It’s like you’re in a dream. The experience is way different than when you visit Cenas bog during the daylight hours. There is an aura of magic in the air. It is peaceful. It is dreamy. I have to say – sunset on the paddle board in Cenas bog together with Advaita Adventures may just be my favorite adventure of the year. And here is why.
PS – this post is not sponsored, I bought this for my own money and I am writing about it purely because I loved the experience so much.
Location: Cena bog
Cost: You have to purchase a ticket. Check out the prices and event dates here. You need to book in advance.
Length: ~4h
How to get there: By a car. Or the agency can transport you for an extra fee.
The beginning of your paddle boarding adventure in Cenas bog
It’s 4AM. Oh gosh, where have I gotten myself into again?
But don’t run away now! Hear me out. The early rise is 100% worth it. As the experience will be magical.
The adventure starts in pitch black dark. Here is an illustrative picture showcasing just how dark it is.
So you have to use a flashlight or the light in your phone to see the bog boardwalk which we need to follow to get to the place where we will get into the water.
Everything around you is covered with thick fog. Above your head the stars are shining bright. After a while you can spot the silhouette of the first lookout tower. But there is still a long way ahead of you.
I am not gonna lie – to a couch potato like I, who avoids the gym like a fly avoids the bath, walking while carrying the paddle board and the equipment is not easy. I am surely huffing and puffing. But don’t worry – it is all going to be worth it. And this activity helps to wake up better than a coffee does.
Also, it is slowly starting to get lighter. But everything is still covered in that mystical fog.
We will get on the water even before the sun rises, but first – a workout for your hands as well. One has to pump air into their paddle board.
After that a safety instruction follows. But don’t worry, it’s not a boring one. The guide is engaging and fully devoted to his duty. From him you learn how to steer the board and how to keep your balance. You don’t want to fall into the murky swamp water, do you?
The feeling of complete peace you get when you climb on a paddle board in Cenas bog
Everything is still covered with white, dream-like fog. You can’t see the horizon. The only thing you can see are the silhouettes of the trees that softly blend into the fog. The water is completely still. It’s soothing like a lullaby.
When everyone else has conquested their paddle boards as well we start rowing. Along your way, in the dark water you can spot water lilies. You pass by small islands inhabited by lonely pine trees. Some are broken, others are standing strong.
There is no movement. It’s only us and the foggy Cenas bog. If other paddleboarders get just a bit further from you, they disappear in the fog too. So you feel like you’re completely alone. But you are not afraid. You know you are safe.
The best place to watch a sunset in Cenas bog is surely from a paddle board
You know it’s almost the time for the sun to show up when the sky starts to get slightly pink. We turn around to drive towards the east. It’s not long until the sun appears, shrouded in smoke. The vibe has changed.
Now is the time you can take the best pictures. If you are afraid to pull out your phone, the guide will take photos of you and email them over later. But I have to say it is almost impossible to resist the temptation to take a picture in this breathtaking place. It is just too beautiful.
At this point other paddle boarding groups start to join you in the bog as well. But we just keep rowing further. As it is time for a light breakfast. The menu is simple and vegetarian friendly – a croissant and a sweet treat. No drinks though, so bring warm tea or coffee with you from home.
When the sun has fully risen the vibe has changed again. You have woken up from your sweet, foggy dream. The world has regained colors. Everything is crisp and clear – you can spot every strand of grass and every spider web on the tree.
One may even start to question whether everything you just saw was even real. For a moment longer we sit on the calm waters of Cenas bog, and then it is time to get out of the water, pack up our paddle boards and return to the car.
But when all is said and done – it was truly one of a kind, unforgettable experience.
What season is the best for enjoying a sunrise in Cenas bog on a paddle board?
I enjoyed my adventure at the end of August. The day was warm. Water was as warm as milk too. So one may start to wonder if this adventure is suited for cooler seasons too?
According to our guide, they do organize paddleboarding in bogs in autumn time too. And the views are arguably even better as the bogs are gorgeous in autumn time and the contrast between the warm water and cold air makes the fog even thicker. You just have to make sure you dress up very warm so as not to freeze.
Every time I tell my colleagues from abroad that Latvians love spending their weekends in a bog I get very surprised stares. In the bog? The place where Shrek lives? No. In the bog, the place that in the morning looks like the land of dreams. And now if anyone will second guess me, I will have pictures to prove it.
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