4-Day Birding & Wildlife Circuit from Tallinn

Spring & autumn highlights · small groups · expert local guides

Group size: 6–20 (ideal 8–16; larger groups in split rotations).

To whom is this program?

Birders, nature photographers, study groups and media teams who want a fast-moving yet unhurried loop through North, West and South Estonia—coast, bogs, bays and forest hides. 

Overview

• Starts/Ends: Tallinn

• Group size: 6–8 (larger on split rotations)

• Pace: dawn & dusk prime time; mid-day transfers and meals

• Style: low-impact, short walks to towers/hides, calm boat trips, optional photo hides & bear night

Itinerary at a glance

Day 1 — Tallinn coast & grey seals

Early dawn: Paljassaare Peninsula birding (towers, coastal lagoons; quick migration snapshot right by the city).
Late morning / midday: Seal & seabird cruise around the Malusi islets (small boat; grey seals and coastal birds).
Overnight: Villa Pillapalu (quiet forest base on the Kõrvemaa edge).

Suggested guide/boat partners: Marko Poolamets (Capture Estonia) · Wild Nature Estonia (small photo/observation boat).

Day 2 — Lahemaa National Park → Matsalu

Morning: Lahemaa NP birding day (ancient forest, coast & bog edges; flexible route by conditions).
Lunch: Wirkes (Vergi Harbour; quality local fare).
Before sunset: transfer to Matsalu National Park · sunset boat tour with Matsalu Paadireisid (Kasari River / Matsalu Bay).
Overnight: Altmõisa Guesthouse (bird-friendly base on the bay’s edge).

Day 3 — Matsalu dawn watch → South Estonia

Dawn: Puise Nina headland/towers (one of the Baltic flyway’s hotspots).
Late morning: optional towers (Keemu/Haeska) by conditions.
Afternoon drive: to South Estonia.
Overnight: Käbliku Holiday Houses (traditional lakeside farmstay).

Local guides in West Estonia: Tarvo Valker (Birding Haapsalu) · Kati Uuspõld / Visit Saastna.

Day 4 — Forest photo hides → Bear night in Ida-Viru (optional extension)

Daytime: Wildlife Dreams bird & mammal hides (comfortable photo hides; also great for non-photographers who enjoy quiet observation).
Evening transfer: Alutaguse / Ida-Viru · NaTourEst bear hide overnight (peak in late summer–autumn).
Alternative finish: return to Tallinn after hides, without bear night.

Spring vs. Autumn targets

Spring (Apr–Jun): mass goose/duck/wader movements over Matsalu; coastal divers and terns; woodpeckers & owls in Lahemaa; booming bog birds; fresh plumage and song activity around Paljassaare.
Autumn (Aug–Oct): cranes and vast geese flocks, raptors over the bays; seaduck/gannet movements offshore; grey seals are reliable; bear hide peak in Alutaguse.

Inclusions & options

Typically included: expert guiding, route planning, safety briefings, small-group boat tour in Matsalu, curated dawn/dusk sessions, coordination and timing for light/tides.
On request: Tallinn pick-up/driver, extra spotting scopes, photo-hide reservations (South Estonia), Malusi small-boat charter, accommodation bookings (Villa Pillapalu · Altmõisa · Käbliku), lunches/dinners (e.g., Wirkes), accessibility-first variants.

Practical notes

• Walking: mostly easy boardwalks/levees/peninsulas; short off-trail sections by guide’s decision.

• What to bring: binoculars (spotting scope if you have one), layered clothing, waterproof shell, hat/gloves (windy coast), sturdy shoes, camera rain cover.

• Ethics & safety: watch from a respectful distance, limit tower crowding, follow Leave No Trace and skipper/guide instructions; weather contingency plans are in place.

Featured partners (by region)

Tallinn & Lahemaa: Capture Estonia (Marko Poolamets) · Wild Nature Estonia, Prangli Travel
Matsalu & Läänemaa: Matsalu Paadireisid · Birding Haapsalu (Tarvo Valker) · Visit Saastna (Kati Uuspõld) · Altmõisa Guesthouse
South Estonia: Wildlife Dreams hides · Loodustaju bird guide· Käbliku Holiday Houses
Ida-Viru / Alutaguse: NaTourEst bear hide

Customise your circuit

Add a boardwalk-only option, a bog-and-sauna cultural evening, or a photography-first variant with longer hide sessions. 

Ready to plan?

Tell us your dates, group size, and target species, and we’ll confirm guide availability, boat slots and hides to match migration windows.
Contact: info@loodusturism.com · +372 510 5441

(All activities subject to weather, water levels and wildlife welfare; equivalent expert substitutes may be arranged where needed.)