Christmas market holiday in Estonia
Description of Christmas market holiday in Estonia
Christmas is a wonderful time to be in the Baltics, with deep snow across countryside and historic towns likely, and a festive atmosphere pervading everywhere. This Estonia Christmas market winter holiday spends five days in a small country that has given much of its land up to national parks and nature reserves, resulting in a superb level of biodiversity, and some thrillingly wild landscapes.
You’ll begin in Estonia’s charming capital, Tallinn, where you can browse the stalls for gifts, admire the Christmas lights, and enjoy the aromas of traditional festive cuisine and mulled wine drifting over the cobbles. Your small group will be accompanied by a local guide, who will give you a tour of Tallin’s hidden nooks and crannies, a fantastic way to see the medieval architecture of the old town.
Leaving Tallinn behind, head east to the coastal Lahemaa National Park, whose bogs, wetlands and ancient forest are navigated by wooden boardwalks. At this time of year, the scenery is dusted with snow, the waters largely frozen, making for some stunning photography. Your accommodation for the next couple of nights will be a handsomely restored manor house, equipped with its own spa facilities. Get your wintery wellness on, and then dine on seasonal, locally sourced cuisine.
Your Estonia Christmas market tour ends in Tallinn again, just a 50km drive away but feeling like another world. Even though this is just a short break, you should arrive home feeling relaxed, because this small group tour’s itinerary has been deliberately designed to be slow and calm. That should stand you in good stead for the hectic Christmas season around the corner!
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Responsible Travel
Planet
CARBON REDUCTIONTravellers are welcomed to use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) during flights.
Company minimizes the distances travelled by vehicle, destinations are always close to stays.
Company uses only shared vehicles, if possible, the electric ones are preferred.
Chosen and recommended restaurants are loyal to local and seasonal primary goods.
Tasty and sustainable vegan food is available.
ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE
Company partners only with guides and hotels sharing the same values: low-impact practices, respecting the rhythms of wintering nature and animals.
Hotels are in buildings built in ages our grandmothers' grandmothers were not yet born. Neither theirs. But renovated newly minding green options and sustainable solutions. They have managed to install the elevator into medieval house.
Nature Park is our playground - you visit it, you value it. Nothing artificial.
All our destinations are made by Mother Nature and heritage culture.
Expert nature guides from local community lead the tours.
We share information about heritage culture: less consuming and more natural.
Company donates to flying squirrel protection organization per visitor.
People
LOCAL ECONOMYCompany is partnering directly with locals from heritage manors to local guides. Because the tour is intentionally small-scale and slow-paced, more of each guest’s spending stays in the region, supporting rural communities and preserving traditional Estonian culture.
Company's mission is to give the possibility for both: travellers and locals.
Local economy is only economy during Lahemaa Nature Park. Park is already 55 years old, so traditions are settled and locals have found the best sustainable possibilities to show their home place via guiding, local food, heritage places and handcraft.
In Tallinn's Christmas Market local handcraft is dominating as well as local tastes.
EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY
There is no one but loyal locals living and serving in Lahemaa Nature Park: from hotel stuff to craftsman.
Travellers sexual orientation is not a big deal during nature hikes, but in winter it is impossible to take it with wheelchair. (Remark: during dry summer it is possible in forests and in bog, where man-made paths are suitable for wheelchairs.) Manor stays and sauna centre can be possible. Tallinn old town also.
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