Surf & Glamping Escape on Estonia's Hiiumaa Island

Ranna Surf Village is set on Estonia's Hiiumaa island, on the Kõpu peninsula, surrounded by juniper, sandy beach and the Baltic Sea. The village was founded in 2022 by Riho — who ran the Paope Surf Club for years — and his friends, who built the glamping tents, the Surf & Chill café and the surf school from scratch. Accommodation is in glamping tents on the seaside land, with shared facilities and a communal café at the centre of the village.

Surfing here depends on the wind and the season. The best swell typically arrives with southwest and south winds, and the crew knows exactly where to go: Paope, Suurerand, or the beach right in front of the village. Lessons are run by Surfmaster, a partner surf school that holds camps for kids, youth and adults at Ranna Surf Village throughout the summer, so beginners get proper instruction and experienced surfers get local knowledge about which break is working. Boards and wetsuits are available on site.

When you're not in the water, there's plenty to do on Hiiumaa. You can cycle to the Kõpu lighthouse — one of the oldest in the world — hike in the island's forests, swim, stand-up paddleboard, or take a boat trip. The village also organises events, including Lohelaager, its biggest surf gathering of the summer, run with the No Work Surf Club crew. Photographer Teele Rehe can be booked for a private shoot in the village if you want proper photos of your trip.

Meals are a big part of the experience. The Surf & Chill café uses Big Green Egg grills, and the menu has been developed with Osvald Catering —expect grilled fish, local vegetables, soups and fresh bread, plus coffee and cake in the afternoons. Breakfast is included for glamping guests; lunch and dinner are available at the café or cooked communally. Dietary needs like vegetarian and vegan are catered for if you tell them in advance.

The village is small and communal by design. You'll share the sauna, the fire pit and the café with other guests and with the crew, and evenings tend to turn into long conversations under the stars. It's a place for people who are happy to trade hotel comforts for the sound of the sea and the smell of woodsmoke. The Kõpu peninsula is remote — the nearest town, Kärdla, is about an hour's drive — so you really do disconnect here.

What sets this apart from a standard surf camp is the story behind it. Riho didn't buy a surf business; he and his friends built one on a piece of land that felt like fate. Many of the ideas, the layout, even the menu came from that friendship group, and you feel it in how the place runs. It's not polished in a corporate way, but it's genuine, and guests tend to come back year after year.

What's included

- 6 nights glamping accommodation - Daily breakfast at the Surf & Chill café - Surf lessons with Surfmaster instructors (5 sessions) - Use of surfboards and wetsuits during lessons - Sauna access - Use of communal kitchen and BBQ - Free wifi in the café - Firewood for the fire pit

What's not included

- Travel to and from Hiiumaa - Ferry tickets - Lunches and dinners (available at the café for an extra cost) - Alcohol and soft drinks - Personal travel insurance - Optional activities like photography shoots, SUP tours or bike rental - Towels (bring your own or rent on site)