Things to do in Vidzeme

A bobsleigh and luge track opened in 1986, with 16 curves. From November to March, by prior booking, you can ride a tourist bob with a professional pilot (over 100 km/h, age 16+), the soft "Vučko" bob (age 6+, with a parent) or the "Frog", lying on your stomach.

A skydiving centre at Limbaži airfield, about an hour’s drive from Riga. Tandem jumps from 4,000 m with around 60 seconds of freefall, oxygen jumps from 5,500 m and an AFF course for jumping solo. The jump plane is a Pilatus PC-6; gift vouchers are available.

A lakeside resort on Lake Lilaste with a hotel, restaurant and bar, sauna and jacuzzi, gym, bike hire and rooms for celebrations and conferences. The restaurant sells gift cards (from €30).

Hot-air balloon flights from several launch sites in Latvia, including around Cēsis, Jelgava, Jēkabpils and Kandava. The site and time are agreed before the flight, depending on the weather. Gift cards available, including for companies.

A nature spa in a forest corner near Sigulda with three bathhouses: a Glass pirts by a pond with a jetty, a Smoke pirts under an old spruce by a spring, and a spiral-shaped Wool pirts with an outdoor tub. Rituals led by a sauna master last around four to five hours, with herbal compresses, a scrub, whisking, pond dips, an oil-and-honey massage, tea and home-baked bread. The architecture has been featured by international design media; book in advance.