To find places untouched by human contact, it is best to head out on either foot, in a boat or on bicycle.

 

Towards Rucava, in Nature Park “Pape”, one can search for a time when wild livestock herds fed not only along the shores of the Pape Lake.  In both spring and fall, this place is filled with the song and flight of thousands of migrating birds as this is part of Latvia’s most intensive migration route. Pape Nature Process trail winds through the historically significant Pape Ķoņu village. The stands along the trail explain the formation of the landscape - lake, meadow, forest, bog and dunes. 

 

The highest costal dune in Latvia – Pūsēnu Hill – rises majestically in Bernātu Nature Park. In Bernāti you can see the most westerly piont of Latvia – "The Green Beam".

 

Dunika Swamp Trail is laid out with wooden planks stretching well over Tīrpurvs as far as the almost 150 years old Lukna hornbeam grove raising its branches at the height of a six-storey house. The walking trail and the grove are situated in Dunika Nature Reserve: a recommended spot for lovers of silence and tranquillity. An extraordinary stillness rules the atmosphere of this swamp at all times, besides one can enjoy the unorthodox, primeval scenery: a marsh with pools, little lakes and small islands sitting next to the only hornbeam monoculture stand in Latvia.

 

Towards Embūte, Kuršu (Courlandian) history and many legends fight with the spirit of the forest. Embūte ecotourism tral is a great place to spend some time and get to know the legends surrounding the nature and history of the area. 

 

In Kalvene Zoo „Cīruļi” you come face to face with some of the creatures of fairy tales – grey wolves, frisky squirrels and the legendary foxy fox.

 

On the banks of the Durbe River there is a walking trail „Sēku ozoli” (4 km). In a guided tour you can see interesting nature sites – great oaks with a girth more than 6 m and peculiarly formed trees. 

 

You can be quite close to nature if you go on a boat ride along Liepāja region rivers. Extreme adventure will be a ride in the early spring or a ride along a smaller river - Tebra, Durbe or Vārtāja - because pretty often on your way there are dikes made by spring floods or beavers. Nature lovers can enjoy a slow and peaceful ride on the Bārta River or the Venta River in summer. On the banks of the Venta River you can visit 20 m high Gobdziņu cliffs and 26 m long Gobdziņu cave, which is the second longest cave in Kurzeme.

 

On both sides of Liepāja, beaches stretch for into the distance.  But each side has it’s own characteristic nature – find something for yourself in these wild places... solitude, companionship, or a tiny piece of amber...