Tamme Outcrop hiking track is located on the eastern shore of Lake Võrtsjärv between the villages of Tamme and Neemisküla in Elva municipality. The area is rich in Devon sandstone outcrops from the Aruküla layer. Tamme Outcrop, which is located on the track, is an area where placoderms have been found and where valuable paleontological material has been collected since the second half of the 19th century.Ten information boards have been set up along the hiking track, which is almost 2 km long. They provide interesting information about the local natural environment. If you walk 1 km north on the track, you can turn back and hike back along a field or on a forest trail on the outcrop.
The 3 km Tõrvandu forest study trail starts at a crossroads about 400 metres from Pähni Nature Centre. This marked and explained hiking trail is meant for everyone interested in the forest. There are campfire grounds, camping area and shelters on the trail. The 25 observation points of the trail are also permeable by car.
The trails have two possible starting points: in the parking lot of the Värska Sanatoorium or in the point on the side of Värska Sanatoorium across Värska Bay. The Pikalombi nature trails are 3.8 and 9.1 km long. The nature trails can be passed in autumn, spring and winter and on foot as well as by bicycle. On the boarded trail through the Velna bog the bicycle shall be pushed by hand. Good to know: There are 11 trail points along the trail. Point no. 6 lies by beautiful Lake Saarepää, offering an opportunity to make a fire and to have a longer break.
The Kekkonen hiking track can be used all year round – in summer for hiking, jogging and cycling and in winter for skiing. The track was named after former Finnish president Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, who visited Kääriku. The 15 km track starts from Kääriku stadium and passes through several spots of natural beauty, including Harimägi Hill – one of the highest points in the Otepää Highlands (211.3 m above sea level). Its viewing tower, which stands 26 metres high, is right next to the hiking track. Those with more energy can follow the additional 5 km loop on Harimägi Hill.
Kiidjärve Nature Centre is located in Kiidjärve-Kooraste recreation area on the banks of the picturesque Ahja River in Kiidjärve village. It seeks to guide visitors, young and old alike, to the beautiful scenery of the area so that the forest and nature itself will reveal their secrets to a keen observer. The nature centre has information materials and information about Kiidjärve-Kooraste, other RMK recreation areas, and other various attractions. In the immediate vicinity are famous celestial Taevaskoda sandstone outcrops, Kiidjärve Formica kingdom, and the picturesque Valgesoo bog.
Families with children are particularly welcome in the Lake Pühajärv Park as there are many opportunities to feed ducks and other birds when walking on the lakeshore. There is an exercise track by the northern part of the park. This is also the place where you will find the beach with a beach house, cafés, arbours and boat hire.The park used to be a part of the Pühajärv Manor Park and it was designed as a walking forest with paths already in the 19th century. The park is mainly a naturally grown forest.
The Rõuge primeval valley, which is 10km long and 52m deep, contains seven lakes: Kahrila Lake, Tõugjärv, Ratasjärv, Kaussjärv, Rõuge Suurjärv, Liinjärv, and Valgjärv. The lakes are connected by the Rõuge or Ajo River, which starts from the Tindi valley. The side valleys of the Rõuge primeval valley are Tindi, Külm, Mõhk, Ööbikuorg, Tinopeetri, Hinni, Sikasoo, and Järveotsa valleys. The most famous of these is Ööbikuorg, which borders the ancient hillfort from the north. In spring, during the blossoming of bird cherry trees, the valley resonates with the song of nightingales – hence the name of the valley. Several hiking trails run through Rõuge, including the popular Ööbikuorg hiking trail, which takes visitors through the primeval valley, past lakes and springs. The trail is suitable for families with children and is partially accessible by bicycle. In summer, you can swim and paddle in the lakes, while in winter, the same trails are enjoyed by skiers and sledders. In the Rõuge settlement, there is also Estonia's deepest lake – Rõuge Suurjärv (38m) – and the largest Nature Clock in Estonia, whose hands mark the passage of time in nature's rhythm.Good to know: At the edge of Ööbikuorg, there is a visitor center and the Pesapuu observation tower, which offers a view of the entire valley.
Tellingumäe's 25-meter-high observation tower offers a beautiful view of the winding Mustjõgi gorges and the hilly landscape typical of South Estonia. Latvia can be seen in the distance, as nearby the Mustjõe River joins the Koiva (Gauja) River on the Estonian-Latvian border. Tellingumäe observation tower is a great place to observe nature and birds. Several rare bird species can be found here. The tower has an RMK campfire site and marked cycling and hiking trails of different lengths, like the Estonian-Latvian joint cultural heritage trail and the Koiva Cycling Trail.