RMK Peraküla-Aegviidu-Ähijärve hiking route / Elistvere-Kantsi (80 km)

Elistvere rest stop at the hiking route is an excellent place to start or end the hike, as there is a large parking area at the animal park, a large camping area at the campfire site, and hikers can replenish their drinking water supply in the opening hours of the visitor centre. Food supplies can be restocked at Maarja shop, which is on the route. This part of the hiking route goes through the "heart" of the Tartu-Jõgeva Recreation Area – the area of Lake Saare and the Kaiu lakes – where there are several rest stops and hiking trails and large forests that are rich in berries and mushrooms. On the next part of the route to Kantsi, there are alternating forest and open landscapes.
From Elistvere, hikers can go along an asphalt road up to Maarja, where they should carefully follow the signs to avoid getting lost at numerous intersections. Further there are dusty roads until you reach the one that leads to Lake Saare. The latter road goes through the forest. Asphalt roads continue until the road leading to the Kaiu lakes. The following journey continues in an area of alternating forests and open landscapes along gravel and earth roads. One should also beware of village dogs as the hiking route goes through several villages. Before the turn towards Kantsi, it is again some kilometres of asphalt road.