Sigulda
The steepest part of the ancient Gauja valley, with sandstone cliffs, ravines and three castles within a few kilometres. The easiest starting point if you only have one day.
Tours here
Certified guide
Officially certified guide for Gauja National Park
Small groups
2–8 people per route
Four languages
Latvian, English, Russian, Spanish
Tailored routes
Adjusted to your pace and interests
02 · Tours
Three ways to enjoy the Gauja
Guided tours, hikes and transfers — pick what fits the day
Tours
Castles, museums and town stories in Sigulda, Cēsis and Līgatne. A good fit for a first visit and for families.
7 routes3 h – 6 hfrom €30
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Hiking
Trails along the Gauja and its sandstone cliffs — from gentle walks to full-day routes. You set the pace.
7 routes3 h – 8 hfrom €25
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Transfers
A Volvo XC60 for up to four people from Riga, the airport or Jūrmala. Can be combined with a tour on the same day.
6 routes1 h – 4 hfrom €60
Learn more03 · Process
How it works
Four steps from choosing a route to walking it. No prepayment, no agencies in between.
- 1
Choose a route
Look through the tours, hikes and transfers. If you are not sure, pick the closest one and write what you would like to see in the notes.
- 2
Send a request
Give a date, the number of people and your contacts. Nothing is paid at this point.
- 3
Ilze replies personally
Usually within 24 hours — with confirmation, the exact meeting point, time and the final price.
- 4
We meet and go
We meet at the agreed place. If needed, I pick you up in Riga, at the airport or in Jūrmala.
04 · Selection
Popular tours
A good starting point if it's your first time in the Gauja Valley
HistoryCulture
Sigulda Medieval Castle and Turaida Museum Reserve
Two of the most important places in the Gauja valley in one day — the Livonian Order castle ruins and the red-brick Turaida tower.
4 h · Up to 8 people · Sigulda
€45€ / person
HistoryCulture
Cēsis Old Town and Castle Complex
Medieval castle ruins with dark cellars, quiet cobbled streets and an old town you can walk end to end.
3 h · Up to 8 people · Cēsis
€35€ / person
NatureAction
Sigulda–Krimulda Riverside Hike
The classic valley route on both banks of the Gauja, with climbs, caves and the bridge.
4 h · Up to 10 people · Sigulda
€30€ / person
Nature
Family hike around Turaida
A gentle 3-hour hike suitable for the whole family.
3 h · Up to 12 people · Turaida
€25€ / person
Gauja Get-around
Transfer Riga — Sigulda
A private ride from Riga to Sigulda in a comfortable car, up to four passengers.
1 h · Up to 4 people · Sigulda
€60€ / trip
05 · Gaujas ieleja
Where we go
Four places that nearly every route is built around.
Turaida
A red-brick castle tower above the valley, a museum reserve and the Song Hill next to it. A place where history and landscape line up in one view.
Tours hereCēsis
Medieval castle ruins with dark cellars, quiet cobbled lanes and an old town small enough to walk. A good choice for an unhurried day.
Tours hereLīgatne
A paper mill village with sandstone caves and forest trails in the middle of Gauja National Park. Of the four places, this one has the fewest visitors.
Tours hereIGIlze Gulbe
06 · Meet your guide
Ilze Gulbe
Certified tour guide and travel organizer
Certified guide with over 10 years of experience in the Gauja region. I lead tours, hikes and offer private transfers.
I am Ilze — born and raised on the banks of the Gauja. My passion is telling the stories that stone and wood have kept for centuries. I show Sigulda, Cēsis, Līgatne and Gauja National Park to both first-time visitors and returning guests.
- Experience
- 10+ years in the Gauja region
- Four languages
- Latvian, English, Russian, Spanish
- Certifications
- Sertificēta gide (LR) · Enter Gauja partneris
07 · Ar gidi
Why go with a guide
You can walk the valley on your own. Three things that are harder to do alone.
01
Stories that are not on the information boards
What happened here, why the castle was built at this particular bend, who lived in the village a hundred years ago. The context that turns scenery into a place.
02
Routes away from the main trails
Ten years of walking here also covers the paths that are not on the car park map. I know where the view is better and where the coach groups are not.
03
Everything arranged, transport included
Timings, tickets, a lunch stop and the transfer from Riga or the airport. You only need to bring comfortable shoes.
08 · Sezonas
The Gauja through the year
The valley looks different in every season — summer is not the only one worth coming for.
Spring
High water in the river and bare slopes. Cliffs that leaves hide in summer are visible, and the first flowers appear in the forest.
Summer
A warm river, daylight until late and room to plan longer routes.
Autumn
The colours of the valley in late September and October — the reason many people come here specifically.
Winter
Quiet, snow on the trails and empty castle ruins. Shorter routes with hot tea halfway.
09 · Enter Gauja
Explore Enter Gauja themes
Discover the region by your interests
11 · Reviews
What guests say
Notes from people we have walked with.
We walked the Gauja riverbank trail with Ilze in early autumn. She knows where to turn off the main path, and her stories about the valley were as good as the views.
The Sigulda and Turaida tour was clearly planned and never rushed. Ilze replied to my email the same day and arranged everything, including the transfer from Riga.
We travelled as a family with children and the route was adapted to our pace. Thank you for the patience and for speaking Spanish — it made everything easier.
Planning a day in the Gauja valley?
Write what you would like to see and how much time you have. Ilze replies personally within 24 hours.
