AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES OF LIVING CULTURE AT UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES
The tour presents UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Latvia and Estonia. Experience the famous traditions of song, national crafts, architecture and food of the unique Suiti and Seto ethnic groups.
Duration | 5 nights/6 days |
Route | Riga – Alsunga – Riga – Tartu – Haanja – Obinitsa – Tartu – Pärnu – Kihnu – Pärnu – Tallinn |
View on Map |
Riga – Alsunga
DRIVING DISTANCE: 180km
PROGRAMME DURATION – 10 h
Depart Riga.
Visit the centre of Suiti arts and crafts in Alsunga town – exhibition and shop.
Alsunga Medieval Castle Museum
The Dižgabalkalns hillfort – a place for traditional festivities and beautiful landscapes .
Suiti traditional textiles – a weaving craft shop and demonstration .
Alsunga Museum of Regional Studies.
Overnight in a hotel in Riga.
Riga – Tartu
DRIVING DISTANCE: 250km
PROGRAMME DURATION – 9 h
Visit Tartu Old Town and the medieval St John’s Church with its almost 1,000 terracotta sculptures. Tartu University is an outstanding example of Classicist architecture in Estonia, and a European Heritage site. Estonian National Museum – see examples of Estonian national dress and food, and experience the Song and Dance Festival that is inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Tartu University Observatory (the Struve meridian arch – UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Overnight in a hotel in Tartu.
Tartu – Haanja
DRIVING DISTANCE: 90km
PROGRAMME DURATION – 10h
Visit to Mooska Farm – to experience the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of the traditions of the smoke sauna – located in Haanja Nature Park. Sauna session with the hosts. More information in the ‘Rural Programmes’ section.
www.mooska.eu/index.php/in-english
Overnight in a hotel in Tartu.
Haanja/Rõuge – Obinitsa – Tartu
DRIVING DISTANCE: 100km
PROGRAMME DURATION – 10h
Optional: Vastseliina Episcopal Castle and Pilgrim House – dating back to the 14th century . Serga tsässon Orthodox village and chapel . Obinitsa Museum of Seto culture; dress up in Seto costume . Taarka tarõ (Seto Community Centre) – authentic Seto cuisine and Seto leelo singing (UNESCO Intangible Cultual Heritage) .
Saatse Museum – Seto history.
Overnight in a hotel in Tartu.
Tartu – Pärnu – Kihnu – Pärnu
DRIVING DISTANCE: 200km
PROGRAMME DURATION – 12h
Pärnu is a popular summer resort town. From Pärnu ferries take visitors to Kihnu Island. The Kihnu Cultural space is inscribed on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. See details in the ‘Rural Programmes’ section and more information at www.kihnumare.ee.
Overnight in a hotel in Pärnu.