Liv's Road - Itinerary

Self drive tour Bus tour Public transport tour
Self drive tour Independent travel Latvia

Liv's Road

Day 1 Ventspils

Tourist attractions

Accommodations Taverns
Distance driving 10 km

This day is devoted to touring Ventspils on foot or on a bicycle.


Day 2 Ovisi - Mazirbe - Vaide

Tourist attractions

  • Ovisi - Oviši (Patikmō in Livonian) is an ancient Livonian fishing village, but the population of the village shrank by nearly 10 times during the 20th century.
  • Luzna - The name of Lūžņa was erased from Latvian maps during the latter half of the 20th century, because local residents were evicted by the Soviet army.  
  • Mikeltornis - Another ancient Livonian village, the name of which is supposedly based on the name of the man who built the lighthouse which is the highest one in the Baltic States (around 65 m).
  • Sikrags - Sikrags is one of the oldest coastal Liv villages which as a Liv settlement was first mentioned in writings in 1387. During the 17th century Sikrags was one of the most important small ports in North Courland which was equipped with warehouses.
  • Mazirbe - During the first independent Latvian state Mazirbe was the second largest Centre at Dundaga district. 
  • Kosrags - Košrags is one of the most unusual Liv fishing villages in Latvia.
  • Pitrags - Pitrags settlement is mentioned in the documents in 1582.
  • Smoking fish with Andris at Pitrags -  Visitors can help to smoke fish, including plaice, bream and garfish, taste the resulting food and listen to stories about seashore fishing traditions.
  • Saunags - Saunags was first mentioned in historical sources in 1310.
  • Vaide - An ancient Livonian fishing village, first mentioned in the historical sources in the middle of the eighties of 16th century.
Accommodations Taverns
 
Distance driving 80 km

You must contact Andris Pitrags in advance, and the tour will take at least an hour or hour-and-a-half. You must choose how many villages you will visit and how much time you will spend in each one.


Day 3 Kolka - Roja

Tourist attractions

  • Kolka - Kolka was the only Livonian fishing village where after the establishment of Soviet border regime, intensive economic development (including fish processing) activities was maintained.
  • Cape Kolka - This is the most distinct cape in Latvia, with the waves of the Baltic Sea and the Bay of Rīga coming together.  During storms, the waves can be as much as 7 metres high.
  • Baking carrot buns, "Usi" - The owner of the farm demonstrates the way in which the traditional Northern Kurzeme dessert that is a carrot bun and is known as a "sklandrausis" is prepared.
  • The Liv Centre (Kuolka) - The Kolka group of the Liv Association (est. 1989) established the Liv Centre in 1993, and it features a collection of Liv ethnographic objects.  The centre hosts exhibitions and various thematic events. 
  • Melnsils - Two locations of cultural and historical importance in Melnsils are the ancient cult location that is the Baķi castle hill, and the castle hill of a sea pirate Trommel.
  • Gipka - Gipka is a village that once was the site of the first maritime school in Kurzeme.
  • A banquet on the farm, the “Roja” hotel - Guests will ride out into the sea in fishing boats and then dine together with the fishermen (fish soup cooked on a campfire, rye bread, butter, smoked fish, beer or kvass, and pastries).
  • The Roja Fishing Museum - This is one of the most important destinations in Northern Kurzeme, offering a wealth of information about the history of the region and the shoreline, its cultural and historical values, the building of sailing ships, fishing traditions, local residents and their work and achievements.
  • The Dieninas fisherman’s farm - Tour groups can take part in active leisure related to cultural aspects of smoking tasty fish (tossing a boot into the sea, stories from fishermen’s wives, a theatrical performance, and the smoking and tasting of fish).
Accommodations Taverns
Distance driving 80 km

Register in advance for a session of baking carrot buns at Ūši. The process will take at least an hour or hour-and-a-half. The same is true when it comes to the meal in the fisherman’s homestead and Dieniņas, so choose no more than two of the destinations.


Day 4 Ragaciems - Saulkrasti

Tourist attractions

  • The Ragaciems fishing area with net huts - This is a very interesting monument to the history of fishing in the region.  These areas had docks and areas where fishermen built huts to store their nets and other inventory. 
  • The Daugava Museum -  The museum is in the mansion of the Dole Estate, which was built in 1898 for the Loeuwis von Menar dynasty.
  • SIA Krupis, Carnikava lampreys - This venue informs visitors about the fishing and cooking of lampreys. Products can be tasted and purchased.
  • The White Dune in Saulkrasti - The dune offers a splendid view of the sea, the mouth of the Inčupe River and the vast beach.
Accommodations Taverns
Distance driving 100 km

You must register in advance to take a tour of the Carnikava lamprey operation and to taste its products.


Day 5 Saulkrasti - Salacgriva - Ainazi

Tourist attractions

  • Saulkrasti -  Today Saulkrasti is attractive because of its white sand beach, as well as various annual events, the Saulriets trail, the White Dune, the unique bicycle museum, Sea Park, the “Centrs” swimming facility, Sun Square, etc.
  • The Cepli ceramics workshop of Ingrida Zagata - The craftswoman uses clay, rocks and other materials to produce dishware and various interior design objects, finishing them in an open kiln.
  • The Munchhausen Museum - The restored mansion of the Dunte Estate is now a museum featuring the adventures and life of the legendary king of lies, Baron Munchhausen.
  • The Vejavas weekend home - The owner offers groups of various sizes a chance to go to the sea in a fisherman’s boat and to watch shoreline fishing, as well.
  • Lamprey eel fishing at Salacgriva - This is one of the few places in the world where lamprey eels are caught at the industrial level and with a fishing method that has been used for the past 150 years.
  • The Ainazi Maritime School Museum - The museum at Valdemāra Street 47 was opened in 1969 in the building of the maritime school that was opened in 1864 at the suggestion of Krišjānis Valdemārs.
Accommodations Taverns
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distance driving 70 km

Register in advance to visit Mrs Žagata’s ceramics workshop, the trip into the sea from Vējavas, and a visit to the place where lampreys are caught in Salacgrīva. The tour will take at least an hour or hour-and-a-half, so choose four to five destinations to visit.