Activities
View the activities around us on the map or take a look at the list below
Kayaking
Take a kayak for 2 for a trip to lake Endla and it's rivers and canals. We offer no-faff, simple-to-use and durable inflatable kayaks with plenty of room onboard for two paddlers and a picnic. Whether you’re just enjoying the water on your local stretch, or heading out for few days of adventure, you’ll find this stable kayak fun to paddle and easy to manoeuvre. Little touches like the back-pack system and spray decks all just add to an inflatable kayak that is capable and user-friendly. We inflate and take it to the starting point for you, so you could fully enjoy your kayaking trip.
Available July-September
Birding
Lake Endla is one of the richest bird lakes in Estonia. Its reed-beds and quagmires provide habitats for 35 breeding bird species. The best habitats for birds are bigger lakes and bogs in the centre of the Nature Reserve. In spring and autumn migration period, large flocks of geese and swans stop in Lake Endla and Sinijärv. The Golden and White-tailed Sea Eagle nest in the mire; the Osprey and Lesser Spotted Eagle are frequent visitors. Capercaillie lives in old pine forests. The Black Grouse and Hazel Grouse are quite common.
Paintball
Paintball is full of adrenaline and experiences you haven't experienced before. You have the unique opportunity to come with friends and experience the real battle. With us you can play on a top European course. A similar Millennium Series square is hosting the European Paintball Championship. We also offer Paintball for kids * and real-life battles in the wild
https://extremepark.eu/paintball/
Aadress: Kärde küla, 48425, Jõgeva vald, Jõgeva maakond
Phone: 555 199 24
E-mail: info@extremepark.eu
Fishing
Fishing in Estonia can be a great fun for both amateurs and accomplished fishermen and -women of all ages who love to spend time in the nature. Recreational fishing is a popular pastime activity year-round with Estonia's nearly 4000-kilometer coastline, hundreds of rivers and lakes as well as thousands of islands holding plenty of fishing challenges. Estonian fishing culture is a great part of the local culture, with smoked and salted fish being among the most cherished local delicacies. The local lakes are full of roach, perch, pike, tench, ide, ruffe, burbot and bleak, all of which are popular ingredients in Estonian cuisine.
Hiking
Take the Lake Endla higing trail (8 km) or Männikjärve bog study trail (7,3 km) and see if you can spot any of the 19 species of wild orchids growing in the area. Most noteworthy of them are rare and endangered Fragrant Orchid and Coralroot Orchid. The western part of the nature reserve is remarkable for the number and size of its springs (over thirty). Several of them are among the most coupious ones in Estonia. The temperature of the spring water is between two to eight degrees Celsius all year round. Springs are very sensitive to human influence. As the visitors pressure is growing platforms and board walks are built to protect spring shores. All hiking trails can be found here
Estonian sauna experience
For Estonians, the sauna has always been the centre of social life – a sacred place. For travellers, the only option is to visit a sauna in a spa or sports club, but locals swear by real wood-heated home saunas and the social aspect that goes with them. The preparations begin with carrying the firewood, heating the sauna for hours and cooking together. Once the temperature reaches 90 °C, we can get started. And it won’t be for just one session either. The real local way involves several rounds of sweating, cooling down outside, discussing all kinds of life matters, drinking cold beer aaaaand…repeat.
At Sunwell Farm, you can get the authentic Estonian sauna experience.
Cycling
83 km long Koeru-Tooma-Kärde-Paduvere-Emumägi-Rakke–Koeru bicycle trail goes through Kärde village. The roads inside the village are also great for some recreational cycling and all the local places of interest are easily reachable by bicycle. If you don't happen to have you own bicycle with you, we have a selection of mountain bikes and a city bicycle for rent.
Horses
Visit Tooma Horse Stable (3 km away) and pet the world class trotters that are bred there.
Swimming
There is a lake in Tooma with a new pier and children's pool - great for the whole family. Hydrochemically the lake is one of the most original in Estonia. Surrounding bogs cause big content of organic matters and reddish colour of the water; the lake marl in the bottom causes high concentation of mineral particles.
Disc Golf
Disc golf (also called Frisbee golf is a flying disc sport in which players throw a disc at a target; it is played using rules similar to golf. It is often played on a course of 9 or 18 holes. Players complete a hole by throwing a disc from a tee area toward a target, throwing again from the landing position of the disc until the target is reached. Usually, the number of throws a player uses to reach each target are tallied, and players seek to complete each hole, and the course, in the lowest number of total throws.
Volleyball court
Professional Beach Volleyball court in Kärde centre. Next to it there is grilling place with picnic tables and a children's playground.
Farm museum
Paduvere Farm Museum introduces the life led by farmers in the 18th century and the everyday lives and work of our forefathers. There are five oak sculptures created by St Petersburg artist Grigori Azarenkov by the museum. The museum is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, which make it a popular venue for folk parties and theatre performances. As the visit to the museum needs to be booked in advance, let us know about your interest in the museum and we will book it for you!
View tower and sculpture park
Emumägi hill is the highest point in the Pandivere uplands and northern Estonia. There is a 21.5-metre wooden observation tower on Emumägi hill. You have to pay to visit the landscape park, which is managed by the Väike-Maarja rural municipality. In addition to the observation tower, Emumägi is also home to an alley of tree statues of cultural societies, a wooden hut, a sunrise house, an old cemetery, and camping and picnic areas. Emumägi hill is 166.5 metres above sea level and 80 metres from foot to peak. According to legend, the hill was formed from earth dug out of the Peetla bog by the horse ridden by Kalevipoeg, the hero of the Estonian epic.
'Catch your fish' Restaurant
Catch your fish and it will be grilled for you at Härjanurme Fish Farm! Open only on summer weekends.
Laiuse Castle ruins
Construction of the Laiuse fortress was launched by the Livonian Order in the late 14th century to defend its eastern borders. The first defensive structure in Estonia to be fitted with firearms, it gained its definitive appearance in the late Middle Ages. Cannon towers were added to the fortress in the mid-15th century. The fortress crumbled in 1559 but was restored, with wooden barracks built at the end of the Swedish era, which accommodated Karl XII and his entourage from 1700–1701. After the Great Northern War the fortress lay in ruins. The fortress ruins are today the site of historical snow battles in winter and more peaceful events in summer.
Hillfort and Sacred Grove
The Kassinurme ancient area was established 1,5 thousand years ago . The sacred grove was discovered when the settlement was established and it is one of the oldest sacred places in Estonia. A fragment of the ancient fort has been restored. At present the sacred grove is the favourite place for history enthusiasts who organise ancient war games there, revive old folk customs and celebrate folk calendar holidays. The health trail lets visitors see the varied nature of the region and enjoy beautiful surface forms.
Shelter of Old Vehicles
The aim of the Old Engineering Museum and Vintage Vehicle Storehouse in Järva-Jaani is to collect old vehicles, agricultural equipment, roadwork machinery, and firefighting equipment, and to exhibit them to interested visitors. The shelter currently focuses on the collection and exhibition of equipment and therefore, everything is exhibited in the condition it was found.
The shelter is located on private land and can be visited from sunrise to sunset.
There is a vehicle for donations by the entrance of the shelter and each visitor can leave a donation under its bonnet if they visit the shelter on their own. Groups have to register their visit in advance. A tour in the shelter with a guide costs 3 euros.
Ice Age Center
Ice Age Centre is an exciting theme park meant for the whole family! We offer the joy of discovery for visitors of all ages! This is a unique visiting centre in the Baltic States – you will see life-sized prehistoric animals and experience how the world and Estonian nature has developed through the ages.
Is mammoth just a hairy elephant? When did humans inhabit Estonia? How will the coastline change in time? Is the climate getting warmer or actually colder?
Animal Park
In Elistvere Animal Park, you can see European buffalo, elk, reindeer, wild boar, roe deer, fallow deer, brown bear, lynx, fox, raccoon dog, common squirrel and pheasant. In the interior rooms, guinea pigs, degus, hamsters, gerbils, Cairo spiny mice, lab rats, chinchillas and lab mice can be examine.
Rakvere Castle
The castle in Rakvere offers a lot of excitement for the entire family!
When you enter the castle, you will find yourself in a theme park representing the everyday life of the 16th century. There, both young and old visitors can spend an exciting day as they dress up as knights and warriors, enjoy various entertainers, and learn a thing or two about the life of people in the Middle Ages and the early modern period.
Additionally, there is a wine cellar, a torture chamber, a death room and a hell, a Red Lanterns Street, a medieval brothel, a barber's shop, and an alchemist's workshop.
Shenkenberg Tavern, which is located in the stronghold, offers meals made after medieval recipes.
Science Centre
The aim of Science Centre AHHAA is to introduce science to everyone and encourage studying through the joy of discovery. More than 3 million people of different ages have visited our exhibitions and other science events. In addition to trying out numerous ´hands-on´ exhibits on our various exhibitions, visitors of AHHAA can also take part in workshops, enjoy planetarium and science theatre shows. We also offer several special programmes for schools. AHHAA welcomes visitors of all ages and offers a great opportunity to spend a fun day filled with science!
Upside Down House
What to do with your family, children, friends, guests, or colleagues in Tartu? Are you looking for new experiences and great photos? You have come to the right place! The Upside Down House is an exciting and dizzying experience where all of this is possible. The Upside Down House has furniture, a refrigerator, and everything else which is usually found on the floor – but here, they are on the ceiling. Well, actually, they are on the floor, but here, the ceiling is the floor. But wait – maybe it is you that is upside down? The house is also slightly sloped to test your balance. All of this is confusing, funny, and exciting. The visit takes about 30 minutes – during this time, you will experience the house fully and are able to take cool pictures as well!
Tartu Cathedral
Tartu Cathedral, located on the beautiful Toomemägi Hill, is one of the largest churches in Estonia. It is also the only mediaeval church with two towers in Estonia. The construction of the church started in the 13th century and the church was fully completed in the beginning of the 16th century. The church towers were the last things to be finished. During the Livonian War, the church was destroyed and since then, it has not operated as a church. The ruins of the Tartu Cathedral are one of the most prominent examples of brick-Gothic buildings in Old Livonia.
Estonian National Museum
Estonian National Museum (Eesti Rahva Muuseum) as a museum of Estonian people helps interpret being Estonian, carry the basic values of the nation, and guard its continuity. For visitors opens, both a material and virtual world, that invites visitors to discover, realize, and become part of it.
The museum has two permanent exhibitions. "Encounters" is an exhibition about ordinary Estonian folk who have lived in this country through the ages. "The echoes of Ural" presents the traditional everyday culture of Finno-Ugric and Samoyedic people.
In addition to exhibitions, the premises include a cinema and a conference hall, a black box theatre, a café, a restaurant, and museum shop.
Botanical Garden
The University of Tartu Botanical Garden offers study programmes and excursions for visitors of all ages. There are more than 10,000 species and varieties of plants in the garden. In addition to natural plants, including rare protected plants, we introduce new decorative plants. In the greenhouses, rainforest and desert plants can be seen.
We are the oldest botanical garden in the Baltic States, operating for more than 200 years in the same location. The garden is designed by world-renowned botanists, professors Ledebour and Bunge. Guests can visit the greenhouses with a ticket, but the garden is open for everyone for free. There is a playground for children.
Cultural Factory
Creativity city and Restaurant Aparaat is a place where you will receive a heartfelt welcome. There is always a friend waiting for you here. You can enjoy good food and drinks, as well as a warm and friendly service.
In this old manufacturing complex, refrigerators, secret parts for submarines, as well as non-functioning umbrellas and zippers for throwing everyone off the scent were produced during Soviet times. In the middle of 1970's, the factory employed nearly 1,500 people. It had its own health centre with a sauna and a pool, a canteen, and enough administrative rooms to fill several buildings.
Since 2014, the complex is a "cultural factory", which unites creative entrepreneurs, art studios, design studios, and entertainment.
Families with children are also welcome – we have a fun playground!
Adventure Park
Kalevipoeg’s Home is located along the Culture Road (Kultuuritee) while also marking the beginning of the Onion Route. In Kääpa, you will find Kalevipoeg’s Museum, adventure park and playground inspired by the Estonian epic “Kalevipoeg” (the son of Kalev). In Estonian folklore, Kalevipoeg is a mythical giant and a hero whose endeavours have generated numerous local mounds, lakes, bogs, springs, boulders and more.
WakePark
WakePark is located on Lake Kamari in Põltsamaa municipality.
WPark has a total of 16 different track elements (kickers, sliders, etc.). The ring cable moves clockwise and is open for everyone, from beginners to advanced visitors.
In addition, WakePark has a water town with trampolines, a recreation area with a café and saunas, beach soccer, tennis, and volleyball courts, and equipment rental. Estonia’s first full-size cable park with a 2.0 system, a modern administrative building, a cosy café, and everything else is only a 5-minute detour from the Tallinn–Tartu highway.