The Journey

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Morning — Departure from Tallinn Harbour We leave Tallinn behind from the harbour, crossing Tallinn Bay by boat as the city skyline slowly fades into the distance. The crossing itself sets the tone — open water, sea air, and the quiet sense of leaving the ordinary world behind.

Within the hour, the forested coastline of Naissaar comes into view.

Island Arrival — Into the Forest by Military Vehicle Upon arrival, we board one of Naissaar's iconic open military-style vehicles — a fitting way to begin exploring an island shaped by centuries of defence and secrecy.

Our guide brings the island to life from the very first moment — stories of empires, wartime secrets and the slow, quiet return of nature to places once closed to the world.

An Island of Layers — A Brief History Naissaar's written history stretches back to the late 11th century, when a German cleric described a small piece of land north of Estonia called Terra Feminarum — the Land of Women. The name stuck, along with the legends: men who piloted ships and fished the Baltic while women kept the home and, so the stories say, frightened strangers away from the shore.

For centuries the island lived quietly from the sea. Pilots guided ships through the narrow strait, families spoke both Swedish and Estonian, and the Baltic provided everything they needed.

Then the military arrived — and never quite left.

In the early 18th century, Peter the Great ordered a star fortress built at the island's southern tip to protect Tallinn Bay. Two centuries later, following catastrophic losses in the Russo-Japanese War, the Imperial Russian military returned to build one of the most ambitious coastal defence systems in the Baltic — the Peter the Great Naval Fortress, spanning both the Estonian and Finnish shores to cover the entire sea lane to St. Petersburg.

Nine battery positions were planned for Naissaar. Eight were begun. Today, only Battery 10A survives intact.

Battery 10A, Mine Stores & Soviet Secrets We visit Battery 10A — the only fully preserved coastal defence battery on the island, hidden deep in the forest and remarkably intact. Inside, a photographic archive tells the story of island life from a century ago alongside the military history of the fortification itself.

Naissaar later became one of the most strategically important mine assembly and storage facilities in the Soviet Baltic Fleet — a closed military zone from which all civilian residents were evacuated and to which access was forbidden for decades. The island's Soviet chapter left behind structures and stories that feel, even today, as if time simply stopped.

At the base of the island's 45-metre lighthouse, a Soviet-era radio intelligence centre remains largely as it was — equipment still in place, frozen in the moment the military finally withdrew in 1994. Those who wish to climb the lighthouse for panoramic views across the Gulf of Finland are welcome to do so — on a clear day, the Finnish coast is visible in the distance. A small entrance fee applies.

Island Life & Local Heritage We visit the island's historic church and learn about the communities who shaped Naissaar across the centuries — the coastal Swedes who lived here for generations, the pilots and fishermen whose lives were entirely shaped by the sea, and the families who were evacuated when the military arrived and never returned.

Traces of their world remain — in old pathways, village sites and buildings slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

A Island of Surprising Stories Not everything on Naissaar is military. The island holds quieter stories too — among them the remarkable fact that Bernhard Schmidt, inventor of the Schmidt telescope used in the world's largest observatories, was born here. The island's old cemetery, with its beautiful cast-iron crosses, speaks of the ordinary families who lived, fished and raised children here for generations before the military arrived and changed everything.

In summer, Naissaar comes alive in unexpected ways — cultural events and open-air performances are occasionally staged on the island, making it a place that feels genuinely alive rather than simply preserved.

Forest, Wildlife & Island Trails Behind the military history lies something quieter and equally compelling — one of the most intact forest landscapes in the Tallinn region. Pine-covered dunes, coastal meadows and untouched woodland make Naissaar a haven for wildlife, and during migration seasons the island draws birdwatchers from across Estonia and beyond.

Three colour-coded trails cross the island — military ruins, forest dunes and cultural heritage, each offering a different way to experience Naissaar at your own pace. On our tour, your guide weaves the best of all three into a single unhurried day.

Traditional Island Lunch A traditional lunch is included and served in a local venue on Naissaar. As facilities on the island are limited, lunch is arranged in advance and forms a natural part of the island experience — unhurried, atmospheric, and a welcome moment to rest and reflect on the morning.

Afternoon — Beaches, Forests & Foraging The afternoon slows to island pace.

We explore Naissaar's beautiful sandy beaches and coastal forests — clean air, open sky and a sense of distance from the mainland that is hard to find so close to a capital city.

During our walk, your guide introduces Estonia's living foraging traditions — edible berries, wild plants, mushrooms and medicinal herbs gathered from nature for generations. Naissaar's unique mix of coastal habitats, forest and open meadow makes it a particularly rich place for seasonal wild foods.

Depending on the season, we may encounter wild strawberries, blueberries, chanterelles, sea buckthorn or other natural treasures the island has to offer.

Late Afternoon — Return by Boat to Tallinn We make our way back to the harbour for the return crossing to Tallinn, arriving back in the city in the early evening — carrying the particular quiet of an island, the weight of forgotten history and the smell of pine forest and sea.

Why Guests Love This Tour

✔ Boat journey across Tallinn Bay ✔ Iconic military vehicle island safari ✔ Battery 10A — the only fully preserved coastal defence battery ✔ Soviet naval mine stores and military history ✔ Soviet radio intelligence centre ✔ Lighthouse — optional climb with panoramic views (small fee applies) ✔ Historic island church and village heritage ✔ Traditional island lunch included ✔ Beautiful sandy beaches and coastal forests ✔ Seasonal foraging experience ✔ Small-group, personal experience ✔ Return boat transfer included