of transport – hiking, cycling and public transport – offer a great opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Latvia while protecting the environment. The public transport infrastructure is well developed and allows you to quickly reach any city or region, from where you can continue your journey by bike or go hiking. Trains are adapted to transport bicycles, allowing you to easily reach major cities and remote places. More information about train traffic, destinations and bicycle transport is available on the “Pasažieru vilciens” website. Buses, which are modern and comfortable, provide quick travel to your chosen destination, and some of them, such as Lux Express and Ecolines, also offer bicycle transport.
The best time to hike in Latvia is in spring and summer on marked hiking trails that offer different levels of difficulty. Hiking allows you to enjoy nature and its peace, moving through forests, along rivers or coastal paths.
By cycling, you can explore both cities and countryside, enjoying the rich natural landscape, historical sites and cultural heritage. There are safe bike paths in large cities, but in the countryside, you can go on picturesque roads through forests and meadows.
Meanwhile, public transport provides convenient and fast transportation, so you can easily go to the nearest tourist attractions, and it is a great choice for those who want to visit various places comfortably without unnecessary effort.
Latvian national parks
Latvia is rich in four magnificent national parks – Gauja, Ķemeri, Slītere and Rāzna. Each of them is unique and will provide satisfaction and various adventures for nature lovers.
Gauja National Park
Gauja National Park, the largest and most beautiful nature park in Latvia, offers travellers not only excellent hiking trails, but also historical sites, such as Turaida Castle and Cēsis Old Town. Gauja National Park is a place where the beauty of nature and history meet, allowing travellers to enjoy both forests and Art Nouveau architectural elements. One of the greatest prides of the park is the magnificent sandstone outcrops, rocks, cliffs and caves. The pink, golden and grey sandstone rocks were formed 350–370 million years ago. The national park is home to more than 500 cultural and historical monuments – castle mounds, stone castles, churches, manors, watermills and windmills, as well as other places of interest. Being in the vicinity of this national park offers opportunities not only to hike along nature trails or cycle along specially marked routes, but also to enjoy other types of activities, such as soaring in the vertical wind tunnel “Aerodium” or taking a boat ride along the Gauja River, thus getting to know the Gauja Valley and its untouched landscapes even better.
Kemeri National Park
Kemeri National Park is special in that human activity has affected this territory relatively little, mainly only in coastal fishing villages and some agricultural areas, which is why the park is home to many rare, protected plant and animal species in Latvia and Europe. The park offers tourists specially designed routes, and they can be visited both with a guide and individually. The most popular nature trail is the Great Ķemeri Moorland Boardwalk, but other popular trails include: the Black Alder Swamp Boardwalk and the Forest Trail near the “Forest House”, the Sloka Lake Trail, the Green Dune Trail, the Kaņieris Castle Mound Nature Trail, the Kaņieris Lake Reed Boardwalk, the Sulfur Ponds Boardwalk in the Witches' Bog, the Kupskalni Trail on the coast, as well as the Dunduri Meadows, which offers views of the meadow flora and fauna, and the Kaņieris Lake Birdwatching Tower, which offers views of the lake's resident birds.
Slītere National Park
Slītere National Park, located on the Northern Kurzeme Peninsula by the Baltic Sea, offers places that perfectly capture what untouched nature looks like. This area is known for its forests, coastal dunes and rare habitats. Travellers can enjoy peace here by walking along scenic trails or participating in bike tours that lead along the Baltic Sea coast. For the convenience of visitors, the park has created several nature trails, bike, car, boat and hiking routes. Observation towers help to get to know the diversity of nature and cultural history. The park's nature trails – Kolkasrags pine and Ēvaži nature trails – will be within everyone's reach, while the Pēterezers and Šlītere nature trails will require steeper climbs.
The sandy beach of the Baltic Sea is suitable for walking. Go on a bike ride along the routes: along the mazbānīša trail from Mazirbe to Sīkrags, along Dižjūrs and Mazjūrs (Slītere circle). Experienced boaters should visit the Kolka lighthouse once in their lifetime. The Pēterezers nature trail is especially noteworthy, as this trail consists of wooden footbridges that pass through a swamp and wetland. In Slītere National Park, you can see Kolkasrags – where the waves of two seas – the small sea (Gulf of Riga) and the great sea (Baltic Sea) collide, the Šlītere lighthouse on the cliff of the Blue Mountains and other objects.
Rāzna National Park
The historical region of Latgale with its characteristic landscapes of castle mounds, lakes and forests, with homesteads and churches, Lake Rāzna, known as the Sea of Latgale, and the diversity of nature are a valid reason for everyone to visit the Rāzna National Park. The Rāzna National Park is a place to get to know the natural and cultural-historical values of Latgale – the Land of Blue Lakes, enjoy the beauty of the landscape, appreciate the hospitality of the Latgalians, and learn about the skills and traditions of crafts that have been cherished for generations. The park has several lakes, including the largest lake in Latvia – Lake Rāzna. The third highest hill in Latvia – Lielais Liepukalns – is in the Rāzna National Park, which stands out with its impressive relative height for Latvian conditions – 86 metres. The landscape of the Land of Blue Lakes can be viewed here from a 34-metre-high observation tower. The cultural and historical heritage is the stories of former castle mounds and manors, churches, museums, craftsman workshops, as well as enjoying traditional food. There were several manors in the territory of Rāzna National Park. You can get acquainted with the cultural and historical heritage of the time of nobility by visiting Lūznava Manor.
How to prepare for a trip
Preparing for an eco-friendly and nature-friendly trip requires careful planning. First, when planning your travel route, choose the most convenient way of travelling for you and make sure that the chosen route meets your interests.
When travelling around Latvia, visit local tourist information points, where extensive and high-quality information will be available. In these centres, you will find not only detailed maps and routes, but also valuable recommendations for accommodation and dining options. There are various guest houses and campsites available in Latvia, which offer comfortable conditions for cyclists and hikers. You can choose accommodation in places that are close to your travel route.
Latvia offers a huge number of opportunities for travelling in close connection with nature and its values. It is not easy to recommend just one thing, because all the “pearls” of Latvia are unique and worthy of attention. If you want to learn more, use the website LatviaTravel, which was created to help plan trips to Latvia on any budget!
