Alutaguse National Park

This national park is remarkable for its beautiful native forests and deep marshes, reminiscent of the taiga. Several endangered or rare species—such as marsh harriers and flying squirrels—make their homes in the forests and swamps of Alutaguse.

Brown bears, Estonia's largest predators, roam the thick forests. It’s possible to come across one searching for food in the spring. If this thought makes you nervous, but you still want to see bears with your own eyes, try visiting one of the purpose-built bear-watching huts to observe them from a safe distance.

In Alutaguse, you can enjoy the 30-kilometer-long beach with dune forests and singing sands on the north coast of Lake Peipsi or the 18-meter high ridges of continental dunes of the Alutaguse wetlands, which are not often visited even by locals. You'll also find endless opportunities for outdoor adventures on the Kurtna lake system, which has more than 40 lakes in an area of ​​30 km2.

The southern part of Alutaguse National Park borders one of Europe's largest bodies of fresh water—Lake Peipsi, which attracts holiday goers with its extensive sandy beaches and spectacular boating and fishing opportunities.

What to do:

• Climb the Iisaku Observation Tower, then go for a ride on the Agusalu Bike Trail.
• Discover the Puhatu-Agusalu swamps—these unique continental dunes are up to 18 meters high with good berry and mushroom forests.
• Go on a bird or animal-watching trip.
• Visit the ancient forest of the Poruni River and the Kurtna lakes.