From Riga: Rundāle Palace, Bauska Castle & Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk

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10 hours (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English and 1 more

A ten-hour day excursion - Rastrelli's baroque palace, medieval Bauska Castle, the Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk, food & drinks tasting in the van - women led tour with live commentary.

The architectural highlight of the day is Rundāle Palace, designed by Francesco Rastrelli. It’s often called the Versailles of the Baltics. I accompany you through the palace myself and fill you in with the palace gossip from the 18th century, supported by a digital audio guide provided by the palace.

Then Bauska Castle, a 15th-century Livonian Order fortress at the meeting of two rivers. The atmosphere is completely different from the palace — stone, wind, and a turbulent borderland history

We make our way to the Great Ķemeri Bog, one of the largest and best-preserved raised bogs in the Baltics. rom the boards you’ll see soft sphagnum moss, dwarf pines that may be 200 or 300 years old, and dozens of small dark bog pools. I’ll point out the carnivorous round-leaved sundew right beside the boards.

What's Included

Live cultural commentary throughout the day
Hand-picked Latvian drinks, snacks and sweets — a curated tasting in the van
Bauska Castle visit
Pickup and drop-off in central Riga (fixed meeting points)
Guided full-day excursion (approx. 10 hours)
Licensed Latvian guide, English- and Latvian-speaking (Russian, German, or French on request)
Guided Ķemeri Bog boardwalk visit (on-boardwalk only) with all national park access
Hosted visit to Rundāle Palace with licensed palace guide included free when available
Comfortable, air-conditioned minibus
Rundāle Palace and gardens entry tickets
Hosted visit to Rundāle Palace with digital audio guide
Lunch & drinks (you order from the menu and pay the restaurant directly)
Personal purchases and souvenirs
Tips or gratuities (appreciated but not expected)

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

Please arrive 5–10 minutes early. Our minibus will pull up as close as possible to the meeting point; look for a minibus with our company name on the dashboard. The driver will have the booking list and will call out your name if needed. If you are running late, contact us using the phone number on your ticket. Note: large vehicles cannot enter Riga Old Town’s narrow streets, so we use easy-access pickup points nearby.

Itinerary

Duration: 10 hours (approximately)
  • 1
    Riga

    Our day begins with a comfortable drive south from Riga in an air-conditioned minibus. Along the way, I share stories that help bring the landscape to life — the rise of Baltic German nobility, the ambitions of dukes and empires, and the everyday lives of people who lived in the shadow of great estates.

    1 hour 20 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 2
    Rundale Palace

    The highlight of the day is Rundale Palace, often called the “Versailles of the Baltics.” I accompany you through the palace myself, with the visit supported by a digital audio guide hired on site. On some dates, if a licensed palace guide is available, we may also arrange one to join our group at no extra cost. When that happens, please see it as a complimentary enhancement rather than a guaranteed inclusion, as availability can depend on palace logistics rather than cost considerations on our side.

    2 hours • Admission ticket included
  • 3

    After the palace visit, we stop for a relaxed sit-down lunch with a drink, giving you the chance to unwind and enjoy local flavours. Customers pay for their own food and drinks, directly to the restaurant. I would be on hand to guide you through the menu and be able to recommend local delicacies if you require assistance.

    1 hour 20 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 4
    Bauska Castle

    From there, we continue to Bauska Castle, where the atmosphere shifts from elegance to strategy. This medieval fortress once guarded important trade routes and river crossings, and its ruins reveal the region’s turbulent borderland history.

    1 hour 40 minutes • Admission ticket included
  • 5

    About one hour on the wooden boardwalk into the Great Ķemeri Bog (Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis) — one of the largest and best-preserved raised bogs in the Baltics. We stay on the boardwalk the whole time, no off-boardwalk walking. From the boards you’ll see sphagnum moss, dwarf pines that may be 200 or 300 years old and still no taller than a Christmas tree, and dozens of small dark bog pools. Daiga points out the carnivorous round-leaved sundew right beside the boards (Charles Darwin’s favorite plant).

    1 hour • Admission ticket free
  • 6
    Riga

    By then, I hope you leave feeling you have used your day well, seen something special, and made warm memories of Latvia’s history, landscapes, flavours, and stories.

    1 hour 40 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with limited mobility
Supplied by Barefoot Baltic
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Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Small Group
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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