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The surreal artificial landscape of former Rummu prison quarry

Eclectic Estonia: Stone, Steel & Silence

7-8H DRIVING + WALKING TOUR

Teutonic crusaders and medieval monasteries, feudal foreign landlords in opulent manors, secret military installations of two different occupations, plus the surreal alien landscape of a submerged prison quarry. All this served with the dramatic coastal cliffs crumbling into the Baltic Sea. Enjoy this crazy cocktail full of real stories, fresh humour and honest insightNo fluff, no time-waste.

Confirm your booking now, risk-free — change or cancel up to 48 hours before for a 100% refund.

TOUR DETAILS

7–8h

English

Pet friendly

Limited accessibility

Walking & Driving tour

Multi-tour discounts

COST PER GROUP SIZE:​​​​​​

1 person

375€ p/p

2 people

195€ p/p

3 people

145€ p/p

4 people

125€ p/p

5 people

110€ p/p

6 people

100€ p/p

7 people

90€ p/p

8 people

85€ p/p

9+ people

EARLY BIRD LAUNCH PRICES !

🌍 NATIVE GUIDE

Personal stories & family history

🗨️ NO SCRIPTED LINES

Tours adapt to your interests

🔎 NUANCED INSIGHT

Honest, memorable storytelling

INCLUDES:​​

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  • Attentive & professional native Estonian guide

  • 7–8 hour private guided tour, depending on the pace & our chosen stops

  • Free pick-up & drop-off anywhere in Tallinn

  • Entry fee to the 14th-century Padise Abbey & Fortress (Tue–Sun, 11–18)

  • Entry fee to the submerged Rummu prison quarry​ (Daily, 10–20)

  • A stop for lunch or snacks, as per your preferences

  • English-only tours (ask for other language availability)

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EXCLUDES:

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  • The cost of lunch

  • Optional gratuities

KEEP IN MIND:

  • In addition to several stairs and smaller walks, this tour involves an optional little climb on a potentially slippery surface; hence, please wear comfortable shoes for walking, even if specialized hiking boots are not necessary

  • The summer is in fact Estonia's rainiest time, and the weather can change from sunny skies to sudden spells of rain multiple times on any given day, so a just-in-case umbrella or waterproof jacket and footwear will ensure you'll be ready, and that much more comfortable, come rain or shine!

HIGHLIGHTS:​

  • Learn the overall history, culture, and politics of Estonia and its strategic military importance to foreign powers in an easy conversational storytelling style

  • Walk along towering coastal cliffs, crumbling into the Baltic Sea en masse

  • Explore century-old remnants of the Russian Empire's coastal fortificationspart of one of the most ambitious military construction plans in modern history

  • Stroll through the picturesque Keila-Joa manor park and uncover the legacy of Baltic-German nobility

  • See Keila-Joa waterfall, one of Estonia’s largest, and often called its most romantic

  • Uncover the secrets of Paldiski, a former top-secret Soviet military town that literally vanished from maps

  • Visit the 14th-century medieval Padise Monastery — at different times a religious hub, a military fortress, and even a nobleman's home

  • Discover the surreal, sunken Rummu prison quarry — an eerie, alien-like landscape unlike anywhere else in Estonia

  • Experience the transformation along the tour route with a curated visual portfolio of archival photos and videos, offering fascinating historical glimpses of the sights we visit

  • Receive honest advice and unbiased local tips on where to dine, wine, shop, and explore on your own

FULL TOUR ITINERARY

Our private tours skillfully walk the line between rich historical depth and an engaging, fun narrative style – led by a knowledgeable and passionate native Estonian guide who knows this country inside out. We weave honest personal anecdotes into our grand narratives, connecting Estonia's picturesque and versatile sights with centuries of triumphs and tragedies, present-day realities, and future aspirations. Real stories, real history, no fluff. We respect your time.

Estonia might be a tiny country, yet it hides a long, layered, and often hidden history, waiting to be explored. This tour is an excellent example of the many historical contrasts you can find relatively close together here — in fact, this route gives us glimpses of most of the foreign invasions and their corresponding fortifications in Estonia. From the medieval crusades, through centuries of oppression under foreign nobility, to grand imperial ambitions and stark Soviet occupation. Fortunately, it won't feel too oppressive, as the day will be spent driving around the countryside, with multiple stops and walks in picturesque parks and on dramatic coastal cliffs towering above the Baltic Sea.

  • We'll start the day with an underground visit to the remnants of an audacious imperial defense plan that was never finished due to the revolution, the royal massacre and the crumbling of the empire in Russia.

  • At various points today, we'll pull over on the towering coastal cliffs to gaze over the deceivingly calm-looking Baltic Sea. In the otherwise rather flat Baltics, this is the closest you can get to a dramatic vertical scenery.

  • A lovely little walk will take us into the Keila-Joa Manor park with views of what's considered Estonia's most romantic waterfall and the neogothic castle itself perched above it. 

  • Onwards in Paldiski, we would have entered a town that did not exist, at least on the Soviet-era maps, for it became one of only three nuclear submarine training complexes in the entire Soviet Union.  Paldiski hides many secrets, some lost without a trace, while others can still be glimpsed. We'll show you what is still left!

  • We'll explore what's left of the mighty 14th-century Padise Monastery — at turns a monastic retreat, military stronghold, and noble estate. Its stone walls have stood since almost the beginning of written history in this land.

  • To finish the day, we'll visit the surreal landscape of the former Rummu prison quarry, reclaimed by nature and elements for half a century, and now rediscovered again as an odd alternative adventure playground.

​The usual tour route will specifically show and tell you about all the following sights:

  • Remnants of Peter the Great's coastal military fortifications from the heyday of the Russian Empire

  • North Estonia's limestone coastal cliffs & the Baltic Sea

  • The picturesque Keila-Joa Manor park, Keila-Joa Castle & the romantic Keila-Joa waterfall

  • Paldiski, the former top-secret Soviet military town

  • 14th-century Padise Monastery

  • The sunken Rummu prison quarry


If there’s a place you’re curious about that's not listed, just let us know. We’ll do our best to weave it into your tour and our story. Book your own journey along Estonia's north coast and through its diverse history, and let's turn your visit into a personal and meaningful experience, full of stories and emotions that you'll actually remember!

Photo credits: Thank you to Simo Sepp; Simon Snopek; Sam McAllister; Kadi-Liis Koppel; Margus Kontus; Andri Peetso; Günther Küttis; Rocky FX; VisitTallinn.ee; VisitEstonia.com

Confirm your booking now, risk-free — change or cancel up to 48 hours before for a 100% refund.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR | GET A QUOTE

Want to modify an existing tour?

Propose a unique one-off route or have us create one just for your interests?

Have a big group (9+ people) or a mix of adults & children?

Please include any details & context that would help us give you the best experience. We'll send you a personalized quote or a custom route designed to fit your exact preferences within 24 hours.

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The surreal artificial landscape of former Rummu prison quarry
"Interesting, informative and entertaining tour!"
"...The guides were really into their subject and had a lot of information to share with us. It was not a normal tour, where you only gain information and leave. The guides designed the tour lively and entertaining. We enjoyed also the meal in the traditional taverna in Paldiski and the nice and uncomplicated conversations. To sum up, it can be said that we really liked to take this tour and want to say thank you for this adventure!"

658caram

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