Winter activities
Winter Activities at Humala Kalabaas
The winter services at Humala Kalabaas are as unique and distinctive as our summer offerings. As an ecotourism business in Estonia, we focus on providing private, comfortable, and nature-educating nature holiday experiences. Each product and service is designed thoughtfully to offer an experience that both experts and beginners can enjoy. When developing our services, we always test them ourselves and continuously improve them based on feedback to provide even better winter nature holidays. We are proud and grateful that visitors, based on years of feedback, have recognized Humala Kalabaas as a family-friendly fishing destination in Southern Estonia, where it’s comfortable to enjoy fishing with children, and our services are often recommended by word of mouth.
In the winter of 2023/2024, we launched our heated and overnight winter fishing cabins and tents for the first time. We learned a lot, gathered great ideas and feedback, and are now applying these insights to further enhance our winter nature holiday offerings.
Our main winter services include:
Guided winter fishing with equipment for beginners, families, and small groups
Experiential accommodation and ice fishing in a warm 4-bed winter fishing cabin on the ice
Day-long winter fishing events for both larger and smaller groups
Winter fishing camps for children during school holidays
We are probably the only ones that offer something so local, rare and unreachable to others. Early spring often brings delightful entertainment with Bleak fishing. The Bleak fishing is the only opportunity to taste that small but delightful fish because its not sold on market. Its because professional fisherman are not allowed to use such a small size nets. So that special local delicacy never make its way to restaurants, markets or shops. If you want to have it- you need to catch it. We can help you with that. During the early spring holidays, we teach children in fishing camps how to fish, prepare and fry the Bleak on spot and we can providei as a service also to families and groups.
In cooperation with local service providers, we can offer catering, accommodation, and sauna services alongside our winter fishing events.
The winter fishing cabin at Humala Kalabaas is a comfortable fishing lodge during the summer, but we move it to Luunja Jõesadam for the winter season. As part of our contribution to local youth recreational activities, Humala Kalabaas has been running a fishing hobby group for families in cooperation with the Luunja Cultural and Recreation Centre for several years. Over these years, it has become evident that winter fishing at Luunja Jõesadam’s water area is full of surprises. Fish shoals come and go, and you never know what exciting catch will bite. You can fish for Perch, Pike, Zander, Bream, Roach, Ruffe, Tench and sometimes even Burbot.
The Humala Kalabaas winter fishing cabin offers four sleeping pads in a heated room. On the terrace, you’ll find a gas grill, where you can cook water, prepare dishes like smelt, or fry fish like perch. The cabin also features a composting toilet with air heating at the rear. You can fish straight through the floor even while laying in bed!
Next to Luunja Jõesadam, there is a recreation area with a well-lit riverside walking trail for visitors. Nearby, you'll find a grocery store and the Sadama Pub, a great place for meals. For those interested in hiking in wild nature, a short walk along the unmanaged Emajõgi riverbank trail is available. This 2km trail offers a peaceful hike through an unspoiled, natural riverside landscape, perfect for observing the frozen Emajõgi River or the winter flow of the river.
For history and culture enthusiasts, you can visit the Luunja Manor complex, a cozy museum exhibiting local history, or the piano exhibition in the area.
Just 11km away is one of the region’s main attractions, Kavastu Parv, a unique, historic ferry in Estonia. The Kavastu Parv is the last working mechanical ferry in Estonia that crosses the Emajõgi River, and it’s used by adventurous travelers such as cyclists, motorcyclists, car drivers, and campervans looking to cross the river. While the ferry operates only in the summer, visitors can still view the ferry during the winter months, and walk on it.
Winter Activities Near Tartu: Explore South Estonia
If you're visiting Tartu or planning a winter getaway in South Estonia, Humala Kalabaas offers the perfect winter adventure for nature lovers. Located just a short drive from Tartu, our winter fishing, family-friendly activities, and outdoor adventures are ideal for anyone looking for winter activities in South Estonia. Whether you're seeking a peaceful retreat or an exciting outdoor experience, our services provide an unforgettable experience in the heart of the Estonian winter landscape.
