An hour outside Tallinn, Estonia, Haraka Bog in Kõrvemaa offers a distinctive natural experience, including bog swimming. The practice is seen as a way to engage with nature in a vulnerable and natural state.
Bogs are described as complex, well-balanced habitats where organic plant matter forms peat, trapping carbon for 10,000 years or more. Despite common misconceptions, they are rare and beautiful wetlands.
Accommodation in Kõrvemaa includes Kuuse Concept Houses, which feature Scandinavian-style cabins with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. The Uuejärv Nature Retreat, located on a former Soviet-era military training base, provides guided sauna sessions that include vihtlemine, a practice of beating the body with bundled birch or oak leaves to boost circulation.
Chef Ellery Powell, based in Kõrvemaa, sources ingredients within a 50 km radius for meals served to guests at the Concept Houses, incorporating local produce such as golden chanterelles and Estonian clover.