Beavers prefer to move around in the night and rest during the daytime. Therefore, the beaver safaris with canoes take place in the evening, when beavers wake up, but the human eye still sees enough of what is going on.
The guided canoe trips start near the Soomaa Holiday Village guest house at 9 p.m. in June and July, and at 8 p.m. during the other months.
The canoe trip takes about 2-3 hours and the price includes guide service and canoe equipment. We also offer transport services for those guests who are staying in Pärnu - we will pick you up at your accommodation upon request.
The price is 60€ per person when starting from Soomaa, 80€ per person with transfer from Pärnu.
Tipu Nature School aims to diversely spread environmental education. We are developing a nature school complex and organise learning days, trainings, camps, and hikes.
When visiting the nature school, we recommend a hike on foot or with snowshoes (in the winter) on the Pauna hiking trail (3 km), which starts near our building and offers a special experience.
If you make a booking, we can organise an entertaining and educational hike for your group in the forest, bog, and even on the river. Additionally, every year, we organise a hiking series which consists of four hikes and welcomes all nature enthusiasts.
It is possible to rent snowshoes and sledges from us.
Valuing native habitats and people's memories, we will open a treasure trove of local folklore stories and legends. We will talk about the heritage culture of Soomaa, about the long history of Levi village, about the ancestors of Mihkel Tilga, a local historian from the Tori region - Kuuse Andres and Gertrud, from the Angels' dance floor in Levi to the Old Devil of Tori Hell.
We'll walk along the old cattle path and peat cutting sites. We'll gain strength from ancient trees, see the laughter- and crying-stone, and other interesting things.
The trip will be concluded with herbal tea and something sweet.Please choose clothing and footwear according to the weather and suitable for the marshy nature of Soomaa.
Are you looking for something new and interesting for a group of children that is outdoors, child-friendly, active, and educational? Our playful nature trip for children at Tipu Nature School is the right choice!
The length of the trip is 1–3 kilometres depending on the age and wishes of the children. On the trip, we observe nature and play games and an animal-themed children's quiz.
After the trip, children can feed the animals living in our yard.
Additional information is available on our website.
We are going to follow a local Soomaa tour guide to mushroom forests familiar to them in order to learn about various edible and inedible mushrooms. At the end of the day, we will use the mushrooms we have gathered for preparing a delicious mushroom meal. Estonians love mushrooming and gathering mushrooms for winter. We will explore different ways to preserve mushrooms, such as drying, pickling, salting and marinating.
The season for mushroom trips begins in July and ends in October.
Mushroom trips are also suitable for families with children.
This adventurous day in Soomaa National Park is a combination of a bog-shoe hike and canoeing.
An experienced guide leads you through the forest to Estonia's biggest bog –Kuresoo. A pair of special bog-shoes will help you in crossing parts of the bog you would otherwise be unable to, offering an unforgettable experience. The bog-shoes keep your head above water and protect the landscape at the same time! After a lunch in the great outdoors, we continue on with a relaxing canoe trip along the national park's rivers.
The best way to make the most of the white summer nights is to go hiking! Night canoe trip is an exotic way of spending warm summer nights. Things look different in the dark, and sometimes we can't see everything, but only hear it - or imagine it! Night trips are led by experienced local tour guides and the trip takes place on a calm Raudna River (3 hours). The trip takes us to beaver habitat and if we are lucky we might get a chance to observe beavers in their natural environment. The language of the trip is English!
NB! Transfers from Pärnu are also available for an extra fee.
Everyone who heads out on one of these hikes in Soomaa National Park is given a pair of bog shoes and will be led by a local guide, who will provide instructions and tell interesting stories about the area. You will get to experience the thrill of walking in places that would otherwise be inaccessible.
Interesting to know: bog shoes have been around for a long time – they were first used by our ancestors for moving around in the bogs.
The hikes last from 2 to 5 hours. The price depends on the size of the group.
NB! We do not organise hikes during the period in spring when birds are nesting.
Every Estonian loves cranberries. A local nature guide will introduce the wonderful bogs with numerous bog pools, soft hollows, and secret streams. We will give each participant snowshoes, which will make moving in the bogs easier.
Fun fact: Estonians use cranberries to make juice and as a cure for diseases. The first cultivated cranberries were grown in Estonia, one of the varieties is named ‘Kuresoo’ (Crane Bog).