Private islands are usually associated with exotic, sunny destinations. As the climate changes, it is time to look further north. There are plenty of private islands here too. But most are for the owner's use only. Few are rented out. Falstaff visited and experienced one.
There are basically two ways to get to the island. The first is the most representative. A private helicopter will be waiting for you at Tallinn airport and after a half hour flight you will land on the island. The island is yours and yours alone day and night. Dinner will be prepared by Falstaff's 4 Forks worthy private chef. The next morning, a speedboat will take you to the nearest mainland port – Virtsu. A chauffeur-driven car awaits you to take you back to the airport. This is a package tour for two people and costs 20,000 euros. It can be booked through the island's website.
Less representative, the same high-speed boat arrives on the island from Virtsu harbour. Even though the island is not far away and the sea is not deep, the weather can be such that every day the journey to and from the island is impossible.
The weather is an important factor in everything that happens on the island. The people who are on the island at any given time are the second determinant. Both are indeterminate, which is why the island can be paradise one day and hell the next. If there are only two guests on the island at a time, there is no quieter or more isolated place in the world. When there are 101 people on the island – the island cannot take any more – life on the island can be compared to life in Venice in the high season.
The options for spending the night on the island are just as varied as the options for getting there. The most exotic and the one with the most facilities is the Bowl. It is located in one of the most remote corners of the island, right on the water. Here you can find solitude, even when the island gets busy.
The tiny island of only 87 hectares used to be permanently inhabited only by lighthouse keepers. Today, the keeper's house offers accommodation in various rooms that have retained the atmosphere of bygone days. In addition to the historic lighthouse keeper's house, a number of small modern houses have recently been added. It is also possible to spend the night in a glamping tent.
As bohemian as the island's accommodation is, so is life on the island. Hiring the island to couples or small groups for privacy is becoming increasingly popular, but does not guarantee consistent island life. This is why the owners of the island organise a wide range of events themselves, which are open to anyone who buys a ticket. Gourmet dinners with celebrity chefs are popular, and so are fun parties that go on into the early hours of the morning with many different themes. For information about events on the island and ticket sales, visit: viirelaid.ee.
The journey to Viirelaid takes a lot of planning and time, but the experience is well worth it. If a song could introduce the island and your stay, it would be Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
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