{"id":157166,"date":"2026-04-08T03:23:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T00:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/?p=157166"},"modified":"2026-04-07T17:32:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T14:32:13","slug":"hiking-across-estonia-on-foot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/en\/hiking-across-estonia-on-foot\/","title":{"rendered":"Hiking Across Estonia on Foot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

 <\/p>\n

What would you think of a hiking trip across the whole of Estonia? And doing it in a straight line\u2014through bogs, fields, yards, and thickets?<\/p>\n

That is exactly the kind of journey undertaken by Iti-Jantra Metsamaa<\/b> and Toomas Erikso<\/b>, who live in Kivi\u00f5li in Ida-Virumaa.<\/p>\n

The idea for this unusual hike arose when Toomas Erikso saw a video online by the British GeoWizard, Tom Davies<\/b>. The YouTube video, now viewed millions of times, shows him walking across Wales in a perfectly straight line through hedges and farmland.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have always enjoyed being in nature and going on adventures, and when I saw GeoWizard\u2019s amazing video, I was really inspired. It would be fantastic to visit places you would never otherwise come across,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

What exactly is straight-line hiking? According to Toomas Erikso, there are strict rules that must be followed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou must not deviate more than 25 metres from the pre-drawn straight line on the map. That earns you a platinum-level result. The absolute limit is 100 metres. If you have to deviate more than that, the attempt is disqualified.\u201d<\/p>\n

At first, the strict rules may sound restrictive, but according to Iti-Jantra Metsamaa, they are precisely what make the hike exciting and challenging.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never know what kind of obstacle awaits around the corner. If necessary, you just go straight through a spruce hedge.\u201d<\/p>\n

The couple\u2019s first trip took place in spring 2024 on the island of Muhu, which they crossed in just a few hours. Although the distance was only 13 kilometres, the terrain made the journey demanding.<\/p>\n

Next came Estonia\u2019s largest islands\u2014Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. The latter Iti-Jantra Metsamaa crossed alone, as Toomas had an injured hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the first and last time I\u2019ll do this kind of hike in summer. The vegetation and all kinds of insects made it quite challenging,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The coastal hike began in summery conditions on the beach of Narva-J\u00f5esuu.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n

Encouraged by their success, the couple began planning a larger expedition. Estonia would have to wait, however, as Latvia seemed easier.<\/p>\n

The project required thorough planning. The key was to find a route across Latvia that avoided large bogs, bodies of water, and cities.<\/p>\n

Route planning is Toomas Erikso\u2019s speciality.<\/p>\n

\u201cDrawing a line is not simple. You have to make sure it is actually passable and that there are no natural obstacles or things like industrial areas, fences or buildings in the way,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

It is also important to find the shortest possible route. In Latvia, this meant crossing the country at its narrowest point from south to north.<\/p>\n

Preparation took several months and included scouting parts of the route in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to be sure it was truly possible to walk it. We checked a few locations beforehand.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Latvian crossing began in late October 2024 from the Lithuanian border, and continued to the Gulf of Riga coast. Over four days, the couple covered 75 kilometres.<\/p>\n

Everything went surprisingly smoothly. The biggest challenge was the language barrier.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t speak Latvian, so we carried a sign explaining our journey in Latvian. There were a few tense encounters, but everything turned out well once people understood what we were doing,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to be as open as possible and not sneak through people\u2019s yards.\u201d<\/p>\n

What about dogs in private yards\u2014were there any dangerous situations?<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were some dogs running loose, but fortunately the owners kept them under control,\u201d Erikso says.<\/p>\n

The couple had previously made videos of their travels, but after the Latvia trip they began producing their YouTube content in English. Their videos can be viewed on the Tomiti channel.<\/p>\n

The Latvia journey became very popular, and many Latvians are among their thousands of followers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common question was about ticks,\u201d Metsamaa laughs. None, however, were picked up during the trip.<\/p>\n

What remained in their memory were Latvia\u2019s beautiful farmland landscapes and autumn colours.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Estonia\u2019s forests became familiar to the couple. Straight-line hiking takes you directly through forests, fields, and yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n

In spring 2025, it was time to cross Estonia. According to the couple, planning the Estonian route was much more difficult than Latvia. Estonia is longer north to south, and has more bogs, cities, and industrial areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first we considered a west\u2013east route, but there were too many difficult sections\u2014bogs, cities, military areas, and industry. So we chose a south\u2013north line instead,\u201d Erikso explains.<\/p>\n

Eventually, they found a suitable route that avoided larger cities, bogs, rivers, and industrial zones. The starting point was M\u00f5isak\u00fcla on the Latvian border, and the endpoint Vainupea on the Gulf of Finland coast.<\/p>\n

The route measured approximately 176 kilometres, with eight planned overnight stops. The goal was to walk about 20 kilometres per day. Progress is slow, as the route does not follow paths or roads.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou also have to constantly monitor the GPS to stay on course,\u201d Erikso says.<\/p>\n

The next step was preparing equipment. The day before departure, they placed supplies at the campsites, including hiding an inflatable kayak in the forest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Water crossings were among the most challenging parts of the journey. In the photo: crossing the Raudna River.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n

Although April began warmly, the hikers were met with winter conditions. During the nine-day journey, temperatures hovered around freezing, and snow fell several times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe weather was the biggest challenge. When the snow began to melt, the terrain became extremely wet, and we got thoroughly soaked,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

Old drainage ditches in peatlands also made progress difficult. At one point, they had to deviate slightly from the line, but still within the allowed limits\u2014less than 50 metres.<\/p>\n

Before the trip, friends had warned them about bears and other predators, but they only saw a few deer. The most tense situations involved loose dogs.<\/p>\n

Throughout the journey, they met many local people, whose reactions were always positive.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeeting people was the best part of the trip. Everyone wonders what on earth we are doing in the middle of nowhere. People were very interested, and once we were even invited to a sauna,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The coastal route includes impressive sites such as the ruins of Toolse Castle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

 <\/p>\n

What was Estonia\u2019s nature like along such a route?<\/p>\n

\u201cRoutes like this don\u2019t pass famous sights. You have to find beauty yourself\u2014in trees, moss and small details. Unfortunately, there was a lot of young brush and less old, impressive forest,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

The most difficult moment came when Metsamaa\u2019s old knee injury flared up.<\/p>\n

\u201cStill, we made it to the end. It was amazing to reach the destination despite the challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the final campsite in Vainupea, the biggest surprise of the journey took place\u2014Toomas proposed to Iti-Jantra.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, after such an undertaking, I had to say yes,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n

According to the couple, their achievement is likely a world record in straight-line hiking. Their success has only increased their appetite for new challenges.<\/p>\n

Next, they plan to walk across Lithuania.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are also already thinking about Finland\u2014that\u2019s ahead in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their newest challenge is a coastal hike from Narva-J\u00f5esuu along Estonia\u2019s shoreline, continuing around the country to Latvia and on to the Lithuanian border.<\/p>\n

This coastal route is more relaxed in style, allowing detours around harbours and reed beds. There are no strict rules this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m from Saaremaa, and I\u2019ve always dreamed of hiking along the coast,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

The coastal journey, which began in 2024, has taken them along the Ida-Virumaa coast to Lahemaa and westwards. By January 2026, they had covered over 400 kilometres, hiking on weekends and holidays.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were on the coastal route just last weekend, and reached Tallinn. Next time, we\u2019ll continue west.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along Estonia\u2019s northern coast, they have encountered many impressive sites. They particularly praise the stretch from Narva-J\u00f5esuu to Sillam\u00e4e.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was easy to walk along the flat sandy beach\u2014we did it in half a day,\u201d Metsamaa says.<\/p>\n

They also highlight Lahemaa, including the K\u00e4smu peninsula and the village of Viinistu.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also received great tips from our followers on where to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Finns, it may seem unusual that beaches can be freely accessed. This is a unique feature of Estonia\u2019s public access rights. The \u201ckallasrada\u201d is a ten-metre wide public zone along bodies of water.<\/p>\n

Both confirm that this is indeed the case. So far, they have been able to walk freely along the coast.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes there are private property signs, but they cannot restrict movement along the shoreline.\u201d<\/p>\n

The biggest obstacles have been harbours and river mouths, which they have simply bypassed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three hiking tips in Estonia<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • The former Aidu quarry area in Ida-Virumaa<\/strong>
    \u201cWe are real fans of Aidu because it is so unique and diverse. We recommend the Aidu nature trail.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • Viidum\u00e4e and Koigi bog on Saaremaa<\/strong>
    \u201cA different side of Saaremaa\u2014bogs and forest.\u201d<\/li>\n
  • K\u00e4smu nature trail in Lahemaa<\/strong>
    \u201cK\u00e4smu has a truly beautiful trail and unspoilt nature.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n

    What is straight-line hiking?<\/h2>\n

    Straight-line hiking is a form of trekking in which the adventurer aims to cross a specific area or country in a straight line, typically on foot. This requires travelling directly through forests, hedges, and terrain obstacles. The goal is to explore remote areas that would otherwise never be encountered. Such expeditions often require thorough planning and preparation.<\/p>\n

    Videos of Iti-Jantra Metsamaa and Toomas Erikso\u2019s journeys can be viewed on the Tomiti YouTube channel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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