Purvu bridēji - Adventures in nature

Bogshoeing and wild swimming

Bogshoeing and wild swimming take you deep into Latvia’s untouched bog landscapes, where movement slows down and nature takes over completely. With special bog shoes you can cross soft, shifting terrain that feels almost unreal underfoot, while open water pools hidden in the peat offer a refreshing wild swim in total silence.

No cars, people, bells and whistles surrounding you. It is the best antidepressant in the world and a great place to recharge.

Book for a private group

Upcoming hiking groups

Bog Shoes Adventure with Locals – Open Group (Latvian with English translation)

📍 Routes in different bogs

Exclusive Bog Walking Experience in Kemeri National Park

📍 Great Kemeri Bog

Bog Shoe Hike in Kemeri National Park – Open Group (in English)

📍 Great Kemeri Bog

Bogshoeing

Walking in swamps and bogs in bogshoes is exotic, environmentally friendly and, of course, practical. Guided bogshoe hikes help you learn many new and fascinating facts about the nature, origin, flora and fauna of bog. The recommended duration of a bogshoe hike is about 2 to 4 hours; this creates a nice atmosphere and fills you up with new-found knowledge.

Think of bogshoes as the cousin of snowshoes – wide, light, and specially designed to help you “float” over the soft, soggy terrain of wetlands. For centuries, people have used them to access areas that would otherwise be impossible to reach.

Today, they’re your passport to nature’s hidden places – no experience required! If you can walk, you can bogshoe. It’s easy, fun, and suitable for adventurers of all ages.

🌿 Fun Fact: Swamp vs. Bog – What’s the Difference?

Most people think swamps and bogs are the same, but they’re actually very different ecosystems!

Swamps are wet and woody – they usually have standing water and are full of trees and shrubs (think: alligators and cypress trees in movies!).
Bogs, on the other hand, are soft, spongey, and mysterious – made up of peat moss, with very few trees and often no open water. They’re like nature’s quiet, green sponges!

So, when you’re walking on a bog in bogshoes, you’re floating on centuries of moss and mystery!

Explore Our Bog Routes

Great Kemeri Bog

Cena bog

Aizkraukle Bog

Sudas-Zviedru mire

Features and amenities:

Languages spoken:
Latvian
English
Russian

Number of participants:
Maximum number of participants: 70

Further information:
Length/Distance: 2-7 km
Duration: 2-8 hours

Amenities:
Suitable for children

Trekking boots with waterproof membrane or rubber boots are required.

Our team of nature guides

Kristaps Kiziks

Geographer and passionate nature discoverer, who in 2015 introduced snowshoe hikes in Latvia. On a daily basis, he organizes active and exploratory hikes, while in his free time he searches for routes where to go in nature and not meet crowds.

Maris Olte

A biologist, a journalist, a man – nature and now also the head of the Ērgļi railway station, who will be happy to show you the surrounding forests and swamps, make coffee at the station, and tell you about birds and fish. Everyone in Latvia knows Māris, many have grown up watching his TV shows.

Irina Sietina

Having studied geography and forest ecology, she puts her knowledge to use every day by going out into nature, leading groups in Latvia and abroad. With joy and enthusiasm, everyone will be offered the necessary dose of adventure to create memorable moments.

Krisjanis Sietins

Kristaps also holds degrees in Geography and Environmental Engineering. He explores bogs not only on hiking trips but also from above as a paragliding instructor. An indispensable companion on hikes is Axel, the friendly Samoyed, who makes sure that every group photo is improved by his presence.