Abava

Near Kandava (B) the river is very winding and at its first kilometres you may think why did you even come here? And just at that moment the boat is rapidly tolerated under unfinished bridge and shoots through the first Abava overfall. Shores of Abava here resembles a Tuscan landscape with grape fields on the slopes.

 Further on the paddling becomes much more interesting, as the river begins to flow through a wide valley and the landscape around it becomes more and more picturesque. In the stretch till Sabile (D), there are many well-appointed reasting areas and tourist attractions.

 Sabile (D) is definitely worth a stop to stroll through the small town or buy some treats.

 After Sabile (D), the Abava river becomes much calmer and slowly flows through a forest. Shores become steeper and first cliffs (approx. 15m high) start to appear. The slow flow of 6 km is stopped by Waterfall on the Abava river (Abavas Rumba) (E) - a meter high waterfall that has stretched across the width of the river.

After the waterfall, the river's speed increases and you start to feel a bit of wilderness. Overfalls mixes with each other and nature overtakes the river. Ducks, beavers, deer's, herons, storks and hawks become nothing extraordinary. In some parts river passes sand dunes.

 Around Renda (G) the Abava river returns to civilization. Already 6 km before the bridge of Renda the flow of the river becomes really calm and some houses located on the shores start to appear. In Renda the "civilized" part ends and the "wild" one starts. Paddlers do not have one opinion if the most beautiful stretch of the Abava river is from Kandava to Renda or from Renda to the mouth of the Venta river.

 Slow flow continues 5 km after Renda (G), until it is stopped by the first rapids. Moreover, the scenery changes completely. Shores that were overgrown with shrubs and deciduous trees are replaced by coniferous trees, river-bed becomes stony, but the water becomes clear. Below Renda to where Abava flows into the Venta river there are almost no buildings. However, there are many sites where you can do the camping, overfalls are being mixed with slower stretches, the banks of larger and smaller sandstone and dolomite cliffs follow one after another, some of them are overgrown and not as easily visible, watch closely! If you stay calm, you can meet many wild animals.

 Approaching Venta, the Abava river becomes narrower, deeper and swifter. Approximately 30m high cliff Galmicu is a good landmark 5 km before the mouth of the Venta river. Those who just remembered that they have not managed to take a picture of anything, can still have time to take beautiful photos.

When paddling into the Venta river follow your boat rental company's recommendations, and either stop paddling at the place where the Abava flows into the Venta river  or continue along the path of the Venta (6,8km) and Nabe-channel (1.5 km) to the Big Nabe lake camping site "Nabīte" (H) or across the lake (900 m) to the Southern bank (I).

After the waterfall, the river's speed increases and you start to feel a bit of wilderness. Overfalls mixes with each other and nature overtakes the river. Ducks, beavers, deer's, herons, storks and hawks become nothing extraordinary. In some parts river passes sand dunes.

 Around Renda (G) the Abava river returns to civilization. Already 6 km before the bridge of Renda the flow of the river becomes really calm and some houses located on the shores start to appear. In Renda the "civilized" part ends and the "wild" one starts. Paddlers do not have one opinion if the most beautiful stretch of the Abava river is from Kandava to Renda or from Renda to the mouth of the Venta river.

The Abava stretch is known as the wild one. The river flows through the mostly deserted territories, only when approaching Venta, houses appear

Slow flow continues 5 km after Renda (G), until it is stopped by the first rapids. Moreover, the scenery changes completely. Shores that were overgrown with shrubs and deciduous trees are replaced by coniferous trees, river-bed becomes stony, but the water becomes clear. Below Renda to where Abava flows into the Venta river there are almost no buildings. However, there are many sites where you can do the camping, overfalls are being mixed with slower stretches, the banks of larger and smaller sandstone and dolomite cliffs follow one after another, some of them are overgrown and not as easily visible, watch closely! If you stay calm, you can meet many wild animals.

 Approaching Venta, the Abava river becomes narrower, deeper and swifter. Approximately 30m high cliff Galmicu is a good landmark 5 km before the mouth of the Venta river. Those who just remembered that they have not managed to take a picture of anything, can still have time to take beautiful photos.

When paddling into the Venta river follow your boat rental company's recommendations, and either stop paddling at the place where the Abava flows into the Venta river or continue along the path of the Venta (6,8km) and Nabe-channel (1.5 km) to the Big Nabe lake camping site "Nabīte '( H) or across the lake (900 m) to the Southern bank (I).

Sabile (D) is definitely worth a stop to stroll through the small town or buy some treats.

 After Sabile (D), the Abava river becomes much calmer and slowly flows through a forest. Shores become steeper and first cliffs (approx. 15m high) start to appear. The slow flow of 6 km is stopped by Waterfall on the Abava river (Abavas Rumba) (E) - a meter high waterfall that has stretched across the width of the river.

After the waterfall, the river's speed increases and you start to feel a bit of wilderness. Overfalls mixes with each other and nature overtakes the river. Ducks, beavers, deer's, herons, storks and hawks become nothing extraordinary. In some parts river passes sand dunes.

 Around Renda (G) the Abava river returns to civilization. Already 6 km before the bridge of Renda the flow of the river becomes really calm and some houses located on the shores start to appear. In Renda the "civilized" part ends and the "wild" one starts. Paddlers do not have one opinion if the most beautiful stretch of the Abava river is from Kandava to Renda or from Renda to the mouth of the Venta river.

Typical one day route to explore part of Abava river, fast rapinds come one after another, and there is no time to get bored. Closer to Renda, river is calmer. Already 6 km before the bridge of Renda the flow of the river becomes really calm and some houses located on the shores start to appear.

Easy one day tour down Abava river.

Near Kandava (B) the river is very winding and at its first kilometres you may think why did you even come here? And just at that moment the boat is rapidly tolerated under unfinished bridge and shoots through the first Abava overfall. Shores of Abava here resembles a Tuscan landscape with grape fields on the slopes.

 Further on the paddling becomes much more interesting, as the river begins to flow through a wide valley and the landscape around it becomes more and more picturesque.