Rural Lifestyle

Estonia is a maritime country where coastal fishing has a long tradition and is part of the history of the Estonian coastal people. Scenic fishing villages Kaberneeme Salmistu, Purekari and Viinistu in Lahemaa region are located in the area that is the best for fishing sea trout and boasts the biggest fish.

The host of the programme is Lahemaa Kalaturism – the local fishing association and their main goal is the propagation of sustainable fishing and educating new fishing guides. Timo, the fishing guide, is well known in Estonia and probably one of the best sea trout catchers in the area. Rain Käärst, the chef, will cook the dinner together with guests, and Signe Bloom will take care of the cosy atmosphere in the holiday house. 

The Fishing tour takes guests to fishing sites, the choice of which will be selected on the morning of the tour depending on the weather conditions, wind and currents. The fishing sites are 10-30 km from the guest house. Guests are picked up in the morning and guided in fishing until the end of the day. The package includes snacks and refreshments throughout the fishing day. The day ends with a delicious dinner of grilled fish and local specialities, cooked under the guidance of the chef, followed by a country sauna in the holiday house.

PROGRAMME:

Day 1. 

• Transfer from Tallinn to Kärka Holiday House.
• Introduction of the tour. Meeting with the fishing guide, instruction about fishing.
• Guided fishing. Fishing 3–4 hours, light lunch in the open air, fishing 3 hours. Return to the accommodation.
• Dinner. Guests will prepare dinner from the day’s catch with the chef.
• Evening sauna.
• Overnight in Kärka Holiday House.

Day 2. 

• Breakfast.
• Guided fishing.  Fishing 3–4 hours, light lunch prepared with the guidance of the chef. 
• Transfer to Tallinn.

The camp activities include:

• Skills workshops: carpentry and handloom weaving, berry/apple jam making, black bread baking. Dancing and playing musical instruments. In winter, participants can learn to ski or snowboard.
• Work: 2–4 hours per day with local families or villagers. Summer/autumn: picking berries and mushrooms, taking care of hiking trails, piling up chopped firewood, planting trees, making birch whisks for the sauna.
• Winter/spring: take care of hiking trails, piling up chopped firewood, planting trees, carpentry; we may also help to organise local events, e.g. the Haanja Marathon.
• Every day there is the chance to use the sauna.

Programme:

• Arrival to Pesa hotel in the afternoon / evening. Check-in. Pesa hotel mini spa services can be used before or after dinner.
• Dinner in Pesa restaurant. Before dinner: a tasting e.g. local ciders/juices. During dinner or after: a cultural programme e.g Seto leelo choir. Duration:  2 hours.
• Overnight stay in Pesa hotel (TWIN rooms). Breakfast in hotel restaurant.
• Short hiking or guided walking in picturesque Taevaskoja area. Duration: 2 hours.
• Visit to a local diary – Andre Farm. Cheeses of the farm have won several prizes in Estonia and internationally. Visitors can have a look at the production, visit the farm shop, taste the cheeses and even feed the cows. Duration 1.5 hours.
• Lunch in Pesa hotel restaurant or another place on the route. Duration 45 minutes.
• Visit to a garden at Mikko farm or Palusalu farm. Both gardens are an English style gardens with varied landscapes and scenic views. Duration: 1.5 hours.
• Smaller groups may visit Wiera candle factory and the shop. This factory stands in the middle of nature and it produces candles with wooden candlewicks. Duration 2.5 hours.
• Bigger groups may visit Süvahavva nature farm. There is a possibility to choose between nature garden or wool factory and museum. In nature garden visitors get to know about herbs and organic farming, in wool factory visitors will see how wool is produced and can buy therapeutical woollen products. Duration: 1.5 hours.
• Dinner in Pesa restaurant with musical programme.
• Overnight stay in Pesa hotel. Breakfast in hotel restaurant.
• The tour may be continued with a tour to Setomaa or Võromaa regions. Both regions are nearby – at distance of 30-40 km.

This area has been populated for 350 years by Russian Old Believers – orthodox Christians who fled from Russia due to persecution. Today the area surprises with its authentic customs and traditions. One of the most important traditions is tea drinking. Traditional samovar, a predecessor of the modern kettle, is used to brew, boil and serve tea. Tea rituals take time, so people slow down, sit back, enjoy company, and have a chat. Making tea in samovar is a social event. 

The host, Herling Mesi, moved from Estonia’s capital Tallinn to this remote area of Lake Peipsi shore, 45km from Tartu, Estonia’s second largest city. She got fascinated by the local lifestyle, learned a lot about Russian Old Believers everyday life and now shares it enthusiastically with her guests. She has collected more than 100 samovars that are exhibited in a special building – the Samovar House.

The Mesi family offers visitors to experience the lifestyle of the local Russian Old Believers. In the workshop guests learn about local tea drinking history, how samovar works, the sizes and the shapes of samovars, and they enjoy a very special Ivan’s tea made from Fireweed. Also guests learn how to decorate the traditional gingerbread that goes with the tea. The workshop has an EHE (Genuine and Interesting Estonia) ecotourism quality label for maintaining authentic traditions, skills and atmosphere.

PROGRAMME:

• Arrival and welcome. The hostess gives a guided Samovar House tour.
• Samovar and Ivan Chai workshop. In the workshop, the hostess guides her guests through the process – start the samovar, find out how fast the samovar starts boiling the water and how to actually make tea. While drinking tea with her guests, she will talk about the history of Ivan Chai – Ivan’s tea, why it has that name and why not many people know about this tea anymore. Depending on the season (end of June to beginning of August),  guests will learn in nature about the tea plant Fireweed, pick the leaves and learn about how to prepare the leaves for Ivan’s tea. 
• Gingerbread decorating workshop. The second part of the day is dedicated to decorating the local specialty gingerbread that is traditionally on the tea table. The best Estonian gingerbread master from the neighbouring Kolkja village will come to the Samovar House to teach the technology and secrets of grandmothers’.  Guests will decorate gingerbread and take it with them as a souvenir. 

Kihnu is the largest island in the Gulf of Riga with an area of 16.4 km2, it is only 7 km long and 3.3 km wide. There are four villages on the island and the unique atmosphere of the island can be experienced by visiting a local family at Kuraga Farm. Three generations live in this farm and are happy to welcome guests.

Основанный в 1874-ом году хутор сегодня действует как туристическое предприятие, где гостей ждут уютные комнаты в помещении амбара, бани, открытый бассейн и натуральное питание, приготовленное по рецептам начала прошлого столетия. В музейной комнате хутора наследие прошлых поколений хуторян: от женского и детского белья с тончайшей вышивкой до домашнего  инвентаря. Все предметы рассказывают свои истории о мечтах и делах своих прежних владельцев.

Mulgimaa is a historic region in southern Estonia. Mulgi farmers were known as wealthy and the first in Estonia to start buying their own farms from landlords in the late 19th century to cultivate flax. Three Mulgi cultural icons: the dialect, the well-known men’s long black jacket and the traditional Mulgi porridge have survived to this day.

The tour hostess is Jaanika Toome who knows the Mulgimaa communities very well.

The tour takes place in Tarvastu and Helme parishes, Viljandi County, ca 70 km from Tartu, the second largest Estonia’s city. The communities of Mulgimaa and their enterprising people do what they love, earn their daily bread with it, and are looking forward to receiving guests.

PROGRAMME:

• Viljandi – Mulgimaa. The trip starts from Viljandi and en-route information will be shared about the history of Mulgimaa, the name Mulgi, and the life of the people today.
• Kärstna mõis (Kärstna manor). Urve Kass, the hostess of the manor, will introduce the manor and her passion – crafts, which is how she makes her living in the countryside. Visitors will try sewing with different sewing machines and those who wish to, can make a textile potholder.
• Mäe-Koda kohvik Riidajas (Mäe-Koda cafe in Riidaja). The family’s main business is running a café, but they also make candles, notebooks, cakes and gateaux, soaps, etc. Visitors will make soap together with the family in the traditional way, adding medicinal  and scented plants. Everyone will get the self-made piece of the soap. When the job is done, guests will be treated to traditional Mulgi porridge and will find out how this delicious dish is made. 
• Lunch at Mäe-Koda café.
• The Soe village community. In this village there is always something to do and guests are welcome to join in. Depending on the season and the weather this can include: cutting and stacking logs, digging and clearing snow or feeding birds in winter, digging the soil and planting potatoes in spring, feeding farm animals, or other daily chores of a rural homestead or farm.
• Tarvastu Käsitöökoda (Tarvastu Handicraft Studio). One of the region’s most famous dishes is Mulgi korp - Mulgi curd cake with semolina filling. In the warm kitchen aprons and flour bags are awaiting guest bakers and everyone can try their hand. While the cakes are baking, guests will try out weaving on looms.
• Return to Viljandi in the evening.

Setomaa is one of the most unique, yet undiscovered regions of Estonia. It is located on the border of Estonia and Russia therefore the culture of Setos, the people living in Setomaa, is influenced by both cultures, yet maintaining their own traditions and values. The Setos are especially well known for their traditional way of singing (Seto leelo), which is on the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition to their own singing traditions, the Setos have their own language, remarkable and colorful national clothes and impressive silver jewelry, as well as cuisine. Being part of the Orthodox church makes their mindset different from that of Estonians. 

The tour is guided by Mrs. Helen Külvik, an experienced guide and passionate ambassador of Seto culture. She has been a member of the Seto community for over 20 years and works for the Seto Institute. 

The tour takes guests to meet the local people of Setomaa visiting a family-run café, a soap maker, an artisan’s gallery, a caretaker of the local chapel and a young farmer family. All of them are eager to share the best of their lifestyle, culture, values and stories with visitors.

PROGRAMME:

• Tartu – Setomaa. A bus ride from Tartu to Setomaa takes about 1 h 15 min. On the way, the guide will talk about Setomaa. 
• Inara’s Vanavalge Kohvitarõ (a café). Making traditional dumplings (pelmeny) together with the hostess Inara Luigas and listening to her stories about the Seto cuisine. For lunch, enjoy the dumplings and other delicacies of the Seto kitchen. 
• “Saatse boot”. Driving through the 800-meter “Saatse boot” – a Russian territory within Estonia. No visa required.
• Old George’s soap shop. Driving to Kolossova village and visiting the Old George’s soap shop. Silver Hüdsi, the shop owner, will tell stories about living “in the middle of nowhere”.
• Obinitsa museum. In Obinitsa local museum one of the guests will be dressed up as a Seto. Admire the beauty and logic of the clothes and impressive silver jewellery, and listen to the magical Seto leelo.
• Seto gallery. Visiting the Seto gallery to meet Ülle and Evar, great storytellers, and making one’s  own personal Seto-themed souvenir using the block-printing technique. Visiting the art, handicraft and souvenir store “Kunstizaal” (the Art’s Hall).
• Serga Orthodox chapel. Eevi, the caretaker of the chapel, will show the chapel and tell about living by the border.
• Rikka Ivvani Farm. A drive to Küllätüvä village to visit a young family on their authentic Seto farm. There are sheep and other pets, there’s music and real rural life. Having dinner together with the hosts and cooking some of the dinner with them. 
• Return to Tartu (ca 1 h 30 min).

Upon arrival in the Viking Village, you will be greeted by the Viking chieftain, who will give you an overview of various ancient weapons, items and clothing. You will also get to listen to stories about ancient times, when our forefathers were brave seafarers and ruled the Baltic Sea. To head out on your adventure, you will be given clothes and helmets to protect you on the journey.

Then you will board an authentic Viking ship with your friends and family as Viking conquerors, grab the oars and head off on a treasure hunt.

The ancient Vikings are famous for their skill as seafarers and conquerors. The Viking Village resurrects this ancient tradition and, from the month of May (depending on the weather), offers you a chance to sail down the Pirita River like a real Viking and take part in a voyage lasting over an hour. As a Viking, you will be the one holding the oars of the ship and deciding on how far you wish to venture. Following a treasure map given to you for the journey, and with a strong crew and experienced thralls, you should be able to reach a treasure chest filled to bursting with gleaming riches. The treasure must be divided among the crew amicably, and according to ancient law, the map reader, i.e. the navigator, is entitled to twice the bounty of other adventurers. The expedition will be led by the Viking captain.