Publications

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.

In the tourism map "Kihnu Reesuratas" (Kihnu Travel Wheel) there is available the round route for discovering the cultural and natural sights on Kihnu island by foot, with a bicycle or even with a nostalgic sidecar. Kihnu Travel Wheel introduces the cultural space, landscapes and sea views acknowledged by UNESCO to the visitors. 

Šī grāmata ir sava veida turpinājums 2019. g. pavasarī iznākušajai grāmatai „Katrai tautai savs tērps“. Ja iepriekšējā grāmatā iepazīstinājām ar četru dažādu tautu – setu, kihniešu, suitu un lībiešu jeb līvu – tautastērpiem, tad šajā izdevumā iepazīstināsim ar šo tautu svinamajām dienām, kā arī svarīgākajiem ikgadējiem kultūras notikumiem.

Mūsdienās cilvēki jau sen vairs nedzīvo tikai pēc baznīcas kalendāra. Gan kihniešiem, gan setiem, gan suitiem gan lībiešiem ir daudz svinamu dienu un pasākumu, kas ir radušies samērā nesen, bet jau kļuvuši par nozīmīgiem kultūras notikumiem. Ja baznīcas svētki ir vairāk domāti savējiem un tūristi tajos netiek īpaši gaidīti, tad uz jaunizveidotajiem pasākumiem viesi no citurienes ir laipni lūgti. 

Grāmata ir pieejama:

• elektroniskā formātā latviešu un igauņu valodā (PDF)
• printētā versijā latviešu valodā "Lauku ceļotāja" ofisā, Kalnciema ielā 40

Grāmata tika izdota Igaunijas-Latvijas Programmas no Eiropas Reģionālā attīstības fonda projekta “Mazo etnisko kultūrtelpu attīstība un popularizēšana kā tūrisma galamērķis” ietvaros. Augstākminētā informācija atspoguļo autora viedokli. Programmas vadošā iestāde neatbild par tajā ietvertās informācijas iespējamo izmantošanu.

The Forest Trail is a long-distance hiking route from Rīga, Latvia, to Tallinn, Estonia, passing through the most afforested territories in both countries. The route is split up into approximately 50 one-day routes, each of them around 20 kilometres long. Some of the routes are more difficult than others, so please choose the ones that are most appropriate for you.  The Forest Trail is planned as part of the E11 European long-distance hiking path. 

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.

Regional leaflets have been published to make it easier and more enjoyable for tourists to travel through the regions of Latvia and find out about the culinary traditions and places to visit in the area. Five leaflets describes culinary heritage and history of each region and includes maps with the routes around 36 objects of Livonian Culinary Route and other attractions.

Routes can be done in any possible way - by car, bike or hiking. Head to Kurzeme on the Freedom and Jacob roads to try delicious Sklandrausi pies or learn how to cook traditional Kurzeme dishes with Suiti wives. In Vidzeme you will be offered freshly baked rye bread. There you can follow the path of grain along the Baltic and Light roads. But the Liv road will take you through almost the entire coast of Latvia, tempting the with smell of freshly prepared fish.