Tour Information
Note: The information presented here is an abbreviated version of our formal General Information for Tours to Estonia. Its purpose is solely to give readers a sense of what might be involved if they take this tour. Although we do our best to make sure what follows here is completely accurate, it should not be used as a replacement for the formal document which will be sent to all tour registrants, and whose contents supersedes any information contained here.
ENTERING ESTONIA: US citizens need a current passport valid for six months beyond your departure from Estonia. At the time of writing, holders of US passports do not require a visa for stays of up to 180 days. Citizens of other countries may need visas, and should consult the nearest Estonian embassy for entry requirements.
MAP AND COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can view maps of Estonia here. The State Department’s background note on Estonia is here.
HEALTH: The Centers for Disease Control note that international travelers should make certain that their routine vaccinations are up to date. Vaccines for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid are also recommended. For more information, consult your physician and the website of the CDC.
Mosquitoes are not likely to be a major problem; if the weather is unusually warm, however, they may be more numerous, and some people may find them distracting. For recommendations on effective insect repellents, see the printed General Information for Tours to Estonia.
It may be impossible to obtain any special medications during the tour, so bring all you are likely to need with you.
Note that any health information provided here is gleaned from websites dedicated to traveler’s health. Please consult with your physician for individualized advice and recommendations.
CLIMATE: We can expect to encounter almost any kind of weather on this trip. Early mornings, especially when we’re out watching the Arctic migration, can feel very cold, and it may be below freezing. It can feel even colder if it is windy. The days can be mixed, and we could have rain one day and warm sun the next.
PACE OF THE TOUR: This tour is not a strenuous one, but we do have some very early starts, all of them for optional pre-breakfast excursions. On most mornings we’ll have tea and coffee at 4:45 and depart for birding at 5:00, returning for breakfast around 9:00 am. On one morning we’ll leave even earlier, but return to the hotel for breakfast and then rest until lunch.
Leisurely walking, occasionally over moderately rough terrain, is the only physical requirement. Some longer and more strenuous walks (none of more than four miles) may be taken, but they will be on flat ground and good paths or boardwalks. The minibus is never too far away if anyone chooses to sit out a particular walk. On most days we take a packed lunch with us. In the evenings, there will be time to shower before dinner and checklist; on one evening we’ll go out after dinner to visit a Great Snipe lek.
ACCOMMODATION: Throughout most of the tour we’ll be staying in good-quality hotels, all with private bathrooms. Elevators are not common in Estonian hotels, and porters are rare, so bring only what you can comfortably carry.
FOOD AND DRINK: Food in Estonia is up to normal western standards. Fish or meat is frequently served as the main course at dinner, so please let us know in advance if you are a vegetarian; there are options for vegetarians or those with other dietary restrictions. Our noon meal will be a packed lunch. Decaffeinated coffee can be hard to find, and teas are often herbal or fruit tea, so bring teabags or your own decaf if you prefer.
DRESS: Dress is informal throughout the tour.
TRANSPORTATION: Our transportation will be in minibuses, driven by the leaders for maximum flexibility. Please note that the leaders will operate a rotation system for seating in the vehicles.
SMOKING: Smoking is not allowed in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. If you are sharing a room with a non-smoker, please do not smoke in the room. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS: Please take a moment to read the WINGS General Information and Conditions. This section contains important information about how we conduct tours, e.g., what is included in the tour price, refund and cancellation policies, pace of the tours, and other information that will help you prepare for the tour.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A more complete General Information for Tours to Estonia will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. Final information with instructions for meeting the group, hotel addresses, etc., will be mailed about three weeks before trip departure. Other news will be communicated as necessary.
Updated: June 2009