Private tour
10-DAY ESTONIA: WILDLIFE AND NATURE EXPLORATION
Program
DAY 1: ARRIVAL
Arrival in Tallin and transfer to hotel. Check-in to the hotel.
Overnight in Tallinn, My City Hotel.
DAY 2: MEDIEVAL VIBE IN TALLINN
Before heading deep into the Estonian wilderness, spend a full day discovering its charming capital Tallinn. The city is best known for its magical medieval spirit kept alive through the centuries, yet it also offers striking modern architecture, an alternative creative scene, and a relaxed seaside atmosphere.
The medieval Old Town of Tallinn is considered one of the best-preserved Hanseatic town centers in the world. Our guided walking tour will wind through picturesque narrow cobbled streets, bringing historical stories to life. Noble merchants’ houses, Gothic churches, fortification walls, red-tiled roofs, and cozy courtyards will captivate you. During the tour, you will see the most famous sights of the Old Town, including Toompea Castle, Tallinn Town Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and one of the city’s best panoramic viewpoints.
In your free time, continue exploring the city at your own pace – relax in one of the Old Town’s cozy cafés or venture further to discover Tallinn’s creative and alternative districts. Telliskivi Creative City features impressive street art, numerous bars, designer shops, and contemporary art spaces. Kalamaja reflects Tallinn’s harbor and fishing heritage, blended with today’s hip atmosphere, colorful wooden architecture, and hidden cafés. Noblessner, a former industrial area, has been transformed into a lively waterfront quarter with stylish restaurants, bars, and modern architecture overlooking the sea. And these are just a few of the neighborhoods worth exploring.
Overnight in Tallinn, My City Hotel.
DAY 3: WATERFALLS, SEA AND MANOR IN LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK
On this day you will travel to Lahemaa National Park, the largest and oldest national park in Estonia. The Baltic Sea coastline here is dotted with massive boulders washed by the waves, while inland areas are covered with raised bogs featuring distinctive flora. Lahemaa is rich in wildlife and is home to animals such as wild boar, red deer, moose, beavers, wolves, brown bears, and lynx. The coastal areas also host thousands of migratory birds each year.
The first stop of the day will be Jägala Waterfall – at 50 m wide and 8 m high, it is the widest natural waterfall in Estonia. You will hear its impressive roar even from a distance. In winter, freezing temperatures transform the waterfall into a spectacular icefall, making it one of Estonia’s most popular winter attractions. The Jägala River is also known for its abundant trout and salmon populations.
A different waterfall brings a different experience – Nõmmeveski Waterfall is a picturesque cascade flowing through the Valgejõgi River canyon, offering a wild and dreamlike landscape. Although smaller than Jägala, it has its own distinctive charm. The area is surrounded by limestone cliffs and rare species of ferns and mosses.
After a hearty lunch at a traditional roadside tavern, you will continue to Käsmu, a small seaside village also known as the “Captains’ Village”, as it was once home to a maritime school. To explore not only its cultural, architectural, and maritime heritage but also the surrounding nature, you will take a short hike. The trail leads through a forest with one of the largest concentrations of boulders in Estonia. After enjoying the scenery, you will visit the Käsmu Sea Museum, which tells the story of the village’s seafaring traditions, fishing heritage, and smuggling history.
At the end of the day, you will enjoy dinner and stay overnight at one of Lahemaa National Park’s historic manor houses – Sagadi Manor, a splendid 18th-century estate.
Overnight in Sagadi, Sagadi Manor.
DAY 4: LAHEMAA NATIONAL PARK AND BEAR WATCHING
You will start the morning by exploring the Oandu Nature Trail, an incredibly diverse route that reveals new scenery around every turn. The primeval forest, with its old and fallen trees that provide habitat for rare lichens, mosses, fungi, and insects, creates a magical, fairy-tale-like atmosphere. If you are quiet and attentive, you may even spot some wildlife or notice animal tracks, as wild boar, brown bear, lynx, moose, and many other species inhabit the area.
Later, another of Lahemaa National Park’s scenic routes awaits you – the Altja Nature and Culture Trail. It leads through an old fishing village where you can see traditional wooden houses and net sheds from the early 20th century, as well as a peaceful boulder-strewn harbor and evergreen forest. To enjoy local cuisine, you will have lunch at Altja Tavern, a traditional village tavern where time seems to have stood still.
In the afternoon, you will continue to the Alutaguse Brown Bear Hide, where you will spend the night, having an unforgettable experience. Surrounded by forests, meadows, and a stream, the hide offers the opportunity to observe a wide range of animals and birds, the most impressive being the brown bear. Other species that may appear include raccoon dogs, roe deer, moose, beavers, squirrels, and birds such as golden eagles, white-tailed eagles, goshawks, hawks, Ural owls, passerines, woodpeckers, and more. It is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts and photographers.
Overnight in Alutaguse Brown Bear Hide.
DAY 5: CHARMING STUDENT TOWN TARTU
A short morning drive will bring you to the town of Mustvee, located on the shore of Lake Peipus, the fourth-largest lake in Europe. After breakfast in Mustvee, you will continue to one of the oldest cities in the Baltic States – the charming and vibrant university town of Tartu. You will join a guided walking tour to explore the romantic Old Town of Tartu, visiting Tartu Town Hall Square and the famous Kissing Students Fountain, the main building of the University of Tartu, St. John’s Church, and the impressive ruins of Tartu Cathedral.
Later, you will have the afternoon free for your own leisure – continue wandering through the Old Town, relax at a café and observe the street life, or walk a little further to discover Tartu’s creative side. One of the city’s most famous alternative districts is Aparaaditehas Creative City, located in a former factory complex. Open-air concerts, craft markets, designer shops, restaurants, bars, cafés, and even the TYPA printing and paper art center – you can find it all at Aparaaditehas. You can also enjoy a bohemian vibe by strolling through the streets of Karlova and Supilinn, neighborhoods known for their colorful wooden houses, street art, and hidden bars.
A must-see in Tartu is the Estonian National Museum, not only for its interactive and engaging exhibitions, but also for its remarkable architecture and design. Built on an old runway, the museum blends beautifully into the surrounding landscape.
Overnight in Tartu, Antonius Hotel.
DAY 6: WILDLIFE OBSERVING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
In the morning, you will head to the Wildlife Dreams Nature Photography Hide, one of the best locations in Europe for observing and photographing wildlife. You will spend most of the day there, watching the animals and birds through specially designed photographic windows. Surrounded by Estonian wilderness, forests, meadows, and water, the hide offers the chance to see a wide variety of animal and bird species. Badgers and raccoon dogs often come to drink at the pools, creating fascinating scenes of everyday wildlife behavior, while foxes regularly appear on their hunting rounds.
The hide is also frequently visited by several species of woodpeckers, including great spotted, middle spotted, white-backed, grey-headed, and black-headed, as well as larger birds such as goshawks, buzzards, white-tailed eagles, and others. You will spend a peaceful day at the hide, observing animals, and immersing yourself in nature.
In the late afternoon, you will return to Tartu, where you can continue enjoying the charm of this lively university town.
Overnight in Tartu, Antonius Hotel.
DAY 7: LOVELY VILJANDI AND BOGS IN THE SOOMAA NATIONAL PARK
You will start the day by travelling to Viljandi, a small town known for its annual folk music festival and beautiful panoramic views. One of the most scenic places here is the Viljandi Castle Ruins, standing on a hill overlooking Lake Viljandi and the surrounding landscape. You will join a guided walking tour to discover the town’s main sights, stroll through its narrow streets, and admire the lovely wooden architecture that gives Viljandi its warm and romantic character.
After lunch, you will continue to Soomaa National Park, a unique wilderness area famous for its “fifth season,” when rising waters temporarily flood meadows and forests, creating extraordinary landscapes. The park is also known for its vast bogs, diverse ecosystems, and rich birdlife. To experience this environment up close, you will take part in a bog-shoeing hike, an exciting and memorable way to explore the soft, moss-covered terrain and learn more about the fragile bog habitats, plants, and natural processes that shape the area.
In the evening, you will settle in at Soomaa Holiday Village, a peaceful accommodation surrounded by nature. After an active day outdoors, you will have time to relax and unwind in a traditional sauna – the perfect opportunity to slow down, enjoy the quiet of the countryside, and reflect on the day’s experiences.
Overnight in Soomaa Holiday Village.
DAY 8: SEASIDE RESORT PARNU AND BIRDWATCHING
On this day, you will travel to Pärnu, the largest seaside resort in Estonia. It boasts the longest beach in the country, stretching for kilometers with soft white sand and a shallow shoreline where the sea deepens only gradually. Walking slowly toward the horizon to reach swimming depth is a meditative experience in itself. After a scenic hike along the beach, you will join a guided walking tour to enjoy Pärnu’s laid-back atmosphere, romantic 19th–20th century villas, and charming Old Town. You will also discover why the city is filled with elephant figures of different sizes.
Later, you will continue to Matsalu National Park, a true birdwatching paradise visited annually by millions of migratory birds, as well as numerous butterfly and dragonfly species. The park includes not only the mainland but also around 50 islands. To experience its landscapes and wildlife, you will visit the Haeska birdwatching tower, where you can admire panoramic views over Matsalu Bay and the coastal meadows. This is the very spot where birdwatchers once set a European record by spotting 128 bird species in a single day.
In the evening, you will have time to relax at Tuullingu Holiday House, a more-than-hundred-year-old former grain dryer with a traditional thatched roof made from reeds harvested in the nearby bay. It is a truly unique and authentic place to stay, offering a cozy atmosphere in the heart of Estonia’s coastal nature.
Overnight in Tuulingu Holiday House.
DAY 9: BIRDS, COZY HAAPSALU, WATERFALL AND CLIFFS
You will start the day by enjoying the best of Matsalu National Park once again – birdwatching. It is never too late to set a new personal birdwatching record, and in Matsalu there can never be too many birds to admire. Take your time, and enjoy the rich variety of Estonia’s bird species in their natural habitat.
Later, you will drive to Haapsalu, another charming seaside resort town. Haapsalu is known for its romantic wooden architecture, tiny houses, narrow streets, and cozy atmosphere. The town also features one of the best-preserved medieval castle complexes in Northern Europe, surrounded by legends of the famous White Lady ghost. You will join a short walking tour to discover the highlights of Haapsalu and soak in its peaceful seaside ambience.
After lunch, you will continue to Keila Waterfall, one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Estonia. At around 6 m high and 10 m wide, it forms a powerful cascade surrounded by a picturesque park and walking paths. Depending on the season, the waterfall offers completely different moods. In spring it is roaring and dramatic, in summer calm and scenic, and in winter it often freezes into striking ice formations.
On your way back to Tallinn, you will stop at the Türisalu limestone cliffs, one of the most impressive coastal cliff formations in Northern Estonia, rising up to 31 m high. From the viewing platform you can admire sweeping views over the Baltic Sea, and a small path also allows you to experience the cliffs from below.
In the evening, you will return to Tallinn, enjoy your reunion with the city, and finish wildlife and nature exploration in Estonia.
Overnight in Tallinn, My City Hotel or similar.
DAY 10: DEPARTURE
Departure day, and transfer to the airport.
Price in double occupancy
4-star hotels
- 2 pax: 2000.00 EUR per person
- 4 pax: 1350.00 EUR per person
- 6 pax: 1200.00 EUR per person
- 8 pax: 1050.00 EUR per person
Single room supplement: 400.00 EUR per person
3-star hotels
- 2 pax: 1900.00 EUR per person
- 4 pax: 1250.00 EUR per person
- 6 pax: 1050.00 EUR per person
- 8 pax: 990.00 EUR per person
Single room supplement: 360.00 EUR per person
Services included
- Accommodation per program
- 1 x night in bear watching hide in Alutaguse
- English-speaking nature/ culture guide
- Entrance tickets Kasmu Maritime Museum
- Staying overnight in Alutaguse bear hide
- Visting Wildlife photography hide in Krootuse
- Bog shoe and kayak boat rental in Soomaa National Park
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