Nature holiday - Visit Haapsalu

Immerse yourself in the nature of Läänemaa

In the romantic small town of Haapsalu and small villages, hospitable people await you, surprising you with their sincerity and interest in history and culture. The guests who stayed here are remembered again and again with great respect.

VisitEstonia has produced a brochure introducing Estonia’s national parks:

Gulf `Tagalaht` and birdwatching tower in Haapsalu promenade

For most of the year the Gulf Tagalaht in Haapsalu is an exciting place for birdwatching. There is no need to leave town, simply visit the 15-metre high birdwatching tower on the Promenade. When visiting the tower you will get a full overview of birdlife in the area between Haapsalu and Noarootsi. When the ice breaks in April and May, the gulf is filled with swans and different types of ducks. In autumn – in September and October – it is interesting to witness the departure of geese and cranes.

Promenaadi tn 3, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Orienteering Trail and Mobile Orienteering in Palivere

There is an orienteering trail and 20 mobile orienteering check points within 3 kilometres of the Palivere Tourist and Sports Centre.
Orienteering is suitable for everyone who likes to navigate in the wild with a map and test their skills. A rocky landscape and dense trails make navigating with a compass and map exciting. Do you go straight or around? Do you go by bike or on foot? Do you go alone or with friends?
The price includes a map, a compass, and instructions.
Read more about mobile orienteering here.

Spordikeskuse, Allikmaa küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Nõva Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre

The Nõva Recreation Area and Nature Reserve on the lowland of West-Estonia was established to protect the coastal landscapes and plant communities. It covers vast bog plains, forest massifs, and sand beaches. The lakes around Peraküla village are surrounded by 5-metre high coastal dunes. White water lilies and the great fen-sedge grow on the lakes. The coastal area enchants beachgoers and surfers. The forests and bogs are full of berries and mushrooms. There is an information point, camping spots, and places for making bonfires in the recreation area.

The Nõva Visitor Centre provides information about the area’s sights and advice on choosing the hiking routes.

Nõva looduskeskus, Peraküla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Lake Prästvike hiking trail

Lake Prästvike, located in the central part of Vormsi Island, is a former sea lagoon, which has been taken over by reed to a large extent, but has retained its importance as a spawning and nursery area for fish in the coastal sea. The birdlife of the lake is abundant and diverse – on a quiet spring evening, you can hear the song of the bittern.
The largest spring among the numerous springs in the northern part of the lake is the Suurallikas Spring. The 1.7 km hiking trail leads to Lake Prästvike and the observation tower on the north shore. At the edge of the forest, there is the unique Raviallikas Spring. It is surrounded by calcareous spring meadows with different species of Orchidaceae.

Vormsi ringtee T3, Hullo küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond

Lynx and bear watching tour in Alutaguse and Lahemaa National Park

The focus of this nature tour is on three iconic mammals – the lynx, the brown bear, and the wolf. For now, let’s focus our attention on the lynx, who has the most secretive life. About 500 lynxes are thought to live in Estonia, and they are mostly seen in Alutaguse and Lahemaa National Park.

Estonia also has a large bear population of almost 1,000. We will monitor their activities from a hut. In addition, we hope to hear the howls of wolves on dark autumn nights.

We will also have plenty of time for bird-watching. The tour includes accommodation and meals.

The best time to order a tour is the first three weeks of October but you can contact us all year round!

We also organise scheduled animal watching trips which you can join alone or with a friend, see our website for more information.

Palasi küla, Vinni vald, Lääne-Viru maakond

Allika hiking trail on Vormsi

Matis-Siffersi, Suuremõisa küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond