Light in the Dark – Increasing resilience in rural and coastal tourism in the northern Baltic Sea Region by developing off-season experiences

Light in the Dark

Pilot testing of “Where the Coast Calls: Rediscover Adventure”

10 April 2025

From April 4 to 6, the pilot testing of the new off-season tourism experience “Where the Coast Calls: Rediscover Adventure” took place at Camping “Melnsils”, located in Slītere National Park, Latvia. The initiative is part of the Light in the Dark project and aimed to test the appeal and feasibility of the product in real off-season conditions.

Technical details

Where the Coast Calls: Rediscover Adventure is one of the products developed in the “Active Adventure” experience category. Active Adventure is one of the three experiences developed under the Light in the Dark concept for the BSR region where eight companies from the BSR region have co-created new experiences collectively.

Participants from Finland, Estonia, and Latvia – including entrepreneurs and tourism professionals involved in the project – arrived on Friday evening, April 4, for dinner and an introduction to the programme. The main testing day was Saturday, April 5, starting with breakfast and a guided tour of the campsite, showcasing its unique accommodations: the Captain’s House with a sea view, barrel-shaped cabins, and authentic bunkers. They were joined by media and travel trade representatives.

The core of the experience was a scenic 15 km hike along the coast from Cape Kolka to Melnsils, led by a local guide. Along the way, guests explored windswept beaches, dunes, cliffs, and remnants of Soviet-era military structures, culminating in the panoramic view from Ēvaži Bluff – the highest coastal point in Northern Kurzeme. Although the previous days had been sunny, the pilot day brought strong winds, snow, and chilly temperatures – perfect conditions to assess the viability of an off-season adventure. The programme continued with a warm lunch of solyanka soup, free time to relax, and an optional traditional Latvian sauna experience with sea dipping and herbal tea. The evening concluded with a dinner featuring sklandrausis, a traditional Latvian dish from the national culinary heritage.

To support evaluation, participants reviewed the product card in advance and shared their expectations. After the pilot, they completed an evaluation form to assess the strengths and areas for improvement in the product, particularly from the perspective of off-season tourism development. The insights gathered from the participants will serve as a valuable input for refining the offer and developing an off-season tourism handbook, aimed at helping local entrepreneurs and promoting sustainable tourism year-round.

A total of 12 transnational plus pilots of the three experiences will be carried out during spring and autumn of 2025. Read more about the pilot in the Latvian news channel LSM.lv