Free Time
Volunteer at an Orphanage in Latvia

Participating with GVI not only allows you to work on programs assisting disadvantaged communities or endangered ecosystems but it also offers wonderful opportunities to travel in the local area in your down time or further afield either before or after your program. Below is some information on trips and travel options in Latvia.

Included Side Trips

The staff at the orphanage take the children (and volunteers) on outings throughout the year. In winter excursions include; ice skating, cross country and downhill skiing. In summertime the trips may be fishing, swimming in lakes around Grasi and cycling.

Optional Side Trips

Cesvaine (the nearest town to Grasi) offers a small range of shops and cafes along with its own historical centre, Cesvaine Castle. The castle was built between 1890 and 1897 by the famous German architect Hans Griesenbach. Madona is the nearest large town with transportation links to places around Latvia like Riga and Cesis. It has a larger range of shops along with a commerce centre and various museums. Maps of the Madona region are available from the staff. The region is full of interesting historical castles and manors that volunteers may like to visit.

Further Travelling Opportunities

Whilst in Latvia, the picturesque medieval city of Riga is well-worth exploring. In addition to this, other possibilities include visiting the fishing villages and coastline of Cape Kolka, enjoying the views of the Baltic Sea from Jurmala, taking in the music scene in Liepaja, or bungee-jumping, skiing and canoeing in Gauja National Park.