Route 8

What is Route 8?

Shaped like the number 8 — and inspired by the idea of infinity — Route 8 takes you on a loop through the most extraordinary corners of South Estonia. But this isn’t just about kilometers. It’s about the “mosts”: the highest peak in the Baltics, the deepest lake in Estonia, the oldest and thickest tree, the longest village, the wildest trails, and the softest silences.

Over four days, you’ll travel through ancient bogs, primeval forests, rolling hills and lakes so still they look like mirrors. Each stop along the way reveals something at the edge of extreme, yet deeply rooted in peace and simplicity.

Forget the average nature hike!

Route overview

Route distance: 720 km
Duration: 4 days
By car

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Route 8

What if you could travel through a place where every stop is the most of something?

In South Estonia, the forests grow taller, the lakes sink deeper, and the trees stand thicker.

If you’re going to explore, why not go all in? This route takes you through the most extreme corners of South Estonia — the highest peak, the deepest lake, the most tilted tower, the biggest cinnamon bun, the thickest oak, and even the most calorie-rich view!

Day 1

Pedals, Bog and Firelight

From Tartu’s playful charm to the stillness of Meenikunno, the day flows from movement to mindfulness. City breeze in your hair, bog moss underfoot, and firelit flavors to end it all – it’s a soft landing into the soul of South Estonia.

Jõmmu Barge

Begin your journey aboard Estonia’s most storied riverboat, floating gently down the Emajõgi – the country’s most navigable river. As the water carries you away from the noise of the world, you’ll feel the shift begin: into calm, into nature, into Route 8.

Meenikunno Bog

Legend says that wanderers once heard forest spirits whisper across the Meenikunno bog. One of South Estonia’s most mystical landscapes, this hushed expanse of moss and mist feels like walking through a forgotten tale – ending with fire-cooked food that warms more than your hands. Meenikunno is nature at its quietest and most cinematic – boardwalks, black pools, and smoky campfire flavours.

In summertime Tartu City Bike Tours

Glide through Estonia’s smartest city with the wind in your hair and stories under every pedal stroke. These guided tours weave together street art, student legends and riverside greenery — a moving way to meet Tartu.

Tillu Café – home of the biggest cinnamon buns in Estonia.

At Tillu, the pastries are no joke – and the cinnamon buns are absolutely legendary. Fluffy, sticky, oversized, and unforgettable…

Ootsipalu Giants – the world’s tallest pine trees

Hidden in a quiet South Estonian forest stand the Ootsipalu giants – pine trees so tall they’ve officially claimed the title of the tallest in the world. A humbling, awe-filled stop beneath wooden skyscrapers.

Day 2

Cheese, Views and Quiet Joy

Today is all about earthy pleasures and elevated perspectives. At Andri-Peedo farm, creamy cheeses and warm smiles invite you to taste the land itself. Later, high above the treetops in the Pesapuu tower, it’s just you, the wind, and South Estonia stretching endlessly in every direction. Simple moments. Big feelings.

Andri-Peedo Farm

Estonia’s most award-winning goat cheese farm. This stop offers a creamy bite of alpine freshness and a connection to one of the country’s proudest microproducers.

Pesapuu Watchtower

The most sculptural of Estonia’s towers – designed like a nest in the sky. As you climb each level, the forest slowly falls away, replaced by sky, wind, and a sense of weightlessness. From the top, the Baltics’ highest hill and Estonia’s deepest lake reveal themselves in a single, unforgettable sweep.

Suur Munamägi – the highest peak in the Baltics
Climb to the very top of the Baltics – where the sky feels closer and the wind carries stories from three countries at once.

Rõuge-Suurjärv – Estonia’s deepest lake
Dive into mystery — literally. This is Estonia’s deepest lake, still and mirror-like on the surface, but full of depth and silence.

Tamme-Lauri Tamm – Estonia’s oldest and thickest tree
More than 700 years of wisdom in one tree. Step close to Estonia’s mightiest oak and feel the strength of centuries in its roots.

Day 3

Wheels, Wildlife and Forest Whispers

Morning kicks off with a spark – gliding through Otepää’s rolling landscapes on a kickbike or kicksled, depending on the season. Fresh air guaranteed. Later, it’s time to slow down and tune in to nature’s quieter voices – whether it’s a close-up moment with wild animals at Elistvere or a peaceful forest pause at Endla Nature Centre.

Scooter hike on Lake Pühajärv

Ride along Estonia’s most legendary lake, said to inspire more artists than any other. With a kickbike in summer or sled in winter, it’s all about the flow.

Elistvere Animal Park

One of Estonia’s most beloved wildlife parks. Meet the country’s native animals up close in a natural, respectful setting – a true family favourite.

Endla Nature Centre

Located near some of Estonia’s most biodiverse bogs, Endla is perfect for those who seek the quietest corners and softest mosses.

Pühajärv – Estonia’s most artistically inspiring lake
Painters, poets, and composers have all found their muse here. Still, soft, and soul-stirring — this lake has inspired more art than any other in Estonia.

Jõgevamaa – the land of Kalevipoeg’s greatest legends
Nowhere else is the epic of Kalevipoeg so alive. Hills, stones, springs — all echo with myth and memory in Estonia’s most legendary region.

Day 4

Wood, Wisdom and the Scent of Onions

We begin in Avinurme, where woodcraft tells stories older than time, and the scent of freshly carved timber lingers in the air. Then it’s off to the shores of Lake Peipus – either along the ribbon-like Peipsiääre village or the flavorful twists of the Onion Route. The day ends in Tartu’s Botanical Garden, where nature shows off in every shade, season, and scent.

Avinurme Woodworking Centre

Estonia’s most famous woodcraft village. At the centre, you’ll find the largest selection of handcrafted wooden goods – each item telling a story older than time.

Peipsi Area

The longest village in Estonia (7 km!), where onion domes, pickled fish and Old Believer culture blend into one of the country’s richest culinary and cultural trails.

University of Tartu Botanical Garden

The oldest botanical garden in Estonia, and home to the country’s oldest palm. A green finale in the heart of Tartu’s brainiest district.

Tartu Leaning House – more tilted than the Tower of Pisa
Tartu’s own gravity-defying gem leans at 5.8 degrees — that’s steeper than Pisa. Come for the photo, stay for the quirky charm.

The Most Photographed Stone in Tartu – under the Kissing Students fountain
It’s not just the kiss — it’s the stone beneath it. This legendary fountain base may be the most Instagrammed rock in all of Estonia.

The only place in Estonia where you can buy Punsli Eli – a traditional elixir – is at the historic Palamuse pharmacy, right in the heart of Jõgevamaa.

Where Nature Keeps the Records

The tallest, the deepest, the oldest, the softest — Route 8 is a place of superlatives. These images are its proof.