Highlights
- A guided bogshoe hike across the Great Ķemeri Bog
- The 10,000-year story of the bog, its ecology, birds and sulphur springs.
- A relaxed walk through Jūrmala’s Art Nouveau villas and Jomas Street
- With nature-loving local guide who cannot stop talking about this place
- The 10,000-year story of the bog: its postglacial origin, its ecology, its birds
Description
Quick Summary:
• 6-hour guided excursion from Riga
• Hotel pickup in central Riga
• Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minibus with a hot drinks stop
• A guided bogshoe hike across the Great Ķemeri Bog — the part of the raised bog that ordinary visitors never get to stand on
• A walk along the Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk, at golden hour
• Climbing the bog observation tower for panoramic views over the mirror pools and dwarf pines
• Drive to Jūrmala
• A walk through Jūrmala
• Return to Riga at the original pickup point
Details:
Hotel pickup in central Riga
We collect you from your hotel between roughly 4:30 and 5:00 AM . Hotel pickup is included for major hotels in central Riga with bus-accessible parking.
Drive west, with a hot drinks stop
About 45 quiet minutes on the road. Roughly halfway, we stop at a service station for a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, included, of course. It’s the warm-up moment of the morning, and you’ll thank yourself for it once we reach the bog.
The Great Ķemeri Bog, boardwalk, tower, and bog shoes
The heart of the trip. We arrive at the trailhead just as the soft morning light is settling on the bog, and walk the Great Kemeri Bog Boardwalk through one of Latvia’s most remarkable landscapes. Your guide brings the place to life: the botany, the ecology, the carnivorous sundew plants, the birds, the sulphur springs and the Tsarist spa history. We climb the observation tower for the panoramic view that the photographs can’t quite capture.
Then comes the part most people remember best: the bogshoe hike. We hand out bogshoes — wide, lightweight frames that strap over your normal footwear — and step gently off the boardwalk for a short 15-minute loop across the open bog. The moss flexes under each step. The air smells of wild rosemary. And you’re standing on ground that almost nobody, not even most Latvians, ever stands on. About 90 minutes total from car park to car park, walked at a relaxed, conversational pace.
Drive to Jūrmala
Half an hour through pine forest and the edges of Ķemeri town, we’ll point out the “White Liner” (the grand 1930s Ķemeri spa hotel awaiting restoration) as we pass, and tell you the story of why royalty used to take the train here from Moscow for the sulphur cure.
A walk through Jūrmala
We drop you at one end of the historic streets and walk together through the wooden Art Nouveau villas, down to the beach for a few minutes by the Baltic Sea, and back along Jomas Street as the cafés and bakeries are opening for the day. The driver meets us at the other end. It’s a gentle linear walk, about 2 km in total, with plenty of stops, and the difference between driving past Jūrmala and actually walking it is everything.
Back to Riga by 10:30 AM
We have you back to a central location in Riga by half past ten, and with the rest of the day completely free. By then, I hope you feel you’ve seen something special, learned something you didn’t know about Latvia, and started the day on a quiet, lovely note.
Includes
Guided full-day excursion (approx. 6 hours)
Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Riga
Transport in a comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
English- and Latvian-speaking nature guide (Russian, German, or French on request)
Hot drinks stop on the way (coffee, tea, hot chocolate)
Latvian snacks and bottled water on the bus, help yourself
Mosquito repellent if you need it (be honest, you’ll need it)
Bog shoes for the off-boardwalk loop, one pair per guest, all sizes
All national park access fees and parking
Excludes
Anything you buy in Jūrmala (pastries, souvenirs, coffee, the cafés open while we’re there)
Hotel breakfast (most hotels serve until 10:30, you’ll be back in time)
Gratuities (kind but never expected)
Important Information
- Children aged 8 and above are welcome. The boardwalk is safe, the observation tower is exciting, and kids tend to love the bogshoes — the bouncy-ground sensation is a thrill. Children under 8 may find the early start and the walking distances challenging; we can advise
Accessibility: The bog boardwalk accessible to most mobility levels. The off-boardwalk bogshoe loop requires steady balance on uneven ground. it’s gentle but not suitable for guests with significant mobility issues. Please tell us in advance about any mobility needs and we’ll plan accordingly.
Weather: The bog is stunning in most weather, even soft drizzle adds to the atmosphere. We only cancel for heavy rain or thunderstorms, which are rare in summer. If you're unsure, message us the night before and we'll give you an honest forecast. If we cancel due to weather, you will receive a refund. You can also cancel yourself up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund under GetYourGuide's standard policy
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
