Mõniste Museum

Discover Setomaa's unique culture, traditions, and authentic local foods. On this Babelhouse day trip from Tartu to Setomaa, you will explore different places and learn about life in the region. During the tour, we visit the Värska Farm Museum, where you can get a glimpse of traditional Seto farm culture and experience how life was lived in the past. We try authentic Seto cuisine, where local flavors have deep meaning. If desired, the program can be supplemented with a Seto leelo workshop, dressing in Seto clothes, a cheese-making workshop, or a raft ride on Lake Värska. Babelhouse guided tours are flexible and tailored according to the group's wishes and time limits. During the tour, it is also possible to purchase souvenirs and local handicrafts. The Setomaa tour is perfect for business partners, conference guests, and foreign friends to get to know Estonia in a different yet authentic way. Book the trip and enjoy an unforgettable experience in Setomaa!

The hike will last up to three hours. We will ice skate along the channels that are covered with smooth ice. We will also skate over/around flooded meadows, stop at beaver dams and otter burrows, explore animal tracks on the snow, and admire Lake Peipus as well. In the middle of the hike, we will take a short break to drink tea and have a bite to eat. If it is allowed to go on Lake Peipus at the time of the hike, we will skate back along the shore of Lake Peipus. The hike is for adults!Participants will receive the hiking skates (attached to your boots), poles, and ice awls. NB! Bring your ID-card.

Meenikunno Bog is one of the most exciting and unique bog landscapes in Southern Estonia, where nature is constantly changing. This young bog has not formed through the overgrowth of a lake, but through the swampification of land — the bog seems to "hang in the air," offering a rare opportunity to feel the ground sway beneath your feet during a bog hike. A 2-3 hour bog hike (up to 5 km) is suitable for beginners, nature enthusiasts, and families with older children. The length of the hike is adjusted to the group's wishes, and an experienced guide introduces the bog's formation, folklore, and the area's biodiversity. Along the way, you may encounter cranes, swans, or even capercaillies. It is an ideal destination for those seeking peace, adventure, and authentic Estonian nature. Guided bog hikes take place year-round; in winter, Meenikunno offers white expanses, enjoyable views, and easy movement; in early summer, a sea of blooming plants; and in autumn, a bubbling play of colors. Bog hikes can also be ordered as a lantern hike. End the hike with a catered meal by the campfire!

The "Suur Sume" barge is the largest wooden sailing ship built in the Baltic States after World War II. Come and sail on a historic ship and enjoy the beauty of the Emajõe-Peipsi River and views of the city of Tartu! Enjoy a comfortable boat ride while lying on soft sheepskin, admiring the passing scenery. "Suur Sume" is perfect for birthdays, seminars, weddings, and concerts. You can also order a guide service, musicians, and catering. We offer various scheduled departures, allowing you to come alone, with friends, or with family. Come and discover the charm of the Emajõe and Lake Peipsi aboard the barge "Suur Sume"!

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!"

How many bees are needed to make one kilo of honey? Does honey always taste the same? How do bees communicate with each other, and how fast do bees fly? How many flowers does a bee visit during a foraging flight? Your questions will be answered at the unique Mesi Tare honey workshop on the Onion Route. We will taste honey and learn how to distinguish between fake honey and real honey! We will discuss how each of us can help protect bees and what threats they face. We will also drink a nice cup of tea, as is the custom of the Old Believers, and explore the impressive samovar collection at the Samovar House. Come and have a treat with your friends and family!

Fairytale Alatskivi Castle awaits visitors in South Estonia, about 40 km from Tartu. In the castle, you travel back in time to the 19th century, get acquainted with the life of a noble family and the manor's daily routine, and meet the servants who worked here a hundred years ago, brought to life with wax figures in the basement. Castle guides share captivating stories, and visitors can create a personal souvenir in the ceramic workshop. Allocate at least 1.5 hours to explore the exhibition, which spans three floors. On the castle's third floor is the museum of composer Eduard Tubin, which presents the life and works of one of Estonia's most famous musicians. The former carriage-horse stable next to the castle offers insight into the manor's management and daily operations. Alatskivi Castle is part of the Onion Route, which can also be explored through the bright yellow National Geographic windows. Stroll in the castle park, enjoy nature on the Alatskivi hiking trail, stay in romantic castle suites, and taste local dishes at the castle restaurant.

Come and experience an adventure at the Agirregoikoa Kennel with Nordic sled dogs! A kennel visit lasts approximately 1.5-2 hours, during which you can enjoy a 1.5 km long sled ride. After the ride, you can walk with the dogs and pet and cuddle them. Choose your favorite dog, take selfies, capture a memorable moment with a large group photo, and enjoy hot tea or coffee. We warm up and share stories about the dog breed and history. Sled dogs are therapy for children. We do sled rides with snow and cart rides without snow. Only kennel visits are offered during the summer period.