Protecting nature is not merely a theory for us. In 2017, we took part in an eco-charity expedition to walk 2,100 kilometers across Europe. The challenge being successful, we returned home as winners with a cheque for our chosen ecological charity, Čepkeliai-Dzūkija nature reserve. Why here? Because this is the place we call our nature home. We love this land with its pine forests, continental dunes, marshes, with valuable and rare plants. This is where our homestead was built by parents, and where we decided to settle ourselves and start a family, after coming back from all our travels. And we want the next generation to enjoy it too.

Next to our farmhouse, we have prepared a two-bedroom cottage for travellers, cyclists, canoeists, photographers and nature lovers from all over the world. We are close to the bend of the river Ūla, which in summer becomes a rather busy tourist destination. The real and most enriching experience starts here in September, when the forest is full of animals and colours, the lingonberries are ripening and the mushrooms are sprouting. In the cool evenings you can enjoy the sauna, the hot tub and the campfire. We hope you will feel at home here too.

Our Dwarf house (it's the translation of Lithuanian word "Nykštukas") is built next to the farmhouse where we live. It is bordered by a forest and has access to a river. There are no major roads, but in summer you can hear the sounds of village life and other canoeists (staying with neighbours). But from autumn onwards it is very quiet, and at the beginning of winter even the neighbours move out and it is completely peaceful. Therefore, those looking for total peace and quiet are welcome to come from September to May.

The cottage sleeps four upstairs: a double mattress in one bedroom and two single beds in the other. There is a winding staircase with no handrail upstairs (dear parents with small children, please take care). One room has access to a large balcony with seating.

Downstairs you will find the living area with table and sofas, the kitchen and the terrace. The bathroom has a shower, toilet and sink. Another shower for cooling off in the summer heat is outside. There is a sauna (included in the price) and a hot tub (extra charge). Towels and bed linen are provided.

The cottage is available for rent in all seasons and is heated with wood.

There is a well-equipped kitchenette with a stove and dishwasher, and a barbecue area with skewers and a fire pit outside. The nearest grocery store is 7 km from the farmhouse (small shop Aibė, in the village of Panočių), and 20 km away you will find bigger supermarkets like Maxima, IKI, Norfa (in Varena). But if you come without a car for a longer period of time, you can ask us - we will be happy to bring you the essentials when we are in town (if we are on site ourselves).

We are located on the outskirts of Dzūkija National Park, in the village of Rudnia, near the march of Čepkeliai. The farmhouse is surrounded by forest and the Ūla River, which meanders through the village and encircles us on the three sides. The location is very convenient for canoeists, who can start their journey just a few hundred metres from the house. Canoe rental points are located right by the river. For our part, we will be happy to tell you about the area and share routes if you want to go on a trip. There are beautiful trails for hiking and cycling (please bring your own bikes), mushroom picking, a small pretty village, a church, a cemetery, a waterfall. A couple of kilometres away there are two small lakes.

We also have leisure offers for our guests on site. You can soak in a sauna or hot tub just for you, get a professional massage, order a cocoa ceremony/meditation or learn to relax through breathing during a rebreathing session. All of these services can be booked directly to the cottage at an extra cost.

You are welcome to bring your children. They will be greeted outside by Nykštukas (the Elf) himself - a little old man with a long beard and a mushroom, and together with him, a whole fairy-tale company of butterflies and beetles, squirrels and birds. There's a swing, hammock, playground, and for the parents of the little ones, we can lend a bath tub and baby monitoring equipment.

We do not have extra beds.