Reiseliteratur

Hiking tourists are in close contact with the region in which they are and find it particularly important to feel that they are welcome and understood. This emotion is primarily created by visual information such as information stands, directional signs, appropriate information materials, thematic books and guidebooks. Hikers are expecting to find necessary products at local shops, as well as knowledgeable and helpful people who want to assist them. In many places where hikes are popular, there are signs or stickers which read “Hiker-Friendly”. This may be a part of a certification programme, and the signs are only received by venues which meet the relevant criteria. The signs may also be used by responsible tourism organisations, with businesses being free to choose whether or not they want to post the sign. In other cases, this can be the initiative of businesses as such. The “Hiker-Friendly” sticker or sign is an effective way of demonstrating that the target audience is welcome. The signs are well-known all over the world, and travellers who spot them clearly understand that their needs will be understood and that there will be someone who will be prepared to share valuable information. If a tourism product is to be successful, involved parties must have the same hospitality quality principles. The criteria can help tourism companies to orient themselves. General criteria are appropriate for any tourism service provider, while criteria for accommodations only apply to accommodations.

The “Hiker-Friendly” sign is available to any service providers for tourists in the Baltic States that want to be “friendly” toward hikers and to offer the relevant services to the target audience. The sign is not linked to any specific pathway or route. The “Hiker-Friendly” criteria are guidelines for tourism companies. Some of them are mandatory, while others are recommended. A company which wants to get the sign must satisfy at least 75% of the mandatory criteria.

The brochure introduces the long-distance hiking route FOREST TRAIL, which passes ~ 1060 km through the forests of Latvia and Estonia, from Riga to Tallinn. In Latvia, FOREST TRAIL runs through the Gauja National Park, the Northern Gauja Forestlands and Veclaicene. In Estonia, FOREST TRAIL runs through the Haanja uplands, the Setomaa un Peipsimaa regions and further along the coast of Northern Estonia - to Tallinn. The route along the Estonian part includes the Lahemaa National Park and the coast of Northern Estonia, which is the land of the most impressive rocks, waterfalls and clints in the Baltic States. You will recognize FOREST TRAIL as Mežtaka in Latvia and as Metsa Matkarada in Estonia.
The FOREST TRAIL includes all the typical forest types and wildlife elements of the Baltic States - plants, beasts, fungi, etc.
The FOREST TRAIL is divided into 50 one or two-day hiking sections, each of which is ~ 20 km long. You can choose any section of the hike. The brochure includes a map of the hiking route.

Brochure introduces with country and people, culture, handicraft, nature, major events of Setomaa region.

This manual is aimed at helping you discover rural destinations in the South of Finland, Estonia and Latvia beyond traditional touristic routes. The programmes and sites in this manual are based around small-scale accommodation, open farms, local producers, living traditions and sincere people. The people here have a close relationship with their natural surroundings and annual cycle. Each season has its own specific activities like mushrooming, berry picking, collecting herbs, ice-fishing and different agricultural jobs as well as traditional and seasonal celebrations. The countries are a haven for the tourist who loves nature, respects traditions and would like to experience them and their cultures more deeply.

Behind this manual there is a team of professional countryside tourism organisations and tour operators. For many years we have carried regular inspections of our accommodation and sites, have closely cooperated with national parks and nature experts, researched and developed new routes.

In this brochure we present example products based on rural experiences such as visits to country farms, hands-on workshops, tours of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, stays at spa hotels, and opportunities to get closer to nature or to live like locals. Some model itineraries for touring the three countries are presented. All of these can be linked with the traditional touristic routes and city experiences to bring more variety and attraction.

Travelling options between the countries are shown by air, ferries and bus. A list of tour operators that can help to arrange tours and services group and individual customers is provided in this manual.

Rokasgrāmatā tiek sniegti  prakstiski ieteikumi, kā izmantot vietējā kultūras mantojuma potenciālu, kādas sadarbības formas veidot, lai to pārvērstu tūrisma produktā.  Tiek apskatītas mārketinga iespējas, ņemot piemērus no četriem spilgtiem etnisko kultūru reģioniem – Suitu novads un Līvu krasts Latvijā, Setu zeme un Kihnu Igaunijā.

Šī rokasgrāmata tapusi Igaunijas–Latvijas programmas no Eiropas Reģionālā attīstības fonda projekta “Mazo etnisko kultūrtelpu attīstība un popularizēšana kā tūrisma galamērķis “UNESCO – tūrisms”” ietvaros.

Es wurden regionale Broschüren veröffentlicht, um es Touristen einfacher und angenehmer zu machen, durch die Regionen Lettlands zu reisen und sich über die kulinarischen Traditionen und Sehenswürdigkeiten in der Region zu informieren. Fünf Broschüren beschreiben das kulinarische Erbe und die Geschichte jeder Region und enthalten Karten mit den Routen rund um 36 Objekte der Livonian Culinary Route und anderen Attraktionen.

Routen können auf jede mögliche Weise gemacht werden - mit dem Auto, Fahrrad oder Wandern. Fahren Sie nach Kurzeme auf den Straßen Freedom und Jacob, um köstliche Sklandrausi-Kuchen zu probieren, oder lernen Sie, wie man mit Suiti-Frauen traditionelle Kurzeme-Gerichte kocht. In Vidzeme wird Ihnen frisch gebackenes Roggenbrot angeboten. Dort können Sie dem Getreideweg entlang der Ostsee- und Lichtstraßen folgen. Aber die Liv-Straße führt Sie durch fast die gesamte Küste Lettlands und lockt mit dem Geruch von frisch zubereitetem Fisch.

Die Broschüre umfasst 15 eintägige und mehrtägige (bis zu 16 Tage) Wandertouren in Lettland und Estland, die Teil des Fernwanderweges Baltischer Küstenwanderweg sind (in Lettland - Jūrtaka, in Estland - Ranniku Matkarada genannt) (E9). Das sind die interessantesten und landschaftlich schönsten Küstengebiete beider Länder, die für ihre Natur- und Kulturobjekte bekannt sind. Mehrere Touren führen durch Nationalparks, Naturparks und Biosphärenreservate, als auch durch Orte, die zum UNESCO Weltkulturerbe gehören.

Jede Tour beinhaltet eine schematische Übersichtskarte, Information zu zurückzulegenden Kilometern pro Tag, Schwierigkeitsgrad, wichtigsten Sehenswürdigkeiten, sowie praktische Information über den Wegbelag und dazu, wie man zum Ausgangspunkt und vom Endpunkt wieder zurück in die Stadt gelangt.