The best way to explore the nature of Lahemaa is to find enough time and comfortable hiking equipment and take on the discovery of the local hiking and study trails. The hiking trails in Lahemaa have varying difficulty levels and are diverse – there are hour-long bog trails, a 45 km Oandu-Ikla hiking trail, and even a rocky kilometer to the northernmost point of mainland Estonia, Purekkari Peninsula. The forests of the Käsmu peninsula invite you to explore on foot or by bike. Lahemaa is also crossed by the long-distance hiking trail E11, which is called the Forest Hiking Trail in the Baltic States and starts in the city of Scheveningen in the Netherlands and ends in Tallinn.
We also recommend bringing a guide with you on the hiking trails in Lahemaa, whom you can find here.
When going into nature, always make sure that the burden you bring with you is limited to your presence. Sort packaging and used napkins according to waste management rules. Keep the hiking trails in Lahemaa clean!
Lahemaa National Park study trails:
Altja loodus- ja kultuurilooline rada | 4,2 km
Koprarada | 1 km
Käsmu loodus- ja kultuurilooline rada | 4,2 km
Majakivi-Pikanõmme õpperada | 7 km
Oandu loodusmetsarada | 4,7 km
Oandu pärandkultuurirada | 3,4 km
Oandu taimetarga rada | 1 km
Ojaäärse metsarada | 3,5 km
Sagadi-Oandu metsajuttude rada | 5,6 km
Tsitre Puude rada | 1km
Viru raba õpperada | 3,5 km
Hara lahe rannalooduse rada
Mohni õppe- ja matkarada
Mähu otsa ja Purekkari neeme linnuvaatlusrajad
Pähkneeme luitemänniku ja mereranna rada
Võsu koduloorada
Lahemaa National Park hiking trails:
Käsmu jalgrattarada | 11,6 km
Käsmu matkarada | 15 km
Oandu-Võsu matkarada | 9,5 km
Observation towers:
Majakivi-Pikanõmme õpperada
Viru raba
Bird watch towers:
Vihasoo linnuvaatlustorn
Viinistu linnuvaatlustornid
The Energy Track winds its way through places where you will feel on top of the world and truly recharge your batteries. The track is 1.7 km long and starts and ends by the Porkuni Limestone Museum in Küngassaare. It skirts Lake Porkuni before heading into the forest of the local manor park, which may have changed a lot over time but still retains some of the exotic bushes and trees planted here during the manor era. One of the most amazing sights along the track is Porkuni's limestone outcrop. You will also pass the head of the Valgejõe River, karst features and more. The track is marked with information stands.
Vihula Mini-Golf course is located on a beautiful island in the Mustoja River. The 1880 m² 18-hole mini golf course is the largest in the Baltics. The educational and entertaining course meets international standards. During the game, you can see the sights of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
If you have not played golf before and would like to try this game, Vihula Manor offers a unique opportunity to play mini golf and educate yourself at the same time!
Purekkari Cape is the northernmost point of mainland Estonia.
The 1.5 km long rocky, boulder-strewn cape is located in Lahemaa National Park. The cape ends with a small island, which is only accessible when the water level is low. The thorny wild rose bushes are particularly eye-catching when in bloom during summer and when they have bright red fruit in autumn. Many migratory birds pass by here, making it a popular birdwatching spot.
Near the cape are former military installations and the Purekkari camping area, which is equipped with a campfire site, shelter, and information boards.
NB! The road to the parking lot is narrow and cannot be accessed by large buses.
Spend a captivating day in peaceful, unspoiled nature surrounded by rural charm. Visit one of the oldest and largest national parks of the region, Lahemaa, habitat for moose, fox, and lynx.
Experience the stunning untouched forests of the North Estonian coast and the sounds of the wind and the sea. You will explore the grand Palmse Manor, whose story dates back to the thirteenth century, Käsmu, a former fishing village with a rich history, and the splendour of Jägala waterfall, the highest natural waterfall in Estonia. Or let's hike in Viru bog.
Tour includes guide service, transportation, lunch, entrances to Palmse Manor and Käsmu Maritime Museum.
The Kõnnu Wetlands have a special atmosphere. A lake that rests between eskers in a giant basin has paludified over the course of thousands of years. The surface of this light-filled swamp is densely covered with bog-pools. The beautiful panoramic view to the otherworldly landscape that is ornate with bonsai-like pines can be enjoyed from the top of the lookout tower that has been erected in the middle of the swamp near Lake Paukjärv.
The price includes the hike, snowshoes, poles, and if necessary, leggings, and a guide. At the end of the hike, you can enjoy a picnic, sit around a campfire, and talk about the hike.
We recommend wearing rubber boots and clothes that fit the season (including a hat).
The minimum fee for a group of up to 10 people is 300 euros, the fee for each additional person is 26 euros.
You will find the Palmse Nunnery Boulders on the right side of the road behind the walls of Palmse Manor when driving from the direction of Viitna.
This is a group of 14 erratic boulders with a circumferance of more than 10 metres and many smaller boulders that were formed when larger boulders broke apart upon the melting of glacial ice. They have been named after a nunnery that was located on the same site in the 15th century.
According to legend the Almighty turned all the nuns who went to meet with the Devil into stone.
Lahemaa National Park was founded in 1971 and was designed to preserve, research, and introduce the nature, cultural heritage, biodiversity, landscapes, national culture, and nature conservation of Northern Estonia. Lahemaa is one of Europe's most important forest protection areas.
The Oandu Nature Centre introduces the nature of Lahemaa National Park, as well as the opportunities it offers for exploring nature, as well as the use and cultivation of forests and timber throughout the ages.
From the courtyard of the nature centre, you can reach the Oandu nature trail and the Võsu-Oandu hiking trail. You can also use the connecting trails to reach Koprarada (Beaver Trail) and the Altja study trail.
The RMK hiking trail is the first hiking trail to pass through all of Estonia.
Covering 370 km, the trail starts in northern Estonia, at Oandu in Lahemaa National Park, and leads the hiker through the dense forests of Kõrvemaa and then onto the Soomaa National Park - one of the most magnificent marshlands in Europe.
Outfitted with kilometre marks and signposts to help you stay on the right path, information boards along the trail introduce information on Estonian forestry and the country's forest-related heritage and culture, as well as opportunities for relaxation.
Passing through a total of six counties, two national parks and nine nature reserves, the hiking trail ends at the border between Estonia and Latvia in Ikla.
Viru bog is probably the most accessible bog during all seasons. It is a mixture of incredibly diverse landscapes, bog pools, strips, and hollows. The observation tower in the middle of the bog is perfect for enjoying the magnificent view. During the journey, we will cross the bog islands and take a look at the regenerating peatlands. We will end the journey by hiking in the eskers surrounding the bog. On request, catering is offered at the campfire.
The price includes the hike, snowshoes, poles, and if necessary, leggings, and a guide. We recommend wearing rubber boot and clothes fitting the season.
The minimum fee for a group of up to 10 people is 300 euros. Each additional person costs 26 euros.
The peaceful and lovely Karepa beach is located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The sea is relatively shallow and the beach is sandy, but there are also small boulders. The coastline is, for the most part, straight, but there are also three small capes.
Karepa became a popular summer destination as early as the late 19th century, when several noblemen built their summer cottages there. The holiday destination is still popular among locals and tourists.
Karepa is home to the house museum of the artist Richard Sagrits, a herbal garden, and Kullo Youth Camp. The nearest town is Kunda.
Vainupea beach is located in Lääne-Viru County in Vihula Rural Municipality. The beach is well-maintained and has dressing booths. The beach also has benches, a boardwalk, rubbish pins and toilets.
Summering became fashionable in Estonia after the abolition of serfdom at the end of the 19th century. About a century ago, Vainupea was already a busy holiday spot.
Participation does not require any prior knowledge about orienteering in the nature and suits any age group. It is possible to vary the length, content and time of passing the trail.
Prices start at 10 euros per person. Price is valid for a group of 10–35; larger and smaller groups should negotiate the price separately.
You can also order food produced using herbs from the gardens and buy a range of herb products, medicinal plant teas, souvenirs and Verner Luke paintings. If you wish, you can also receive personalised advice on plant therapy, camp in the gardens or make use of its picnic area.
Hikes and tours in Lahemaa National Park with a local nature guide.
Walk the trails of Lahemaa with a certified nature guide Riina Laanetu.
The price per hour for a tour in Estonian is €18; and in English or Russian €22. The price depends on the size of the group, the duration of the tour, and the activities.
We offer various programmes and routes: when in Tsitre, we can discover Kolga Manor and the surrounding landscapes; there is also a "coastal language" programme; we can go to Viru bog, on a tour in Lahemaa, participate in the "Finnish boys" programme, etc. Ask for more.
Visiting a bog is fun in every season – bogs are incredibly diverse and colourful (except for in winter if there is a lot of snow). In order to understand bogs better, visit them with a guide.
The hike is 3 or 6 km long and can be completed on a boardwalk. During the hike, we will admire the landscape from an observation tower, visit a peat milling field, take a look at and touch various plants (depending on the season), as well as talk about the related lore and the significance of bogs for the biota.
You can order transport or catering for an additional fee.
The price depends on the size of the group, the length of the hike, and additional services. Ask for an offer!
In Pedassaare, we can see the oldest and thickest coastal pines in Estonia, firs that crawl along the ground, rubble barrier, and a lot more interesting. Our trip takes us past Soviet border defence facilities, which merge with the surroundings without ruining the integrity of this special place.
If possible, we will visit Kaarli farm museum with a genuine coastal farm and old tools, collected over the years, that are kept in its barn.
From April 1st to July 15th it is forbidden to visit Älvi island!
Who would not know the white houses of the famous ‘Captains’ Village’ and its naval school with a dignified history? Lucky boulders and a statue called Signe that kneels in the graveyard, as well as military heritage from the Soviet times are obligatory sights to visit.
Käsmu peninsula is also a gigantic natural Ice Age park with a unique boulder field and romantic rocks left behind by glacial drift. Lake Käsmu and Eru Bay are places that are unfortunately rarely visited; here, the peninsula that otherwise has a low rocky coastline throws in a surprise sandy beach and high embankment.
Nature guide and huntsman Peeter Hussar is considered the salt of the earth in Lahemaa. With him, we can wonder along forest trails and study the signs that nature leaves: guessing the origin of footprints on snow, scratches on trees, shuffling in the bushes or singing in treetops.
With his help, smells and sounds tell a story, and even silence speaks volumes!
A trip in the woods is a perfect ending for a seminar, for discovering nature with your friends or as a part of team training.
Nature is always welcoming, regardless of season and time!
It is possible to rent bikes from the Sagadi Hotel reception. We have a total of 24 bikes – 19 for men and 5 for women. A child's seat can be attached to some of the bicycles. We will provide the visitors with helmets and bike locks.
Our receptionists will gladly give you a map of the surroundings and suggestions for different routes at Lahemaa. The surrounding area presents a picturesque scenery and wonderful cycling trails.
The bike rental costs 10 €/day or 2 €/hour.