Snow and Saunas in Estonia
Stomp, sled and fat bike through snow-blanketed forests, stopping off for steamy saunas and ice dips on this Baltic winter adventure
What's Included?
Activities & Certified Guides
All itinerary activities with expert, English-speaking nature guideHotel & Spa Hotel
2 nights in central Tallinn hotel, and 2 nights in luxury manor house with a spaMeals
All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 1 dinnerTransfers
All transfers between the activities (transfers to and from the airport are not included)Equipment
All equipment for the included winter activitiesSmall Like-minded Groups
Solo-friendly by design, join our small n’ sociable groups of up to 14 like-minded, active and outdoorsy people…
What's it like?
Explore fairytale Tallinn and hike through the winter wonderland of Lahemaa National Park by night with lanterns
Experience the best of Estonian winter fun – ploughing through snowy forest trails on fat bikes and kicksleds
Let off steam as you hop between hot tubs, ice holes and traditional smoke saunas – a UNESCO-listed experience
Bed down in a cosy 16th-century manor, one of the most characterful historic hotels in Europe on the icy banks of the Mustoja River
Key Information
Day 1
Tallinn winter magic
Touch down in Tallinn Airport, then make your way to your central hotel. If you arrive on an early flight, your guide will meet you in the afternoon to guide you around the UNESCO-listed Old Town and show you the best panoramic spots. Tallinn is always a magical place, but it is in the winter that the city looks even more like it was plucked from the pages of a fairytale. Exploring it on foot is unbelievably picturesque and if you feel a bit cold, a traditional glühwein will warm you up and help you get into the winter mood. If you arrive on an evening flight, you can head straight to bed and meet your group on Day 2. Your adventure in the snow starts tomorrow!
Day 2
Fat biking, igloo sauna and ice dipping
Cycling
Hiking
Wave goodbye to the city lights and head out to Lahemaa National Park, one of the biggest and most important forest reserves in Europe. You'll stop en route at the Põhja-Kõrvemaa Nature Reserve for an exhilarating fat bike ride through snowy forest trails. The tracks are relatively flat and well-marked, making it ideal even if you've never fat-biked before. You'll then enjoy a unique igloo-sauna experience on the lake – followed by an icy dip for those who are feeling brave! The next two nights will be spent in a cosy, luxurious manor house with spa, nestled between frosty fields and slow-clad trees. Get a taster of this winter wonderland tonight as you head out on a short lantern-lit walk through the forest.
Day 3
Frozen meadows, kicksledding and a smoke sauna
Hiking
Bogs and marshes are the true treasures of Estonia, being the oldest organic landscape in the country – some of which are up to 10,000 years old. This unique environment is remarkable throughout the year, but exploring them in the wintertime makes it eerily beautiful. Spot wildlife tracks left in the snow with the help of your experienced guide and if you are lucky, you may even come across elusive moose, lynx and foxes. This afternoon, you'll experience two other favourite Estonian winter pastimes: plough silently through the snow on kicksleds, then hit the rejuvenating, UNESCO-listed experience of the smoke sauna, covering yourself in honey and 'whisking' your skin with birch branches. Top off this authentic wellness experience with a relaxing dip in the hot tub, then drive back to your comfortable hotel for the night.
Day 4
Winter hiking and frozen waterfalls
Snowshoeing
Start the day with an optional reinvigorating hot sauna or spa treatment at the hotel, then don your snowshoes and head deep into the wilderness of Lahemaa National Park. Snowshoe through silent, snow-blanketed forests – eyes peeled for elk, wolf and moose tracks. Stop in a pristine, scenic spot and warm up with a hot meal and drinks cooked on a campfire. This afternoon, you'll head back to Tallinn, stopping for a visit to the striking Jägala Waterfall en route. At approximately eight metres high and more than 50 metres wide, this is the widest natural waterfall in Estonia – and it's a true spectacle in winter, when the fall partially freezes and forms huge icy stalactites. Back in the city, you'll have time to freshen up before heading out for a final celebratory farewell dinner and night in Tallinn – locals say the vodka tasting is a must!
Day 5
Goodbye Estonia!
After four days of adventure and relaxation, it’s time to head home refreshed and revitalised. If you depart later today and you missed the visit to Tallinn Old Town on Day 1, your guide will be on hand to show you around. Alternatively, you can also opt to hit one of the great city saunas, such as the Iglupark, Kalma Sauna or Tallinn Sauna (the oldest in the city). If you leave today, it's time to say nägemiseni (see you soon!) and make your way to the airport, just a short tram journey away.
Day 1
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 2 – Day 3
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 4
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Day 5
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
What is the food like?
Traditional Estonian food and drinks are linked to the history of the Baltic States and many dishes can be traced back to medieval times. As a result, Estonian food is hearty, wholesome and packed with seasonal flavours. In winter, warming stews, roasts and soups are always on the menu. There is no food quite as quintessentially Estonian as rye bread: rye has been cultivated in Estonia for more than a thousand years and is a central part of the nation's traditional agriculture. The other national dish, verivorst, is typically a winter meal and comprises barley, onions, allspice, marjoram and blood sausage, often alongside roasted pork and potatoes and served with sour cream, sauerkraut or seasonal berries. We are talking serious comfort food! Mulled wine, vodka and craft beer are especially popular in winter, to help bear the cold.
Vegetarians, vegans and other dietary requirements and allergies can be catered for, but please note that options may be limited – please just request on your passenger info form.
What is the accommodation like?
Tallinn
The first and last nights of the trip will be spent in Tallinn – usually at the Hotel St Barbara, which is located in a quiet street within walking distance of the Old Town and the city's main sights. The hotel was designed in the early 1900s and today, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful limestone buildings in Estonia's capital. Accommodation will be on a twin-share basis in cosy rooms, equipped with a flat-screen TV, personal safe, complimentary Wifi and private bathrooms with underfloor heating. The hotel also includes a charming old German-style cellar restaurant, with a great selection of a la carte meals and beer.
Lahemaa National Park
You'll spend two nights at the exclusive, 4-star Vihula Manor Country Club & Spa – the first full-service manor resort in the Baltic countries. The manor, which is undoubtedly one of the most amazing places to stay in Estonia, was also awarded the title of Historic Hotel of Europe 2020. Set alongside the Mustoja River in the Lahemaa National Park, the property comprises a charming 16th-century estate with two main manor house buildings, 25 other historical buildings where rooms are allocated, and 50 hectares of beautiful parkland. Guests can enjoy free access to the impressive swimming pool and eco-sauna, featuring a 15-metre pool with massage seats, four types of saunas, a jacuzzi and an outdoor hot tub.
Upgrades
For solo travellers looking for their own space, an optional private room can be booked for an extra charge, see Optional Extras for the price. Please request this at the time of booking (this is subject to availability).
This trip has been rated as Easy
This trip is suitable for anyone with basic fitness levels. None of the activities are hugely demanding and no previous experience or technical skills are required. You won't be exerting yourself for more than two or three hours at a time, and there is also plenty of relaxation and wellness time built into the trip. With two hours of private group sauna booked on Days 2 and 3, plus free access to the wellness centre at Vihula Manor, you'll balance the active time in the cold with plenty of pampering in the heat. To get the most out of the trip you should enjoy being out in the cold during the winter, and also come prepared with adequate warm clothing – see the kit list for guidance. The trip includes snowshoeing, fat biking and kicksledding. All activities will be suitable for first-timers and conducted at a leisurely pace.
Fat bikes have extra fat, knobbly tyres that are designed for riding on soft surfaces like sand and snow, and they have little or no suspension. The super-fat tyres distribute the rider’s mass across a larger area, so you don’t sink in and do gain more traction than you would with a standard tyre size. You can ride easily and with stability, even over firm snow and ice. You won't be riding very far, so anyone who can ride a bike at a basic level will enjoy fat biking though the picturesque forest tracks.
Snowshoeing is a type of hiking that uses a special type of footwear – a snowshoe – to spread your weight over a larger area, allowing you to move easily across powdery, snow-covered terrain. Snowshoeing is incredibly easy, comfortable and safe. You simply clip the snowshoe to the outside of your hiking boot and off you go. You'll be in the hands of local, experienced, and trained guides who know the area intimately and will guide you safely throughout the hike.
Kicksledding is an extremely fun winter activity that every Estonian loves. Originating from the Scandinavian countries, the kicksled includes a chair (for an optional carried passenger) mounted on a pair of flexible metal runners that extend backwards to about twice the chair's length. The sled is propelled by kicking and it works best on icy snow conditions and marked tracks.
What will I need to carry?
You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small daysack to carry personal items during each day of the activities.
Winter in Estonia lasts from late November until late March, with temperatures ranging from mild (above freezing) to as low as -30°C, although temperatures just below 0°C are far more common. Snow usually falls as early as late November but it is most common in the months of December to March, when this trip runs.
Mother Nature is unpredictable so snow can never be 100% guaranteed on every departure. However, recent reports show a very high chance of snow between the months of December and March. Winter hiking and fat biking without snow will be equally spectacular and enjoyable, and your hosts will do their best to suggest the best alternative activities according to the local weather conditions in this situation.
The Area
Logistics
Starts
Tallinn City Centre
16:00 on Day 1
Ends
Tallinn City Centre
Any time on Day 5
Transfers
Airport transfers are not included in the trip, but it's easy to make your way to/from Tallinn city centre by public transport. Tram no. 4 takes you directly from the airport to the city centre in approximately 20-25 minutes. It runs daily from 05:30 until 00:45. The tram stop (Lennujaam) is located right next to the terminal and tickets can be bought with a contactless payment card on board (€2) or the ticket machine at the airport (€2). The stop is only a 2-minute walk from the St Barbara Hotel.
You can arrive any time on Day 1, but if you wish to join the walking tour with your guide we recommend checking in at the hotel by 15:30 at the latest.
On Day 5, you can depart at any time. If you prefer to arrange a pick-up or drop-off at the airport by private transfer, or to extend your stay in Tallinn, your host can arrange this for a fee – please check the Optional Extras for more info.
Travel options
There are usually direct flights connecting London to Tallinn on Tuesdays and Saturdays, when this trip runs. These are operated by Wizzair and Air Baltic. Indirect flights are available from the rest of the UK and on days of the week.
Enjoy 12.5% Off Outdoor Gear
In need of a few more items? All bookings receive a 12.5% discount to use at Cotswold Outdoor, Snow + Rock and Runner's Need.
What's included?
All the snowshoeing, fat biking and kick-sledding equipment you'll need
What do I need to bring?
BAGS
- Soft overnight duffel bag or luggage
- Daypack (20-30 litres)
- Waterproof liner for rucksack, or drybags
CLOTHES
- Waterproof and windproof top and bottom
- Down jacket
- Warm fleece or sweater
- Thermal tops and bottoms
- Snow gloves (you may wish to bring two pairs in case one gets wet)
- Warm hat and/or balaclava (you may wish to bring two in case one gets wet)
- Neck gaiter or scarf
- Multiple pairs of wool or synthetic socks
- Warm, waterproof boots
- Swimsuit (for the sauna)
OTHER
- Universal travel plug adapter
- Power bank or solar charger
- Passports (and visas)
- Travel insurance documents
- Ear plugs
- Suncream
- Personal first-aid kit (inc. blister treatment)
- Personal items (biodegradable toiletries, sanitary wear etc)
- Alcohol hand-gel
- Headtorch or torch
- Reusable water bottle x1 litre (or x2)
- Energy bars and snacks - read our article on Best Hiking Snacks
Additional Night in Tallinn Twin/Double/Single Room (Winter 24/25)
Payable Before Departure
Additional Night in Tallinn Twin/Double/Single Room (Winter 24/25)
…
Optional Private Rooom Upgrade (Winter 24/25)
Payable Before Departure
Optional Private Rooom Upgrade (Winter 24/25)
…
Private Arrival Transfer Tallinn Airport - City Centre (Winter 24/25)
Payable Before Departure
Private Arrival Transfer Tallinn Airport - City Centre (Winter 24/25)
…
Private Departure Transfer City Centre -Tallinn Airport (Winter 24/25)
Payable Before Departure
Private Departure Transfer City Centre -Tallinn Airport (Winter 24/25)
…
Nice introduction to Estonia
This trip had a great balance of active and down time. The weather meant the itinerary had to change but every effort was made by our guides to ensure we didn't miss out and fun was had regardless. It's a great opportunity to try new things and see new places. I loved the saunas and the ice dipping. Kick sledding was great fun although it was a shame the weather didn't allow for the fatbiking (which has, apparently, yet to run on any trip). Cross-country skiing around the forest's track was the replacement option.
Accommodation was good (nice and clean in both places). The spa hotel was lovely and it was a great place to rest and get to know the rest of the group.
Estonia is definitely worth another visit.
Our Purpose
To protect our world's wild places, one adventure at a time.
Book With Confidence
Positive impact adventure travel
