City and Country

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Riga

Depart the UK and arrive at Riga airport. A private car will drive you to your 4-star hotel in the city centre, where you'll have a chance to do a bit of exploring in the Old Town.

Day 2: Riga Sightseeing

Take a guided sightseeing tour of Riga and its wonderful Old Town, and learn about the city's rich history. Take a break from history lessons and visit LIDO recreation centre, one of the biggest log buildings in Europe. It's the place where Latvian culture and old cooking traditions go hand in hand. You'll be able to enjoy traditional Latvian food and get a real taste of Latvia! There is also a special play area for kids.

Day 3-6: Latvian Countryside - Cesis or Marciena

Take the train from Riga and enjoy the scenery on your trip to Cesis, a beautiful, historic town (55 miles from Riga) or Madona (85 miles from Riga). Check in to your hotel or guest house. Rental cars or a private transfer by car can also be arranged.

Here are some suggested activities for your stay at Cesis. We can book most activities in advance for you, but if you want more flexibility, you can book them through your hotel or the local tourist centre.

• Take a guided sightseeing walk in Cesis and visit the old stone castle of the Livonian Order, as well as the cathedral, castle park, and many historic squares of the town. Enjoy the stories about the medieval history of the town.
• Enjoy horseback ridding on scenic trails for very affordable prices.
• Take a guided raft trip down the Gauja River and view the scenic landscapes and unspoiled nature of the Gauja Valley.
• Take a guided walk through one of the many nature trails in Gauja National Park.
• Picnic in the flowery meadows or on the banks of the river.

Here are some suggested activities for your stay in Madona.

• Enjoy year round relaxation at Marciena Manor spa facilities and fitness hall: different body care procedures that use only natural products or bio cosmetics, massages, real country sauna and hot tub outside on the terrace.
• In summer you'll be able to play croquet, mini golf, volleyball, badminton, explore nature trails, do Nordic walking, cycling, rowing a boat, fishing and swimming in the lake. Children have a playground with swings and a doll house.
• In winter you can rent skates for the ice skating rink, hockey sticks, skis (there is a 3 km track at the Manor or in nearby Madona city there is a 10 km international level lighted cross country skiing track), sledges, play billiard, table hockey, novuss (koroona), swim in the pool, and you can always sit at the fireplace and enjoy white winter scenery outside the window.

• Downhill skiing with equipment hire at Gaizinkalns and Lido Hill.

Day 7: Return to the capital

Return to Riga by train (or private car) and check into a centrally located 4-star hotel. Evening in Riga at your leisure.

Day 8: Departure from Riga

Private transfer to Riga airport and depart for UK.

Will I see the Northern Lights?

Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:

Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.

Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm. 

In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.

Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.

The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.

As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.

Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:

Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.

Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.

Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.

Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.

Car Rental

You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.

Transportation

Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.

Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.

Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7.  Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive.  It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.

We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.