On this Babelhouse day trip guided tour, you have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Otepää and Pühajärve, accompanied by stories and legends that lend the place a special touch. We will walk along the Pühajärve promenade and park, visit the Pühajärve War Oak, and take in the views of the lake. The guide will also take you to the heart of Otepää, where we can understand why the Estonian national flag originated here and how Estonia's "winter capital" has developed into a symbol of Estonian sport and culture. Transport from Tartu and back is included in the tour price. Babelhouse guided tours are flexible and tailored according to the group's wishes and time constraints. During the tour, you can purchase local souvenirs. The Pühajärve and Otepää tour is perfect for cultural enthusiasts, foreign guests, pre- and post-conference programs, as well as groups of friends who want to enjoy the wonderful nature of South Estonia together. Book the trip and spend a wonderful day exploring Otepää and Pühajärve!
Mooste Manor, established at the time when the Nolcken family ruled the area, lies on the shore of Lake Mooste. Beside the beautiful manor house you will find the pride of Mooste Manor, one of the most impressive auxiliary building ensembles built in the historicist style. Most of the buildings are constructed from stones and decorated with brick. An English-style park adds to the appearance of the manor. The manor house accommodates a school, and the former woodworking workshop has been renovated into the Mooste Manor Guest House. A restorer’s workshop operates in the old workhorse stable, and the Centre for Arts and Social Practice occupies the steward’s house, while the former barn has been transformed into a 500-seat concert hall.
The Tartu Song Celebration Museum is located in a 19th-century classicist building, where the organizer of the first Estonian Song Festival and founder of the national theater, the Vanemuine Society, operated. The first Estonian-language play, written by Lydia Koidula, premiered here. Koidula was a prominent female poet of the Estonian National Awakening, who thereby laid the foundation for the Estonian national theater. The museum offers an introduction to the Song Celebration tradition as well as the 150-year history and heritage of the Vanemuine Theater. Visitors can take part in interactive exhibitions, virtual reality experiences, workshops, and guided tours. The museum park is also open during opening hours.
A lighted boat trip on Koorküla's Lake Valgjärv takes you on an evening journey into an underwater world! Koorküla's Lake Valgjärv, with its clear water, mysterious atmosphere, and stunning natural beauty, is the perfect spot for a leisurely boat trip. The trip, starting at dusk, takes you on a boat across the lake, with light strips beneath the boat illuminating the lakebed and creating an enchanting atmosphere. During the trip, you can peek into the underwater world, with good visibility allowing you to see up to 2–3 meters deep. On the journey, you might encounter small and large fish, and, if you're lucky, crayfish and beavers. In the fall, you can see them gathering their winter supplies. The guide takes you to exciting observation spots – to the beaver nests on the opposite shore, over underwater wooden ruins, and into the reeds where fish spend the night. We divide the group into rafts to ensure the light play on the lake is as effective as possible and the experience is as uniform as possible. There is an option to order an outdoor meal to accompany your trip! Come with family, friends, or colleagues and discover the mystical beauty of Lake Valgjärv in a lighted boat!
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 uninhabited Salosaar is one of the 30 islands of Lake Peipsi. There used to be a farm, a restaurant with a dance floor and a windmill on the island but these were destroyed in different wars. The defence line that the Germans built during WWII but never used has also collapsed. At the moment, the island does not have any inhabitants; the only 'vacationers' are cormorants. The nests of these apt fishermen can be seen everywhere in the trees.Length of the hike: 7 km and 2.5–3 hoursGroup size: minimum 10 peoplePrice: €20 per adult, €12 per childNB! As we will be hiking in the near vicinity of Russia, you need to bring an ID.
At the Ice Age Centre, you can travel through time from the ice age to the future. Discover the Ice Age Centre in Tartu County, on the shores of Lake Saadjärve. Interactive exhibitions take you on a journey from the last ice age to the present and beyond, revealing the story of the universe, Earth, and the evolution of life. The symbol of the Ice Age Centre is the mammoths that lived in this area 10,000 years ago. You will also encounter cave lions, ancient deer, and other Ice Age animals to learn how nature developed. The exhibitions clearly and engagingly explain the causes of climate change, the impact of human activity on the environment, and possible future scenarios. In the centre, you can move at your own pace, participate in themed tours, or use an audio guide suitable for both adults and children. The family-friendly environment makes the visit interesting for visitors of all ages. During the summer season, you can enhance your visit with a raft ride on Lake Saadjärve, and year-round, you are welcome at the Ice Age Centre café.
Spend an exciting day trip exploring the culture of the Onion Route, which will introduce you to the following: Baltic German culture at Alatskivi Castle Estonian peasant culture and the Kodavere parish at the Juhan Liiv Museum or the Kodavere Heritage Centre Russian Old Believer culture at the Peipsimaa Heritage Centre or the Kolkja Old Believer Museum Local onion farming at Kostja Onion Farm (with delicious onion pies and samovar tea) At each location, a local guide awaits the group to share many stories about local life. If desired, it is possible to arrange transport from a suitable starting point, accommodation, and catering. The price depends on the number of participants. Additionally, you can order transportation (to pick you up at a location that suits you best), accommodation, and catering.