Natourest
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About
We offer the possibility to spend a night in Alutaguse Brown Bear and Wildlife watching hide. Alutaguse is a vast taiga forest and bog area in N-E of Estonia where about half of 1000 Estonian brown bears live. We opened 2 new hides in a new location in 2017! The new hides have windows opening to two sides. Northern windows overlook a taiga forest and the most common mammals you might see are Raccoon Dogs and Brown Bears. Southern windows offer a view of a stream and flooded meadow, where Elk and Roe Deer sometimes come to feed. Rare visitors of the scenery include Eurasian Lynx, Otter, American Mink, and Wild boar. Hides are simple, comfortable, and cosy, they have separated cabins with bunk beds and a dry toilet. It is possible to take pictures through the windows and camera openings.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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Rüdiger P
2 contributions
Jul 2023
The organisation was as communicated, we met in the middle of nothing on a marked parking place. We were one couple and two singles, made up into three "groups". Each group got a compartment with four beds. It is wise to be in pairs so that both sides of the hut could be observed. The bear appeared several times on both sides. Also raccon dogs appeared repeatedly. First bear appearance was at 9.45 pm, last at 2 am. I could make pictures until 11.30 pm with a reflex camera. The bear was shy and quite fast. I didn't use the tripod, too circumstantial. The hut was simple, but clean and well maintained. The toilet was okay. In the morning we four left together. The way back to the cars can't be missed. Overall a unforgetable night!
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Conor R
25 contributions
Jul 2022
I booked a night in the bear watching hide with my father and uncle. We were thrilled to get excellent views of two brown bears including a large male that came very close to the hide. Also saw elk, cranes and racoon dogs. I would highly recommend a night in the bear hide with Natourest for those interested in having an unforgettable experience with nature!
Written July 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nikhil A
13 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
I had been to the Bear watching expedition in the second week of October 21. The days were shorter but we spotted a bear as soon we were walking towards the hide at 3 pm. Then we were lucky to spot the medium sized bear again in the night around 8 pm. We again saw a really big bear with its cub after 30 mins. They were around for a very long time. It was truly breathtaking. We saw lot of racoons as well. Overall The hide was super clean. No complaints. Kärt picked me up from the tudu bus station and Andrei dropped me to Rakvere making it convenient. Both really kind and helful. I would recommend the experience definitely.
Written October 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh2888
32 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
To start, seeing bears in their own habitat in the wild is a very special experience. But I just wanted to list a few things I wish I knew before our stay.
We stayed in the more expensive Lux cabin. The drive from Tallinn is around 2 hours, very good roads I may add & it's easy to find the meeting point from the maps provided.
It takes around 20-25 minutes to get from where the car is parked to the hide, I highly recommend welly boots or similar as I was ankle deep at times in mud!
The hut is basic and will be filled with bugs, ours was full of small black flies and mosquitos - we forgot bug spray, I would recommend it.
The dry toilet is ok, doesn't smell and they supply special biodegradable toilet paper.
We arrived at the hut around 430pm, we seen a family of 3 bears at around 8pm, then a larger bear on his own around 9pm, some raccoon dog activity soon after then after 1030pm it was too dark to see anything.
I would recommend some books, magazines or games to fill the time also (there's only so much conversation two People can have!!)
The bunk beds are made of wood and have a small mattress and sleeping bags were provided, but it was a warm night so we used them as pillows.
We brought our own lantern, I cannot stress how important this is, the hut is in absolute darkness, DO NOT FORGET THIS!!!!
If you are in any way not a fan of bugs, their presence, noise etc I wouldn't recommend this. I am not a huge fan of buzzing noises or scratching type bug noises,if you are in anyway similar- just don't go, I didn't sleep a wink as every little noise freaked me out-but if you aren't a big wuss like me-go for it!
We had a rodent visitor in the night, a small dormouse type creature that definitely scared me as
the scuttling noises had me thinking all sorts but in all honesty once I seen it I was ok!
Bottom line - it is a very cool experience and if you like the outdoors and want to see some wild bears and raccoon dogs, this is for you.
Ps- do not forget to leave the key back, we were 40 mins away and realised we had it with us, made an already tiring journey a lot worse!
Written August 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariell-ariell
Tallinn, Estonia1 contribution
Jul 2012 • Friends
It was an excellent experience.
At first I had my doubts, whether I have the stamina to stay still and make no noise for hours. But I must say, the waiting part was as interesting as seeing the bear. First came raccoondog, then the woodpecker and small mouses, then the fox made it's appearance. As if all the animal in the forest had their part to play in this evening.
I was almost losing my hope to see the bear and I was already sitting in the sleeping bag, taking the last glimpse towards the woods, when they came.
It was almost too dark to see, nevertheless I was thrilled when a mother bear with her cups was just about 20 meters away from me. Despite the fact that the waiting seemed at first very long, every second in the hut was worth it.
Moreover the hideout was very comfortable, there was plenty of room for two of us, photographing was made handy. But let me remind you when you see the bear, you realize that smelly sausages and other intense human smells can keep these intelligent animals away.
At first I had my doubts, whether I have the stamina to stay still and make no noise for hours. But I must say, the waiting part was as interesting as seeing the bear. First came raccoondog, then the woodpecker and small mouses, then the fox made it's appearance. As if all the animal in the forest had their part to play in this evening.
I was almost losing my hope to see the bear and I was already sitting in the sleeping bag, taking the last glimpse towards the woods, when they came.
It was almost too dark to see, nevertheless I was thrilled when a mother bear with her cups was just about 20 meters away from me. Despite the fact that the waiting seemed at first very long, every second in the hut was worth it.
Moreover the hideout was very comfortable, there was plenty of room for two of us, photographing was made handy. But let me remind you when you see the bear, you realize that smelly sausages and other intense human smells can keep these intelligent animals away.
Written June 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosie R
Barton-upon-Humber, N Lincs43 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We went to see the bears in the height of season. I think we were quite unlucky but we waited from 5.30pm until 11.30pm and didn't see a single bear! Luckily we woke up around 4am and did manage to see 2, I would have been disappointed if this hadn't happened but obviously nothing is guaranteed with nature.
However we did not have a good experience with the sleeping arrangements. There are two hides - Andres told us to go into the one on the left. We were in there for 10-15 minutes, unpacked our things and settled in. Shortly afterwards, he knocked on the window and asked us to go out. He said 'if you like, you can move to the other hide'. I thought this was strange, why would we want to move? I asked him if that is what he would prefer us to do and he replied 'do it'! This may have been partly due to the language barrier. He did apologise.
We packed up our things and moved to the other hide. There were already 6 people in there and we found ourselves sharing a bunk with 2 others. The description on the website says the bunk area is private but this is not the case! It is shared! If you go in a couple, you could be sleeping on bunks right next to another couple. This really made me feel quite uncomfortable and wasn't what we were led to believe. We struggled to sleep as a result.
I would recommend the experience (although perhaps go for more than one night to increase your chances of seeing the bears) but do not think the accommodation was as it was described to us and this did slightly marr the experience. Peep's communication beforehand was fantastic.
However we did not have a good experience with the sleeping arrangements. There are two hides - Andres told us to go into the one on the left. We were in there for 10-15 minutes, unpacked our things and settled in. Shortly afterwards, he knocked on the window and asked us to go out. He said 'if you like, you can move to the other hide'. I thought this was strange, why would we want to move? I asked him if that is what he would prefer us to do and he replied 'do it'! This may have been partly due to the language barrier. He did apologise.
We packed up our things and moved to the other hide. There were already 6 people in there and we found ourselves sharing a bunk with 2 others. The description on the website says the bunk area is private but this is not the case! It is shared! If you go in a couple, you could be sleeping on bunks right next to another couple. This really made me feel quite uncomfortable and wasn't what we were led to believe. We struggled to sleep as a result.
I would recommend the experience (although perhaps go for more than one night to increase your chances of seeing the bears) but do not think the accommodation was as it was described to us and this did slightly marr the experience. Peep's communication beforehand was fantastic.
Written May 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Rosie,
Thank you for the feedback.
Great to hear that you saw bears, but sorry about the miscommunication, both beforehand and on site.
I think the problem lies there that there are 2 bunk beds(4 beds) on one side of the hide and 2 bunk beds (4 beds) on the other side of the hide. And these 4 beds on both sides are more private. Our homepage stated - "they have separated cabins with bunk beds". During days when there are not so many bookings, there's, of course, more privacy and 2 people can take the place of 4, but on some days there are more people in the hide. You happened to come on the busiest day the season so far - 15 persons divided into 2 hides.
I will change the description on our homepage so people get a better understanding of what awaits them. And I will talk to Andres about what happened.
Hopefully, seeing Brown bear outbalanced at least in some part, the lack of sleep.
Written May 28, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Metsjeesus
Tallinn, Estonia5 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
It was the third time we were in Alutaguse. We arrived at the hut, and placed the cameras in place. Fifteen minutes later, he was applying - the raccoon dog. Sniffing around and checked the situation. After few minutes had been a total of five raccoon dogs. At the moment, they are already so thick and furry. The raccoons dogs was there whole evening and posed for our pictures. At one time they all sitting in a row and looked at us as like the cinema. Outside was already shadowy and the time was waiting a bear. Unfortunately, he did not come in the this evening. Previous occasions, he has always been there. Square the night came to eat wild boars. We packed things at eight in the morning, and left the hut. Ultimately still went well, the show offered raccoons dogs and wild boar cattle were fighting with each other. Definitely recommend that everyone go to an experience in itself, in the dark forest and listen to the voices and watching wild animals.
Written October 23, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marko K
1 contribution
Aug 2014 • Friends
It was late August. We arrived quite late around 5 pm. After unpacking in the big hide we started to await for bears. I took a little snack when others called me to watch fox ! He was pretty but didn't stay for long. Next creeped out racoon dog who stayed for quite long and after dissaperaing came back with a friend. We watched racoon dogs til 6 pm after what they were gone and soon the bear was here - unbelivable ! He stayed around for half hour and then left. We all thought is this is it for today ? But wait, he came but, but something was different, it was another bear, much bigger and older. We saw bears till 9 pm after that is was really dark nevertheless lights we on. After that I went to sleep but others saw big bear with two cubs.
Written November 3, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kxtp4i
Glommen27 contributions
May 2019
Many funny racoon-dogs but unfortunally no bears. Nice place though with many birds and other animals. You need to walk 2 km from the car park.
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harm I
3 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
We booked the hide a half year in advance. Seeing a bear would be the highlight of our holiday since we are both animal lovers. Peep was really helpful during the arrangements! On the night itself we didn't see bears which was really disappointing. Maybe the rain had something to do with it. We arranged a second night and boy were we glad we did. We saw a bear coming walking out of the woods a couple of times. An amazing sight! Definitely worth it.
The first night we shared the cabin with two other people but we still had our own (private) part of the cabin. The second night we had the whole cabin for just the two of us.
This experience was great, I recommend it!
The first night we shared the cabin with two other people but we still had our own (private) part of the cabin. The second night we had the whole cabin for just the two of us.
This experience was great, I recommend it!
Written August 25, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kxtp4i
Glommen27 contributions
Är det för sent att se björnar i oktober? t ex 16 oktober.
Hello,
Great to hear that you are interested in visiting our Brown Bear hide.
It's hopefully not too late. The bears are currently visiting the hides daily. Only on the 16th October, the days are really short, so there is not much dayligjt. But we have also some lights under the forest canopy, so you can observe also in the darkness.
If you would like to book - please write to info@natourest.ee
All the best,
Peep
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