Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, borders the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland. Including more than 1,500 islands, its diverse terrain spans rocky beaches, old-growth forest and many lakes.

Formerly part of the Soviet Union, it offers castles, churches and hilltop fortresses.

Averaging -8°C throughout the winter months, Estonia offers the visitor snowy forests, ice roads andice waterfalls you can walk behind along with post-sauna swims in sub-zero temperatures.

Driving on the ice roads to one of Estonia's 2,000 islands

The ice on Estonia's lakes and sea gets so thick it can be driven on.

For those who drive on the ice, it is mandatory not to wear a seatbelt.

Though the roads are a unique attraction for tourists, this is a typical occurrence for Estonians, often creating an easier method of transport in between the mainland and the islands.

The Haapsalu to Noarootsi ice road route creates a route that is 10km shorter than usual.

For advanced ice travellers, the Kihnu ice road, at 15km, offers a journey across the frozen Baltic Sea to the UNESCO world heritage listed island.

Frozen waterfalls

One of the most stunning features of the Estonia winter is the freezing over of waterfalls.

The highest of these is the Valaste waterfall, approximately 30m high, is found a 30-minute drive from Tallinn.

Estonia's widest waterfall, the Jägala waterfall, becomes a 50m glistening ice wall with icicles cascading down.

During some winters, it is possible for visitors to walk behind the frozen waterfall.

Sailing on ice in Haapsalu

Although the colder months often signify the end of the sailing season across much of Europe, this period brings about a whole different sailing season in Estonia.

Boarding boats with sledge-like bases to move across the frozen sea were a popular method of transportation in the 17th century.

Today ice sailing is a sporting activity, often reaching speeds of over 60 mph.

Smoke sauna and winter swimming in Pärnu

The old Võromaa smoke sauna traditions have been honoured as part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of the world.

This ancient tradition involves a sauna session of at least three hours, where visitors experience the rich aroma of burning, complemented by a subtle hint of birch boughs and honey.

Located next to a pond, visitors will also take a quick dip in the icy waters after the sauna session. Rarely exceeding 20 degrees even in the summer months, the water temperature during this period is likely to be around 1-degree Celsius, often resulting in an icy cap over the pond, with the surrounding areas covered in snow.

Estonia holds an annual Sauna Marathon in the resort of Otepaa, when teams of four must visit as many local saunas as possible, spending a minimum of three minutes in each of them.

Useful links

www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/winter-adventures

www.visitestonia.com/en/