Lahemaa National Park & the Coastal Heritage

FULL TOUR ITINERARY

Estonia is one of Europe's greenest and most sparsely populated countries, meanwhile, the country's small size ensures that the wilderness starts literally within a stone's throw of Tallinn. Lahemaa National Park, Estonia's oldest and largest, is also conveniently the one closest to Tallinn, allowing us to whisk you away for a full day in nature, yet make sure you're back in Tallinn for any dinner reservations you may have made. This tour introduces you to both some of the best-known natural features and historical highlights in Estonia, while simultaneously giving you the full arc of history of this land, from our primeval animist past to the present day digital era, where our forests are as well covered with 5G as they are with berries and mushrooms.

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• Did you know that Lahemaa National Park was not only the first one to be founded in Estonia, but in the entire Soviet Union? But it's not that the Soviets had any particular concern for Estonian nature, or nature in general—come and learn the real reasons behind this Cold War era Soviet versions of "greenwashing".

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• The wetlands, which cover up to 1/3 of Estonia's mainland, can be treacherous and dangerous places, yet in our history, the bogs have also been seen for centuries as both sacred and spaces of refuge, and we'll tell you exactly why. 

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• With a coastline far longer than one would expect from such a small country, Estonia has a long and proud legacy of seafaring, as remarked even by Hemingway in one of his novels: "No well-run yacht basin in Southern waters is complete without at least two sunburned, salt bleached-headed Estonians..." Hear both the stories of our maritime triumphs and tragedies.

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• Learn​ about Estonia's peasant-folks' long history of serfdom under the yoke of foreign landowners—but also why it's not quite as black and white as one might expect it to be, with various noble families spanning the full spectrum from cruel tyrants to benevolent intellectuals.

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These are but only few of the tales we will share with you, grounding facts and history in memorable and exciting chapters that will make up the metaphorical book of your visit to Estonia.
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Specifically, the usual tour route will cover and show you the following sights (and much more in between, of course):

• Jägala Waterfall, the largest in Estonia

• Hike through an otherwise inaccessible wild bog landscape via a specially constructed wooden boardwalk

(the exact bog may depend on the particular day, our time & your preferences—whenever possible, we'll always try to take you to the more pristine and less frequented pathways)

• A tour of the historical grand Palmse Manorhouse and its surrounding estate

• Drives past several other historical manor estates, both renovated and dilapidated ones, to showcase the architectural variety & contrasts

• A visit to the quaint and picturesque Käsmu coastal village and a walk on its serene coast

• Tour of the fascinating private Maritime Museum in Käsmu—one uncompromising man's hobby, passion, and lifework

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If there’s a specific landmark you’re curious about and not listed here, do let us know, and we’ll do our best to weave it into the tour and the story. Book your personalized journey through the Lahemaa National Park today and let us guide you through the heart of Estonia's pristine nature for a personal and unforgettable experience!​