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:

Bike Rental at the Sviby Port on the Island of Vormsi

The bike rental has 50 bicycles for rent. The 3- or 1-speed bikes are ideal for riding on the tracks and landscapes of Vormsi. The bicycles have luggage carriers and bottle holders and you can also use special seats for children.
Vormsi has a well-developed network of roads and bike tracks, and the traffic is much safer than in the mainland. If you ride around by bike you can have much better contact with nature and you can visit places you cannot access by car.
You can rent the bike for 1.5 hours or up to a couple of days.

Rannavälja, Sviby küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond

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

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

Paralepa Beach

Paralepa beach has always been a sandy beach with one of the warmest water temperatures in Estonia.
In the vicinity of the beach it is possible to use a shower and toilet (for a fee) in Paralepa Camping or at the Hotel Thalasso Spa Fra Mare. On the beach, there are mobile toilets, cabanas, a children’s playground, and a volleyball court. Good to know: The official season is from 1 June to 31 August. During the season, life guards are present every day from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Pay attention to the colours of the flag: Green – swimming is safe and water is warmer than 18ºC; yellow – dangerous for children and the elderly; red – dangerous to all, water is below 16ºC.

Paralepa puhkeala, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond

Huitbergi hiking trail and limestone hill

One of the most fascinating places on Vormsi is the Huitbergi limestone hill in a spruce forest in the middle of the island. The hill is over 400 million years old and a coral reef polished by ice. The limestone outcrop is covered with moss, but fossils can be seen in places where there is no moss. Protected ferns have found their place there.
The circular trail is marked with wooden signs.

Vormsi metskond 1, Suuremõisa küla, Vormsi vald, Lääne maakond

Paralepa forest tracks

The Paralepa park forest not far from Haapsalu has 3 km and 5 km long tracks. They provide a number of exercise opportunities, from parallel bars and balance beams to chin-ups and obstacle course runs. You can get a map from the reception desk at the nearby Fra Mare Hotel to help you navigate along the tracks. The map marks the running and ski track, which is also marked in situ, and the hotel will also hire out Nordic walking equipment, bicycles and skis.

Ranna tee 1, Haapsalu linn, Haapsalu linn, Lääne maakond