Guided Adventure Tour Riga – Sigulda

If you want to experience a wonderful day in the proximity of Riga, this offer is meant for you! 4×4 Jeep Safari off road adventures, free flying in the vertical wind tunnel – just like a bird in the sky, ride in the real bobsleigh tack with the speed of almost 100 km/h – it is possible to experience and enjoy all this during one day, if you participate in the guided adventure tour Riga – Sigulda by Baltic Adventure Tours!

The Riga-Sigulda adventure tour starts in a scenic pine wood. There the 4×4 Jeep Safari adventures also begin – forest roads and off-roads with driving up and down some quite steep hills followed by some mud baths until the 4×4 off road jeeps arrive to a very beautiful place at the bank of river Liela Jugla. Here in the meadow the drivers can step out of their off road jeeps to get some fresh air.

After that, if the weather conditions allow, the guided adventure tour recommence with a steep descent from the bank to the river and continues with the river crossing! Now that is a real off road adventure – everyone who has enjoyed the water splashes against the doors of the 4×4 jeep confirms that! After crossing a meadow that is overgrovn with bushes the column of 4×4 jeeps enters the pine wood. Now the main task of the drivers is to drive around the big and deep puddles, from which it would be impossible to get out without a winch!

The guided tour of Jeep Safari continues in beautiful pine forest and drivers have few quite impressive hills to cross on their way. Now the first stage of the guided adventure tour Riga-Sigulda is completed and the tour continues on asphalt road until the next adventure – Aerodium vertical wind tunnel in the proximity of Sigulda.

Aerodium – the vertical wind tunnel

Aerodium - the vertical wind tunnel

The vertical wind tunnel is a device that was originally created for the trainings of military parachutists. The Aerodium vertical wind tunnel that was created in Latvia allows everyone to enjoy the feeling of flying in the most direct sense of the word – the enormous and strong stream of wind, created by a huge ventilator, allows the person to “lay” on it and fly. By changing the position of the body, you can perform different moves and acrobatic elements in the air and enjoy the emotions never experienced before. At the same time with the introduction of wind tunnel technologies, high safety settings are elaborated that creates a safe environment for bodyflying. Even winter is not an obstacle to enjoy the flying in the wind tunnel!
Everyone could watch and evaluate the work and achievements of the Aerodium team during the closing ceremony of Torino Winter Olympics in 2006. An Aerodium vertical wind tunnel created especially for the show was used, with the help of which flyers from Latvia demonstrated an unforgettable air acrobatic show, flying at a height of 25 metres off the ground!

Flying into Aerodium

Before flying everyone must participate in the 30-minute preparation course, where you will be trained and provided with the necessary gear – the outfit, goggles, helmet, and gloves. Then, together with the instructor, you will go to the wind tunnel, where the created air flow with the speed of nearly 200 km/h will lift you up in a free flight. If necessary, the instructor will provide you with constant support during the flight. The duration of flight is not very long, however 3 minutes spent in the air for the first time is more than enough for long lasting emotions!

When all the participants of the guided adventure tour Riga – Sigulda have “landed”, they proceed to the next breathtaking adventure – Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track.

Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track

Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track

The Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track is located in Sigulda. The first records about the beginning of the bobsleigh here are from the end of 19 century when Prince Kropotkin built the first bobsleigh track in his manor. It was 900 metres long and had one turn.
The today’s track was designed in the scientific centre of Leipzig sports bureau, and it was built by the company “Graming” from Sarajevo, Yugoslavia. The track was finished in 1986. It’s total length is 1420 metres, number of turns – 16, the maximum possible speed – 126 km/h.
The track is suitable for the organization of bobsleigh, luge and skeleton competitions. Every year local and internation competitions take place in Sigulda bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track.

Ride by “vucko” in Sigulda bobsleigh track

Nobody can’t express and explain the feelings that you have during the ride in the bobsleigh track. Everyone must experience it himself! However, the privilege of piloting the bob is held for the local pilots of the track.

After the fun ride, you can climb up the platform of the starting place, where a sightseeing platform is located, and enjoy the wonderful magnificence of primeval valley of the most beautiful river of Latvia – Gauja, because the track is located in the territory of Gauja National Park.

After the enjoyment of this wonderful landscape, the drivers of the 4×4 jeeps take the travellers to have a lunch in a cosy restaurant in Sigulda. After a good meal the guided tour starts the way back to Riga. But on the way there will be some off road surprises in the Jeep Safari track!

With a pleasant tiredness and a happy smile on their faces, the participants of guided adventure tour Riga-Sigulda return in Riga. This tour is over!

See you tomorrow!
Baltic Adventure Tours – your adventure guide in Latvia

Remarks:
– Recommended clothing: depending on weather conditions – warm and light sportwear clothes for whom you don’t have to worry if they get dirty. The main thing is that you can move freely and feel comfortable. Sport shoes with a flexible sole are advisable.
- Recommended age of the participants: 14 to 70 years; weight: 20 to 100 kg; height: up to 2 metres.

Natural Landscape Off Road Tour near Riga

Natural Landscape Off Road Tour will create a memory that will remain vivid for a lifetime because of the wonderful landscapes with the backcountry and small forest roads. During this off road tour you will see Latvia beyond the walls of city – meadows, forests, rivers. As the tour goes mostly through underpopulated regions, there’s a great chance to meet some wild animals.

The crew of Baltic Adventure Tours considers that the route of Natural Landscape Off Road Tour is the most beautiful tour in the proximity of Riga – the capital city of Latvia. The first off road adventures starts already thirty minutes after 4×4 jeeps have left the centre of Riga and enters in a beautiful pine wood. There are hilly forest roads with some pretty steep slopes that are frequently accompanied by loud screams from the representatives of the fair sex! After a while the hilly relief turns to plain area and the adventures continue with off road driving through mud baths that seem impassable at the first sight…

Still the 4×4 jeeps that are prepared for off road adventures easily manage to get through and continue the tour on asphalt road. But not for long. Soon they are jolting on a very bumpy, but beautiful road along the coast of river Lielā Jugla. Drivers can step out from their 4×4 jeeps in a nice and romantic meadow on the shore of the river to have a breath of fresh air and listen to the loquacious water of the river.

Ten minutes later the off road tour continues and already with a surprise – a steep slope on the shore and the crossing of the river! For those who have never crossed the river by 4×4 jeep, this off road adventure will definitely stick in the memory for the whole life! We recommend to open the windows of your 4×4 jeeps – so that you can better hear and feel the splashes of the water on the sides of the jeep! On the other side of the river the column of 4×4 jeeps drives through the meadow that is overgrown with bushes and then enters the pine wood. The road leads to the high-voltage electric line and for a little while goes along it.

Here the drivers must be especially careful and try to drive around the big and deep puddles, from which it would be impossible to get out without a winch! Then there’s a long passage along some beautiful pine forests with a few impressive hills on the way. The drivers of 4×4 jeeps pull up for a while, so that the travellers could take a rest from this off road tour.

The tour continues on more populated areas, across the highways of Vidzeme and Tallin, through the village of Ādaži and along the Ādaži Airfield. Here it is possible to fly with one of the small airplanes and see the forests, the meadows, the entry of the second largest river of Latvia – Gauja – into the sea and also a little part of Baltic Sea – the Gulf of Riga. You can order and book the flight for additional price together with the Natural Landscape Off Road Tour. After the flight we get into the 4×4 jeeps and start our way back to Riga.

Leaving the airfield behind and under favorable weather conditions, the travellers go to Nature Park “Piejūra”. There, after a short walk through the wood, they reach the beach with white sand and can touch the water in the Baltic Sea.

After the visit of the beach, the column of 4×4 jeeps return to Riga – that is only a city, though so beautiful!

Nature Park “Piejūra”

Nature Park Piejūra

Nature Park “Piejūra” was founded in 1962 and the area of the Park is 4315 ha. The park is a part of the territory of Natura 2000 network. The park is a specially protected area where you can find rare coastal habitats, wooden dunes and old boreal forests, as well as embryonic dunes, rare plant and animal species. There are several rare bat species found near Garezers.
Some interesting trees grow on the territory of Nature Park “Piejūra”, it is recommended to see for example Vilkaču (Werewolf) pine-tree that is protected nature object and Lielā (Big) pine-tree that is approximately 250 years old and is 2,4 meters in girth.
The parabolic dune of Garezers and the amphitheatre of dunes are important natural sites. It is the biggest formation of dunes on the coast of the Gulf of Riga. The formation of parabolic dune started on the 18 century, after the deforestation of the area. It changed continuously its location for almost 200 years and thus partly filled up the river Langa and threatened to pour with sand the village of Langa (now – Garciems). Now the dune is planted with trees.
On the North East side of the parabolic dune is the highest point of the Nature Park – the Peak Labošanās (Improvement) with 27,6 meters above sea level. There’s a legend that the beautiful and wide view from the peak sends away all the bad thoughts, which is why the peak is called Labošanās (Improvement). The ancient fishermen used this peak as landmark, because it is visible from the distance of 7 km.

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Remark
The Organizer of the Off Road Adventure tour shall retain the rights to make changes in the route of Natural Landscape Off Road Tour, which does not change the essential character of the off road adventure tour and doesn’t lessen the intensity. Changes are introduced mainly due to the changes in weather conditions and special features of different seasons.

Adventure Tours to Latgale

Why to go on adventure tour to Latgale? It’s not going to be a simple off road tour. It is going to be an exclusive adventure tour for 2 days to the most scenic region of Latvia – Latgale, with the possibility to explore the backcountry of the region and appreciate the magnificence of its traditions.

Latgale is one of the most picturesque regions of Latvia where people speak the local dialect called latgalian. Region is rich in traditions, has unbelievably beautiful landscapes and diverse relief with many lakes, woods, fields and hills. This diversity of nature and relief makes 4×4 off road adventure tours even more unforgettable! And what’s more – our tour is planned in autumn, when Latgale has put on her beautiful and colourful autumn coat. That’s why every minute and each and every kilometre is worth to choose the adventure tour to Latgale.

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Read more about Latgale adventure tour:
Adventure Tours to Latgale: Day 1
Adventure Tours to Latgale: Day 2

Adventure Tour to Latgale: Day First

It is Saturday, September 25. It really is a wonderful Indian summer day as promised by meteorologists and the weather is fabulous. I wake up at 5:00 AM so that I could be in Viļāni (213 km from Riga) at 10:00 AM. Viļāni is the place from where usually start the adventure tours with 4×4 off road jeeps to Latgale, organized by Edvīns – the managing director of Baltic Adventure Tours.

At 6:30 AM I sit in Edvin’s Toyota Hilux – a 4×4 jeep for off road adventures – and we are passing the scenic Vidzeme elevation and rushing to meet all other participants of Latgale adventure tour. In Viļāni we meet Uldis with his friends and their Toyota Land Cruiser 120 series and Olga and Nikolajs, who have just returned from adventure tour in Iceland with their Toyota Land Cruiser 120 series Short Wheel Base. They promise to show pictures and travel notes in the evening.

After a meal in a pub “Lāču leja” in Viļāni, Nikolajs reduces the pressure in the tyres of his off road jeep to 1,5 atm in order to make a better road adhesion and achieve a greater comfort during off road driving.

We start our adventure tour at 11:00 AM as we go to south-east, in the direction of Malta. And soon a beautiful landscape of Latgale with its russet-yellow autumn leaves and its wide, elongated and hilly relief reveals to our sight. Cultivated fields interchange with fallow lands, every here and there we can see farmers picking potatoes and in general we have an impression that economic activity in Latgale is high.

A surprise awaits us in Paramonovka -a small village in Latgale. There we found a simple wooden church with very interesting “bell” – it was a piece of rail, left from the time of German occupation, hanged in the chains. But it chimed even better than some regular church bells. But the deeper in Latgale you go, the bigger and notable churches there are, because Roman Catholicism predominates in this region.

We approach slowly to the first stage of off road of our adventure tour. During the adventure tours, Edvīns uses detailed maps of the region and GPS navigation devices to orientate in the region, although most of all the little roads he knows by heart.

Part of the road near Marnova used to be very interesting and attractive for off road adventures but now it is reconstructed, so we can only grumble at the “evil” road workers that have repaired a good off road. But after a few moments we cross the ditch and drive through an overgrown meadow and finally find what we’ve been expecting for – our first obstacle of this off road adventure. After entering the forest that is decorated with the orange autumn leaves, we have to put the saw in action, because several trees have been knocked down on the road by the recent storm.

After the accomplishment of this off road stage, an unforgettable and glittering view on Lake Salmejs reveals to our sight. We take some pictures and after a short reflection on “how nice it would be to live here”, we reconcile with the thought that it is way too far from Riga and continue our off road adventure and we cross the ford that has been “improved” by tractor. Slowly, passing by autumn landscapes of Latgale lakes, we reach the top of the hill and a wonderful view on the neighbourhood greets us there.

We can se from the hill the most beautiful places in Rāzna National Park – hills Mākoņkalns and Lielais Liepukalns. Our adventure tour will soon take us there, but now it’s time for a picnic, so we organize a table right on the cargo box of Toyota Hilux to have some meal before we can continue our off road driving. As we notice a fire fighting tower, we have the temptation to climb it up, but it is closed for the visitors.

Usually Edvīns leads the adventure tours both on well known roads and off roads and at the same time he also makes experiments is searching for some new roads (to be precise – off roads) that are marked on the USSR army maps, because clients demand more and more off road adventures. In the language of off road driving it means – more puddles, more water and more mud.

However we must admit that off roads in Latgale are quite dry this weekend and there are very few muddy places. And we proceed with our quest for adrenaline and continue our adventure tour in beautiful and hilly pinewood, where we drive on very steep clearances. Olga, frightened by the steepness, tries to get out from the wheel tracks and needlessly turns the steering wheel to the left, but her Toyota just continue to slide down along the well-beaten wheel tracks. But it turned out well at the end and we could sigh with relief and stop worrying whether this off road jeep is going to roll over or not.

There is one quite big gravel-pit on the way to Mākoņkalns hill. It’s a place where the drivers of 4×4 off road jeeps can compete and compare their skills by driving up a little slope. The gravel on the slope turned out to be dry and loose, that’s why neither Edvīns with Toyota Hilux, nor Uldis with his Toyota Land Cruiser 120 series Long Wheel Base together with 3 passengers inside, managed to drive up.

Our off road adventure tour is approaching Mākoņkalns hill. It is almost 5:00 PM and as the sun sets, it highlights even more the scenic hills of Latgale and golden autumn leaves. We are making jokes that in Latgale every lake has its own hill, and every hill – its own lake. But actually it is not a joke – there really are so many lakes in Latgale.

Near Mākoņlakns hill Edvīns decide to search for a new off road and after a while we knock against a little ditch with very steep banks. According to off road driving tips, we start with exploring the neighbourhood and estimating the best trajectory for the crossing. At first we dig off the banks a little and Edvīns is submerging slowly the nose of his Toyota Hilux in the ditch. Soon we realize that there isn’t going to be any problems for the front part to drive through. But as quickly as that, we also understand that the draw hook is going to get stuck. Yet Edvīns manages to drive out of the ditch without skidding and we can continue our off road adventure on other roads.

Rāzna National Park

Rāzna National Park

Rāzna National Park was founded with the aim to preserve the special rustic charm of Latgale Region, its amazing landscapes with woods, hills and lakes as well as to protect the diversity of species and the habitat diversity of Lake Rāzna and the surrounding territories. There are many lakes on the territory of park. With a surface area of 57.56 square kilometres Lake Rāzna is the largest lake in the park and the second largest lake in Latvia. Because of its sandy beaches it is often called the Sea of Latgale. Among all lakes on the territory of Rāzna National Park, Lake Rāzna is the richest in fish. There are 27 different fish species in the lake and it is approximately 90 % off all fish species living in Latvia’s lakes. Seven of these species are specially protected species whose use is limited.
Lake Ežezers is unique in Latvia and also in all Europe, because in this scenic lake there are around 30 isles. The third highest hill of Latvia – hill Lielais Liepukalns (289 metres above sea level) – is located in the territory of the Park. And it stands out with its impressive relative height in the scale of Baltic States – 89 metres!
But from Mākoņkalns hill (248 m a.s.l.) there’s an unforgettable view over Lake Rāzna and its surroundings. On the top of the hill Mākoņkalns there are ruins and fragments of wall from Volkenberga Stone Castle, which was built by the Livonian Order in the 13th century and was almost inaccessible. In the territory of National Park there are representatives of all orders of terrestrial mammals and 12 specially protected species of mammals. There is also a great variety of birds in the Park with many rare and protected species.

At the culmination point of this adventure tour there is Mākoņkalns hill that is 247m high and reveals to our sight an unforgettable and fantastic view over Lake Rāzna – the second biggest lake (according to the territory) in Latvia. On the shores of the lake there are guest houses and other populated areas.

Our adventure tour will continue around the Lake Rāzna so that by nightfall we would manage to get to the place of the overnight stay – this time it is going to be guest house “Rāznas pērle”, that is located on the shore of the lake.

We are driving through very charming villages – Lipuški and Zosna. We are heading north and once again we are facing with the “evil work” of road workers, who have reconstructed a country road that used to be an interesting challenge for off road driving just 3 years ago. Near house named “Bulāni” we turn and drive away from lake to accomplish an interesting off road stage that goes through an overgrown meadow. Here we have to put our Fiskars machetes in use – all the off road jeeps that participate in this adventure tour are relatively new and we take care of them and try not to scratch them too much.

There are only 25 minutes left till the sunset and we are on top of a little hill on the east side of the lake and enjoy the beautiful view from there. We take some pictures and then with our stomachs already rumbling, we rush to the guest house, where the dinner with nice and warm home made food awaits us. The conversation at the dinner table fluently passes over to Olga and Nikolajs who are reporting about their off road adventures in Iceland in august. We are drinking cumin flavoured liquor from Iceland, eating smoked eels offered by our host Staņislavs and the guest house is slowly filling up with the songs in the accompaniment of a guitar, played by Edvīns.

Staņislavs tells us where the best off roads are in the neighbourhood and we decide to try them the next day.

Read next:
Adventure Tours to Latgale: Day 2

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Adventure Tour to Latgale: Day Second

The Sunday morning is nice and the day starts with a little fog over Lake Rāzna. I wake up at 8:00 AM to perform a ritual – go to swim in the lake. The water here is warmer than in Lielupe, I think it could be some 13°…14°C. But to reach the depth that is suitable for swimming one must go quite far from the shore, which I don’t do otherwise my legs would freeze.

After the breakfast at 9:50 AM we get into our off road jeeps and continue our off road adventure tour. For today we have planed to go up in the hill of Lielais Liepukalns, visit the workshop of local potter and drive the off roads that our host Staņislavs suggested.

We warm up slowly and after first kilometres on gravel road we turn to off road and pass 2 abandoned houses, wondering how people used to live here and how did they ever get somewhere. Both houses looked untouched from outside, all the glazing in windows was also there. But after we looked inside, we discovered that the ceiling and floors has been collapsed. Judging by the different household objects we found in the houses, nobody has lived there for at least 20 years. As we continue our adventure tour we reach the shores of the small and scenic Lake Astica, with flock of sheep and some fisherman on the shore.

We drive on the ancient and winding highway of Dagda and reach the hill of Lielais Liepukalns. We have enough time so we yield to the temptation to discover a new off road. It is marked on the USSR army map, but neither Edvīns, nor any of us have ever driven it. We set our Terratrip Rally Computer to zero to have a precise record of the performed distance and continue our off road driving on the avenue covered with orange leaves. Soon we realize that the road is very passable, it’s just pity that it is relatively dry.

After a few moments we must take out and use our saws and machetes to brake through the bushes and get to the house that is marked on the map. After every 100 metres the work of clearing the road gets harder and harder. All we see is trees, bushes and blue sky. We use all the available off road navigation devices to find the exact place of the road. After intensive sawing and 800 metres driven we arrive in the meadow with ruins of the house. Behind some fresh dug-outs, probably made by wild boars, we manage to find the road that leads to the ancient cemetery. But there is so many fallen trees on the road and it is so scrubby, that we decide not to spend our time there and continue our off road adventure tour on a known route.

While driving through the woods we keep the windows open so that we could feel and smell the special autumn-like scent of the leaves and thus increase even more the sense of off road adventure.

As we continue the adventure tour we drive along a beautiful off road, reach the hill of Lielais Liepukalns and get on the top of it. With its 290 metres it is the third highest hill in Latvia. There’s a little platform on the top of the hill with enough space for only 3…4 off road jeeps. The hill is covered with trees, but in between them opens a wonderful and unforgettable view over the open spaces of Latgale. We take some pictures, have a little meal and proceed to the potter’s workshop and on the quest for the suggested off road.

Potter Evalds Vasiļevskis meets us with a wide and philosophical introduction about what is clay, what is baking and how exactly the pottery are moulded. Latgale is famous with her ancient pottery tradition, because clay that is found in this region is considered to be one of the cleanest natural clays in the world. It can be used also in medicine, for facial masks, etc.

Not far from Ubogova Devil’s stone there’s an off road that our host in the guest house recommended as especially “interesting” and so we throw ourselves in another quest for undiscovered off roads in the frames of our adventure tour.

This off road starts with some dug-outs of wild boars. We gently roll our 4×4 off road jeeps over them and after a minute we start the next round of road clearing activities. Then for some 600 metres we have quite a successful drive, if we compare the distance with the effort put on the clearing of the road. The off road itself turned out to be relatively dry and passable and so we didn’t get the level of difficulty that was promised, because the forestry machinery hasn’t driven there for some 3 years.

However we are again forced to capitulate before the off road, because we understand that the clearing of the road can last longer than it would be necessary, besides we had almost run out of the fuel for the power-saw. Nevertheless we have found a new and promising off road for the next adventure tours.

Little by little we start our way back to Riga still wondering at the beautiful landscapes of Latgale. We visit also the little and mystical Lake Velnezers (Devil’s Lake) called also Čortoks, not far from Aglona, that is also one of Latvias clearest lakes. There are many different legends about this lake, that’s why a lot of people visit it.

Aglona basilica – popular Catholic Pilgrimage destination in Latvia

Aglona Basilica

We stop at the Aglona basilica as well. This church is international sacred site and a part of Latvia’s cultural heritage – a cultural monument, the most important Catholic Church in the country and a place of pilgrimage. This Baroque style church with 2 towers of 60 metres attracts every year thousands of pilgrims that arrive in Aglona for the magnificent and grandiose complex of events on the day of the Assumption of Mary. Different healing qualities have been ascribed to the altar piece of Aglona basilica “The Miracle-worker Our Lady of Aglona”. This icon is being uncovered only in ceremonious activities when religious celebrations are taking place. The impressive basilica is known also for its interior, made in 18th and 19th century, and attracts not only pilgrims but also art lovers and tourists.

Edvīns shows us some more scenic roads of Latgale. Especially beautiful seems the road from Jaunokra to Grāveri – along the right side of the road there are a lot of lakes surrounded by golden autumn-like trees that all together looks like a string of beads.

A wonderful conclusion of our off road adventure tour is the crossing of a wide ford on river Dubna. Near Višķi we drive out on Višķi – Nīcgale highway to continue our way home. This off road adventure tour to Latgale will remain in memory for long time because of the sense of the real backcountry that it gave to the participants, as well with the beautiful nature and landscapes.

Read previous:
Adventure Tours to Latgale: Day 1

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Full Day Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour

Vidzeme Off Road Tour is an exciting and unforgettable adventure tour with 4×4 jeeps on the winding roads, small backcountry tracks and forest roads and off roads of Vidzeme elevation – one of Latvia’s most beautiful landscape regions! This adventure tour leads you through the most beautiful areas of Vidzeme that are still wild and in many cases untouched by the civilization. There will be river crossing and driving through mud. Part of the tour takes place in the territory of nature park of Ogre River valley.

Vidzeme elevation

Vidzeme elevation

Vidzeme elevation is the second highest elevation in Baltic States, its average height is 250 m. The elevation contains the highest point of Latvia, the Gaiziņkalns hill (311,5 m a.s.l.)
The climate of the Vidzeme region is characteristic with low temperatures in January (-6°C) and in July (+16,5°C), high-rainfall (750 mm), high number of cloudy days and a thick sheet of snow in winter. The average thickness of the sheet of snow is over 40 cm.
There are a lot of rivers in the region that have great slopes; also there are deep valleys and lakes. Vidzeme highland is beautiful in all seasons and it has a great diversity of landscapes that are visited by numerous tourists every year. The long winter and thick sheet of snow attracts many admirers of skiing.

Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour starts the capital of Latvia, in Riga. 4×4 jeeps start the tour by going east – the direction of Vidzeme elevation. Strangely enough, but this motor road of a national significance is covered with asphalt only the fist 30 km. Then after a sharp curve, the asphalt ends and the drivers suddenly find themselves driving on a winding gravel road with steep slopes in Kangari hill. After approximately 20 km the first off road adventure awaits the travellers – there’s a bridge but the access roads on the both sides are flushed away by the river and it is now impossible to get on the bridge. The 4×4 jeeps must cross the river driving across the ford.

Then it’s approximately 20 minutes driving on the first class road when the real off road adventure starts in the surrounding area of Taurupe! The roads become narrow, lead through regions with low population density and in some places they turn into way-less off roads – places where only 4×4 jeeps that are prepared for off road driving and have experienced drivers can drive through!

On Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour the hills and valleys, the meadows and forests outline the landscape – this region in beautiful in all seasons! There are some farmsteads and ruins of abandoned buildings on the way. During the off road adventure tour we can quite often meet forest animals – roes, elks, hares and wild boars.

After 2 hours of jolting and driving on winding roads the route of Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour leads the 4×4 jeeps to the territory of nature park of Ogre River valley. The winding country roads continue and we reach the ford of river Līčupe – tributary of Ogre River. The next object of interest is the railway bridge of demounted railway line Rīga – Ērgļi. The deck of the bridge is approximately 18 metres above the river – it is the second highest railway bridge in Latvia and in all Baltic States.

The level of adrenaline rises even more after the discovery of the fact that the bridge has no parapets – drivers must be especially cautious when they cross the bridge with 4×4 jeeps. River Līčupe itself is a very beautiful river with clear water and a lot of rocks – like all other big and small rivers in the neighbourhood.

Ogre River valley Nature park

Ogre River valley

Nature park “Ogres ieleja” (Ogre River valley) is a part of territory of NATURA 2000 that starts in the Vidzeme elevation right below Ērgļi and continues along Ogre River almost reaching its entry in Daugava – the largest river of Latvia – that is approximately 120 km long.
In the territory of Ogre River valley there is a great concentration of areas of specially protected species and biotopes. There are almost twenty specially protected biotopes – forests of slopes and ravines, outstanding overfalls, park-like meadows, fallow land and natural alluvial meadows rich with different plant species, mixed forests of oaks, ashes and wych-elms and other biotopes that are nowadays almost extinct in densely populated areas of Europe. The banks of Ogre River are clearly directed to the north and to the south – that is why each shore has its own microclimate – when there is green grass and flowers are blossoming on one shore, there is still melting snow on the other side of the river. The special worth of the river is the fact that it has never been dredged.

The next off road adventure after the crossing of railway bridge is the crossing of Ogre River near the hydroelectric power station of Vecogre. Once there used to be bridge, but it has been blown up during the Second World War. So now, if you want to get on the other shore, you must drive almost 100 metres on the river bed with your 4×4 jeep.

But that’s exactly what a participant of off road adventure tour needs! After a half an hour of driving along beautiful landscapes and we have reached Ērgļi – a small town in Vidzeme. After such an exciting and fascinating drive during Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour, the lunch in café “Ērgļi” doesn’t disappoint – friendly and home-like atmosphere and delicious food and – what’s more important – kindest and most responsive personnel in the neighborhood!

After the lunch and a short rest, 4×4 jeeps with their drivers continue their off road adventures. Every here and there the country roads turn to off-roads and the adventure tour continues on uncultivated, almost overgrown meadows along abandoned homes. We stop at a large oak with impressive girth of the trunk (approximately 7 metres) and near some abandoned building with a text in Russian on its wall, written there during the Second World War – in 1944 here, in the middle of the woods, were the headquarters of the Soviet Army.

The next stage of off road adventure tour is a track that is specially designed for 4×4 jeeps in an old and wild forest. Here we have to be specially careful and manoeuvre between the rocks and trees and as well press the accelerator pedal in the right moment so that the 4×4 jeep wouldn’t stuck in the mud and would be able to climb up the hill. After this small but complex off road track we must cross the small river Vedze and the route of Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour starts heading back to Riga.

Just half an hour driving on off roads, then some 30 km to a small town Mālpils, and from there after an hour long drive on asphalt road, the participants of Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour return to Riga. The real exhaustion will take the participants over after the dinner but – this off road adventure tour would definitely be worth it!

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Remark
The Organizer of the Off Road Adventure tour shall retain the rights to make changes in the route of Vidzeme Off Road Adventure Tour, which does not change the essential character of the off road adventure tour and doesn’t lessen the intensity. Changes are introduced mainly due to the changes in weather conditions and special features of different seasons.

A Full Day adventure tour to Irbene radar station in Kurzeme near coast of Baltic Sea

Difficulty level: easy!

Tour lasts 11 hours, including sightseeing objects and lunch.

This is an unforgettable and exciting experience of off road driving for the whole day and a feeling of freedom and easiness that the pine woods of Kurzeme, the coast of Baltic Sea, blossoming meadows and dusty farm trucks can offer you. Take a deep breath and enjoy the adventure!

During the adventure tour there will be an opportunity to see wild animals, coast of the Baltic Sea and the Bay of Riga as well as to walk on the forest trails and finally to visit the radar station in Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre (VIRAC) with it’s impressive radio telescope antenna with the diameter of 32 meters and weight of 600 tons.
Lunch in a cafeteria in Roja or Dundaga.

The route: Rīga – Ķemeri – Engure – Roja – Dundaga – Irbene – Blāzma – Talsi – Tukums – Rīga (500 km).

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Adventure Tour „Stars of Dakar”

Difficulty level: easy-medium

The tour lasts 7 hours including sightseeing tour and lunch.

You must sign up for this tour at least two days before! During this adventure tour you will see two interesting objects.

First – Baldone observatory. There is a telescope of impressive size and a rotatory roof with doors. A scientist will welcome you and introduce with work in observatory as well as with exploration of planets and constellations.

Second – Ogre Service center. It’s the place where OSCAR sport cars for Dakara rally-raid competitions are designed and built. During the excursion, car constructors will tell about the building process of OSCAR and, of course, there will be a possibility to see and touch these rally raid vehicles.

During the passage between both adventure tour objects is an interesting route through a big pinewood full with small roads and exciting up and down-hill off road driving.

Lunch in a cafeteria near Ogre town.

The route: Rīga – Baldone – Ķegums – Ogre – Rīga.

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Tour to „Filmtown” by 4×4 off road SUV’s

Difficulty level: easy!

The tour lasts 5 hours including sightseeing tour and lunch.

Destination of this off road tour is „Cinevilla” – the only open air film decoration in Baltic States with many possibilities for filmmaking. You will experience the characteristics urban environment of the last centuries. There are fragments of historical bridges, church, marketplace and fragment of the riverbank. Real rails, railway points and historical railway wagons are installed and built from authentic railway equipment. Authentic Locomotive Engine, built more than 50 years ago has also found its place on the rails in Cinevilla Backlot.

An integral part of this off road tour is wonderful landscapes. During the tour you will have the possibility to climb on the sight tower of Ķemeri Natoinal Park.

The route: Rīga – Ložmetējkalns – Tukums – Ķemeri – Rīga.

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Off Road Tour to „Underground Bunker”

Difficulty level: easy!

The tour lasts 5 hours including sightseeing tour.

The main sightseeing object of this off road tour is an underground bunker, built in the Soviet times. It was meant for the representatives of power elite of the time as a place where they could survive for a longer period of time and as a place from where they would rule the country in the case of nuclear war. The bunker is still functioning.

The off road tour route leads you through Ādaži Military Training Area and Firing Range, which is now owned by NATO armed forces.

The route: Rīga – Ropaži – Sigulda – Līgatne – Rīga.

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