Smart-guided individual nature experience tour in Estonia

You will fly independently to Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. Our English-speaking colleague will meet you there, where you will receive your rental car and maps. After a briefing, you will drive to Haapsalu on Estonia’s west coast. Your hotel is located right on the waterfront, and you can enjoy your first birdwatching outings from the restaurant while having dinner.

Especially in spring and autumn, you can observe bird migration from conveniently located observation towers in Matsalu National Park. Even in the height of summer, moose and deer can be spotted at sunset. In autumn, flocks of geese, ducks, waders, cranes, and various small birds fatten up for their long journey. The resting birds are only disturbed by white-tailed eagles flying overhead. For information on where to have lunch, the locations of the observation towers, and the best hiking trails, consult the tips in our tour app..

Optional: Evening excursion – boat trip in the Kassari River Delta to Kloostri: this excursion offers the opportunity to observe beavers, bats, birds, and moose. The landscape of Matsalu National Park is characterized by impressive meadows and reed beds. (from 2 people €65 per person).

Very early in the morning, at sunrise, is the best time to observe Arctic waterbirds. Sea ducks and divers are also frequently seen here. Many small birds inhabit the forests and open landscapes of this formerly military area. On the way to the cape, you might encounter capercaillies or hazel grouse, which are found in the extensive pine forests. We recommend a relaxing short hike along the Baltic coast – binoculars are a must, of course.

In the afternoon, you’ll return and spend the rest of the day in Haapsalu. This former spa town of Russian tsars impresses visitors with its all-wooden train station and imposing bishop’s castle. For dinner, the old town offers many romantic cafes and restaurants where you can discover and savor Estonia’s culinary highlights.

After breakfast, you’ll drive towards Alutaguse National Park (3 hours), Estonia’s newest national park. The route takes you past the town of Rakvere, where you can visit a 13th-century German Teutonic Knights’ castle and buy provisions for an evening picnic. Alutaguse is home to a large portion of Estonia’s over 700 brown bears. To observe them, you’ll spend the evening in a comfortable and secure bear-watching hide. Raccoon dogs, moose, foxes, wild boar, and various bird species can also be spotted from the hide. Have your camera ready! When you leave the bear-watching hide at dawn the next day, you’ll have a great chance of seeing capercaillies.

Early in the morning, you’ll leave our accommodation and drive along meadows and fields to Lahemaa National Park. Lahemaa is Estonia’s oldest and largest national park. Here you’ll find protected Nordic coastal landscapes with enormous glacial erratics, raised bogs, and taiga-like forests. A cultural highlight of the reserve, offering a fascinating glimpse into German-Baltic history, is a visit to the beautiful manor houses and traditional Estonian fishermen’s cottages. For nature lovers, Lahemaa National Park offers several observation towers and nature trails. Immediately upon arrival, you can begin with a beach walk near the fishing village of Altja, where you can admire the impressive, enormous glacial erratics deposited off the Estonian coast during the last Ice Age. In the evening, enjoy a fresh fish dish and a good Estonian beer at the old Altja village inn.

This morning we have a very special nature experience planned for you: a hike through the so-called West Taiaga primeval forest. A 5 km long educational trail illustrates the natural development of the forest. The beneficial deadwood provides food for rare species such as the three-toed and white-backed woodpeckers. In the afternoon, a visit to the old captain’s village of Käsmu is worthwhile, combined with a coastal hike in the surrounding area. Or visit the two Baltic German manor houses, Palmse and Sagadi. In the carriage house at Sagadi, you will find Estonia’s Forestry Museum. Perhaps you can manage to do both? In the evening, you can look for owls at the edge of the forest or in the castle park.

Keep your eyes and ears open!

On the way to Tallinn, we highly recommend a stop at the raised bog. The 1.5-hour hike leads along wooden boardwalks through the bog area. Bog pools, sphagnum moss, bonsai pines, and the fragrant marsh Labrador tea will create unforgettable memories.

When visiting the old Hanseatic city of Tallinn, you can still see the original street layout from the 13th to 15th centuries, and most of the merchants’ houses stand in their original size and form. The city wall with its defensive towers, the market square, and the Upper Town, in particular, exude a medieval charm. Today, you’ll find beautiful cafes and shops in the Old Town. The tour app will tell you where to find the best and most charming restaurants for dinner.

Free time and travel to the airport or an extension in Tallinn.