From Riga to Daugavpils, Latvia by Motorhome Rental
Latvia is in northern Europe between Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. It has a pleasant summer climate, especially along the western seaboard adjoining the Baltic Sea. It also has the distinction of having only one city-size settlement, Riga its capital. Summer lasts from June until August, with warm, sunny days but cooler evenings and nights. We collect our Latvia motorhome rental or campervan hire from Riga Airport and are ready to explore.
We learn from the friendly depot staff that we can look forward to fertile plains, and moderate hills often covered by old forests. These shelter a relative abundance of wild boar, they promise, and deer, moose, lynx, fox, beavers, and wolves. There are also several large nature reserves in unspoiled landscapes worth visiting too.
Latvia by Motorhome Rental or Campervan Hire
Day One: From Riga, Latvia to Jēkabpils
Our 220 kilometre (140 mile) meander begins in Riga, Latvia’s capital. This lies on the Gulf of Riga approximately in the heart of the country. This is also where the Daugava River discharges. We shall follow it up stream eastward to our destination, Daugavpils. Riga dates from 1201, and was voted a Capital of European Culture in 2014.
Our route follows the Daugava River to Ogre, where we feast our eyes on the 1939 period Pārogre railway station. When we return to our RV or motorhome rental, we meet several people wanting to know more about this form of travel.
We explain how nice it is to be able to sleep in our own beds every night. “And find them made up the way you like,” one of our new friends comments. Then we head for Jēkabpils where we spend the night at the halfway point of our meander. This peaceful town lies on either side of our Daugava River.
Day Two: From Jēkabpils to Daugavpils in Latvia
Our meander is peaceful as we follow a pleasant, well-kept road through renewable forests and past open farmland. We stop along the way at a quiet spot, and enjoy an early lunch as we while the time away. Then we fall in love with Daugavpils instantly the moment the skyline comes in view.
This is our town, we decide, as we explore the castle-fortress, fine civic buildings, and the magnificent Saints Boris and Gleb Orthodox Cathedral after finding a comfortable campsite. A few days later, we retrace our steps to Riga Airport for our return flight. After we return our campervan rental at the depot, we reflect over a highly successful Latvia meander, while we wait to board our flight home.
