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:

Snowshoe hikes in Marimetsa bog

Marimetsa bog, typically to Western Estonia, does not have a lot of trees. At the same time, there are many bog ponds characteristic of Eastern Estonia. Together, it offers a pleasant mix of bouncy soil, large bog ponds, and open bogs.
A hike in Marimetsa bog is especially suitable for those who are interested in nature. Marimetsa bog is also known for its abundance of birds. The most significant representative of the rich bog and forest bird life nesting in the Marimetsa nature reserve is probably the bald eagle. The abundance of Charadriiformes is especially striking.
The sample price is for groups of 12 or more people. Ask for a price if you have a smaller group!

Tammiääre, Palivere alevik, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Läänemaa Health Path

Läänemaa Health Path is an almost 60-kilometres-long path for pedestrians and cyclists along the embankment of the Riisipere-Haapsalu-Rohuküla line. The road has been marked with kilometre posts and with pickets every 100 metres. When at the section between Haapsalu-Rohuküla you should visit the remains of Ungru Castle not far from the path. You can also see the old airfield in Kiltsi. When at the section between Haapsalu-Risti near Taebla, go visit the Laikmaa Museum and Koela Museum and Lääne-Nigula church. When near Risti, go and take a look of Marimetsa bog.
Good to know: The path is covered with a strong surface. Driving on the road is safe and you will be undisturbed by traffic.

Raudteetammi tee lõik 5, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Peraküla beach

This beautiful countryside, largely untouched by civilization and surrounded by sparse settlement, is alluring to nature enthusiasts, who are able to visit the nearby forest to forage blueberries, cowberries and mushrooms.

The Nõva coastal area is also enchanting to those interested in enjoying a beach setting and getting a little surfing in. The sandy beach of Peraküla offers close to a dozen kilometres of pure singing sand.

Did you know…?: There are no lifeguards at this beach, and RMK Peraküla has a camping area with campfire sites and outhouses, as well as having a 200 capacity car park at Peraküla beach.

Riguldi metskond 3, Spithami küla / Spithamn, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond

Vormsi Landscape Protection Area

The aim of Vormsi Nature Protection Area is to protect rare landscapes, heritage, culture and plants. The two internationally important bird protection areas on the coast of Vormsi – bays of Hullo and Sviby – and Hari strait with coastal meadows and islets are named research areas of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Interesting places: Hullo bay – a nesting and a stopping place for birds. In spring you can see thousands of scaups, long-tailed ducks, ducks, barnacle geese and woodcocks there. Rumpo peninsula is the habitat of the rare lichens characteristic for tundras, but rare in Estonia. Also take a look at Rälby bog, Dilby peninsula, Saxby beach and Prästviigi Lake.

Norrenda, Rumpo küla, Vormsi 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

Marimetsa Bog Hiking Trail

The first part of the trail is a dirt road that runs along the high-voltage power line. The track then reaches the Marimetsa Brook and leads to the rest area along the banks of the brook. From there, a boardwalk will take you to Marimetsa Bog. There is a viewing tower at the end of the trail (7.6 metres high).
In Marimetsa Bog, you will see a fen, a transition bog, a raised bog, and a number of different birds and plants.
The length of the trail is 9 kilometres of which 2 × 2 kilometres is a boardwalk. You should plan 4–5 hours for the hike. The trail is wet at places – make sure to bring your rubber boots.
There is a dry toilet on the track, benches for resting, and an information board with a map and a scheme of the trail.

Kullamaa metskond 2, Rõuma küla, Lääne-Nigula vald, Lääne maakond