| 6 mins read
Robert Aps.
Tallinn and Tartu are Estonia's most popular tourist spots. These medieval cities buzz with travellers during the summer months, and Christmas. With most visitors opting for locally guided tours, there is a surge in demand for trips that venture out of the beaten path to explore the forests, bogs, and seashore. Most of Estonia's wilderness is utterly unspoiled as there are many protected areas. Some of the territories have designated walking trails, picnic spots, and camping areas, so you can have lunch next to a beautiful lake or put a tent up near the Baltic Sea.
Here are some of the best natural attraction to visit:
Lahemaa
Evergreen forests, stony beaches, heritage farm fields, and fishing villages make up Lahemaa National Park, the first nationally protected area in the country. In the heart of Lahemaa, you'll find Palmse manor, an imposing and meticulously restored manor. Palmse and its romantic surroundings offer walks in the gardens full of colourful flowers and take slow boat rides across the big pond.
There are even separate pathways for horseriding! During the wintertime, visiting Jägala waterfall is a must because the frozen water and icy fall look naturally beautiful. You can find six different hiking trails in Lahemaa, ranging from 5 km to 40 km, so there's something for every difficulty level.
Lahemaa, a part of the Natura 2000 initiative, can be reached from Tallinn in 40 minutes by car. Also, there are some public transportation options available, including buses and minibuses, but these usually take almost two hours to reach some of the region's most populated areas.
Matsalu
One of Western Estonia's highlights is Matsalu because you can find the country's most prominent beach meadows, quaint little bays, and juniper patches all located in this nationally recognised natural region. Matsalu is an excellent place for bird watching as it has one of the most abundant bird populations in all of Europe. Many migration routes intersect in this area, bringing together tens of thousands of feathered creatures. When you walk along the seashore, you might spot a few islands along the way. In fact, Matsalu is home to around 50 islands and islets; the biggest ones are Tauksi, Liia, and Sõmeri. All of the islands are technically uninhabited, but they do provide excellent shelter for a lot of birds.
Driving to Matsalu takes a bit under two hours. Public transport options are worse when compared to Lahemaa as you need to make many transfers and the total commuting time might exceed over three hours for each way.
Kakerdaja
Kõrvemaa is a beautiful region in Northern Estonia, and Kakerdaja is a stunning bog located in the heart of this region. This wetland offers excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation. You can hike, walk, cycle, or use Nordic walking sticks on the 6 km pathway cutting through the Kakerdaja bog. In the bog's centre, you will find a lake bearing the same name as the surrounding fen. Kakerdaja trail is complete with information signs, a viewing tower, picnic area, and designated tent spots. It's a beautiful place to visit year-round, but arguably the best experienced during a warm, quiet summer day. Kakerdaja is dotted with reflecting pools and lone trees, making the bog a genuinely picturesque place for photography.
There's no public transportation to Kakerdaja. Driving to the hiking trail takes about one hour.
Hiiumaa
The second biggest island in Estonia, Hiiumaa, is made for nature lovers: 320 km of shoreline, untouched forests, and tiny bogs. As a county, Hiiumaa boasts the record of having the most forest area as compared to rest of the Estonian counties. Over 70% of the island is covered in forest and shrubs! All of this greenery attracts plenty of wildlife. You can encounter moose, deer, wild boars, and foxes in the woods. Waters surrounding the island are home to seal colonies. But Hiiumaa isn't only a worthwhile destination because of the wilderness. The island is dotted with old lighthouses, and you can visit some of them by climbing to the top. Kõpu, Ristna, and Tahkuna lighthouses belong to the top attractions as you can even by t-shirts with their pictures printed on them. Hiiumaa can be accessed by hopping on a daily ferry on foot, by regular bus lines, or a rental car.
Piusa
Piusa cave system is a popular attraction in Southern Estonia. These caves were manmade in the 1920s to excavate quartz sand, but today, they are inextricably linked to the ecological environment. Piusa caves are the most prominent wintering spot for bats in all of the Baltic states. Scientists have found over seven different bat species hibernating in the caves. During some winters, the caves are filled with over 3000 bats. You can only visit the caves with a designated guide because the whole cave system is quite fragile. Near the caves, you can hike on a 1.4 km marked track that goes through the forest towards a sandy strip mine.
It's best to visit Piusa from Tartu, the lovely university town located 100 km from the caves. There are seasonal trains that run from Tartu to Piusa as well.
Lohusalu
Pine scent, warm sand, and open sea characterise the old fishing village Lohusalu. It's a small peninsula located near Laulasmaa that's a must-visit during the summer months. You can cycle on the designated paths, hike through the evergreen forest, and get your tan on at the sandy beach. If you are looking for some pampering, Laulasmaa Spa is only a few kilometres away and offers plenty of massage and sauna opportunities. The best times to visit Lohusalu and its surroundings are from early July through mid-August. This way you can be sure that the chances for blue sky and warm sea temperatures are the greatest.
Tallinn is only a 40-minute drive away; also, there are plenty of public transport options available from the capital's centre.
Robert is a writer, entrepreneur, and photographer discovering the world while sharing the finds with his readers. He loves hiking and active holidays. Never says no to trying a new gelato flavour!
Image details and license: https://flic.kr/p/zX6uGz (kosmoseleevike, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/zwiCG (fireramsey, CC BY-SA 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/bKFd4i (Jaanus Jagomägi, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/23pFry (tq, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/9NXHn5 (Anita, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), https://flic.kr/p/8dGdJJ (Kain Kalju, CC BY 2.0)