Estonia food and cooking holiday
| country: | Estonia |
| departures: | 2008: 24 Jul, 7 Aug, 21 Aug, 4 Sep |
| price: | From £699 - £759 (5 days) excluding flights. Prices based on 2 people sharing, includes accommodation, all meals, full time tour escort services, 2 cooking lessons, transport and transfers. We can arrange flights from the UK |
the amazing things you'll be doing
One of the new European Union countries with its authentic culture and wonderful cuisine is waiting to be discovered on this 5-day all-inclusive tour around Estonia. Now’s the time to find out about Estonian food and cookery, with plenty of Russian to add spice. This is an absorbing trip where you’ll savour and prepare local dishes under expert guidance, browse local markets and gardens and enjoy the peace of Estonia’s incredibly pure nature. Enter Estonia’s soul and open new gastronomic horizons…
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival to Tallinn, where you'll be met by our representative for your complimentary transfer to the city centre 4-star Hotel “Domina Ilmarise” or similar. |
| Day 2: | Visit the most important attractions of the Estonian capital on today's 'Highlights of Tallinn' tour. Visit a local food market for you to experience the local culinary atmosphere. After lunch we’ll visit a lively handicraft quarter to see the preparation process of different handicraft arts. In the evening we drive to the seaside to visit a herb garden, guided by Mrs. Luke, introducing you the history and legends of medicinal herbs and seasoning. Common dinner. |
| Day 3: | Visit the Old Rakvere Castle where you’ll hear about medieval life and its interesting cuisine. Taste the local Estonian beer in the courtyard of the castle. Afternoon cooking class with a local chef featuring one Russian and one Estonian dish. In the evening arrival at the university town of Tartu. Free evening in town. |
| Day 4: | Visit the secluded Old Believers Russian villages by Lake Peipus, the 9th biggest lake in Europe. Meet the local housewife, inviting you to her home and teaching you the preparation of her famous dishes. In the afternoon visit to the local Onion Restaurant. In the evening take a drive to a special region in Estonia - Setomaa- a land with their own dialect, traditional costumes and cuisine. Free evening in the tourism farm. |
| Day 5: | Departure for Tallinn airport, flight home. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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This is an extensive cultural trip taking you to the homes of local people from both the Estonian and Russian community, to secluded places in the countryside, plus also to the Old Town of Tallinn - a UNESCO heritage site since 1997. You’ll visit a local market, thus encouraging interaction with the locals. All meals are in local restaurants, homes or cafes. You’ll also get free time on your own with suggestions for the best places to meet the locals. As you’ll visit economically less developed areas, you’ll be directly contributing their welfare and enhancing cultural interaction between cultures.
The tour combines the culture of both the official Estonian and also Russian-speaking minority, thus promoting intercultural exchange and the integration of Russians to the local community. Your local guide will be trained and educated in responsible travel policies and give you guidance in reducing negative impacts to the local nature. You’ll also receive a Traveller’s responsible code of conduct. All accommodation establishments are aware of sustainable ways of conduct and most have obtained the local environmental certificate – the Green Key. In Setomaa you’ll stay at a local tourism farm keeping alive old traditions and customs. As we support a local orphanage home by organising partnership programs there, we’d be very thankful for a small children’s book as your contribution. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've lead the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |