Self-guided Individual trip in Estonia

On your first afternoon, you’ll enjoy a guided walking tour through medieval Tallinn. You’ll visit what is arguably the best-preserved medieval city in Europe, boasting an original street layout dating back to the 13th century. Many 15th-century houses still stand in their original size and form, and all the important and prestigious government buildings and churches remain intact. During the tour, you’ll learn how to use the tour app and receive helpful tips from our guide. Afterward, you’re free to explore the rest of the day at your leisure. Using the tour app, you can take a stroll along the waterfront promenade, explore the harbor area, the Sea Fortress, or the Seaplane Base.

The next day, the journey continues to the island of Saaremaa, which offers numerous hiking opportunities and sights. Characteristic of Estonia’s largest island are juniper pastures and old fortified churches. You will take a walk along the Panga cliffs with their beautiful views of the Baltic Sea, visit the Angla Windmill Park, the Kaali meteorite crater, and the Karja Church with its pagan murals. Hiking tours are available along the north coast and in the raised bog. Afterwards, there may be time to visit the Sõrve Peninsula and its lighthouse in the southwest, where a new visitor center recently opened. (The drive is approximately 200 km, followed by a 30-minute ferry crossing.)

For hikers and nature lovers, Saaremaa’s biggest highlight is the oldest protected area in the Baltics, Vilsandi National Park. Founded in 1910 primarily to protect seabirds, the park’s conservation goals now also include preserving the limestone coastline, pristine sandy beaches, and more than 100 islets. Several trails and paths allow you to explore the natural landscape. Most visitors explore the Harialaid Peninsula, where you can choose between a 6 or 11 km hike along the sandy beach to the leaning lighthouse. More adventurous hikers can even walk across the Baltic Sea along a chain of islands to Vilsandi Island. Both hiking routes offer excellent swimming opportunities..

In the afternoon you can relax in the capital city of Kuressaare: stroll through the old town, visit the imposing bishop’s castle, and sit in cozy street cafes. (Car journey approximately 50 km).

Our next destination is Estonia’s intellectual and cultural center, the city of Tartu. With just under 100,000 inhabitants, Tartu is Estonia’s second-largest city. Located on the Emajõgi River, most of the city’s sights are compact and easily accessible on foot. These include the statue of the kissing students in the Town Hall Square, the museums and cafes situated on and near the square, and a large park that stretches across Toompea Hill. Northern Europe’s oldest university is just a few hundred meters away, and the bridges spanning the Emajõgi River are visible from the Town Hall Square. You can decide for yourself how long and how long you want to spend exploring Tartu. Whether you stay within the city center or also explore the charming wooden-house districts is entirely up to you.

Drive: 320 km, Ferry: 30 min.

Today offers stunning natural landscapes and unique cultural experiences in southern Estonia. After breakfast and a half-hour drive, you’ll reach the Taevaskoja glacial valley with its sandstone cliffs. The 12-kilometer hiking trail follows the banks of the Ahya River, showcasing rock formations and spring-fed caves. Afterward, you can continue with further hikes in the area or head directly to Lake Peipus, Europe’s fifth-largest lake. Old Believers, who fled here from Russia in the 17th century to escape changes within the Orthodox Church, live around Lake Peipus. The houses in the villages along the lake are situated along a main road that runs parallel to the lake, forming settlements that stretch for kilometers. You can learn more about the local way of life by visiting a museum, or simply explore and photograph the wooden architecture of the small prayer houses. The region is also renowned in Estonia for its onion and fish cuisine. Be sure to sample local specialties in a restaurant or take some products home with you.
Autofahrt ca. 120 km.

After an unforgettable day in southern Estonia, you’ll head north again. On your way to Lahemaa National Park, today’s itinerary includes one of the highlights – a hike through a raised bog. Raised bog complexes, some covering thousands of hectares and boasting a history spanning over 10,000 years, are found almost everywhere in Estonia. In the Endla Nature Reserve, you’ll find hiking trails ranging from 2 to 15 kilometers through the bog. The peat layer is 8 meters thick, and the sphagnum moss is up to 95% saturated with fresh water. Several promotional photos have been taken from the Männikjärve observation tower. From the tower, you can admire the vibrant colors of the sphagnum moss, the bog pools, and the gnarled pine trees. Nature lovers can observe several rare bird and plant species in this extreme habitat. As a pristine landscape and natural habitat, the raised bog offers visitors a truly unique nature experience.

In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset over the Baltic Sea in Lahemaa National Park or have dinner in the manor house restaurant. (approx. 170 km drive).

Lahemaa is Estonia’s oldest and largest national park. It was established to protect the coastal landscapes, raised bogs, and taiga-like forests, all characterized by enormous glacial erratics. Cultural highlights of the reserve include the beautiful manor houses, which date back to the Baltic German history, and the traditional Estonian fishermen’s cottages. The national park offers several hiking trails of varying lengths. Our tour app features trails ranging from 1 to 15 km in length, leading you along the coast, through ancient forests, across the raised bog, and to the manor houses. While we do offer recommendations, you can ultimately decide how far you want to hike and which sights you wish to visit. (approx. 50 km by car)

If you still feel like going for a hike, you can use the morning for that. Tallinn Airport is only about an hour’s drive away.t.