Despite the cold and long winters, traveling is a highly appreciated and enjoyed activity by the students in Tartu. Considering the location, they benefit from being nearby the beautiful landscapes of the Baltic and Nordic states. Seeing these places is something that one should experience at least once in a lifetime!
As you might have already read the hiking experiences and tips of our ambassadors Sabina, Reina and Paulina, there are many opportunities to organize a one-day trip in the beautiful Estonian nature! You can easily rent a car or use public transportation to reach the picturesque villages and the spectacular hiking trails. However, if you’re not into organizing trips by yourself, but you want to discover new places, then you can join the trips organized by Erasmus Student Network Tartu. Each semester students visit the Estonian wilderness or go on longer vacations to Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Lithuania.
Since spring already came to Estonia, I joined the trip to Lapland and the Arctic Circle to explore the Nordic winter wonderland. Thus, if you are planning your next winter adventure, keep reading to find out what you can explore North of Estonia! 😉
The first stop was at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Finland. There, we met Santa and his helpers, crossed the Arctic Circle and wrote letters for the next Christmas.
Then, we reached our accommodation in Lapland and experienced winter sports. You can join many activities in the snow, such as tobogganing, feeding reindeer, husky sleigh riding, snowshoe trekking, or cross-country skiing. Each of them has its own charm and your experience is also influenced by the weather. Since it was already March, the average temperature was around -10°C and mostly sunny.
What I appreciated the most during this trip was learning about the Lappish culture and developing arctic skills (a rare feature on someone’s CV nowadays). Growing up in a big city during the digital era, I felt like spending time in nature is becoming less accessible. For this reason, I have always enjoyed watching documentaries and movies about adventures in the wilderness and wishing that one day I will also have one. Now that I built snow shelters, made a fire, and practiced ice-fishing, (all in a serene landscape covered with snow) I can say that dreams do come true!
Another fascinating experience was in Bugøynes, Norway. Going North from Lapland, the environment became more frosty, with less trees and more fjords. Seeing the Northern lights, reindeer running on the snowy fields and going for the Arctic Ocean sauna are customary in this area. Experiencing all of these with the guidance of the locals was indeed a surreal and enriching cultural experience (as well as a cold one). We learned how to go from the sauna directly into the Arctic Ocean and how this actually may be good for your health, but it’s definitely something to try.
While you can have a great experience in the Nordic countries when the temperatures are lower, the advantage of going in summer is the beauty of the white nights, when the sky is incredibly colorful and bright. Of course, white nights are also part of life in Tartu and it’s one of the reasons why I enjoy it very much. However, if you have already crossed off your list all the attractions in Estonia, dare to explore the cool places nearby!
*Images sourced by author
