The 9 Best Gauja National Park Tours

1.Hike In Gauja National Park – Up And Down The Switzerland Of Latvia

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 23 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $138Our pick

Travel from Riga to Sigulda for a guided 15-kilometer hike through Gauja National Park, known as Latvia’s Little Switzerland. Your English-speaking guide, often Lauris or Valdis, leads you through forests, river paths, caves, bridges, bluffs, and historic sites. Hotel pickup, private transport, and a small group of up to eight keep the day simple and personal.

“A lovely (if tiring!) hike in the national park. Some lovely scenery, knowledgeable stories about the local area and some delicious homemade tea. We had a great day and would definitely recommend!”

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2.Hiking in Gauja National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 14 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $120Best value

Leave Riga for a private 12-kilometer hike through Gauja National Park near Sigulda. Guides including Krista and Janis tailor the pace, stops, and optional activities such as the cable car, zipline, or castle visits. Expect forest paths, stairs, caves, river views, bottled water, and round-trip pickup from central Riga.

“It was 10/10. I want to do it again whenever I’m back in Latvia. Absolutely loved it. Great atmosphere, great sites, perfectly chosen hiking trail.”

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3.One-Day Kayaking Trip in Gauja River Valley

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $288

Set out from Riga for an eight-hour guided paddle in Gauja National Park. You’ll use a two-seat kayak or three-seat canoe, with a route adjusted to weather and ability. Guides such as Rolands and Valters share local nature knowledge, prepare Latvian snacks, and arrange pickup from Riga.

“We had such a wonderful time kayaking down the Gauja River, the kayaking for us took ~4 hours, we got lucky and it was just the 2 of us. Our guide, Ronalds, made the experience extra special—he was so knowledgeable about the ecosystem and river, and he shared fascinating details about the cliffs, water levels, and wildlife along the way. He also took us to see parts of the cliffs you’d never notice unless you were on the river, which made the whole experience feel unique.”

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4.Discover Best Of Gauja National Park In One Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $258

Travel from Riga to Gauja National Park for 8 to 12 km of seasonal hiking, a visit to Krimulda estate, and Turaida Museum Reserve. Guide Rolands, and sometimes Volters, lead small groups of up to eight, sharing local nature, history, legends, and Latvian culture. Hotel pickup and Turaida admission are included. Lunch is not.

“We had a wonderful trip with Rolands. He is such a friendly person, a terrific guide, and is very knowledgeable about the area’s significance and history. I would gladly book another trip with him!”

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5.Day trip to Gauja National Park: animals, castles and a cave

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $178

Travel from Riga with an English-speaking guide such as Lauris or Valdis, then walk Ligatne’s 4 km nature trail to see bears, elk, deer, and wild boar. Visit the old papermill village, Sigulda’s castle complex, and Gutman’s Cave. The small group is capped at eight, with transport and trail admission included.

“Our guide, Lauris, was very personable and knowledgeable. Aside from enjoying the walk through the nature trail, seeing many animals and birds, we learnt a lot about the history of Latvia. The site of the old mill with its caves carved out of limestone cliffs was also a highlight. We can recommend this tour”

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6.Private Full-Day Hiking Tour in Sigulda and Gauja National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $195

Spend about eight hours with a private guide exploring Sigulda and Gauja National Park. Visit the 800-year-old Livonian Order castle, Gutmanis Cave, and Krimulda estate, then walk through forests, meadows, and the Gauja River valley. Rihards from Discover Latvia Tours is praised for thoughtful guiding, folklore, photos, and flexible planning.

“This day was excellent value; a deeply informative way to explore Latvia's healthy and biodiverse countryisde, whilst staying safe in it's endless bogs and forests. Rihard is a thoroughly likeable guide, keen to bring to life Latvia's rich cultural history, and to tailor the tour to your specific interests. A surprise picnic was a really lovely idea and we enjoyed some of Latvia's favorite foods. We were thoroughly entertained and fit a lot into the day. Our teens loved the floating boardwalk and we came away with some great family shots. Remember your binoculars; apart from many species of dragonfly, we saw lesser-spotted eagle, red-backed shrike, red-breasted flycatcher, marsh harrier…”

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7.Full Day Gauja National Park Ultimate Hiking & Sightseeing Trip

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · from $289

Join Rolands or Volters for a small-group day from Riga into Gauja National Park. Expect forest trails, salmon rivers, sandstone caves, local snacks, fruit wine, Cesis Medieval Castle, and Erglu Cliffs. The tour suits moderately fit visitors who want nature, Latvian history, and flexible off-the-beaten-path stops.

“Today I had a full day tour with Rolands, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Rolands’ extensive knowledge of the area, its plants, animals, and history was truely impressive. His passion for conservation and nature made the tour nRead more”

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8.Latvia’s Switzerland and Gauja National Park Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $133

Join guide Armands for a private 5.5-hour tour from Riga into Gauja National Park, Latvia’s so-called Switzerland. See Sigulda New Castle, medieval ruins, Gutmanis Cave, Turaida Castle, and Krimulda manor, with time for valley views and local berry-wine tasting.

“Armands was so knowledgeable and was a great guide. He was polite and gave us lots of information but was interesting without being boring. Definitely worth it!”

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9.Hiking Adventure in Gauja National Park – 7 Days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $868

Spend seven days hiking Latvia’s Gauja National Park from Riga, with daily walks of 14 to 17 km, easy forest paths, river valleys, castles, villages, and Baltic beaches. An English-speaking guide handles transport, hotels, and park entries for groups of up to six. Optional Kemeri hiking and Ligatne wine tasting cost extra.

“A perfect series of daily hiking tours and town walkarounds. I especially was amused by the jungle-like forests and friendly conversations along the way. Everything was perfectly planned and organized, I definitely recommend, worth thousand-times more than simply visiting cities in a rush.”

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