Europe’s Next Big Adventure: Latvia’s Gauja River Opens Up for One‑ to Five‑Day Escapes with EnterGauja

The destination‑marketing board EnterGauja has partnered with forty local outfitters to launch the most comprehensive paddling programme yet on the Gauja River in Latvia’s oldest and largest protected landscape.

 

Once a Viking trade route and later a Hanseatic highway that carried amber, fur and flax to the Baltic Sea, the Gauja now guides modern adventurers past red‑sandstone cliffs, medieval castles, untouched forest and a secret Cold‑War bunker. The river’s 93.5 kilometre stretch inside the park delivers a seamless blend of history and wild nature.

Carved nearly 400 million years ago, the Gauja Valley preserves one of Europe’s richest concentrations of Devonian sandstone outcrops. Each bend reveals relics of an ancient river system shaped by glacial melt‑water, making the area a living classroom for geology, ecology and outdoor sport.

Seven newly sign‑posted routes ranging from 10 to 60 kilometres let visitors choose gentle family bends or tackle spring rapids up to Class III. Purpose‑built docks, rinse‑off gear stations and solar‑powered safety beacons now serve Cēsis, Līgatne, Sigulda and Carnikava. Travellers may hire a personal guide, plan a self‑supported float with a tent‑on‑a‑canoe, or upgrade to riverside spa cabins with luggage transfers.

Record European heatwaves are pushing travellers north, and the Gauja’s shaded forests and twenty hours of midsummer daylight provide a timely refuge. EnterGauja’s network of guides, guesthouses and transport services ensures that everyone from first‑time kayakers to seasoned expeditionists can explore the river safely and sustainably.

A carbon‑light shuttle system links regional rail stations with river put‑ins, while cafés throughout the 918‑square‑kilometre park source berries, honey and craft beer from local producers. All new facilities are built from Latvian timber, keeping the riverbanks wild.

Ready to Dive In?

 

Day trips start at €39 per person, including boat hire and return transport, while five‑day premium packages with boutique lodging and a private guide begin at €890. Bookings and bespoke itineraries are open for late‑summer 2025 and peak 2026 dates.

Visit: https://www.entergauja.com/

 

Article prepared by Codnity Creative and Gauja National Park Tourism Association

Advertising co-financed with EU financial support in the project “Gaujas Nacionālā parka ilgtspējīgs tūrisma galamērķis EnterGauja+”