Several travel choices come together in Heltermaa: a 234-kilometre RMK hiking route and a 250-kilometre cycling route start at the harbour. There is also a pebbly beach, rare alvar birch groves nearby and a craft shop in a former tavern. This raises a question for planning your trip: should a long route be the main focus, or are you more interested in the coastal landscape and crafts?
Getting to Heltermaa
The Rohuküla–Heltermaa ferry connects Hiiumaa with the Estonian mainland. It is worth checking the ferry schedule when planning your arrival day. Both the hiking and cycling routes start at Heltermaa harbour.
Hiking the RMK route
The Heltermaa–Ristna–Sarve RMK hiking route is 234 kilometres long and starts at Heltermaa harbour. It passes through most of Hiiumaa’s nature reserves. At this length, it is a long hike in its own right, not a short walk. If you plan to take the route, check the trail conditions before setting out. Its course through a large part of the protected areas distinguishes it from a route description that mainly names a direction or destination.
Cycling towards Kärdla
The cycling route is 250 kilometres long, also starts at the harbour and heads across the island towards Kärdla. Check the signage and route conditions before setting out. In a direct comparison of their lengths, the cycling route is 16 kilometres longer than the RMK hiking route; both are therefore of a similar length. However, choosing between them also depends on the fact that they are different activities with different route descriptions: the hiking route passes through most of the nature reserves, while the cycling route is described as heading towards Kärdla. This lets you compare the routes by activity and described course.
Beach and alvar landscape
Heltermaa harbour is part of the Aruküla–Soonlepa–Heltermaa valued landscape area. Rare alvar birch groves with gnarled, multi-stemmed birches can be found nearby. Heltermaa beach has a pebbly shore and low alvar vegetation; beach conditions can vary. An assessment dated 9 April 2023 ranked the seawater at the beach as usually among the warmest in the region. Water temperatures fluctuate from season to season and from year to year, so this assessment does not indicate a specific temperature for your travel dates.
Crafts at the harbour
Heltermaa Handicraft House is a craft shop at the harbour, housed in a former tavern. Its former use as a tavern gives the place a historical connection; today, crafts are at its heart. Opening arrangements may change seasonally, so check current visitor information before planning a visit.
Choose accommodation based on your reason for travelling
If you are looking for a hotel in Heltermaa, first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: one of the long routes, or the beach, birch groves and crafts.
Discover more destinations: Salinõmme, Palade, Soonlepa, Sääre, Valipe, Kuri, Partsi, Suuremõisa
For the broader travel overview: PĂĽhalepa.
