ACTIVITIES

Cosa fare durante le vacanze in Estonia? L’Estonia offre molte possibilità per una vacanza attiva: le foreste sono perfette per le escursioni a piedi, per osservare la fauna selvatica o raccogliere bacche e funghi, mentre i laghi, i fiumi e il mare stuzzicheranno gli amanti dell’avventura in canoa, o della vela e della pesca.  Da scoprire anche i paesaggi pittoreschi, la natura straordinariamente ricca, e il patrimonio culturale, in bicicletta o a cavallo per rendere l'esperienza ancora più unica.

 

Wildlife watching

Estonian wildlife biodiversity is amongst one of the most spectacular in Northern Europe.

65 different species of mammals, 330 species of birds, 1500 plant species spread on picturesque landscapes, forests and wetlands make Estonia a great destination for wildlife watching. Here the nature can be explored all year around as every season offers a unique experience.

Come to meet the brown bears, wolves, deer, lynxes, wild boars, beavers, and also some rare species like flying squirrel or look for the 36 species of orchids and other rare plants that are thriving in Estonia’s unspoilt nature. Observing the animals in the wild is not difficult, but require patience and reaction speed returning home with a collection of unique photos will make the effort even more enjoyable.

Bird watching

Estonia is a paradise for the bird-watchers. There are about 340 natural species: over 200 are regularly nesting, about 30 migrating species and around 70 occasional visitors.

Estonia’s long coastline with outstretching peninsulas and shallow bays, coastal meadows and 1200 islands offer an excellent habitat for thousands of birds. Some small uninhabited islands count up to 13 000 nesting couples per square kilometre!

As Estonia lies also on one of the European major migratory flyways, spring and autumn are ideal for observing a massive bird migration show. According to estimations, the number may reach 50 million featuring geese, Branta species, swans, ducks, and grebes as the most “frequent flyers.”

In 1999, 189 species were counted during one day, making it a European record for the highest number of species seen in a day.

Hiking

Hiking is an exceptionally good way to really get to know the Estonian forests, bogs, beaches and islands.

Estonia offers unique hiking experiences – the hiking roads lead through untouched nature without civilization, observing wild animals, rare birds and picking berries and mushrooms.

Enjoy the richness of flowers in spring, the greenery in summer, the abundant colours in autumn and the crisp stillness in winter.

Estonian idyllic landscapes feature hundreds of kilometres of well-marked hiking trails, many with information posts telling more about the surrounding, historical and cultural landmarks and give directions to hiking huts or camping sites.

Tenting is also a widely practiced activity amongst both locals and tourists as the “freedom to roam” is considered every man’s right and allows a free pass through private land, hiking on shore paths and camping in the wild.

Hikers by T.Tuul

Bog shoeing

About 22% of Estonia’s territory is covered by bogs, unique eco-systems with untouched nature, offering a home for many different species of animals, birds and plants.

The most “walkable” bogs in Estonia are in Soomaa and Lahemaa National Parks and the Alutaguse forests.

Bog shoeing itself has always been used by Estonians to move around these wetlands.

Photo safari

Fotografare la natura selvaggia è un'attività sempre più popolare perché è un modo eccezionale per imparare ed esplorare la cultura locale e la fauna selvatica. Offriamo esperienze di viaggio indimenticabili con fotografi professionisti che aiutano i viaggiatori a registrare i più bei momenti del viaggio.

Una comune macchina fotografica basterà ad incorniciare momenti magici, anche se una attrezzatura professionale può permettervi di realizzare una collezione di immagini davvero uniche, da appendere in soggiorno o da regalare ad un caro amico.

Vedi il pacchetto Una giornata con il fotografo a Lahemaa

Horseback riding

Le passeggiate a cavallo permettono di scoprire paesaggi, foreste, parchi nazionali, villaggi, case padronali e la ricca fauna estone. Diversi grandi maneggi e centri di equitazione offrono lezioni per principianti e percorsi naturalistici per i più esperti.

Lo sapevate che l'Estonia ha la sua razza di cavallo, il cavallo estone, chiamato Klepper, che esisteva già nel XI secolo?

Cycling

Estonia is offering fascinating possibilities for cyclers. It is small enough to easily reach from one destination to another, flat in the west and north, with gentle hills in the south.

Exploring the Estonian countryside with unspoilt nature and various historical monuments is worth a ride. An extra advantage while enjoying the bike ride is exploring small and characteristic village roads and meeting local people.

For those who do not want to loose themselves in the charming countryside can stay on track and follow the official routes. Special tracks are designed for cyclists, including several international EuroVelo routes that provide little chance of getting lost.

Sailing

Have a look at our sailing tours: Historic Sailing on Kajsamoor, Sailing on Tallinn Bay

Canoeing

Estonian 2000 rivers offer exciting possibilities for canoeing and sailing. Most rivers are narrow and slow, but you can also find rivers where to combat with the waves of fierce currents.

Canoeing is also great to combine with wildlife watching and beaver tracking.

You can also try the unique Finno-Ugric dugout canoe (haabjas) – a narrow and long vessel curved out of a single log. These historical aspen boats are surprisingly easy to navigate. Traditional dugout building has survived in Matsalu Bay area and Soomaa National Park, which are famous for their fifth season – the great floods of the early spring.

Canoeing by J.Nilson

Sea-Kayaking

Sea-kayaking is a great way to explore the Estonian coastal areas and islands.

99% of Estonian 1500 islands are uninhabited and offer a possibility to discover the untouched nature and wildlife.

Rowing on open waters is quite a different experience to canoeing along rivers. Short trips do not require a prior rowing experience; professionals can try longer and more challenging experiences.

Find out more about Kayaking tours

Fishing

Fishing has always been a popular hobby in Estonia.

There are more than 7000 rivers and streams and 3794 km of seashore so finding a suitable fishing place should not be a problem.

65 different species of fish have been found in Estonian waters. You can spot fishermen all year around sitting on riverbanks or in front of the hole in the ice in the winter.

Fishing with an ordinary hand line is allowed to everybody, but permission has to be obtained from the local government to fish with a spinner. Special fishing cards can also be purchased for a fee.

Fishing by L.Michelson

Fishing by EAS

Diving

Estonia with its Nordic waters offers a completely different diving experience and a refreshing alternative to the warm seas and coral barriers.

Some of the most popular diving locations are the northern coast of Estonia, the southern Estonian lakes, and the waters surrounding the islands on the western coast.

Be ready to encounter some curious seals or discover one of the 40 000 sunken ships that are claimed to be worth exploring!

Golfing

Although golfing is quite a new activity in Estonia, it has already gained remarkable international attention. 

The oldest golf course in Estonia in at Niitvälja, while Estonian Golf & Country Club at Jõelähtme is one of the most unique ones in Europe, chosen among Golf World’s TOP 100 European Courses in 2009 and 2011.

Estonian golf season usually opens in May and continues until the end of October allowing the golfers also to take advantage of the long daylight hours in the summer season. 

Winter sports

Estonian winters offer several options for an active holiday.

Skiing is one of the favourite sports among locals and during the wintertime the southern Estonian hills and Otepää city become a popular destination. Trails with different levels of difficulty provide a suitable physical workout for the body while the peace and quiet of the white forest tracks calm and regenerate your mind.

There are also many slalom and snowboard slopes in Sothern Estonia, skating facilities can be found all over Estonia.

Ice-skating is another wonderful way to enjoy the winter charms of Estonia. Skating rinks are open all over Estonia – on lakes, rivers, open-air rinks or even on cleaned tracks in a bog or bay. You do not have to go far to find a suitable rink for you – even in the Old Town of Tallinn there is a stunning open air ice-skating track where you can slide gracefully, while enjoying the dropping snowflakes and the surrounding medieval architecture.

If you visit Estonia during the winter months, do not miss the ice roads, one of the particularities of Estonian cold winters. Almost every year official ice roads are open between the mainland and the islands so in a few days you can visit more places than during the entire summertime!

Skating in Old Town by M.Kadanik

Skiing by J.Jõepera

Winter Sports by A.Palvari

Dog Sledge by J.Järva