Create Your Experience in Riga

General information:

•     Route: Cēsis – Līgatne - Sigulda
•     Individual
•     Canoe
•     2 days/ 1 night
•     Distance per day: ~17-26 km

A brief description of the route:
The Gauja is the most beautiful river in Latvia, with an impressive river valley that is up to 80 metres in depth. Mighty sandstone cliffs rise above the river. The Gauja is a calm river, with just a few small rapids. Leisure boating is perfect here. Between Valmiera and Sigulda, the Gauja flows through the Gauja National Park, which was the first national park in Latvia (established in 1973). There are 20 well-appointed facilities for boaters on the banks of the river, with benches, tables, places for campfires, firewood, information stands and maps. Alongside the Gauja river, there are roads and paths from Valmiera to Sigulda, and the route is manageable on foot or by bicycle, too (see the bicycle route Cēsis to Valmiera).
Note: Swimming in the Gauja river is permitted only at specific locations, because the river’s underground currents are very strong, and the bed has shifting sand.
 

1st day Cēsis or Jāņrāmis - Līgatne
In the morning (recomended at 10:00), individual arrival to the starting point  at the Gauja river near Cēsis:

Option A
Boating: Jāņrāmis – Līgatne (~ 26 km, ~6,5 - 8 h) The most scenic stretches of the river with the Ērgļu cliffs and the Kvēpene hillfort, where one can see the oak-tree which is on the Latvian 5 Lats bank note.  The mouth of the Amata river. The Ķūķu cliffs with rapids and the Spriņģu cliffs. The route ends at Līgatne, where the river ferry still operates in summer.

Option B
Boating: Cēsis – Līgatne (~ 17 km, ~4.5 - 6 h) Start with a walk along the nature trail near to Cēsis before the canoe tour and further as in option A. 
Optional walking in the Līgatne nature trails (5,5km)  watching wild animals, typical for the Baltic region, in open-air enclosures. Another trail (1,3km) leads through untouched nature scenery through the Paparžu (Fern) ravine. It is also possible to walk 1,3km by the river Gauja to the scenic Glūdu cliff.

 Walking to the guest house, ca .20 minutes.

Overnight in the guest house Lāču miga at Līgatne village.

2nd day Līgatne – Sigulda

Breakfast.
Walk from the guest house to the river Gauja.

Canoeing: Līgatne -  Sigulda (~21 km, 5 - 7 h). The river is not rapid, and the stream becomes even calmer approaching Sigulda. On the left bank, one can see the Katrīnas and Glūdu cliffs. Shortly before the end of the route, you will notice the red brick tower of the Turaida castle.

Individual departure.

this tour is operated by Lauku celotajs