Frequently asked questions

How to apply

The hike will start on the morning of September 8th at Baznīcas Street 2a in Jūrmala (Dubulti).

Starting time 10:00.

It is highly recommended to arrive at Jūrmala (Dubulti) at least an hour before the official start to have enough time to register upon arrival and listen to the safety instructions.

To apply, you must read the rules and regulations of the event, fill in the application form and make the payment for the participation fee.

All people with the legal capacity to act, born before September 8th, 2005, are eligible to apply for the event.

People who have not reached the age of majority but are at least 16 years old on the day of the event may apply by additionally submitting a signed consent form from a parent or a guardian to info@kolkadubulti.lv

People who are younger than 16 years on the day of the event can participate if accompanied by a parent or a guardian.

16.04. – 31.05.
65€
01.06. – 31.07.
75€
01.08. – 08.09.
85€

  • Access to the start and finish camps, as well as three rest camps along the hiking route with snacks, water, and soft drinks.
  • A personalized badge for each participant indicating the location and working hours of each camp.
  • A chip card that will be used throughout the hike to record start and finish times, as well as entry and exit times at each camp.
  • First aid services in all camps, including the start and finish.
  • A commemorative token received at each camp that symbolizes and celebrates the distance already completed.

If a participant has registered and paid the participation fee but is unable to take part in the hike, the participation fee will be refunded up to the amount of 30 EUR if the request is made by August 25th. After August 25th, the participation fee is non-refundable.

Please note that charges for any additional services will not be refunded.

To withdraw an application, please send an email to info@kolkadubulti.lv.

It is allowed to transfer a paid application to another person, but it is required to notify the organizers about the change by sending an email to info@kolkadubulti.lv.

Yes, it is possible to bring a dog on the hike, but there are some important things to consider:

  • No animals are allowed on the bus from Cape Kolka to Rīga provided by the organizers.
  • While fresh drinking water will be available at the camps, you are responsible for bringing food for your dog.
  • The camps may be equipped with sound systems that might bother your dog.
  • A part of the route passes through territories with strict rules regarding dogs on public beaches, the rules regulate at what time and where you can walk your dog on the beach. It is your responsibility to know and follow these rules, as failure to do so may result in penalties.

During the hike

No, the route is not marked. It is up to each participant to plan their own route keeping in mind that it should go as close to the seashore as possible.

We highly recommend planning the route as close to the seashore as possible except for circumventing major rivers and ports.

The 55-hour cut-off time means that each participant is given 55 hours to complete the hike, during this time each participant must check-in at each of the camps provided by the organizers.

If you cannot finish the hike in the allotted cut-off time or you discontinue your participation for some reason, you must inform the organizers immediately.

It is not recommended, but if you cannot make it to the official start , you can start the hike at a later time from Jūrmala (Dubulti), Baznīcas Street 2a, provided that you inform the organizers of such an event. You should keep in mind that this will not change the working hours of the camps and the total race cut-off time that is 55 hours from the official start.

The official total distance is 136 kilometers. The distance may differ depending on the route chosen, on average it varies from 135 to 140 kilometers.

Each participant is responsible for organizing their own accommodation.

We have identified four strategies that have been the most popular among participants since 2014.

The Turbo Hiker

These participants complete the entire 136-kilometer distance without sleeping or taking major pauses. This strategy is chosen by approximately 10% of participants.

The Vagabond

Participants rest when they feel like it, often choosing bus stops, the dune area, nearby forests, and official campsites.

They usually bring a camping mat or hammock and a sleeping bag. Most participants choose this strategy.

The Tenter

This strategy is similar to The Vagabond, but the participant carries a tent with them, which is often shared with a group of participants hiking together. Approximately 10% of participants choose this strategy.

However, it is important to note that there are places along the hiking route where setting up a tent is strictly prohibited.

The Glamper

The Glamper visits the official camps but arranges their accommodation in hotels, guest houses, or with friends living nearby. Having a warm bed, a shower, and a roof over their head is very important for this participant. Approximately 10% of participants choose this strategy.

The organizers do not oppose this strategy, provided that participants do not use motorized vehicles to advance on the route. Driving a participant to their accommodation and back to the route is acceptable, as long as they are returned to the exact place where they were picked up.

There are no prizes awarded for the hike, as it is not a competition. It does not matter if you finish first or last - what matters is that each participant who is able to complete the hike within the allotted 55-hour cut-off time is considered a winner. The sense of personal achievement and the satisfaction of completing such a challenging physical and mental endeavor are the real rewards of the hike.

The camps

Camp locations:

  • start – Dubulti (0 km) – Jūrmala, 2a Baznīcas Street;
  • 1st camp "Saules" (44 km) – Ķesterciems, Gatves Street
  • 2nd camp Mērsrags (74 km) – Mērsrags, 56B Bākas Street;
  • 3rd camp Roja (104 km) – Roja, boat launch area (57.515135, 22.787972);
  • finish – Kolka (136.km) – Cape Kolka.

The basic snack table will be the same for all camps, at the camps further along the route extra goodies will be offered.

Basic snacks:

  • fruits (bananas, apples, oranges);
  • vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles);
  • cookies (both sweet and salty);
  • peanuts;
  • cheese;
  • bread.

Basic drinks:

  • still water;
  • hot water;
  • tea;
  • instant coffee;
  • soft drinks;
  • broth;
  • hot quince drink.

Dishes will not be provided at the campsites, each participant must have their own cup, bowl, and spoon!

The working hours for each official campsite are pre-determined, and participants must consider these hours when planning their route.

If a participant arrives at the campsite before the working hours, they must wait until the camp is open to check-in. Checking in at each of the campsites is mandatory.

We would like to remind participants that this is a hiking event, not a running race.

If a participant reaches a campsite after the working hours, they can continue hiking, but they must inform the organizers of the situation.

Planned working hours:

Fri 14:30 – 23:30 (9h)
1st camp "Saules" (44 km)
Fri 17:30 – Sat 12:30 (19h)
2nd camp Mērsrags (74 km)
Sat 00:00 – Sun 07:00 (31h)
3rd camp Roja (104 km)

Before the hike

There are multiple options on how to get from Kolka to Riga, you can use public transportation, a private car, hitchhike or use the buses provided by the organizers.

To apply for a seat on the organizer's bus, after your finish you should visit the bus tent in Cape Kolka to apply for the next available bus and pay for the ticket (15€).

Exact details regarding the departure time and the location will be communicated end of August.

The EXPO is an event where the participant or a representative for the participant will get a chance to:

  • collect the participants' package (the personalized badge, the chip card, the first token);
  • fill out the application, apply for the event and pay the participation fee;
  • interact with the organizers and clarify any questions or doubts they might have;
  • pick up the rental gear.

We highly recommend that all participants visit the EXPO to avoid long queues and delays in Jūrmala (Dubulti).

The EXPO is scheduled to take place on September 3 and 4, 2023.

EXPO Location:
Rīga, Ganību dambis 63, at the creative quarter "Provodņiks", Entrance A, 3rd floor.

EXPO Working Hours:
  • Sunday, September 3: 10:00–21:00
  • Monday, September 4: 17:00–21:00

The creative quarter offers free parking, to receive directions on apps like Waze, search for Provodņiks.

Feel free to bring your bikes or other means of mobility inside. Moreover, the location is dog-friendly.

Miscellaneous

The Bag Transport is a paid extra service that provides the transportation of your baggage between the official camps. Participants can hand in their bag at the start of the hike in Jūrmala (Dubulti) at the Bag Transport tent. This bag will then be sent to the 1st camp. Upon arriving at the 1st camp, the bag will be waiting for the participant in the Bag Transport tent. The hiker's electronic chip card is needed to receive the bag. When the participant is ready to leave the first camp and is done with the bag for now, it should be checked back in to the Bag Transport tent and it will travel further to the next camp in Mērsrags. This process continues until Cape Kolka.

The Bag Transport service accepts one bag per participant. All items must be safely packed inside the bag. Sleeping bags and camping mats are acceptable exceptions if they are securely fastened to the bag.

The fee for The Bag Transport service is 15€. The option to purchase this services will be available in the Start and at other camps as well. A maximum of 2 participants can join in on one bag that travels between camps. However, only the participant who has registered for the service will be able to pick up the bag in the camps.

One item can weigh a maximum of 15kg.

  • a charged mobile phone;
  • a reflective vest;
  • dishes to use in the camps (a cup, a bowl, and a spoon), there will be no plastic dishes available at the camps;
  • the electronic chip card used for checking in and out from the camps (received in the EXPO or at Jūrmala (Dubulti) on the day of the event).

If a participant loses or misplaces their electronic chip card between the EXPO and the start of the event in Jūrmala (Dubulti), they should inform the organizers. They can get a new chip card at Jūrmala (Dubulti) on the day of the event by paying a penalty fee of 5€.

If a participant loses their chip card during the hike, they should inform the organizers at the next camp. A new chip card can be obtained by paying a penalty fee of 5€.

We would like to remind participants that chip cards should be returned to the organizers after the event. If a participant discontinues their participation, they must return the chip card at the nearest camp or at a location determined by the organizer after the event.