Heritage, history and a hopping arts scene—an epic exploration of Estonia

Our series Bespoke Behind the Scenes lets you in on some of the incredible trips that B&R Experience Designers create for travellers. Whether it’s a multi-generational family reunion or an exploration of a dream destination, our team works one-on-one with travellers to design original journeys that meet every need and desire. Here, Experience Designer Mario Koch shares the story of a multi-generational trip exploring Estonia and its rich arts and culture scenes.   

 This exploration of Estonia by multiple generations of a family could be considered a quest of sorts, to reconnect with their roots in the country, which stretch back a century. But the week was also a deeply culturally enriching experience, inspired by the travellers’ own artistic interests.  

“Of course, we had some general highlights that we wanted them to experience,” says Mario Koch, B&R’s Experience Designer for Estonia. “But when speaking to the travellers during the planning process I learned that most of them were artists. Hence, the trip became a journey into the culture—both old and contemporary—and the landscapes of Estonia as well as a trip to connect with local artists, curators and collectors.” 

To get their bearings, there was time spent learning about the country’s Soviet history in the capital city, Talinn, and a tour of the National Museum in Tartu.  

Mario was especially excited for the family to experience some true connections with the arts scene made possible thanks to his extensive network. This included a private visit to the KUMU Museum, the premiere art museum in the country, and a meeting with the vice president of the Estonian Artists Association. “They actually went to his house for snacks and drinks, met with his wife, daughter and Golden Retriever,” says Mario. And one such connection had an element of surprise to it. The family met with one of the country’s well-known watercolour painters, who invited them to her house for coffee and a chat, where it was discovered that, following a few branches of the family tree, they are related.  

And there was an element of active adventure, with cycling on the paths in Lahemaa National Park, rich in forests and wetlands, and a guided walk in one of the Baltics’ famed raised bogs, a unique ecosystem home to many lakes and carnivorous plants. Amid all the activity, relaxation was found in authentic experiences like an afternoon at a traditional smoke sauna, an experience UNESCO has added to its list of intangible cultural heritage, as well as time set aside to meet with a family relative.  

Throughout the week the family’s guide, a resident of Talinn, provided insight and spontaneous suggestions that only a local could. The result was an incredible adventure that brought the family closer together and helped them better understand their heritage.