Rivers do not stop at national borders, and neither does WaterTour. Funded through the EU’s Interreg programme, the project brings together partners from Latvia and Lithuania – including Zemgale, Aizkraukle, Jēkabpils and Aukštaitija – to make the border region easier, safer and more inspiring to explore by boat, bike and on foot.

One main result is a joint water tourism map for Zemgale and Aukštaitija. Covering 24 rivers and 84 routes, it gathers local knowledge into one practical planning tool for experienced paddlers, families and first-time boaters.

Aizkraukle: Water routes across borders

The work is also visible on the ground. In Jēkabpils Municipality, three mobile boat docks have been installed along the Daugava, while recreational areas are being developed. In Aizkraukle Municipality, five rest areas have been created along the Suseja and Mēmele rivers. Both municipalities have hosted boating events on the Daugava, opening up the river’s scenery, history and outdoor life to locals and visitors.

 

 

In Lithuania, the new ferry across Lake Aisetas in Labanoras Regional Park revives an interwar tradition and links walking and cycling routes between Labanoras and Kulionys. Reserved for pedestrians and cyclists, it offers a shortcut through protected nature while supporting slower, more sustainable travel.

For travellers, the result is a more connected way to experience quiet rivers, forested landscapes, lakes, towns, docks and rest areas – and to see how much of Zemgale and Aukštaitija landscapes is best discovered from the water.

 

Interreg Logo Latvia-Lithuania CMYK Color-01 web

More information about the WaterTour project:

https://latlit.eu/theprojects/watertour/
https://ej.uz/WaterTour

This publication has been produced within the framework of project LL-00134 “Promotion of sustainable water tourism in the Latvia-Lithuania cross-border region, involving local entrepreneurs and communities” (WaterTour), co-financed by the European Union’s Interreg VI-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme 2021-2027. The Aizkraukle Municipality is solely responsible for its content, and it may not reflect the official position of the European Union.

Read the feature on issuu