PROGRAMME ITINERARY:
Programme duration: 8 hours
For whom: individuals/groups (max. 30 pers.)
Tour Package includes: guided excursion + entrances + local lunch
- Värska Farm Museum. A living farm museum with livestock to give you an idea of the traditional way of life of the Seto people some 100 years ago. Option to hold a workshop on baking traditional rye buns in a Russian stove. Option to have hot drinks and/or lunch in the museum restaurant. Handicrafts for sale and a gift shop. Durations: museum tour approx. 1 hour, bun baking approx. 30 min., meal in the restaurant approx. 45 min.
- Saatse Boot: drive through Russia. There is a section of Russian territory en route from Värska to Saatse. Visitors are permitted to drive through without a Russian visa, but they are not allowed to stop.
- Old George's Soap Shop and God's Hill. A visit to a courageous and smart entrepreneur who combines ingredients from the local environment – bog peat, the holy water of Pechory Monastery, fine sand, birch leaves, blueberries, etc. – into lovely-smelling products. Listen to his stories, smell the soaps, and buy some lovely and useful souvenirs (payment in cash only). God's Hill is a small hilltop with local historical links. Duration approx. 1 hour.
- Obinitsa Museum: get dressed up as a Seto! The Seto women have a special look and wear a lot of silver jewellery. Get an idea of how to dress as a Seto, as one of the group members is dressed up in Seto clothes and jewellery. This is equally enjoyable for the other members of the group, as the person dressed up will look completely different. Gift shop and souvenirs. Duration approx. 1 hour.
- Seto Art Gallery: the story of Seto silver. The local silversmith will share his knowledge of Seto silver jewellery and show the group some nice examples. Duration approx. 1 hour.
- Taarka's House. A heartwarming and bountiful dinner introducing the best traditional recipes from Seto cuisine. The hosts welcome visitors and tell them all about the food. Duration approx. 1 hour.
- The dinner can be accompanied or followed by a performance by a local choir presenting Seto leelo (groups only), the traditional Seto multi-tonal singing, which has been included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009. Duration approx. 1 hour. Optional: a session with a musician to learn some traditional dances. Duration approx. 30 min.
