Hiking in Estonia

Estonia is a good hiking destination for many reasons. Like in the rest of the Baltics, the Nordic countries, Scotland, and some Central European countries, everyone has the right to access. This means that in general no permits are needed and no fees are charged for exploring the nature and some other outdoor activities. In Estonia, this is a bit more strict than in the Nordic countries, for instance when it comes to staying overnight.

The terrain is flat, and while there is plenty of nature to enjoy (due to low population density), except for small islands in the sea you will never be more than a day's walk away from civilization including shops, services, public transport and help. In addition Estonia is affordable compared to the Nordic countries (food, fares, lodging).

Estonia has a humid continental climate, with daytime temperatures during summer around +20°C, and frequently above. At these latitudes, there is daylight during most hours of the day during the summer. But days are correspondingly short during the winter, and at that time you should also expect temperatures well below freezing, and snow.

The State Forest Management Centre (RMK) is responsible for the country's national parks, reserves and official trails.

See also: Eurasian wildlife

Animal and plant life is similar to nearby Finland and Sweden. Coastal Estonia is known for its pine forests and sand beaches, very reminiscent of Hanko peninsula in far southern Finland. Moreover, Estonia is known for its bogs.

Big wild animals of notice are moose, deer, wild boars and more rarely wolves, lynx, and brown bears.

There's a chance you will enter Estonia through Tallinn, by boat or plane. From there you can get by bus or train almost anywhere in the country. If you want to start your natural journey right away, there are some campgrounds within 20-30 km of Tallinn.

Major border crossings such as Ikla/Ainazi between Pärnu and Riga often have trailheads or camping grounds nearby, so you can hit the trail right when you've entered the country. Latvia is, like Estonia member of the Schengen area and you can as such cross between the countries as you like (the freedom to roam also applies in Latvia), but the Russian border is a completely different story.

Protected areas, camping grounds and trailheads are often also accessible by car.

You can also get in and around by boat, see Boating on the Baltic Sea#Boating in Estonia for details.

The right to access also includes picking wild berries and mushrooms as well as fishing.

Often you'll not be far from civilization, so you don't need to carry weeks worth of supplies.

Tap water is mostly drinkable. Water from natural sources is reportedly drinkable after boiling.

In protected areas and along trails, you're only allowed to set up a tent at designated places (or stay at huts) but it is free of charge. RMK also maintains campsites and huts elsewhere, and they are free too. Elsewhere you need to ask permission of the landowner (in the case of public lands, the forest office) beforehand.

Paid accommodation won't probably break the bank; tent sites are often less than €10/night and rural accommodation is often €50/night or less.

Estonia is in general a safe country. Hiking on roads, you must watch out for traffic.

Like in most of Europe, the nature isn't particularly dangerous. There are some dangerous animals such as bears, but you're not likely to encounter them as they mostly avoid people.

The European viper (vipera berus) is the only venomous snake. Its bite is potentially fatal, so if you get bitten, you should see a doctor. Ticks are probably the animals you need to be most afraid of; these tiny arachnids bite and can carry tick-borne meningoencephalitis (TBE) and lyme disease (borreliosis). There's a vaccine available against the former, while the latter can be treated with antibiotics. Both are nasty; check your or your buddy's body in the evening, to find any ticks before they bite or before they have been attached for extended times. Mosquitoes don't carry any diseases but they do sting and in great number and due to their aggressiveness they can be annoying.

• Hiking in the Nordic countries — much of the advice applies in Estonia too