On the north-south axis of the neighboring countries Estonia and Latvia, there are three completely distinct wonderlands for nature-loving individuals: Lahemaa and Soomaa National Parks in Estonia and Gauja National Park in Latvia. All of them are blessed with ancient and pristine nature, each in its own way.<\/p>\n
The jewels of Lahemaa National Park include not only the clean air of its bog forests but also magnificent manors, quaint fishing villages with a touch of history, and a unique submarine harbor.<\/p>\n
Soomaa National Park’s greatest pride lies in its bogs, species-rich floodplain forests, and unique large-scale floods.<\/p>\n
The value of Latvia’s largest, Gauja National Park, is its diverse landscape, biologically rich forests, and picturesque views of sandstone cliffs and outcrops.<\/p>\n
With the changing seasons, the national parks offer extraordinary views from land, water, and air. Visitors can easily access countless hiking trails, whether on foot, by bicycle, on horseback, or by watercraft. There are relaxation options for every taste. Local culture and traditions also offer experiences worth discovering.<\/p>\n
Lahemaa National Park \u2013 Viru Bog, Hara Submarines, Manors, and Captain’s Village<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Upon arriving in Estonia, it is a good idea to start by exploring the pearl of North Estonia, Lahemaa National Park. Lahemaa wins hearts with its lush forests, beautiful beaches, and architecturally distinctive fishing villages. The national park is traversed by several well-marked long-distance hiking trails, such as the RMK Oandu-Ikla hiking trail and the Metsa trail, which is part of the E11 international hiking route. The first allows for overnight stays at designated campfire sites, while the latter offers local accommodation at the end of the day’s journey.<\/p>\n In Lahemaa, there are several places where you can pitch a tent or stay in a hut: Mustoja, Kalmeoja, and N\u00f5mmeveski are a few of them. The campsite is equipped with a campfire site with a grill, dining tables, firewood, and a dry toilet. All of this can be used responsibly for free. It is important to remember that the right of everyone applies – everyone has equal rights to stay and camp there.<\/p>\n For a shorter hike, the trail in Viru Bog is perfect, located just a half-hour drive from the capital Tallinn. This bog hike alone is worth the trip to Lahemaa. The first part of the bog and the observation tower can also be accessed by wheelchair and stroller. The total length of the trail is six kilometers, and it is advisable to set aside a couple of hours to complete the easy route.<\/p>\n However, Lahemaa is not just a nature park. Here, several well-preserved manor complexes offer visual delights. One cannot overlook Palmse Manor, first mentioned in the Middle Ages when the Danish king gifted the land to the St. Michael’s convent in Tallinn. However, nuns have never been seen in Palmse, which has been famous among the manor folk for centuries. Today, an open-air museum operates here, where visitors can stroll through the manor gardens and the palm house and get a glimpse of the luxurious lifestyle of the gentry in the manor house.<\/p>\n A unique attraction in the entire Baltic region is located in Lahemaa at Hara Bay, where the Soviet border guard built a military harbor with a submarine base.<\/p>\n Once you’ve had your fill of military heritage, you can embark on an adventure trip from the harbor to the military town, Hara Island, and the forests and coastal villages of the Juminda Peninsula.<\/p>\n For those indifferent to military heritage, the Majakivi hiking trail is just a stone’s throw away, where you will encounter a massive boulder, the third largest erratic boulder in Estonia. You can climb up the 41-meter circumference rock via a ladder to admire the surrounding pine forest from the treetops and why not do some yoga, write in a hiking journal, or have a picnic there. There are about a thousand similar “giants” in Estonia, but only a few can be climbed via a ladder. One of them is located in the legendary Captain’s Village of K\u00e4smu right by the water’s edge.<\/p>\n K\u00e4smu stands out from other coastal villages with its more impressive houses. Here, sailors were once trained, and many of them reached the rank of captain in their careers. This naturally meant a more substantial income, which is reflected in the grandeur of the houses. Today, K\u00e4smu is a summer retreat for the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of Estonia’s cultural figures. The maritime museum located in the heart of K\u00e4smu is like the dot over the “i” on the Lahemaa expedition.<\/p>\n Soomaa National Park \u2013 the Fifth Season, 10,000-Year-Old Bogs, and the Haabjas<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Established in 1993 in Central Estonia, the appearance of Soomaa National Park is shaped by vast bog plains, interspersed with winding, low-bedded rivers that seem tailor-made for water trips. The bog and forest hiking trails are a dream destination for those wishing to experience unspoiled nature with minimal human impact. The surrounding environment is hypnotic, and time perception and haste quickly fade away while moving through this area.<\/p>\n The Soomaa region is the bottom of a glacial lake formed nearly 10,000 years ago when the continental ice retreated, leaving behind sediments that do not allow water to pass through. As the ice and lake receded, flat marshy areas remained, which over time transformed into bogs. During the Soviet era, the authorities wanted to convert the marshes into farmland and established drainage systems in several places, which today’s Estonian state is trying to revert back to wetlands.<\/p>\n Soomaa got its name over 100 years ago from geography professor Johannes Gabriel Gran\u00f6, who first mentioned the area by this name. There are five major bogs in Soomaa. The largest of them, Kuresoo Bog, is also the largest bog massif in Estonia. It can be admired on a few-kilometer hike along the Ingatsi learning trail, where a mesmerizing view opens up from the observation tower over the bog. To reach the bog, you must also walk up stairs, as the bog has risen over ten meters over millennia, while the forest has not. The bog’s rise continues at a rate of one millimeter per year.<\/p>\n You can travel between the hiking trails of Soomaa by car or bicycle, as in several places, rivers interrupt the paths of hikers. It is definitely worth taking a picnic basket and towel on your hike to enjoy swimming in the bog lakes. Bog swimming can also be done on the Riisa and H\u00fcpassaare hiking trails in addition to the Ingatsi trail.<\/p>\n Soomaa is one of those places that is much more than it seems at first glance. Its greatest feature and magnet is the floods, which locals call the fifth season. The spring flood is caused by a large amount of precipitation or rapid snowmelt, causing the water to overflow the low riverbeds and inundate the surrounding landscape. In some years, the flood has risen nearly a meter per day for three to four consecutive days.<\/p>\n In several places, you can see signs of the record years of flooding at the water level. Standing on dry ground, it seems unimaginable that the water could be chest-deep and even submerge handrails. Just like people, the local plant, animal, and bird species have adapted to the temporary abundance of water.<\/p>\n The largest “floods” arrive in Soomaa in March-April, but they can occur in any season with heavy rains. One thing is certain, each fifth season has its own character. Then the entire Soomaa transforms into a vast water expanse, and even the lower roads are not spared. Some locals have to conduct their affairs using watercraft. In contrast, interested parties have the opportunity to paddle a canoe, kayak, or SUP board as if in a real Amazon – through forests, floodplains, and river meadows. This natural wonder has gained fame for Soomaa around the world and attracts more and more tourists from near and far.<\/p>\n Three low-bedded rivers flow through the national park – Lemmj\u00f5gi, Halliste, and Raudna. Canoeing is a popular activity here even when the flood recedes. In the past, single-log boats, or haabjas, were crafted and used here, which has become one of the symbols of the protected area. In Soomaa, the boat was made from willow wood and was the only means of transportation during floods. The haabjas was, of course, used year-round for trips to the store, school, or dairy. In 2021, the haabjas was included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list.<\/p>\n In Soomaa, beavers feel at home, and their activities can be observed on the fairytale-like Lemmj\u00f5e language forest trail and the Beaver Trail in T\u00f5ramaa. The latter starts from the visitor center of Soomaa National Park, where you can find more detailed information about hiking trails, local nature, and attractions, as well as facilities for washing and camping.<\/p>\n Gauja National Park \u2013 Wonderful Nature and Memorable Settlements<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Latvia’s largest, Gauja National Park, is known for its primeval forests, sandstone cliffs, and biological diversity. In the national park, one natural wonder follows another, with nearly 500 cultural and historical monuments in between: manors and castles, fortresses and citadels, mills and churches, outstandingly beautiful architecture, and museums.<\/p>\n The national park was established in 1973 and was named after the Gauja River, where, with a bit of luck, you might catch a glimpse of kingfishers. The area is an ideal place for leisure activities, whether hiking on foot, cycling, or canoeing.<\/p>\n If you happen to visit the area, be prepared to encounter primeval nature, relax from the fast-paced city life, and challenge yourself on some nature hikes.<\/p>\n The national park stretches from Sigulda to Valmiera, with the castle town of Cesis and the former paper industry settlement of Ligatne nestled in between. Both have beautifully preserved history, and as you move around, it feels as if the entire settlement is one large museum.<\/p>\n In Sigulda, located at the southwestern edge of the national park, you can ride a cable car and a bobsled on a track that has only 18 similar ones worldwide. Thanks to the surrounding forests, Sigulda has gained fame for its clean air and recreational opportunities for centuries. While there, find out what the locals have with their walking sticks. You can see them both on city streets and in souvenir shops. If you still have energy, climb the tower of Turaida Castle (especially recommended in autumn!) and stroll by the grave of the Turaida Rose, which local legend tells a rather sad story about.<\/p>\n One of the trademarks of Gauja National Park is its variously colored sandstone cliffs, nearly 350 million years old. They contain both caves and fascinating rock formations. The most famous cliffs are the 22-meter-high Erglu Cliff, which offers a magnificent view of the Gauja Valley from its edge, and the nearly half-kilometer-long Sietiniezise Cliff, which translates to “sieve rock.” Caves and pillars, niches and arches – there is something to admire at every turn. Additionally, this wall has a rare gray tone. For relaxation, you can find both a picnic area and a swimming spot nearby. Just pitch your tent and soak in as much peace and quiet as your heart desires.<\/p>\n In some very old forests, you might feel like you’re in a fairy tale, where forest spirits live among trees covered in moss and ferns. In fact, forests cover nearly half of the national park. With 33 lakes and nearly a hundred kilometers of the Gauja River, you can alternate between hiking and cycling with water activities.<\/p>\n At the end of the Gauja National Park tour, take a breather at the Valmiermui\u017ea Brewery, established in an old manor, which is much more than just a place to taste hop beverages. Here, you can find local artisans’ crafts and good food, and the air is thick with history.<\/p>\n For those who appreciate saunas and water treatments, head harmoniously into nature to the Ziedlejas Nature Spa, where special rituals cleanse both body and spirit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" On the north-south axis of the neighboring countries Estonia and Latvia, there are three completely distinct wonderlands for nature-loving individuals: Lahemaa and Soomaa National Parks in Estonia and Gauja National Park in Latvia. All of them are blessed with ancient and pristine nature, each in its own way. 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