Mooste Manor

Join the long-distance sled dog team training in Tartu County and experience something that not everyone can! Your role is simple but important – you sit on a special terrain cart as extra weight and enjoy an adrenaline-filled ride with a professional racing team. Meanwhile, we will unveil the behind-the-scenes of the sled dog world – discussing training methods, competitions, and the unique aspects of the dogs' work. You will be guided by Estonia's first musher to participate in long-distance races, Heinrich Lukk, whose experience extends to the challenging tracks of Norway and Finland. During the training, you will see a racing team of eight Alaskan huskies in action and practicing simpler practical tasks. The training lasts 2 to 3 hours, takes place from September to November, and is suitable for only one participant at a time, which makes the experience personal and special. Put on rubber boots or hiking shoes, choose weatherproof clothing, and come to Tartu County for an adventure that will be remembered for a lifetime!

Värska Farm Museum is a unique place in Setomaa, offering comprehensive insight into the life of a wealthy Seto fortified farm in the 1920s. It is a great place to experience Seto culture, architecture, and traditions. The building complex includes a smoke sauna, a residential building, a clothing, dining and granary barn, an animal barn, a hay barn, a men's workshop, a threshing floor, a blacksmith's shop, and a pottery factory — you can get an overview of the entire Seto architecture. The museum also houses genuine Estonian farm animals. Various workshops are offered upon reservation, such as making sõir, bread making, and crocheting Seto lace, among others. The largest handicraft shop in Setomaa is open under the threshing floor! Come visit us!

Lake Peipus Living Room is a permanent exhibition that gives visitors information about the natural conditions in Lake Peipus and the lives of people living by the lake. You can see models of the 34 species of fish that inhabit Lake Peipus. There is also a three-dimensional model of the lake that is 4 m long and 1.4 m wide and also shows the location of the towns and villages, accommodation establishments, museums, watchtowers and other places of interest near the lake.The Mustvee beach by Lake Peipus is marked with a yellow National Geographic window; it is one of the 21 places worth discovering in Southern Estonia. If you are interested in nature, it is definitely worth a visit.

The barge Jõmmu is a traditional wooden merchant sailing ship, the only one of its kind to have been restored. Step aboard and sail on a historic ship and enjoy the beauty of Emajõe-Peipsi's nature and views of the city of Tartu! Barge trips can be booked for larger groups for seminars, birthdays, or other special events. Smaller groups are welcome on scheduled trips. Coffee and tea are served on the ship, and it is possible to order catering, guide service, a bagpiper, workshops, and an overnight stay on the barge. Set sail on the historic Jõmmu!

Between Hellenurme, Elva, and Otepää, there is a unique opportunity to see Estonia's last historical water-powered flour and grist mill in operation – the Hellenurme Water Mill. Upon arrival, we explore the mill building and views over the mill pond to Hellenurme Manor, then we open the turbine, and the mill begins to work, powered by water. Through the mill's four floors, you can see, touch, and feel the power of the mill, and soon fresh flour and grist fall into the bag as in the old days. In the bread house, you can try breadmaking under the guidance of the Mill Mistress, honoring traditions and telling stories about bread and the wisdom of ancestors. In the bread trough, dough is kneaded from sourdough. Each guest molds their own little loaf from a dough ball, which the Mill Mistress throws into the large bread oven with an old bread peel. Soon, the bread house fills with the smell of bread, and each guest can take their loaf from the oven, which tastes warm and buttery like an unforgettable dessert! As writer Juhan Liiv wrote: "... warm bread – imagine!"

The Medieval Theme Park and Pilgrim House at Vastseliina Episcopal Castle is a unique destination in South Estonia, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the medieval world. This place combines the ruins of a 14th-century castle, a sanctuary, interactive exhibitions, and activities suitable for history buffs, families, and pilgrims alike. At our interactive museum, you can explore the medieval-themed exhibition, learn about the castle's history, discover knights' equipment and Hanseatic merchants' wares, visit an alchemist's corner, and participate in various workshops. There is a children's room and the Castle Tavern, open in summer, which serves dishes inspired by the Middle Ages.

Come to Southern Estonia to Taevaskoda and experience a winter night by taking illuminated kicksleds along snowy trails! The guided, illuminated trip to Taevaskoda is an unforgettable journey to Põlvamaa, into the snowy Ahja River Valley – home to winter light, silence, and legends. It is a peaceful winter experience, using illuminated kicksleds to travel along snowy forest trails. The kicksled trip lasts approximately 2.5 hours, is suitable for beginners, and takes place at a gentle pace with breaks. This is a great choice if you are looking for something special for a family trip, a group of friends, a company outing, or a birthday. The trip can be enriched with a campfire meal at Maitsemaa Metsarestoran. What is an illuminated kicksled? The illuminated kicksled, developed by Matkajuht, features LED lights that shine in four directions and a comfortable seat. It is not an ordinary sled with a bicycle light or headlamp. It has been specially designed for travel in the dark, so that the light shines discreetly, softly, and diffusely, without dazzling.

The areas surrounding the rivers and bogs of Lake Peipsi have historically been sparsely populated due to the wet soil. The main means of transportation were rivers and waterways through the bog, which froze in winter. We invite you to explore these frozen winter roads with your family and pets! Most of the winter roads still exist today, and the most important one runs from Kodavere to Varnja. We will walk and hike through the bog along the old winter roads with Mesi Tare owner Marko and discuss their importance. We will have a picnic, and, if we are lucky, we will find especially sweet cranberries in the bog! We do part of the journey by karakat, a truck made by the locals to travel over the ice of Lake Peipsi. The hike will only take place during cold winters when there is ice!