Discover Best Of Gauja National Park In One Day

It was an amazing experience, great views, beautiful river and forest. Very friendly guide! Definitely recommended to any nature enthusiast!

We had a wonderful trip with Rolands. He is such a friendly person, a terrific guide, and is very knowledgeable about the area’s significance and history. I would gladly book another trip with him!

We liked the trip very much. We started the day with a walk around the Gauja National Park, which delighted us with its views. Lunch was planned in a very nice place, and it was very tasty. Then we went towards the castle and we stopped at the viewing point. We also loved the peaceful surroundings. The trip is perfect for people who want to take a break from the noise of the city. In these few hours you can calm down and spend a nice time close to nature. The guide is a true professional. A perfectly balanced dose of knowledge and a sense of humor. We had a very nice time, this day made us want to return to Latvia and choose another trip with the same guide. It was a great pleasure, thank you.

Ronald is passionate about nature as well as professional. He's cheerful and he loves his country, and that shows. He also has a lot of energy and explains everything perfectly, he is a biologist and that is important, but he also knows well the history of his city. A very fun and complete day.

An excellent hike through the park with Rolands. There was excellent communication with expectations beforehand and pick up was punctual. The hike was great , passing through hills, meadows and forests, with many wonderful views. Visit to Sigulda town for lunch was excellent, and Rolands helped with recommendations for Latvian specialties. The visit to the open air museum and castle in Turaida was also very interesting. Rolands was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable about the nature and management of the park, as well as Latvian culture, language and a large number of other subjects, and was a pleasure to speak with.

My recent day trip to Gauja National Park was an unforgettable experience, and it would not have been the same without our amazing tour guides, Roland and Volters. From the moment we met them at the designated meeting point, their warm smiles and genuine enthusiasm set the tone for a fantastic day ahead. Roland's friendliness was infectious, making our group instantly comfortable with each other. Throughout the journey, he shared fascinating stories about the park's history, local legends, and the remarkable biodiversity that flourishes within its boundaries. His knowledge and passion for the area were evident, and it felt like we were exploring the park with an old friend rather than a typical guide. As we ventured deeper into Gauja National Park, I couldn't help but be captivated by the sheer beauty of nature that surrounded us. Roland introduced the diverse natural landscapes, from limestone cliffs to the meadow ecosystem, weaving in history and local legends. We even got to try some of the flora (a.k.a. Woodland Sorrel) XD. The lush green forests, pristine rivers, and breathtaking landscapes left us awe-struck at every turn. Roland also brought us through some improv exercises during breaks, which livened the trip even further! The tour also included a relaxing walk along the picturesque trails of Sigulda, where the charming medieval castle ruins stood as a testament to Latvia's rich history. Roland's knowledge of the region's cultural heritage enriched the visit, and he encouraged us to take our time and soak in the tranquility of the surroundings. To top it off, Roland recommended a great location to celebrate Midsummer's day in Grīziņkalns park where we met him and his lovely wife by chance. More than 50% of Latvia is covered by forests, so experiencing its natural landscape is not-to-be-missed. This tour was definitely the highlight of my Baltic trip!

We were seven people and we've had fun by visiting the park. It was a beautiful experience, enhanced by the friendly presence of the guide, Rolands, who also let us taste some local products in open air.

Having spent the last few days visiting museums and walking the streets of Riga, my friend and I were ready to enjoy some nature so I booked a one day kayaking trip with i-DA Adventure down the Gauja River in the Gauja National Park. I didn’t really know what to expect but I am now so glad we did it. Rolands our guide picked us up from the hotel and we knew straight away that this was going to a fun day out. Rolands started our adventure in a tributary of the Gauja River so that we could enjoy kayaking on different terrains, dodging trees and some fun rapids, great for beginners and more experienced kayakers under the watchful eye of Rolands. We then reached the vast open river and kayaked through the beautiful sandstone cliffs aligning the river banks. The river’s current helping any tired arms and one could just really just sit back and paddle down this vast open water. Rolands offered us some local knowledge about the conservation projects in the areas and an insight into Latvian culture and social history along with relaxing silences as we enjoyed the surrounding landscape. It was a fantastically hot day and the trip was interjected with stops for swimming to cool off along with a prepared a lunch of traditional Latvian delights which was a lovely surprise. It really was a highlight of our 2-week trip travelling through the Baltics, with a particular shout out to Roland our guide who was just like having another friend of the trip. I would really recommend if you can take the time to fit it into your itinerary. After 23K, with tired arms , we then slept well that night.

The guide provided comprehensive background information and is very skilled and knowledgeable about the area.

I find Latvia, and Riga, a welcoming place in general and that positive impression has just been so reinforced, and greatly exceeded by my experience with Rolands on the kayak tour. With great environmental and local knowledge, as you would expect, Rolands went above and beyond bringing everything to life with a depth of personal experience. But he need not have done as the environment itself was so breath taking - with mist rising from an untouched natural world absolutely full of river life it felt at times like you where paddling down the Amazon or were an extra on the set of Jurassic park. More was provided than could have been expected in the tour description. I was left feeling looked after and thoroughly contented. If you want a TRULY unforgettable experience and experience a different side of Latvia, the "real Latvia" whatever that means, book this tour. You will be glad you did.