Baltic Coastal Hiking Route Tour Manual
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BALTIC COASTAL HIKING ROUTE TOURS WWW.COASTALHIKING.EU LATVIA / ESTONIA TOURS WHAT CAN YOU FIND 11 12 IN THE BROCHURE TALLINN 10 The brochure includes 15 hiking tours for one and multiple days (up to 16 13 days) in Latvia and Estonia, which is part of the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route long 9 distance path (in Latvia - Jūrtaka, in Estonia - Ranniku matkarada) (E9) - the most ESTONIA interesting, most scenic coastal areas of both countries, which are renowned for their natural and cultural objects. Several tours include national parks, nature SAAREMAA PÄRNU parks, and biosphere reserves, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites. 8 7 Every tour includes schematic tour map, provides information about the mileage to be covered within a day, level of difficulty, most outstanding sightseeing objects, as KOLKA well as practical information about the road surface, getting to the starting point and 3 SALACGRĪVA returning from the finish back to the city. 1 The tours are provided for both individual travellers and small tourist groups. VENTSPILS 6 4 It is recommended to book the transport (rent a car or use public transportation), SKULTE 5 accommodation and meals in advance, as well as arrange personal and luggage transfer if necessary. The tours included in the brochure may be shortened or extended depending on the JŪRMALA RĪGA 2 wishes of the travellers. These hiking tours, or some of them, may also be included LATVIA in the traditional tourism routes and city excursions to diversify the offer. LIEPĀJA If you want to do the tours individually for each tour in www.coastalhiking.eu, you will find a detailed route description with a map of sightseeing objects, catering places, shops, rest areas, road surface, obstacles along the route and other useful information, or the GPX file with the main route of the hike. CONTACT: 14 Baltic Country holidays: www.countryholidays.lv 15 [email protected] TALLINN TALLINN PALDISKI Estonian Rural Tourism: www.maaturism.ee HAAPSALU HAAPSALU HIIUMAA [email protected] PÄRNU PÄRNU SAAREMAA West-Estonia Tourism: www.westestonia.com KIHNU [email protected] ISLAND AINAŽI MAZIRBE AINAŽI ZVEJNIEKCIEMS SAULKRASTI RĪGA JŪRMALA RĪGA 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS WHAT CAN YOU COASTAL NATURE 1. THE ROCKY 2. THE GREAT 3. SLĪTERE 4. ENGURE FIND IN THE IN LATVIA AND BEACH OF VIDZEME: WAVE SEA NATIONAL PARK NATURE PARK BROCHURE ESTONIA Saulkrasti - Svētciems Liepāja - Ventspils Mazirbe - Kolka Mērsrags - Engure 3 p. GETTING THERE & AROUND 2days 52km 6 days 92 km 1 day 23 km 1 day 22 km USEFUL 1 p. LINKS 4 p. LATVIA 5 p. LATVIA 7 p. LATVIA 10 p. LATVIA 11 p. 5. COASTAL 6. A HIKING ROUTE 7. ALONG PÄRNU 8. WALK THE 9. BIRD WATCHING 10. BAYS AND CAPE NATURE PARK ACROSS THE BAY KIHNU ISLAND IN MATSALU HORNS IN THE Vecāķi – Carnikava DIVERSE COASTAL Häädemeeste - Kihnu Island NATIONAL PARK NORTHWESTERN LANDSCAPES OF Pärnu Haeska - Puise PART OF ESTONIA LATVIA Rooslepa – Vihterpalu 1 day 14 km 7 days 105 km 2 days 47 km 1-2 days 23 km 1 day 23 km 2 days 44 km LATVIA 12 p. LATVIA 13 p. ESTONIA 17 p. ESTONIA 19 p. ESTONIA 20 p. ESTONIA 21 p. 11. AROUND PAKRI 12. THE LEGENDARY 13. A HIKING 14. GRAND HIKING 15. WALKING GENERAL INFO PENINSULA SUURUPI TOUR ALONG THE TOUR ON THE COAST NATURE TRAILS IN ABOUT THE Paldiski - Kersalu PENINSULA WESTERN COAST OF OF LATVIA AND LATVIA AND ESTONIA COUNTRIES ESTONIA AND THE ESTONIA Rīga – Saulkrasti – Ainaži – 37 p. Vääna - Jõesuu - Pärnu – Muhumaa – Saare- Tabasalu RESORT TOWNS Mazirbe - Rīga - Pärnu - maa – Hiiumaa – Matsalu – Haapsalu - Tallinn Haapsalu – Paldiski – Tallinn Pärnu and Haapsalu MAP OF THE AREA 1 day 20 km 1 day 20 km 6 days 80 km ~ 180 km ~ 90 km AND EUROPE 16 days 8 days ESTONIA 23 p. ESTONIA 24 p. ESTONIA 25 p. LATVIA, ESTONIA 27 p. LATVIA, ESTONIA 32 p. 38 p. 2 COASTAL NATURE IN LATVIA AND ESTONIA In Latvia, the Baltic Coastal In Latvia, steep bluffs can be found from Strante In the summer, the water temperature in the sea can Hiking Route mainly goes to Ošvalki Village and near Staldzene and along the reach +18; +20 °C or more, so it is pleasant to walk barefoot along sandy beaches, in rocky seacoast in Vidzeme, while cliffs can be seen in on the sandy sections of the coast and swim in the bathing some places, rocky beaches, Harju County situated near Tallinn in Estonia. areas. and for short stretches, The itinerary can be com- Dangerous natural calamities through coastal meadows. pleted in all four seasons. are not characteristic to the Baltic There are well-trodden Summer (June - August) Sea littoral. Strong storms occur trails and small roads in the is the tourist season in rarely and usually in the autumn seaside forests. In some ar- Latvia and Estonia, when or winter seasons. eas, the sand may be soft, which more people come to the makes walking difficult. In Latvia, the dominant seacoast in comparison wind direction is from the West. In Estonia, the Baltic Coastal Hiking Route goes to other times of the year. In the Baltic Sea littoral of Latvia, along the very seashore for around 100 km, mainly be- As a result, accommoda- the wind is noticeably stronger, so tween Haapsalu and Tallinn. In other places, crossing the tion near the sea can be fully the hike from the Lithuanian border to coastline becomes difficult as it is shaped by numerous booked some time in advance. In Kolka may be more comfortable in this di- capes, peninsulas, wetlands with reeds, floodplains, la- the autumn (end of August-October), you can see more rection with a tail wind at your back. goons and shallow coves, which is why the remaining colours when going through the woods, especially in distance has to be covered via seaside trails, roads and Estonia: leaves are changing co- There are no high or low tides in the Baltic Coastal along motor roads. lour and you can find mush- Hiking Route that would limit movement along the seashore rooms, berries and nuts. or make it unsafe. In cities and populated During storms, areas, the Baltic Coastal The coast of the sea is ever amber is washed ashore Hiking Route goes along changing and the same place may in Latvia. The itinerary pedestrian pavements. look different every next time you can also be completed go there. The steep bluffs are in winter (December - The coastal terrain washed away by storms, the beach March), doing booking in is mostly level and most changes, a sandy beach can be re- advance, as many services of the Baltic Coastal Hik- placed by pebbles or even stones, are not available at this time ing Route is close to sea but at other times the pebbles may of year. level. be covered by sand washed on top of them. 3 WWW.COASTALHIKING.EU GETTING AIRPORTS LATVIA THERE & Rīga: www.Rīga-airport.com Liepāja: www.Liepāja-airport.lv AROUND ESTONIA Tallinn: www.tallinn-airport.ee Kuressaare: www.kuressaare-airport.ee Kärdla: www.kardla-airport.ee FERRIES Pärnu: www.parnu-airport.ee Stenalines Passenger transport services from Germany, Travemunde to Liepāja (LV) and from Sweden, Nynashamn to Ventspils (LV). www.stenaline.lv LOCAL BUSES AND TRAINS: ESTONIA Tallink Silja Line Buses: www.tpilet.ee (regional transport The leading provider of high-quality tickets online) mini-cruise and passenger transport www.peatus.ee (route search, city services in the northern Baltic Sea transport, regional transport) region. Routes: Helsinki – Tallinn, Trains: www.elron.ee Helsinki – Stockholm, Rīga – USEFUL LINKS: Stockholm, Tallinn - Stockholm. LATVIA www.tallinksilja.com Buses: www.autoosta.lv www.visitestonia.com official tourism web page in Estonia Trains: www.pv.lv www.latvia.travel official tourism web page in Latvia Viking Line Enquiry service, including public A market-leading brand in passenger transport: www.1188.lv www.countryholidays.lv accommodations, worth seeing, farms in Latvia traffic on the northern Baltic Sea. www.maaturism.ee accommodations in Estonia Route: Tallinn - Helsinki. www.vikingline.com www.liveRīga.com Capital city of Latvia - Rīga www.visittallinn.ee Capital city of Estonia - Tallinn Eckerö Line COACHES Estonian ferry line and a travel agency. Route: Tallinn - Helsinki Lux Express: www.luxexpress.eu www.eckeroline.ee/en Ecolines: www.ecolines.eu Local ferries in Estonia SYMBOLS Hiking route length: Local ferries operate between the Duration: islands and mainland Estonia: CAR RENTAL • Kihnu and other small islands USED: Difficulty level: easy www.veeteed.com • The islands of Muhu, Hiiumaa and Avis, Budget, Sixt, Hertz and other local medium Saaremaa www.praamid.ee and international car rental companies. hard 4 THE ROCKY BEACH OF VIDZEME: SAULKRASTI - SVĒTCIEMS It is possible to organise a transfer to/from the TALLINN place of accommodation, as well as from the finish point to Rīga THE ROCKY You can also choose a shorter route: Saulkrasti - 1 Lauči (13 km) and then arrange a transfer to Rīga BEACH OF or Saulkrasti. SVĒTCIEMS VIDZEME: Tūja DAY 1 Lauči SAULKRASTI SAULKRASTI - SVĒTCIEMS Going by train: Rīga - Saulkrasti (1 h, train RĪGA operates ~ 1 x per hour). Itinerary: SAULKRASTI - LAUČI - Arrival in Saulkrasti, walk to the sea ~ 1 km. TŪJA - SVĒTCIEMS Hiking Hiking route length: 52 km SAULKRASTI - TŪJA Duration: 2 days Difficulty level: 28 km 9 – 12 h PRACTICAL INFO: Difficulty level: / This section of the seacoast of Vidzeme is of outstanding scenic beauty with a lot of rocky capes and boulders in the sea alternating with small, sandy coves where Road surface: Fine gravel, sand, plank-ways, the small streams and rivulets, which dry out in summer, flow into. Occasionally, forest trails. In Zvejniekciems, asphalt, bays with sandy beaches, capes with stones, in the beach is completely covered with the gray backs of stones.