Tour of Soomaa – discover nature, rural life and authentic experiences
Located in the north-east corner of Pärnu County, Soomaa holds rare quiet moments and untouched nature, alongside which vibrant farm life flourishes
If you're looking for a slow and relaxing holiday close to nature, then a tour of Soomaa is just for you.
Take an adventurous canoe trip, enjoy the fresh air and Estonian nature and make stops in places you’ve never been to before. The pace of the tour is up to you. You can do the route in one day or stay in Soomaa for longer.
The Soomaa region is characterised by a rare combination of fertile farmland, abundant nature and a kind of peace and quiet rarely found nowadays. It is worth coming back to Soomaa again and again, because every day and each season has a different face. It is especially magical to discover Soomaa during the spring floods, the so-called fifth season.
What to expect
- Highlights of the journey: Around the national park, you can admire the wonderful nature, and also enjoy different traditional flavours, become familiar with the local wine culture, see Estonia’s very own breed of horses and perhaps even take part in a sauna experience.
- Length of the journey: Approximately 160 km
- Duration: Soomaa is the perfect place for a daytrip, but we recommend sparing 2 days to experience the true peace, tranquillity and wonderful nature of Soomaa.
- When to visit: year-round. For some small farms, the visit must be booked in advance. Not all small producers’ doors may be open during the low season.
- How to get here: the tour is designed to be explored in your own car or a rental car.
- Sustainable options: cafés and small producers along the route offer locally sourced products that you can try out and purchase on the spot. Soomaa National Park is a protected area – as you explore the area, please respect nature and the birds and animals that live here.
Visit the Tori Horse Breeding Farm
Did you know that the oldest horse breeding farm in Estonia is located in Tori, Pärnu County? Horses have historically played an important role in Estonian farm culture. At a time when there were no tractors or farm machinery, horses were used to plough the fields and harvest the crops.
The Tori Horse Breeding Farm is located in a recently renovated and architecturally beautiful stable complex belonging to the Tori Manor ensemble, which was built in 1862. To this day, the oldest horse breeding farm in Estonia is engaged in the raising and breeding of Estonian and Tori breeds. The farm also features a museum where you can find out how big Hetman, the father of the Tori horses, was and discover the history of horse breeding in Estonia.
- You can get here from the Pärnu city centre in about 30 minutes by car
- Set aside at least an hour for your visit
- June–August Wed-Sun 10:00-18:00
- September–May Wed-Sun 9:00-17:00
- Horse riding and horseback riding available when booked ahead
Learn more
While in Tori, seek out the Estonian Soldiers Memorial Church and the mysterious Tori Hell.
Tori Hell is the name given to the cave in the heart of Tori, on the banks of the Pärnu River. The cave is nearly 6 metres wide and, according to legend, 32 metres long. The passage to hell has collapsed by now, but there is still a mysterious air to the area. You can get to Tori Hell by following the riverside stairs that start at the Tori Cemetery.
The mysterious cave entrance can also be viewed from the water. To do this, head to the Levikivi Nature Farm, where you can rent a canoe and go adventuring on the river. Levikivi also has a stonemasonry workroom and a craft shop where you can buy locally made natural stone products. If you have some extra time, you can learn to make your own stone necklaces, stone instruments and toy blocks at Levikivi.
Photo author: Priidu Saart
Explore the world of handcrafted drinks – Tori Cider Farm
Estonia has a long history of brewing craft beverages and homemade wines. In the old days, almost every farm had a few oak barrels where wine or stronger spirits were being aged. But what about craft cider and craft wine today?
You can find the answers to these and many other questions by visiting the Tori Cider Farm on the edge of the Soomaa National Park, where organic cider and wines are produced from local berries and fruits using traditional methods.
Want to challenge yourself? Test yourself at the Cider Farm’s Disgorgement Workshop – here you will learn one of the most important stages in making traditional champagne-based drinks, where after the drink has been settled, the yeast is removed from the bottle and the sparkling wine cap is put on.
The handcrafted beverages of the Tori Cider Farm have received several awards both in Estonia and internationally. It is a family business that aims to produce handmade drinks with zero waste. The drinks are made using local apples, rhubarb, blackcurrants, etc. You can join the cider production tour or enter the cider master’s workshop for new experiences. It is also possible to explore the Nordic wine-growing area and the apple orchard.
- It takes no more than 8 minutes to get from the Horse Breeding Farm to the Cider Farm.
- Set aside at least an hour for your visit
- To visit the Tori Cider Farm and participate in the workshop, please let us know in advance.
Learn more
Less than a kilometre from the Tori Cider House lies the Jõesuu suspension bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge in Pärnu County – its total length is 67.5 metres.
Right next to the bridge is the Jõesuu village café and shop, where it’s worth popping in and grabbing something to eat before setting off.
Photo author: Innervisionteam
Photo author: Korstenfilms
Discover the scenic nature of Soomaa
With its marshes, bog forests and rivers, the Soomaa National Park is one of Estonia’s natural beauties and definitely worth a closer look. It is Estonia’s second largest national park, and a large part of Soomaa is uninhabited and untouched by human activity. In Soomaa, every season has its own character. All this makes this 17,500 hectare area even more special.
The most exciting time in Soomaa is during the spring floods, when fields, forests and meadows go underwater. This time is known as the fifth season.
In the old days, locals used to move around the meadows and forests of Soomaa during the floods with dugout canoes known as haabjas, which are listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. Today it is possible to discover Soomaa by foot, snow shoes or ice skates, as well as by haabjas, boat or canoe.
A popular place to hike in Soomaa is the 5-kilometre-long Riisa study trail, where you’ll also find a watchtower. You can also hike the Ingatsi study trail and the Beaver Trail. Picturesque views of nature can be enjoyed from the Tõramaa meadow, where you can see floods during high water and skate on the marsh in winter.
The main attraction of Soomaa is the rivers that run through the national park, where canoe trips are organised and where you can take a boat trip on your own.
You can rent a stand-up paddle board, a boat or a canoe from the EUROPARC-labelled Soomaa Holiday Village, where you can go on a picnic, fish or simply enjoy nature by the Halliste River.
The Soomaa National Park is also known for its large number of beavers. If you’d like to get a closer look at what the beavers get up to, you can join a beaver observation trip. Accompanied by a guide, you can move along the river to secret places where you have a fairly good chance of spotting beavers.
In the winter, the best way to get around Soomaa is with hiking skates, which you can use to travel along frozen bog ponds.
The lively and vibrant rural life of the Kurgja Farm Museum
The C. R. Jakobson Farm Museum in the Kurgja Village in the north-eastern part of Pärnu County is a great way to get an idea of what life in Estonia looked like in the 19th century.
The Farm Museum gives an overview of the life and work of C. R. Jakobson, an enlightener of the Estonian national awakening and an innovative farmer. In the farm complex built according to Jakobson’s drawings and dreams, you can learn about rural traditions and customs, as well as meet farm animals.
The new hands-on exhibition tells fascinating stories about the most important events, places, people and heartfelt wishes of Jakobson’s life.
We also recommend taking part in the practical farm workshops at the Farm Museum! For example, you can learn how to make sõir or Estonian curd cheese. In the karask and butter workshops, you can learn how to bake a delicious karask, which was part of Estonians’ daily diet in the 19th century. Participation in the workshop must be agreed upon in advance.
- From the Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre it takes 43 minutes to get to the Kurgja Farm Museum
- Set aside at least 1.5 hours for your visit
- March–October Wed-Sun 10:00-17:00
- November–February Wed-Sun 10:00-16:00
- Simple meals made from local ingredients are served in the Farm Museum’s Rehetoa Café.
Photo author: Siim Verner Teder
Photo author: Korstenfilms
Stop by the Piesta Kuusikaru Farm
On your way back to Pärnu, stop by the Piesta Kuusikaru Farm, which has been awarded the EUROPARC sustainable tourism certificate. The family who runs the farm produces well-known and beloved local apple products – pure apple juice, slowly fermented apple vinegar and delicious apple butter.
The Piesta Kuusikaru Farm in the Vändra Forest in Pärnu County welcomes everyone interested in local apple products and local history. Apple trees used to grow in almost every Estonian farmyard and apples were used to make a variety of interesting products for home consumption. At the Piesta Kuusikaru Farm, you can taste a piece of Estonia.
During your visit, you can also get tips from the family on how to make lemonade at home and how to mix a delicious salad dressing. You can discover the history of the 150-year-old farm and its modern production methods. You can buy Piesta products from the farm shop and spend some time in the farm café on summer Sundays. By prior arrangement, you can participate in product tastings and workshops.
The Piesta Kuusikaru Farm also has a cottage where you can stay overnight.
- Drive about 25 minutes towards Pärnu from Kurgja
- Set aside at least an hour for your visit
- Please contact the farm in advance if you wish to visit. The farm shop is open whenever the family is at home. The farm café is open on Sundays in the summer, and you’re welcome to step right in!
Learn more:
On the way from Piesta Kuusikaru to Pärnu, make a stop at the Selja Dairy located by the highway. There you can buy fresh dairy products, cheese, curd and products from local butchers. This is the only dairy store in Pärnu County, so come in and grab something good and tasty.
Photo author: Korstenfilms
Accommodation and saunas in Soomaa
If you’re planning to stay in Soomaa for a longer period, read on to find some great places to stay the night and take time off in nature. A proper Estonian accommodation also includes a sauna.
Going to the sauna has been a tradition in Estonia for centuries and is still part of our local identity. You can go to the sauna every day, no need to wait for a special occasion to do so. In addition to relaxation, sauna also has health benefits. When travelling around Estonia, a visit to the sauna is one of those must-try experiences.
Accommodation with sauna is also offered by the EUROPARC-certified Piesta riverside cottage, Klaara-Manni Holiday and Seminar Center and the Soomaa Holiday Village, where you can stay with family and friends.
The Green Key-labelled Urumarja Sauna Camp offers an igloo sauna and a yurt with a fireplace, where you can also stay overnight. What makes the campsite special is that there is no conventional electricity or water. Only battery-powered LED lights are used in the rest area. Water comes from the adjacent Kurina River and a small solar panel is installed for electricity.
A trip to Soomaa is a true break from the noise of the city and everyday life. Enjoy a slow holiday and the wonderful nature of Estonia. Every place and every farm in Soomaa offers something genuine and unique.
Let Soomaa surprise you. See more ideas for discovering Soomaa!
Last updated
03.09.2025