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Latvia from West to East

A Cultural Tour from Riga to Latgale

Private tour

Photo: LatviaTravel

Dates

On request 

May - October

Duration

11 days/10 nights

Suitable

For travellers who enjoy authentic cultural travel and local encounters

Price

From AUD 9175 per person

This privately guided journey takes you across Latvia in a meaningful way - from the Baltic Sea coast to the tranquil hills and river valleys of the east. Along the way, you’ll explore seaside fishing culture, small towns rich in tradition, elegant historic cities and rural communities where ancient customs are still part of daily life.

Begin in Riga, a city of striking contrasts where medieval spires rise above riverside warehouses and Art Nouveau façades. Travel west into Kurzeme, a region shaped by wind, sea and folklore. Wander the wooden boardwalks of Ķemeri National Park’s bog landscape, taste handmade bread and small-batch wines, visit the creative port city of Liepāja, and follow the Livonian Coast to Cape Kolka where two seas meet.

Turning inland, you’ll experience true Latvian hospitality — baking traditional sklandrausis in a village kitchen, brewing herbs with a local healer in Jūrmala, enjoying a forest picnic set to kokle music in Gauja National Park, and learning about Soviet-era history inside a secret bunker near Līgatne. From there the road leads to Latgale, known as the Land of Blue Lakes, where local traditions remain strong. Visit glassblowers, cheese makers and beekeepers, meet master weavers, and hear the stories of Old Believers who have preserved centuries-old customs along the Daugava River.

This is travel at a genuine pace — rich in stories, flavours and local encounters that deepen your understanding of Latvia’s cultural heartlands. Ideal for travellers who enjoy authentic experiences, regional traditions and a quieter path away from the usual routes.

If you would like to continue your journey, we can also arrange seamless onward travel to Estonia or Lithuania, including extensions to  the capitals of Tallinn or Vilnius by private transfer, train or flight.

Tour Highlights

  • Explore Riga’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and elegant Art Nouveau district

  • Walk the wooden bog trails of Ķemeri National Park, one of Latvia’s unique natural landscapes

  • Meet local bakers, winemakers, beekeepers, cheesemakers and artisans

  • Discover Liepāja’s musical soul with a private organ performance and visit to the Great Amber concert hall

  • Travel through coastal Kurzeme with stops in fishing villages and lighthouses

  • Stand at Cape Kolka where the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga dramatically meet

  • Bake traditional sklandrausis and learn about Latvia’s herb culture with a local healer

  • Visit Līgatne’s Secret Soviet Bunker deep underground

  • Enjoy a forest picnic experience with Latvian folklore and kokle music

  • Immerse yourself in the rich traditions of Latgale, the Land of Blue Lakes

  • Visit Aglona Basilica, Krāslava Crafts House and the Old Believers' riverside community

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Riga
Welcome to Latvia’s lively capital, Riga. On arrival, you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. Settle in and enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace — perhaps take a stroll through the atmospheric Old Town or enjoy your first taste of Latvian cuisine in one of the cosy local restaurants.

Day 2: Riga City Tour & Canal Boat Experience
Today is dedicated to discovering Riga, a city where Gothic spires, medieval guild houses and elegant Art Nouveau façades sit side by side. On a guided walking tour, wander through the UNESCO-listed Old Town to see the Town Hall Square, the House of the Blackheads, St Peter’s Church, Dome Cathedral, the Three Brothers and the Swedish Gate. Continue to the Art Nouveau district, one of the largest and most impressive collections of this architectural style in Europe. Later, enjoy Riga from a different perspective during a relaxing canal and river cruise, gliding past city parks, historic warehouses and charming riverfront views.

Day 3: Kemeri Bog Boardwalk, Kandava, Sabile & Wine Tasting in Aizpute
Leave the city behind and head into nature at Ķemeri National Park, home to one of Latvia’s most scenic raised bogs. Wooden boardwalks lead across a peaceful landscape of moss, dark pools and twisted pine trees, with the option of a short or longer loop walk. Continue to Kandava to visit a traditional homestead, where you’ll learn about Latvia’s ancient bread-baking traditions and enjoy a hearty lunch featuring fresh bread and local toppings. The journey continues through Sabile — known for one of Europe’s northernmost vineyards — before arriving in Aizpute for a tasting of locally made fruit wines in a small countryside winery. Your day concludes in the coastal town of Liepāja.

Day 4: Liepāja’s Cultural Heritage & Karosta Naval Port
Explore Liepāja, a vibrant port city known for music, creativity and miles of sandy beaches. On a guided tour, discover Rose Square, the seaside promenade and the striking Great Amber Concert Hall. Visit Holy Trinity Cathedral, home to one of the world’s oldest unaltered mechanical organs, and enjoy a short private performance. In the afternoon, venture to the historic Karosta district, once a secret Soviet military port. Here you’ll see the impressive Orthodox Naval Cathedral and visit the only former military prison in the Baltics open to visitors — a stark reminder of the region’s complex history.

Day 5: Kuldīga & Coastal Fishing Villages to Cape Kolka
Travel inland to Kuldīga, a beautifully preserved town where cobbled streets and timber houses sit beside the widest waterfall in Europe, Venta Rapid. The scenic hillside streets and old brick bridge give the town a timeless character that has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. Continue along the rugged Baltic coast, through quiet fishing villages where traditions have been passed down through generations. Visit a local fisherman’s homestead to hear stories of life by the sea and enjoy freshly smoked fish for lunch. End the day at Cape Kolka, where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga in a dramatic clash of waves.

Day 6:  Baking Tradition & Seaside Retreat in Jūrmala
This morning, take part in a hands-on culinary experience by baking sklandrausis, a traditional pie from the Kurzeme region made from rye, potato and carrot — a true local specialty. Then travel along the coastline to Jūrmala, Latvia’s elegant seaside resort town known for its long sandy beaches and charming wooden villas. Explore the town and visit the Jūrmala Open Air Museum, where you’ll meet a local herbalist who will introduce you to Latvia’s traditional healing herbs. Enjoy herbal tea and snacks as you learn about nature-based remedies passed down through generations.

Day 7: Līgatne Village, Secret Soviet Bunker & Forest Picnic
Head to Līgatne, a historic paper mill village surrounded by forest and sandstone caves. Explore the village by restored retro bus or on foot before descending into one of Latvia’s Cold War secrets — a fully preserved Soviet bunker hidden 9 metres underground and designed for government use in case of nuclear war. Continue to Raiskums for a special forest picnic experience. Regional dishes are prepared over the fire and served in handcrafted ceramic bowls, while local hosts share stories of Latvian folklore, nature and rural life. With a walk through the 200-year-old forest and traditional kokle music, this experience captures the quiet heart of Latvian culture. Travel onwards to the charming town of Cēsis for the evening.

Day 8: Porcelain Art & Latgale Craft Traditions
Depart Cēsis and travel east into Latgale, a region known for its handicrafts and strong cultural identity. Visit Piebalga Porcelain Factory, the only workshop of its kind in Latvia, where artists create unique and characterful ceramic pieces. Later, stop at a small local distillery to taste šmakovka, a traditional Latgalian drink, before continuing to the town of Līvāni. Here you’ll visit the Glass Museum and watch master glassblowers in action — a craft that has shaped the town for centuries.

Day 9: Preiļi Castle, Aglona Basilica & Daugava National Park
Continue exploring Latgale with a visit to Preiļi Castle and its romantic parkland. At the castle café, enjoy a tasting of locally made cheese — including an unusual cheese ice cream. Travel on to Aglona to visit one of Latvia’s most important pilgrimage sites, Aglona Basilica, a serene late Baroque church surrounded by lakes and forests. The day continues through Krāslava for a hands-on craft workshop before arriving in the Daugava Bends National Park, one of Latvia’s most picturesque river landscapes. Visit the historic Old Believer village of Slutišķi, where traditional wooden houses reflect centuries of local heritage. Return to Līvāni for the night.

Day 10: Country Crafts, Honey & Cider on the Way to Riga
Travel back toward Riga with visits to small family producers along the way. Meet a local beekeeper to learn about traditional beekeeping and sample raw Latvian honey. Later, stop at a countryside cider maker for a tasting session. Your final cultural stop is with a traditional weaver who creates the famous Lielvārde belt — an ancient Latvian symbol woven with geometric codes believed to hold protective meanings. Continue to Riga for your final night.

Day 11: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

If you would like to continue your journey, we can also arrange seamless onward travel to Estonia or Lithuania, including extensions to  the capitals of Tallinn or Vilnius by private transfer, train or flight

Price

Tour price (per person, twin/double room share):

From AUD 9,175 – based on 2 travellers 

From AUD 770 per person single room supplement (10 nights)

What's included

Accommodation

  • 10 nights in handpicked 3–4 star boutique hotels and local guesthouses

    • 2 nights Riga

    • 2 nights Liepāja

    • 1 night near Cape Kolka

    • 1 night Jūrmala

    • 1 night Cēsis

    • 2 nights Līvāni (or Rēzekne area)

    • 1 night Riga (final night)

Private Transport & Driver-Guide

  • Private transport for the entire journey

  • Professional English-speaking driver guide throughout

  • All tolls, parking fees and fuel

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure

  • Luggage handling assistance where available

Meals & Tastings

  • Daily breakfast

  • Traditional bread tasting and hearty lunch in Kandava

  • Fruit wine tasting in Aizpute

  • Smoked fish tasting lunch in a coastal village

  • Traditional sklandrausis baking experience

  • Herbal tea and snacks with local herbalist in Jūrmala

  • Forest picnic lunch in Gauja National Park

  • Šmakovka tasting in Latgale

  • Cheese tasting in Preiļi

  • Honey tasting with Latvian beekeeper

  • Craft cider tasting

Cultural Experiences & Activities

  • Guided walking tour of Riga’s Old Town & Art Nouveau district

  • Canal and river cruise in Riga

  • Ķemeri Bog boardwalk walk

  • Liepāja city tour including Great Amber Concert Hall

  • Private organ demonstration in Holy Trinity Cathedral

  • Visit to Karosta military district

  • Visit to Kuldīga

  • Coastal drive through fishing villages

  • Visit to Cape Kolka

  • Visit to Jūrmala Open-Air Museum

  • Visit to Līgatne

  • Secret Soviet Bunker tour

  • Forest picnic cultural experience

  • Visit to Piebalga Porcelain Factory

  • Visit to Līvāni Glass Museum

  • Visit to Preiļi Manor Park

  • Visit to Aglona Basilica

  • Craft workshop in Krāslava

  • Visit to Old Believers’ village in Daugava Bends

  • Visit to traditional weaver demonstration

Guiding & Support

  • Services of professional local guide

  • Entry fees as per itinerary

  • All local taxes

fine by nature care

  • Thoughtfully designed cultural journey

  • Genuine local hosting and regional insights

  • Responsible travel principles supporting local communities

  • 24/7 assistance

  • Customisable with extensions to Estonia or Lithuania

What's not included

  • Meals other than described

  • Alcoholic beverages during meals unless mentioned

  • Tips or any other items of personal nature

  • Flights

  • Travel Insurance 

Please note

  • This tour can be customised to suit your special interests

  • The itinerary and prices are subject to change depending on availability

  • Driver-guides are in high demand during the peak summer season. If a driver-guide is not available at the time of booking, your journey will be operated with a vehicle and separate driver and local guide, which may affect the final price. For greater availability and more flexibility with local hosts, we recommend considering travel during the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn.

Ask us about

  • Creating a tailor-made pre and/or post tours

  • Adding extra activities to your travel package

  • Arrangements for special celebrations or milestones during this tour

  • Spa treatments

Booking Conditions

  • SAFETY & TRAVEL INSURANCE  

We strongly advice you to purchase a comprehensive travel insurance that covers all the activities and cancellation costs should you not be able to travel

  • WEATHER 

If the organisers do not deem one of the activities safe, they reserve the right to change the order of the activities or the content of the program if necessary due to the weather. 

  • ALTERATIONS BY ORGANISER

Sometimes the organiser has to make changes, usually because of circumstances out of their control. If this happens, they reserve the right at any time to substitute accommodation or activities. If this means extra cost to you, we’ll let you know.

  • ACCEPTANCE OF RISK

You acknowledge that travel involves personal risks which may be greater than those present in your everyday life. This could be as a result of the adventurous nature of your trip or the visiting of destinations which present geographical risks and dangers.

Read our full terms & conditions (link).

Payment & cancellations

  • 20% deposit  is required within 7 days after your holiday is confirmed

  • Balance due 65 days prior to travel

  • Cancellations:

    • More than 66 days prior to departure - loss of deposit

    • From 65 to 31 days prior to departure – loss of 50% of total cost

    • Less than 30 days prior to departure - loss of 100% of total cost

  • Please arrange a comprehensive travel insurance which covers all activities and any cancellation costs, should you not be able to travel

  • Our full terms & conditions can be found here (link)

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Finland, Scandinavia & the Baltics.

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Email: experience@finebynature.tours
Tel: +61 (0) 493 561 516

What'sApp +61 (0) 493 561 516

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