Lahemaa Ökoturism

What Lahemaa Ökoturism does

MTÜ Lahemaa Ökoturism is an Estonian non-profit association (Mittetulundusühing) founded in 2006 that operates guided nature tours and ecotourism experiences primarily within Lahemaa National Park, Estonia's largest and oldest national park located on the northern coast approximately one hour east of Tallinn. The company offers a portfolio of approximately a dozen guided nature tours covering bogs (notably Viru Bog), waterfalls (Nõmmeveski, Joaveski, Vasaristi), coastal villages (Altja, Käsmu, Pedassaare), cultural heritage sites (Vihula, Sagadi, Palmse manors), and seasonal experiences (Christmas in Lahemaa). Service durations range from short 2-3 hour excursions to full-day (7-8 hour) tours, with international tours extending into Latvia and Lithuania. Pricing is transactional and per-person or per-group, with individual tours at €35-45/hour, group tours at €12-340 depending on size, school programs at €150-200 per class plus transport, and gift cards in €50-100 denominations.

The business is led by nature guide Kauri Kivipõld, who holds degrees in geoecology and landscape management plus pedagogical training, and works concurrently as a guide at Tallinn Zoo. The company holds the Ökomärgised eco-label since 2013 and the EHE (Ehtne ja huvitav Eesti) Ecotourism quality mark from the Estonian Tourism Board since 2015. Revenue derives from four streams: nature tours, school educational programs, event organization, and gift cards, distributed via a direct-to-consumer model through the company website, phone, email, and partnership with the randtigu.ee tourism platform. The company has received public funding support from KIK (2022, for new tour and adventure game development) and EAS (Enterprise Estonia) for tourism business development. Customer segments span individual tourists, families, Estonian schools, and corporate/event groups, with no disclosed enterprise anchor customers and no disclosed revenue figures.

Name

Lahemaa Ökoturism

Legal name

MTÜ Lahemaa Ökoturism

Website

https://lahemaaturism.ee

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Lahemaa Ökoturism is an Estonian non-profit association founded in 2006 that delivers guided nature tours, environmental education programs, and event services in Lahemaa National Park and the Baltic region, serving individual tourists, families, schools, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecotourism Services

NAICS

Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Tours & Interpretive Services (Ranger-Led, Naturalist, Cultural Interpretation) (THAAAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Environmental Interpretation & Ranger-Led Education Programs (Visitor Education) (THAAAOAJ), History, Heritage & Museum-Focused Study Tours (THAKAGAN)

Keywords

• Ecotourism services
• Guided nature tours
• National park tours
• Nature education programs
• Outdoor adventure experiences

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nature Tours and Guided Excursions: The company generates revenue primarily through guided nature tours in Lahemaa National Park, including hiking tours, bog excursions, waterfall visits, cultural heritage tours, and island expeditions. Tours are priced per person or per group, with duration ranging from a few hours to full-day experiences.
2. Educational Programs for Schools: School programs offering nature education, environmental awareness, and outdoor learning experiences for students. Programs include classroom visits and field trips to natural areas.
3. Event Organization Services: Corporate events, team building activities, and special occasion celebrations organized in natural settings.
4. Gift Cards: Sale of gift cards in denominations of €50, €75, and €100 for tour experiences.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Lahemaa Ökoturism provides guided nature tours and outdoor excursions in Lahemaa National Park and across Estonia, including bog walks, waterfall visits, coastal village hikes, cultural heritage tours of manor houses, treasure-hunt adventure games, and international tours in Latvia and Lithuania. The company also delivers environmental education programs for schools and organizes corporate events, team-building activities, and seasonal experiences such as Christmas tours in natural settings. Gift cards in €50/€75/€100 denominations are sold as vouchers for tour experiences.

Product overview

Lahemaa Ökoturism is an ecotourism company operating since 2006 that offers nature-based tours and outdoor experiences in Estonia, primarily focused on Lahemaa National Park. The company provides a portfolio of guided nature tours including bog walks, waterfall visits, village explorations, cultural heritage trips, and adventure activities such as treasure hunts. Their offerings range from short half-day tours (2-3 hours) to full-day experiences and multi-day tours across Estonia and the Baltic region. The company also offers customized individual tours, event organization services, and gift cards. Their core product consists of guided nature excursions led by experienced nature guides, complemented by seasonal offerings like Christmas tours and educational programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Guided Nature Tours (Loodusretked) Guided nature tours through Lahemaa National Park, including bog walks at Viru Bog, waterfall visits (Nõmmeveski, Joaveski, Vasaristi), coastal village hikes from Vainupea to Altja, Käsmu peninsula exploration, Pedassaare Cape tours, and wildlife observation led by an experienced nature guide. Targeted at individual tourists and families.
• Individual Custom Tours (Individuaalne rännak) Customized individual tours designed based on client preferences and interests, offering flexible scheduling and personalized experiences in Lahemaa National Park. Priced at €35-45 per hour.
• Cultural Heritage Tours (Kultuurirännakud) Cultural tours visiting restored manor houses (Vihula, Sagadi, Palmse), traditional fishing villages, and maritime heritage sites. One or more days in duration, focused on cultural and historical heritage of the Lahemaa region.
• Full Day Lahemaa Tour

Quantifiable outcome

• Ecomarked services provided since 2013, EHE quality mark achieved in 2015

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• randtigu.eeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for tour distribution and sales through the randtigu.ee tourism platform.
• vesipapp.com (Looduskool)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for nature education programs, linked through the company's website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Responsible Travel: UK-based marketplace and tour operator specializing in vetted responsible and ecotourism holidays globally. Comparable as a curated distribution channel and standards-setter for ecotourism products like those offered by Lahemaa Ökoturism, though it operates as a platform rather than a single-destination operator.
• Europarc Federation: Pan-European network of protected areas, including Estonian national parks. Comparable indirectly as the institutional framework that sets ecotourism quality standards (e.g., the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism) that certifications like EHE align with.

Direct peers

• Soomaa National Park Tours: Operator offering guided nature tours in Soomaa National Park (Estonia), including bog hikes, canoeing, and seasonal flood experiences. Directly comparable to Lahemaa Ökoturism in product format (guided nature experiences in an Estonian national park), target customer (nature tourists and school groups), and pricing model.
• Matkaklubi: Estonian hiking and outdoor club offering guided group hikes and nature tours across Estonia. Comparable in target audience (active domestic nature tourists), guided-experience model, and pricing tier, though organized as a community/club structure.
• Taevaskoja Matkad: Estonian guided nature and hiking tour operator offering outdoor experiences in Estonian national parks and protected areas. Directly comparable as a small-scale Estonian ecotourism operator with guided hiking, nature interpretation, and educational tours targeted at domestic and inbound visitors.

Broad incumbents

• RMK (Riigimetsa Majandamise Keskus): Estonian state forest management center that manages Lahemaa National Park itself and operates visitor centers, nature trails, and free or low-cost guided nature programs throughout Estonia. Directly comparable because it operates in the same national park with overlapping educational and recreational tour offerings, though as a broader public-sector portfolio rather than a single-guide specialist.
• Natural Habitat Adventures: US-based adventure travel company specializing in small-group, naturalist-led nature and wildlife tours worldwide. Comparable as a high-quality, expert-guided nature tour operator with strong conservation positioning, though operating at much larger scale and serving primarily international travelers.
• Visit Estonia (Eesti Turismi Sihtasutus): Estonia's national tourism foundation promoting destinations including Lahemaa National Park. Comparable as a destination-marketing and information channel that influences demand for Lahemaa Ökoturism's tours, though it is a DMO rather than a tour operator.

Emerging players

• Tallinn Zoo: Tallinn-based zoological institution that the founder of Lahemaa Ökoturism actually works at as a zoo guide, and which runs educational programs for schools. Comparable on the educational/interpretation side of nature tourism and on the school-group customer base, though its core product is a fixed-venue attraction rather than guided outdoor tours.
• Loodusvägi (Nature Force): Estonian provider of nature-based educational programs and team-building events, often working with schools and corporate groups. Comparable on the B2B education and corporate-event side of Lahemaa Ökoturism's offerings, with overlapping naturalist-led programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Lahemaa-%C3%96koturism-109488657435062

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lahemaa Ökoturism