PALŪŠĖ, Lithuania — Deep in the forests and lakes of Aukštaitija National Park it’s easy to get lost.

Whether you’re hiking of canoeing or driving on the dirt roads trying to find the Ancient Beekeeping Museum, you’ll certainly cut off from the rest of the world in the Lithuanian hinterland.

Still largely unknown to most tourists wandering around Vilnius’ Old Town, the Aukštaitija National Park features some of Lithuania’s best views from Ladakalnis Hill, most beautiful lakes and densest forests. It also has plenty of local bucolic charm with museums on beekeeping and horses, the former of which features many wooden folk sculptures.

In fact, the wood carving can be found all over the vast park, which stretches over 400 sq km in Lithuania’s northeast corner. Wooden crosses, figures, still-working watermills and 18th century churches are scattered throughout the park as are tourist towns like Palūšė and Ginučiai. If you’ve never been, which is probably the case, I went ahead and created this photo essay “Out in Aukštaitija” to give you a preview.

Image by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Canoeing on Lake Linkmenas. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

The old watermill in Ginučiai, which now serves as a guesthouse. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

The view from Ladakalnis Hill. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

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Wood figure at the Ancient Beekeeping Museum. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Wood figure at the Ancient Beekeeping Museum. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Wood figure at the Ancient Beekeeping Museum. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

View of Lake Lusiai from hill. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Wood figure next to a church in Palūšė. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Another view of Lake Lusiai. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Docks on Lake Lusiai. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Canoeing on Lake Lusiai. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Lakeshore. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports

Old wood buildings along a lake. Photo by Nathan Greenhalgh/Baltic Reports