A treasure of Latvia’s wild side
You can’t really say you’ve been to Latvia until you’ve stood in a bog. I know how that sounds — bear with me.
Ķemeri National Park is one of the most-loved natural places in our country, and a regular fixture on traveller lists of the best things to do near Riga. It’s the third-largest national park in Latvia, a Natura 2000 site, and home to the Great Ķemeri Bog (Lielais Ķemeru tīrelis) — an ancient raised bog that has been quietly growing upward for around ten thousand years, fed only by rainwater. The result is a landscape unlike anything else: a flat, treeless expanse of soft sphagnum moss, dwarf pines no taller than your knee, and dozens of small dark pools that reflect the sky like mirrors. Over 190 species of birds have been recorded here, including white-tailed eagles, cranes, and marsh harriers. The peat beneath your feet stores more carbon, hectare for hectare, than any forest could.
It’s also genuinely beautiful in a way that photographs struggle to capture. Most visitors who walk it call it the highlight of their entire Latvia trip — and most arrived having never heard the word "bog" used as a compliment.
From the bog, we drive about half an hour to Jūrmala, Latvia’s seaside resort town — known for its long Baltic beach, its pine forests, and its magnificent wooden Art Nouveau villas. We walk a slow loop through the historic streets and along Jomas Street, the lively pedestrian heart of town, just as the cafés begin to open and the seaside wakes up. By the time we have you back in Riga, it’s only 10:30 AM and your day is still ahead of you.
This is the trip we wish every visitor to Latvia got to do. We genuinely believe a holiday here isn’t complete without a taste of our natural wonders, and Ķemeri sits right at the top of that list.
What we’ve put together for you
From Your Guide
Daiga & her local specialists
Who this trip is for
People who like being outside but don’t want to be exhausted by it. Photographers chasing soft golden light. Couples and families who want something more memorable than another museum. Bird watchers in spring and summer migration months. People who’ve never heard of a raised bog and are quietly curious. People who want to actually step into the landscape rather than just looking at it from a boardwalk.
One thing people miss
The sundew. It’s a tiny carnivorous plant that grows right beside the boardwalk — bright red tentacles tipped with what look like dewdrops, but they’re actually a sticky trap for insects. Most people walk straight past it. Once you’ve seen one, you start seeing them everywhere. A plant that eats bugs, growing in a landscape that has barely changed since the last ice age — that’s the kind of small wonder Ķemeri is full of.
Why early morning
The bog is at its most extraordinary in the soft golden hour just after sunrise — mist rising from the dark pools, the boardwalk completely empty, the air cool and still. By mid-morning the magic has faded a little and the day-trippers have arrived. We do this trip early so you get the bog at its very best, and so you’re back in Riga with the rest of your day still ahead of you.
Your morning, hour by hour
Hotel pickup in central Riga
We collect you from your hotel between roughly 4:30 and 5:00 AM (exact time depends on the month — June is the earliest, August the most civilised). Hotel pickup is included for major hotels in central Riga with bus-accessible parking. If you’re in a smaller guesthouse or Airbnb in the deep Old Town, we’ll arrange a nearby pickup point that’s a short walk from your accommodation.
Drive west — with a hot drinks stop
About 45 quiet minutes on the road. Roughly halfway, we stop at a service station for a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate — included, of course. It’s the warm-up moment of the morning, and you’ll thank yourself for it once we reach the bog.
The Great Ķemeri Bog — boardwalk, tower, and bog shoes
The heart of the trip. We arrive at the trailhead just as the soft morning light is settling on the bog, and walk the wooden boardwalk through one of Latvia’s most remarkable landscapes. Your guide brings the place to life: the botany, the ecology, the carnivorous sundew plants, the birds, the sulphur springs and the Tsarist spa history. We climb the observation tower for the panoramic view that the photographs can’t quite capture.
Then comes the part most people remember best: we hand out bog shoes — wide lightweight frames that strap over your normal footwear — and step gently off the boardwalk for a short 15-minute loop through the open bog. The moss flexes under each step. The wild rosemary smells extraordinary. And you’re standing on ground that almost nobody, not even most Latvians, ever stands on. About 90 minutes total from car park to car park, walked at a relaxed, conversational pace.
Drive to Jūrmala
Half an hour through pine forest and the edges of Ķemeri town — we’ll point out the “White Liner” (the grand 1930s Ķemeri spa hotel awaiting restoration) as we pass, and tell you the story of why royalty used to take the train here from Moscow.
A walk through Jūrmala
We drop you at one end of the historic streets and walk together through the wooden Art Nouveau villas, down to the beach for a few minutes by the Baltic Sea, and back along Jomas Street as the cafés and bakeries are opening for the day. The driver meets us at the other end. It’s a gentle linear walk — about 2 km in total, with plenty of stops — and the difference between driving past Jūrmala and actually walking it is everything.
Back to Riga by 10:30 AM
We have you back at your hotel by half past ten — in plenty of time for hotel breakfast if you’re still hungry, and with the rest of the day completely free. By then, I hope you feel you’ve seen something special, learned something you didn’t know about Latvia, and started the day on a quiet, lovely note.
What’s Included
Included
Not Included
Good to Know
Hotel Pickup
We pick you up directly from your hotel if you’re staying somewhere central with bus-accessible parking. For smaller guesthouses or apartments tucked into the deep Old Town streets, we’ll agree on a nearby pickup point a short walk from your accommodation. Exact pickup time is confirmed the evening before, and depends on the month.
The Early Start
Yes, it’s very early. We won’t pretend otherwise. But there’s a reason: the bog at golden hour, with no other people on the boardwalk, is a completely different experience from the bog at lunchtime. The early start is the trip. By the time you’re back in Riga at 10:30 AM, you’ve seen something most visitors never see, and your day is still ahead of you.
What to Wear
Comfortable walking shoes (the boardwalk is flat and well-maintained, but you’ll be on your feet for around 90 minutes at the bog and another 45 minutes in Jūrmala). Layers, always — even a warm Latvian summer morning can feel cool at 5 AM. Long sleeves and trousers help with the mosquitoes, who consider you breakfast. We bring repellent.
Accessibility
The bog boardwalk is flat, wooden, and accessible to most mobility levels — including pushchairs and people who can manage gentle walking. The observation tower has stairs and is optional. Jūrmala’s streets are flat and walkable. Please tell us in advance about any mobility needs and we’ll plan accordingly.
Children
Children aged 8 and above are welcome. The boardwalk is safe and the watchtower is exciting; kids tend to love spotting the carnivorous sundew plants. Children under 8 may find the early start and the walking distances challenging — we can advise. Child price (8–15): €45.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund. Within 24 hours: non-refundable. If we have to cancel for weather reasons (heavy rain or storms), we offer either a full refund or a free reschedule — your choice.
Weather
The bog is stunning in most weather — even soft drizzle adds to the atmosphere. We only cancel for genuinely heavy rain or thunderstorms, which are rare in summer. If you’re unsure, message us the night before and we’ll give you an honest forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Story of Ķemeri
A 10,000-year-old bog, a Tsarist spa town, sulphur springs, royal visitors, and the conservation effort that brought the wetland back from the edge. The full story of why this place matters.
Read the Ķemeri Story →Book This Excursion
Book Direct with Daiga
Same tour, same guide, same experience — just a better price when you book directly.