03 Jul 2018
Estonia launches ‘Spa Trail’ highlighting traditional wellness experiences
BY Jane Kitchen
To coincide with its 100th anniversary celebrations for 2018, Visit Estonia has launched a “Spa Trail” to invite visitors to discover some of the best wellness, sauna and spa offerings available across the country.
The map highlights the key areas that provide a range of wellness experiences across five key categories: city spas, wellness spas, eco spas, saunas and sauna centres, and enables guests to choose their own trail across the country.
Experiences range from typical Estonian traditions such as juniper body peels and home-brewed beer treatments, to more luxurious offerings and countryside smoke saunas.
Tallinn, Estonia’s capital city, features a wide range of urban spas, from the luxury 19th century Telegraaf Hotel’s Elemis Spa to The Eforea Spa at Hilton Tallinn Park, where a variety of body treatments and fitness experiences are available.
Tartu’s Dorsat Spa offers a full range of spa, sauna and medical staff comprising of rehabilitation specialists, dermatologists and even a leech therapist whose treatments can help increase blood circulation.
Among the top-rated wellness spas in Estonia is The Emeraude Spa in the heart of Rakvere, a town close to the scenic Lahemaa National Park, which is part of the AQVA Hotel & Spa, featuring a waterpark and sauna centre. Highlights include ‘Rasulbad', a refreshing beauty ritual in the steam sauna that uses local rasul mud and 'Sabbia Med', a relaxing light therapy performed with warm sand.
Set on the island of Saaremaa, The Georg Ots Spa Hotel is another well-known wellness spa. Surrounded by forests of pine, spruce and juniper and boasting its own home-grown wellness products range, the spa uses local produce such as red seaweeds, sage and juniper within its treatments menu.
Estonians have been using local ingredients found in nature in health and wellness therapies for centuries and today, modern eco spas still follow the same principles.
The Energy Eco-Spa on the shore of the Navesti River uses local, ecologically grown herbs mixed together with clay, peat and natural plant oils to create the organic treatments on offer.
The Organic Spa Harmoonikum, the first beer spa in Estonia, features wood-burning steam saunas and craft beer baths. Hidden by centuries-old walls of the former cattle enclosure at Viimsi Manor, guests can drink Estonian craft beer while enjoying vitamin B-rich baths that help skin regeneration.
The smoke sauna traditions of Old Võromaa in Estonia have been added to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.
At Mooska Farm, a whimsical farm in the country’s southern region, visitors can enjoy this uniquely Estonian experience. The rich aroma of burning wood is complemented by the mix of honey and meat smoked in the sauna. Strategically located next to a pond, guests can quickly dip in the nearby icy waters to stimulate blood circulation.
Situated on the secluded island of Muhu, Pädaste Manor is the only five-star hotel outside Tallinn. Pädaste Spa follows the tradition of heating the sauna with wood pieces, and the treatments are based on old Muhu herbal traditions and local produce. All oils, creams and scrubs are prepared every day using only natural ingredients such as native hay, mud and field flowers.
Estonia offers a wide selection of sauna centres all over the country, boasting a range of saunas, whirlpools and even waterparks.
The Orhidee Thermae & Wellness Centre, set in a tropical winter garden along the north coast near the Russian border, includes infrared, aroma, salt, steam and finish saunas, whirlpools and water-massage pools.
The Estonia Resort Hotel & Spa, recently opened in Pärnu, draws inspiration from Estonian nature and cultural traditions. With over seven different saunas, a traditional outdoor smoke sauna and a Dead Sea salt pool, its Spa & Sauna also offers an Ancient Estonian massage.
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