www.countryholidays.lv Mushroom Tour at Vidzeme region Tallinn This is for people who enjoy forests, wildlife and has an interest in mushrooms – different species as well as their various ways of preparation. The tour is lead by the professional mycologist and combines the mysteri- ous world of mushrooms with local culinary traditions. The group is introduced with mushrooms growing at the forests, meadows, old parks and even yards. The mycologist will help to discover edible and poisonous mushrooms as well as rare and common ones . The tour passes through valuable nature and culture heritage Rīga sites and small villages on the way. During the tour you will see at least 100 different mushroom species and explore various forests with their typical flora and fauna. Everyone could try their hand at mushrooming and by the end of the day together with guide sort them out and cook in delicious meal. Vilnius (7 days) General Route: Rīga - Lielstraupe Day 3 - Cēsis - Zilais kalns - Strenči - Valka - Gauja National Park: Zvārte Cliff – Cēsis Āraiši - Sigulda - Mālpils - Rīga – Ungurmuiža We will walk the nature trail along the Day 1 Amata river that guarantees spectacular Arrival in Rīga views, including impressive sandstone Departure to the hotel in the city centre. Zvartes Cliff, and mushrooms typical Introductory meeting with the guide at for river banks and alluvial forests like the Latvian Nature Museum which can Chaga Inonotys obliquus that is used in be followed by the excursion to the Cen- medicine or Alder Bracket Inonotus radia- tus that changes its colour depending of Golden Chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius tral Market. Free time in Rīga. Accomo- dation at Islande Hotel. the light. A short stop at Cēsis to look at its mighty Day 2 medieval castle ruins and charming Old Transfer Rīga – Silciems – Ragana – In- town and at Ungurmuiža Manor that is ciems – Lielstraupe a unique example of the 18th century One of the most popular mushroom pick- wooden baroque architecture. The inte- ers routes at Riga suburb. Here in the dry rior paintings on the walls and ceilings pine and spruce forests we might find the have still survived. The manor has the most popularedible mushrooms in Lat- park with impressive old oaks. There we via – chanterelles, russulas and boletes as look for Saffron Yellow Polypore Hapalo- well as Sheep Polypore Albatrellus ovinus pilus croceus, Sulphur Polypore Laetiporus (popular in Scandinavian cooking), Golden sulphurous and other ones that typically Corall Ramaria aurea and others. grows on oak trees. Walking along the Spiny puffball Lycoperdon echinatum Lake Vaidava we might find the Summer A short stop at Krimulda Church in Ra- Bolete Boletus reticulatus. Stop at Dulbeņi gana to look for a rare mushroom in Eu- – growers of shitaki mushrooms. Accom- ropean level – Saffron Yelllow Polypore modation at the hotel in Valmiera. Hapalopilus croceus. Day 4 At Inciems we will look for the Chestnut Zilaiskalns – Strenči – Zīle Forest Bolete Gyroporus castaneus, King or Spruce Zilaiskalns is a very distinct hillock co- Bolete Boletus edulis, as well as Icicle or vered by coniferous forests. It is known as a place with a view to the northern Coral Tooth Hericium coralloides. part of the Vidzeme upland and the Lake At Lielstraupe forest there is a chance to Burtnieks lowland. It is also a good place find one of the largest cap mushroom in for boletes picking. Europe– Parasol Mushroom Macrolepiota Zīle Forest, Pirtslīča brach of the river procera that can be eaten uncooked. King or Spruce Bolete Boletus edulis and other sites in the protected area Accommodation in Sigulda. ‘Northern Gauja’ are famous for its oak Part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) R 70 R 24 R 92 R 182 R 241 R 249 G 85 G 72 G 128 G 218 G 247 G 244 B 98 B 135 B 163 B 244 B 229 B 0 R 140 R 134 R 228 R 187 R 241 G 148 G 177 G 239 G 219 G 175 B 153 B 210 B 247 B 136 B 0 R 212 R 44 R 233 G 213 G 180 G 113 B 214 B 49 B 23 www.countryholidays.lv ...getting to know at least 100 different mushroom species forests and wooded meadows. Chance to find Saffron Yellow Polypore Hapalopi- lus croceus, Sulphur Polypore Laetiporus sulphurous, Ceramic Parchment Xylobolus frustulatus and other polypores growing on oaks. Accommodation at the hotel in Valmiera. Day 5 Valka - Mežole Mushrooming near Valka at the dry pine forest with Iceland Moss, Reindeer Lichens and other cladonias named ’white lichens’. Chanterelles sp., Suillus sp., Boletus sp., Leccinum sp. and others. Boreal coniferous forests at Mežole – View to Turaida Castle Ungurmuiža Manor and park one of the most valuable forests in Lat- via from biodiversity point of view. Here one can find polypores which indicate old and semi-natural forests – Pycnopo- rellus fulgens, Phellinus nigrolimitatus, Junghuhnia collabens, Asterodon ferrugi- nosus and others. Stop at Jaunannužēni – growers of oyster mushrooms. Accom- modation at the hotel in Valmiera. Day 6 Āraiši – Sigulda – Mālpils – Suntaži – Lielie Kangari – Rīga Breakfast. Āraiši reconstructed ancient settlement from Bronze Age built on lake. Here is a good example how polypores can damage and destroy the man made objects. We will see Rusty Gilled Polypore Gloeophyllum sepiarium, which growth Looking at mushrooms with mycologist on wooden constructions not only here but often also on fences, wooden roofs and wooden parts of railway tracks. Lielie Kangari is an esker – unusually shaped hill of sand – covered by esker- specific coniferous forest. Mushrooming along its slopes and edges of the adja- cent mire. Possible to find Velvet Bolete 6 Suillus flavidus, Peppery Bolete Suillus pip- eratus (can use as a spice) and earthstars Geastrum sp. Returning to Rīga. Accommodation in a hotel in Riga. Day 7 Breakfast. Free time. Transfer to the air- port. Our team on mushroom hunt For further information contact: Baltic Country Holidays / Lauku ceļotājs Kalnciema Str. 40, Riga, LV-1046, Latvia, T: +(371) 67617600, [email protected] www.countryholidays.lv Mushroom Tour at Kurzeme Region Tallinn This is for people who enjoy forests, wildlife, local traditions and has a specific interest in the different spe- cies of fungi. Everyone could try their hand at mushrooming, mushroom’s identification and by the end of Rīga the day together with guide sort out the collected mushrooms and prepare delicious meals. The tour passes several national parks and late back villages. The group will also visit to one of shitake mushroom growers for comparison reasons. Vilnius Mid August – First half of October, (6 days) Day 1 Arrival in Riga through gathered mushrooms with the Transfer to the hotel. guide and cook them in the meal. Meeting with the guide at Nature His- Accommodation near Rideļi. tory Museum and introduction with the tour. Walk to the Central Market to see Day 3 mushrooms for sale. Free time. Engure – Šķēde – Talsi – Valdemārpils – Accomodation at the hotel Islande in Lube - Tiņģere - Dundaga Riga. Breakfast. Šķēdes beech’s growth – un- common forest type in Latvia with some Day 2 rare fungi species. Visit local wine maker Rīga – Sloka – Ķemeri National Park – at Lauciena. Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca) Lapmežciems – Antiņciems – Valguma Botanical trail along Krovalki house lo- ezers – Milzkalns – Apšuciems – Rideļi cated at Talsi Hillock Nature Park. Pos- Breakfast. Mushrooming around sible to find Red-Cracking Bolete (Boletus Antiņciems at dry pine forests and at pascuus) and other mushrooms. bog wodland. Possible to find King or Walk through picturesque Old Town of Spruce Bolete Boletus edulis, Orange As- hilly Talsi located by two lakes. pen Bolete Leccinum rufum, Orange Birch A stop at Valdemārpils Idol linden tree Bolete Leccinum versipelle. and then gather mushrooms along the Lustūzis – the highest hill at the Ķemeri banks of the river Roja. Here possible to National Park, rolling landscape, varied find such valuable edible mushrooms as types of forests and rich world of mush- Deer Truffle Elaphomyces sp. with parasitic rooms. Among many others, possible to Slender Truffle-Club Cordyceps ophioglos- findGolden Chanerelle Cantarellus tubae- soides as well as Orange Caterpilar-Fungus Hare ears Otidea sp. formis, Black Trumpet, Horn of Plenty or Cordyceps militaris which emerges from Dead Man`s Fingers Craterellus cornuco- lavae or pupae of moth. Accommoda- pioides, Common Stinkhorn Phallus impu- tion near Dundaga. dicus, Golden Larch Bolete Suillus grevillei, edible Sheeps Polypore Albatrellus ovinus, Day 4. deadly poisonous Death Cap Amanita Dundaga – Pāce – Ance – Ugāle - Zlēkas phalloides. Breakfast. Excursion to Dundaga Castle, Mushrooming at the wooded dunes near which is the largest well, preserved cas- Apšuciems: traditional edible mush- tles at Kurzeme region. It’s history dates rooms – Golden or Common Chanterelle back to 13th century and its surrounded Cantarellus cibarius, Velvet or Variegated with lots of legends. Bolete Suillus variegatus and others. Then At the Dundaga Park we might find mushrooming at Rideļi for different spe- Hen-of – the-Woods Grifola frondosa and cies of russulas and boletes. Ceramic Parchment Fungus Xylobolus Coral fungus Ramaria sp. In the evening opportunity to go frustulatus while on the banks of Pāce Part-financed by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund and European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument) R 70 R 24 R 92 R 182 R 241 R 249 G 85 G 72 G 128 G 218 G 247 G 244 B 98 B 135 B 163 B 244 B 229 B 0 R 140 R 134 R 228 R 187 R 241 G 148 G 177 G 239 G 219 G 175 B 153 B 210 B 247 B 136 B 0 R 212 R 44 R 233 G 213 G 180 G 113 B 214 B 49 B 23 www.countryholidays.lv ...everything about mushrooms: from picking to preparation! Lake is a chance to find Chesnut Bolete Gyroporus castaneu.