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

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.

Itinerary

1. 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. (1h 20min)
2. 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. (2h 0min) Admission 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. (1h 20min)
4. 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. (1h 40min) Admission 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). (1h 0min)
6. 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. (1h 40min)