Popular Tour Itineraries Featuring Tartu

Down the Emajogi (“Mother-River”) from Tartu lies Lake Peipus, where Alexander Nevsky is said to have defeated Teutonic Knights by luring them onto the ice. This quiet lake is fished by Old Believers, insular Russians who fled 17th century religious reforms and have maintained their own traditions ever since. To the west lies quaint Viljandi, a town overlooking a large lake and known for its musicians and the ruins of a massive castle. There are several national parks in the area, from bogs full of berries and perfectly still bodies of water, to Taevaskoja, where the Ahja River has cut sandstone cliffs. To get off the beaten path, visit Estonia’s southeastern corner, home to the Seto. These people are closely related to the Estonians, but with their own language and customs. Seto are Orthodox Christians, but have kept many pagan beliefs and traditions, as well as a unique polyphonic singing tradition. This part of Estonia is home to the Piusa sand caves, and the Saatse Boot, where drivers are allowed to drive through a portion of Russian territory, as long as they don’t stop!