On the way to Latvia’s centenary, we at Baltic Country Holidays have produced a new tour map inviting to travel along 7 routes of Latvia’s Statehood: the Baltic’s Road, the Freedom’s Road, the Mara’s Road, the Liv’s Road, the Daugava’s Road, the Jacob’s Road, the Light’s Road. The routes will allow you to learn about aspects of Latvia’s history, personalities, places and events that facilitated the establishment of the state and the emergence of its national identity.  

The publication includes a map with the 7 routes marked and briefly described, 80 attractions along the routes and 85 open farms that hold the sign Latvian Heritage.

The 7 Routes of Latvia’s Statehood have been developed within the programme for celebration of the centenary of Latvia as a state. The key message of the centenary celebration is „I am Latvia” focusing on people as the core value of the state. They shape today’s life in the country and, together with their young generation, they lay foundations for the future.

The map is available at the office of „Lauku ceļotājs”, 40 Kalnciema str. (3rd floor), Riga (week days at 09:00 – 17:00).

Pdf version of the map.

Languages: Latvian, Russian, English, German.

The project is supported by State Culture Capital Foundation.

A series of presentation events will be held in several largest cities of Japan (Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo) in July, where the professionals of the Baltic tourism sector will introduce the representatives of Japanese tourism sector (~150  professionals) with the Baltic states as a common tourism destination and jointly developed offer of rural tourism with traditional tourism destinations, as well as the possibility of group and individual travel. This event is organised by tourism organisations of 3 Baltic States and we are participating in it with our offer of rural tourism opportunities. The objective of the event is to invite the representatives of Japanese tour operators and media to participate in the introductory visit and to encourage them to include the Baltic States on their travel programmes. Meeting permits better understanding of the wishes and needs of the Japanese tourism market, and to prepare answers to questions. The visitors of the Road Show events shall receive both aforementioned marketing publications, as well as small gifts made by our craftsmen and home food producers. 

The marketing expenses have been covered and events have been prepared by uniting in a single project the effort of rural tourism associations of Latvia and Estonia and the regional tourism bureau of the Southern Finland, as well as several universities, as well as in co-operation with  Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) and Estonian and Finnish Tourist Board. 
 

We have prepared  a manual of rural tourism products Go rural 2018. This is the second edition, updated and supplemented, based on the experience of the activities and results of last year’s marketing events. As tourism businesses and tour operators have observed, Japanese tourists like not only traditional tourist destinations of Latvia, but also the offers associated with environment and plant world, for instance, nature trails, picking mushrooms, learning about local medicinal herbs, etc.
The manual is intended for tour operators, professionals of the sector and travellers. It has been published and printed in Japanese, as well as its electronic version is available in English. The manual includes practical information that helps while planning your trip - programmes of single day excursions in the countryside, visits to producing farmhouses and craftsmen’s workshops, homesteads, which introduce to the traditional rural lifestyle, visits to rural hotels and SPA facilities, as well as multiple-day-long tourism programmes. In response to the interest of tour operators and Japanese travellers, the offers of wedding trips are also included in the manual.  The manual contains information on public transport, as well as the contact information of Latvian, Estonian and Finnish tour operators. 
Electronic version: http://www.celotajs.lv/en/p/view/GoRural_2018

The publication introduces the reader with typical Finnish, Estonian and Latvian meals that are both traditional and contemporary and can be found on the menus of cafeterias and restaurants. The cuisine of our countries has lots in common in terms of food recipes, as well as the ways of product use. Fresh, seasonal local products are highly valued, however, each country has their own meals and traditions of cooking and serving them. The GoRural Food and Drinks brochure is meant to encourage Japanese visitors to learn about our traditional meals and food habits. Each description of a dish included in the brochure contains the list of ingredients used in its preparation, the way of cooking and a photo. The descriptions have been grouped in chapters: Cheese, Greens and Salads, Soups, Fish Dishes, Meat Dishes, Mushrooms, Bread, Sweet Dishes, Pancakes, Drinks.
The brochure has been compiled in English as well, but it has been printed in Japanese.

Electronic version: http://www.celotajs.lv/en/p/view/GoRural_FoodAndDrinks
 

On the first weekend of June, Kihnu Island will be the island of cafes, where cafes can be found in many farmsteads and other interesting places. Locals will open temporary, one- or two-day cafes in their home yards or in other exciting places.

The goal is to value local food, offer good meals and local produce, as well as a unique cultural programme.

This is the biggest events for all those interested in traditional arts and crafts. The best masters participate in the market demonstrating and selling traditional and modern designs. The market takes place in the Open air ethnographic museum in Riga, in June 2-3.
Information: http://brivdabasmuzejs.lv/en/all-events/the-ethnographic-open-air-museum-of-latvia/the-48th-latvian-folk-applied-arts-fair/ 
 

In May 25-27, Dobele town invites visitors to Lilac festival. It takes place in one of the largest lilac gardens in Europe, with over 200 types and sorts of lilac. The festival programme includes open air stage performances of the best Latvian opera singers.
More info: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Dobele-Tourist-Information-Center-1597274413896942/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1597285553895828

Traveller’s day invites visitors to enjoy everything tourists can experience in protected nature areas – guided nature tours with animal watching and getting familiar with protected nature values, visiting local producers and craftsmen, local markets, music and dance performances. Free guided walking, cycling and boating tours are organised to present heritage and contemporary attractions. Nature experts from national parks’ staff become nature guides and take visitors to restricted sites that are not commonly open for visiting.

• Slītere national park invites to Traveller’s days in June 9-10.
• Ķemeru national park invites travellers on May 5.

In May 4-5, rural farms open their doors to visitors all over the country. They proudly present their produce and offer special excursion programmes to introduce production and farm life. Animal husbandry farms attract people who enjoy seeing baby lambs, calves, rabbits and horses as they are born in spring. Gardening farms are prepared to demonstrate plants and seedlings. Visitors are happy to meet biological farmers to see how eco vegetables and fruit are grown. Craftsmen offer master classes of traditional crafts – bread and cheese making, pottery, weaving, etc. Some farms make a special treat offering a soup made on a bonfire. There are special programmes and discounts on every participating farm. This is a true countryside festival where urban meets rural, and this year it coincides with the National Independence Day of Latvia on May 4.

More information: www.celotajs.lv/atvertasdienas

Every spring there is a Flying Fish Festival in Kuldīga, a UNESCO national heritage town in West of Latvia. There is a waterfall on the river Venta, known as the Venta Rapid. It is ca 100m wide and ca 1.6 high. When fish come up the river in their spawning trip, and they jump over the waterfall flying in the air, the locals say – spring has arrived. 300 years ago the local fishermen invented a cute fishing method. They used to stand on the waterfalls and catch the flying fish in baskets. On April 28 this year, the Flying Fish Festival starts the tourism season.   The city garden will host a fish market and fish tasting event, and an entertainment programme with master classes of traditional crafts and music performances.

On 28th of April there will a festival "Flying Fish Festival in Kuldīga".