Baltic Coastal Hiking / Jurtaka 🏕️
Baltic Coastal Hiking is a long distance hiking route, part of E9, along the Baltic Sea coast. The hiking route starts at the Lithuanian-Latvian border in the village of Nida in Latvia and finishes at the Port of Tallinn in Estonia. The route can be taken in both directions and Tallinn can also be a starting point. The route is divided into days and difficulty levels, which allows you to choose the most suitable distance for yourself.
Length: ~1200 km (~1.5 mill. steps), composed of: In Latvia - 580 km, in Estonia - 620 km.
Two capital cities whose old towns have received UNESCO site status: Riga, Tallinn
Territory: The Baltic Sea littoral.
Itinerary: Nida – Liepāja – Ventspils – Cape Kolka – Jūrmala – Riga – Saulkrasti – Ainaži – Ikla – Pärnu – Virtsu – Lihula – Haapsalu – Paldiski – Tallinn.
Highest points: Rannamõisa cliff (Rannamõisa pank) located 35 m a. s. l., the Pakri Lighthouse viewing platform together with the height of Pakri cliff: around 70 m a. s. l., situated in Estonia.
Time required to complete the route: around 60 days. Experienced walkers can cover it in a shorter period of time.
What to see: > 500 natural, historic and cultural objects.
The Estonian islands situated close to Baltic Coastal Hiking: Kihnu, Saaremaa, Muhu, Hiiumaa, Vormsi, Osmussaar.
Join Baltic Coastal Hiking whenever you want, take a break whenever you like and return when you feel it is the right time for hiking!
How do you go on the Baltic Coastal Hiking route?
Baltic Coastal Hiking consists of 60 separate single-day hiking route stages. Each day is considered to be a separate, independent route. By combining days, it is possible to complete routes of several days. Baltic Coastal Hiking can be started in any physically accessible place and go in one direction or the other, there are markers in both directions. The guide marks the recommended start and finish point of each day. Depending on your interests and possibilities, some sections can be covered by public transport, not on foot, or you can make a deal with the owners of accommodation places to arrange personal and luggage transport. To help you get your bearings in nature, there are markings (white – blue – white) on trees, stones and other nature objects and Baltic Coastal Hiking route stickers on road signs, electricity poles, bridge parapets in villages and cities, as well as reference road signs. In places where Baltic Coastal Hiking goes along the beach and continues straight forward for a long distance, it is not marked. Along the shore of the Great Sea (the Kurzeme coast of the Baltic Sea) and the Little Sea (the Kurzeme coast of the Gulf of Riga), large wooden signs are placed in the dunes near populated areas, providing information about the specific populated area, as well as indicating the distance to the closest village in both directions. You will also see information stands placed along Baltic Coastal Hiking.
Specifics of the route
In Latvia, Baltic Coastal Hiking mainly goes along sandy beaches, in some places, rocky beaches, and for short stretches, through coastal meadows. Sandy dune habitats are characteristic to the Latvian coast. There are well-trodden trails and small roads in the seaside forests. In Estonia, Baltic Coastal Hiking goes along the very seashore for around 100 km, mainly between Haapsalu and Tallinn. In other places, crossing the coastline becomes difficult as it is shaped by numerous capes, peninsulas, wetlands with reeds, floodplains, lagoons and shallow coves, which is why the remaining distance of around 500 km has to be covered via seaside trails, roads and along motor roads. In cities and populated areas, Baltic Coastal Hiking goes along pedestrian pavements.
Baltic Coastal Hiking in 4 seasons
You can go Baltic Coastal Hiking in all 4 seasons. Summer is the tourist season in Latvia and Estonia, when more people come to the sea coast in comparison to other times of the year. As a result, accommodation near the sea can be fully booked some time in advance, and near the biggest cities you may have to wait longer to receive the meal you ordered. In the summer, you can swim, walk through the water barefoot and also wade across the streams and brooks located along the route. Summer can also have longer periods of rain and lower air temperatures (around +13 °C), so it is certainly recommended to check the weather forecast in advance. In autumn, you can see more colours when going through the woods, especially in Estonia: leaves are changing colour and you can find mushrooms, berries and nuts. Birds migrate south. During storms, amber is washed ashore. In this period, some of the accommodation and catering places may be closed. The itinerary can also be completed in winter, but you must keep in mind that most of the services are not available at this time of year. In the case of lasting snow and cold, several sections, for example, the sea coast of Vidzeme, can be covered using skis. Ice formations can be seen on the Pakri peninsula. When starting the hike in spring, the awakening of nature can be observed: the colour green starts to prevail, lilac blossoms spread their scent along the sea coast, and the birds return home. The streams and brooks that you can wade through easily in summer can have a high water level in spring, so you will have to look for the closest bridge. The number of accommodation and catering places offered is still limited.
MORE INFO: https://coastalhiking.eu/en