EXCURSION 2. Tartu Observatory, Valgesoo trail, boat trip on Saesaar Reservoir

The frst stop of the trip from Tartu is in Tõravere where is Tartu Observatory. The observatory began in 1808 when it was established on the Toome hill in Tartu. Now it's situated in Tõravere and is a prominent space center in Estonia https://kosmos.ut.ee/en. On our tour, we will get information about history, cosmology, stellar physics, earth observation, and space technology, all the science fields being explored in the Tartu Observatory today.

Lunch will be served in small town Elva.

The excursion continues with bus trip to Valgesoo study trail where we will have have guided tour. The study trail`s boardwalk revolves around the Valgesoo bog. We can explore the bog vegetation, old pine plantation and a forest edge rich of Scottish wood ants. Valgesoo bog is one of the places worth discovering in Southern Estonia, which are marked by the National Geographic yellow window and suggested to be visited for those who are interested in nature. There is also an observation tower.

Last part of the excursion is the trip with river boat Lonny on Saesaar reservoir on Ahja River Landscape Reserve. The guided tour introduces the history of the reservoir, its unique nature and local legends. You can experience the power of the sandstone outcrops and native forest on the shoreline. The bus brings us back to Tartu.

The price per person 115 EUR includes: transportation costs, service of a tour guides, lunch, caffee and cake on boat.