Township Viresi [131 km to Valmiera ]

The highest point on the Gauja, where you can start your canoe trip in the summertime, when the water level is low. The township center with shop is situated on right side 1km from the river.

Bridge over the river Gauja near township Viresi

The river Gauja at the put-in point is near township Viresi.

Township Gaujiena [118 km to Valmiera ]

In stage Viresi - Gaujiena the river Gauja have steep right bank with stones in river bed. After the bridge, near Gaujiena, landscape changes as the river flows through flat meadows till Estoni -Latvia border.

The river Gauja near Gaujiena.

Downstream from Gaujiena the river Gauja flows meandering through wide meadows.

The river Gauja and the river Mustjegi confluence [101 km to Valmiera]

The river Gauja and Mustjegi inconfluence are in the same size.

1 km up the river Mustjegi You can observe landscape from tower specialy made for tourists.

There are 3 camp grounds in Estonian side (right bank of river) in stage Mustjegi river mouth - "Anni" bridge. One of them is well developed with dorms, sauna, shelter and small cabins. Camp place works on self service system.

Down the Gauja tributary Mustjegi you will be able to see some classic Gauja landscapes with sandy beaches and forests on the banks. On the Latvian side, you will see meadows with many old oaks and a lot of wonderful places to do some camping.

Classic landscape in the section near the Latvian - Estonian border

In the picture you can see a typical old-style Latvian country house which is located on the border with Estonia.

If a stork makes his nest on an electricity post, the electricity company will never destroy the nest. The company puts in a new post and the stork live in his nest as long as he wants.

"Anni" bridge [81 km to Valmiera]
Near "Anni" bridge the Gauja turns left into Latvia teritory. The nearest town Valka is about 16 km away from the river on the right side.

Down the "Anni" bridge the landscape change little bit. There are more sharp meanders with steep sandy riverbanks in one side, where you can see many crashed trees, and wide sand beaches in other side.

"Spicramju" bridge [61 km to Valmiera ]

From this bridge township Valka is 12 km away on the right.
Next section down the river leads throw relative uninhabited territory, so you will not be able to see a lot of buildings and can concentrate on the nature. In many places the old river bed is far away from the river, in the old river bed lakes exist, which you can easily reach by boat from the river Gauja.

There is shelters  near "Spicramju" bridge, next one similar shelter is 6 km down of the "Spicramju" bridge.

In the all river bed lakes scenery sometimes is like in jungles.

There are lot of beavers in the river Gauja and in old river bed lakes. Best time to observe them is near sun set.

In pictures you can see beavers created trees.

There are excellent possibilities for bird and animal watching.

Village Olinas [42 km to Valmiera ]

You can see some buildings near the river but you will not find any shops or tourism facilities. However, we also recommend this place as a start-point of your trip, because is easily reachable by car.

Strenci-Smiltene Road Bridge [25 km to Valmiera]



Built in 1924, this is the second oldest reinforced concrete bridge in Latvia.

Township Strenci  [24 km to Valmiera ]

 You will find shops and public transport facilities here.

There is Rafts men's park is on the right river bank. In the park you can see a sculpture of a rafts man made from wood. Statue was unveiled in 2000 in honour of the Gauja rafters, author Guntis Priedīte. In the middle of the last century rafting was a very common profession, because wood was floated down the Gauja to the sea near the Latvia capital Riga.

This fascinating festival with tradition is organized every year during the third week of May. In the festival the sportsmen have to design a real raft and then they have to ride on it two days. The distance to cover goes from Spicu bridge till Strenci. While the rafters give all and try their best, the party goes on in the city, accompanied with a huge number of a different events, concerts and attractions.

Near Strenci the river is usual starting point for trips on rafts, kayaks and canoes. This is our company`s put-in point for the one day trip Strenci - Valmiera.

Railroad bridge downstream Strenči [24 km to Valmiera ]

From this place the river Gauja Streem in 4 km lenght are small rapids named "Strenču". There are 6 seperate steps in thoses rapids, one of them is direct under the bridge.

Small rapids under the railroad bridge downstream Strenči

 Last and more challenging part of "Strenču" rapids near village "Krāči"

Village "Krāči" [17 km to Valmiera ]

In right bank you can see some buildings.  In next stage till Valmiera town there are steep sand outcorps in the Gauja river banks. Some of them have special names.

Outcorps "Cīruļi"

Outcrops "Stāvie krasti" (Steep banks)

Sīmanēnu Svētozols ( Sacred Oak )

In Latvia old big trees are protected as natural monuments. Some of them are in the river Gauja riverbanks.

The tree measures 8 m around and 21 m high. In the early 20th century three giant sacred oaks stood here, with seven people able to link hands around the stoutest of them. Two of the trees were detroyed by fire, set to their cavities.

Mouth of the river Abuls [6 km to Valmiera]

The Abuls is a nice, small river. We can organize 4 km trips down the river.

There is local beer brewery near the river in this side trip starting point.

Guest house "Jaunaraji" [200 meters down the river Abuls mouth]

Cabins in the camping "Jaunarāji"

Sauna in the camping "Jaunarāji"

"Bekuru Oak" in camping teritory

There is the starting and finishing point for our organized canoe and raft trips on the Gauja near the camping "Jaunarāji".

You can rent different types of high quality canoes and kayaks.

You can rent big raft where you can travel 15 persons together and swim and relax in sandy beaches.

Township Valmiera

The township Valmiera is the bigest township wich is located direct near the river Gauja.  Population 25.000

 The best possibility to do some shopping is on the main street in the direction of Riga (down the river) and on the way you will find a tourism information centre. In the next part of your trip the river bed is straight for 3 km. It was hand made in the last century by unemployed people. This installation was necessary because the river Gauja has been an important traffic way for wood transport in spring, when the water level is high. Of course there are many legends about the people jobs when they had to booze in every big stop near the river like Strenci or Valmiera.

You can visit in Valmiera:
a) Valmiera Castle ruins - ruins of the Livonian Order Castle and the remains of the town's medieval fortifications. Castle was built in 13th century.
b) St. Simon's Church - Built in 1283, it has mostly preserved its medieval appearance.



From the river in Valmiera you can see church and some buildings. Fishing near city center is popular activity for local people.

"Kazu" rapids in township Valmiera center

At this place is a training camp for sport kayakers has been built. There are many obstacles of concrete or stones. This is the best water slalom course in the Baltics. Competition events are held here and water tourists use use the site for practice.

If there are kayakers training you can ask them to show the best way. Down the rapids you will see on the left side the put in/out point for life guard boats.

Tributary Jumara [ 6 km from Valmiera]

At this point you are entering the Gauja National Park. The park includes over 500 cultural, arhitectual and other monoments.
The park is locaeted in theritory  from Valmiera to Sigulda near the river Gauja. Gauja National park you must camp in specialy developed places for tourists. There are some privat run  campings that are  for charge, for exmple in "Caunītes"(for "Baiļi"customers free), Cēsis, Līgatne, Sigulda.

"Liepu" rock [14 km from Valmiera ]

Sandstone rock "Sietiniezis" [16 km from Valmiera ]

Sietiniezis is the largest white sandstone rock in the Baltics, it is indented with a number of niches and is up to 15 m high and 400 m wide. It is located in the right river bank. Unfortunately you can only see a fragment of the rock from the river. Therefore the best possibility to explore this place is to make a short walking tour (about 2 km) around this natural monument.

Abandoned farmhouse "Caunites" [22 km from Valmiera ]

"Caunites" is an abandoned farmhouse on the right side of the river. This is also a "Baili" company property, used as the finish point for one day trips from Valmiera. The base is easily reachable by car. You can spend the night in tents on the meadow high up the river or use the shelter. There is special plase for cooking.

Steep river bank near "Caunītes"

Oposite "Caunītes" you can make walking side trip to "Līču - Lanģu" rocks. Sandstone rocks are not situated direct near the river, but they are interesting object in wild nature.

This nice red sandstone rock will be seen in the left bank. Nature beauty is excellent.

Farmhouse "Keines" [30 km from Valmiera ]

This farmhouse is an example of what happens if your house is too close to the Gauja. 30 years ago this house was 100 m from the river and there was a road between the house and the river. The Gauja change the river bed very quickly.

Similar situation with farmhouse "Raudas" at top section of the river Gauja.

See the popular tourism attraction near the Gauja. The longest monolithic cliff face in Latvia. The total lenght is 700 m, with a 300 m strech washed by the waters of the Gauja. The first 130 m are formed by a 22 m high, vertical sandstone wall, and further along are several projections toward the river. There are many frectures in the cliff, and several blocks are also visibly sliding and collapsing.

Cesis town [43 km from Valmiera ]

Here you can visit an old reconstructed castle in the town centre. The Lithuanians, Estonians, Germans, Russians, Poles and Swedes have all fought battles near the stone walls of the Cesis Castle , which was the best fortified stronghold of the Livonian Order.

There is camping 1km next the bridge on the left bank.

Mouth of the river Gauja trebutary Amata [55 km from Valmiera ]

The river Amata is top of Latvian white water river two weeks in April.

Next 15 km down the river Amata mouth 15 km is the moust spectacular stage in the river Gauja.

"Kuku" Rocks [55 km from Valmiera ]

The one of highes sandstone outcorp in Latvia, it is 43 m high and about 500 m wide.

There are small rapids  with 3 steps near "Kuku" rocks.

Sanatorium "Skaļupes" (on the left side) [57 km from Valmiera]

Soviet era top secret site - underground bunkers
The mission of this site was to provide basic living conditions for the leaders of Latvia Soviet Republic in the event of their evacuation from Riga in an emergency.
Today you can visit these bunkers as museum.

"Springu" rocks [59 km from Valmiera]

Mighty sandstone rock wall on the left bank of Gauja.. The most beautiful view towards rocks can see from the river.

Township Ligatne(old ferry) [60 km from Valmiera]

Before the second world war there was bridge with was destroyed during the war. After the war there build fery wich was used by local people who worked in paper factory situated in Līgatne township.
Now fery works mostly like tourism attraction.

There is no engine on the fery

Pedestrians as well as cars have to use the ferry because there is no bridge. this ferry technically has not change since middle of the last century. its the only surviving ferry over the river Gauja. Ferries were once the main method of crossing Latvia's rivers. This ferry has a carrying capacity of 6t. Ferry possible to use all seasons except mid winter and during ice flows or droughts where the river's water level is too low.
Camping in left bank direct near the fery.

"Jumpravas" rock [62 km from Valmiera]

"Katrinas" rock [63 km from Valmiera]

The rocks will be on the right side, but the camp place on the left side. From the camp "Katrinas" we recommend you to make wall to the nature park of "Ligatne" where you can watch wild animals.

"Gudu" rocks [64 km no Valmieras]

"Launaga" rock [66 km from Valmiera]

Turaida castle [81 km from Valmiera]

Township Sigulda [83 km from Valmiera]

Bridge near Sigulda

The camping "Siguldas pludmale" is situated 1.5 km next the bridge