To be honest, the highest point of Latvia Gaiziņkalns is a bit disappointing. There is just a tiny tower on the top but no view from it. On the other hand, there are surprising attractions nearby. In winter you can use a small lift for skiing and during summer you can have fun on a water slide. In this article I will let you know how to reach the highest peak of Latvia and I will also share with you my personal experience. Latvia is beautiful!
Important information for visiting the highest point of Latvia -Gaiziņkalns
Short description of the ascent: Short easy walk Essential equipment: Nothing special, it's a short walk Best time to visit: All year round Fees or restrictions: No Camping allowed: Yes, wild camping is allowed but not on private land Height of the peak: 311 m Hiking distance: 885 m Time to ascend: 20-30 minutes (one way) Difficulty level: * (6 stars maximum) Personal rating of the mountain: ** (6 stars maximum) Beer on the peak: Lačplesis Amber ** (6 stars maximum)
Map of the route to Gaiziņkalns
My story of reaching Gaiziņkalns with personal tips
After my epic night at the biathlon stadium in Estonia I woke up pretty early. Better said I couldn’t sleep much so I decided to set out for a new journey during sunrise at 04:30. I enjoyed a nice waking up nature around me on the way. The Baltics have some really nice places to offer. My favorite ones were the Estonian national park Haanja looduspark, the small town Alukšne in Latvia lying by a large lake and of course Riga.
Are you alive?
At around 10:00 I realized though that I am falling asleep while driving my scooter so I decided to take a break. I found a nice spot in a field and decided to take a nap. After approximately one hour I was woken up by a local farmer with the words: “Are you alive?” Probably, the farmer has never seen a person taking a nap in his field before.
Anyway, the nap gave me new energy to get to the highest peak of Latvia. Except the terrible gravel road everything worked well. The peak Gaiziņkalns was not as interesting as the Estonian one though. The tower was very low so you don’t have any view. Only my drone had one. Maybe, it is better to visit the mountain in winter because there is a skiing lift.
Pink soup Saltibarsciai
My biggest experience from this peak was ordering a soup in a nearby restaurant. First, it was cold. Second, it was pink! Is it really a soup? Anyway, it surprisingly tasted well 🙂
On the way back I had to hurry to get my bus connection to Vilnius. That didn’t work out well. In one sharp gravel turn I lost control over my driving and ended up in a ditch. I can be glad that nothing happened. That made me slow down and rebook my bus.
My tips for Gaiziņkalns
- Choose your means of transport to Gaiziņkalns wisely.
- Take care what you are ordering in local restaurants.
- Check the opening times of local attractions in advance.