Vällamäe hiking trail

Cabins for hikers, an observation tower and a boardwalk attract many nature lovers to the Meenikunno bog. It is a beautiful recreation area. While walking down the boardwalk, you can see the most common bog plants: leather leaf, bog rosemary, crowberry, Marsh Labrador tea, and tussock cottongrass; at the edge of the bog, dwarf birches can also be found. There are also a number of different species of peat moss of various colours. The bravest hikers can try drinking bog water (it has an interesting taste!) from the overgrown ditch near the edge of the bog.Good to know: The boardwalk is pram and wheelchair accessible.

Järvselja nature study trail introduces the forest surrounding the centre of forestry and research. The trail is diverse and passes through a number of forests. Here, you will see the King’s pine (Kuningamänd), which is over 380 years old, as well as spruces that are more than 40 meters high – making them one of the highest trees in Estonia.The trail runs partly on a boardwalk and the route is 1–5 km long. A good starting point is either the Järvselja Hunting Lodge or the guest house, where there are information boards with a map of the trails.Järvselja study trail and the primeval forest represent one of the best locations to discover in Southern Estonia, marked with the yellow frame of National Geographic.

Drive along the Võru-Valga highway from Saru to Kuutsi-Tiitsa-Karisöödi-Ura-Naha (about 14 km). The trail is about 4.8 km long and it takes a couple of hours to walk it through. The trail starts under the oak-tree with a perimeter of about 4 metres in Naha farm and runs very close to the state border, so make sure you take your ID with you. Interesting to know: you cannot put your foot down on the southernmost point, as the geographically correct southernmost point of Estonia is situated about 5 steps away from the marked spot, just in the middle of the Peetri River.

The Fairy Trail, also known as the Vitipalu Adventure Trail, offers a fairytale experience for both children and adults. The trail takes you through the mushroom and berry forests of Elva, where Witch Island awaits, featuring the lovely "Little Witch" house, cool tree sculptures, and a low-adventure trail built in the middle of the forest, perfect for children and families to have a great time in nature. The 1.4 km long trail, part of which is accessible with a stroller, intersects with the Elva River's primeval valley hiking trail and introduces the diverse landscape of Elva. The trail starts and ends at the RMK Jõeharu picnic area and camping site, where several shelters with grills and campfire sites are available.

The hiking trail, which is suitable for a pleasant walk, starts on the other side of the road opposite the Voorepalu campfire site and runs along an extremely varied landscape with several steep ascents and descents. The trail has information boards introducing past events and folklore and the highest point of the trail has a table and benches for resting. Rope railings have been installed on the steep slopes of the trail.The historical Postal Road runs between the campfire site and the hiking trail. Ristimänd tree and many other exciting places are on the trail with a varied landscape. Two cars can park at the campfire site.

Peräjärve forest trail guides the hiker through different forest types - fresh boreal forest, dry boreal forest, boreal heath forest, carr, and swamp forest. You will get an overview of the different uses of the forests throughout history, a living example of this are the trees near the trail, which are used to extract resin from.The study trail can be visited all year round: in spring there're a lot of bird sounds and the daphne mezereum blooms, in summer and autumn the forest is full of berries and mushrooms, and in winter you can see interesting animal tracks in snow.

The Kaljupealse campfire site is located on the banks of the Võhandu River, in a beautiful pine forest. The riverside and high banks offer a beautiful view of the Võhandu River and sand outcrops. The campfire site has a roofed table and benches, a roofed grill, and firewood. The place is ideal for campers, fishing enthusiasts, and as a resting point for guests coming here with boats.Along the high sandy shores, through a beautiful pine forest, there is an unmarked hiking trail where you can enjoy beautiful views of nature or pick berries and mushrooms.

The 100-km-long downriver marathon runs on the Võhandu River in Võru and Põlva counties and is open all year round on ice-free days.The marathon starts from Võru town, on Lake Tamula and ends in Võõpsu village, Põlva County. The Võhandu River is surrounded by steep forest banks and numerous upright sandstone outcrops. There are several springs and spring caves in the rock walls and valleys. The Võhandu River provides a great rowing experience.Every year, on the third weekend of April, the world’s largest paddle marathon, the Võhandu Marathon, takes place on the Võhandu River, with 1,200 boats and more than 2,500 participants.