3 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 3 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Trekking, Excursion tours
A rich and varied program awaits you: in just three days you will visit the legendary Kizhi Museum-Reserve, the majestic Valaam, the Ruskeala Park with a lot of entertainment for every taste, the mysterious Akhvenkoski waterfalls and the picturesque Ladoga skerries. You will also have time to explore the beautiful town of Sortavala, where we will stop.
You will visit the most significant locations in the region - natural, architectural, religious and historical.
On the first day you will visit the Ahvenkoski waterfalls, which are famous for their hanging wooden bridges. This place is so cinematic that some films were filmed here - for example, “The Dawns Here Are Quiet.” Then you will find Ruskeala, a must-see for any trip to Karelia. An ancient marble canyon, mysterious underwater adits, an interactive program on Karelian myths or exploring secluded forest paths - choose an activity to your liking! We will also visit the two main lakes of Karelia and two beautiful islands. Along the waters of Lake Ladoga we will reach Valaam - the most important center of Orthodoxy in Russia and a wonderful example of how majestic churches and chapels can be harmoniously integrated into the northern landscape. Those who wish can stay on Valaam for almost the whole day, exploring it with a guide. And if you are drawn to nature, we offer a boat trip among the Ladoga skerries - a scattering of small rocky islands on the sparkling water surface. On the last day, Lake Onega and the island of Kizhi await us (by the way, the emphasis in the name of the island falls on the first syllable). Here you will see many delightful examples of wooden architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration topped with 22 domes.
*You can choose a hotel that suits your level of comfort. The hotel may be replaced by an equivalent hotel depending on availability on your tour dates.
A cozy hotel consisting of 31 rooms - thanks to its small size you will feel at home here. The design of the rooms is in soothing colors, in a restrained classic style. The hotel is located a few kilometers from Sortavala, surrounded by quiet parks and green areas. Free Wi-Fi on site. The rooms have all the necessary amenities: from tea and coffee to a hairdryer and toiletries.
The hotel is located right next to Lake Ladoga, in the historical center of Sortavala. Due to the fact that the hotel has only 19 rooms, each guest feels welcome here and receives maximum attention from the staff. Large rooms with high ceilings, a combination of elegant classics and charming Karelian flavor. Free Wi-Fi is available on site. Guests separately celebrate the national cuisine in the restaurant of the hotel complex.
Business class hotel in the historical center of the city. The spacious, modern and stylish rooms offer views of the beautiful Lake Onega. The hotel's design is imbued with a maritime theme: drawings of ancient ships, an abundance of fish dishes in the restaurant, blue and beige tones in the design of rooms and common spaces. Room service 24/7 and friendly staff will make your stay here as comfortable as possible.
Luxurious modern hotel on the shores of Lake Onega. Most rooms offer stunning panoramic views. Spacious rooms are equipped with Italian furniture and all necessary appliances. Guests can relax in the sauna, play billiards, or sit comfortably in the glass-roofed lobby while enjoying live music. The restaurant serves Karelian cuisine with a modern interpretation from an experienced chef.
Our journey begins early in the morning in St. Petersburg. After leaving the city on a tourist bus, after a couple of hours we will make a stop in a picturesque location called “Valley of Waterfalls”, where you will walk along an eco-trail. Mysterious Karelian forests, a river, rapids, cute reindeer - your first meeting with Karelia will be memorable! We will have lunch in the atmospheric town of Sortavala, and then go to the Akhvenkoski waterfalls. This place is famous for its wooden suspension bridges over the water. After taking dozens of fantastic photographs, we head to Ruskeala Park - perhaps the most famous location in Karelia. You will spend 4 hours in the park. First, a tour with a guide who will tell you about this amazing place, and then free time. Spend it as you wish! There is a lot of entertainment in Ruskeala: from an interactive part dedicated to the Karelian epic, to boat rides along the canyon and a trolley track.
Today you will see the real pearls of Karelia - Lake Ladoga and the legendary island of Valaam. Decide for yourself how much time you want to devote to studying Valaam. If you decide to stay longer, then after disembarking in the picturesque Monastery Bay, we will take a two-hour guided walking tour. You will climb the 19th-century granite staircase to Mount Tabor to take a look at the surrounding area from above, visit the marble Znamenskaya Chapel, see the oldest refectory church and, of course, the main building of the architectural ensemble - the Transfiguration Cathedral. After lunch, the excursion will continue: you will go to the St. Nicholas Monastery along wooden bridges spanning between the islands. If you want to shorten your time on Valaam and explore the beauty of northern nature, then you can walk around the island without a guide, and in the afternoon you will go on a boat trip along the fantastically beautiful Ladoga skerries. Dozens of small rocky islands covered with greenery are a delightful sight, reminiscent of the famous Scandinavian skerries in miniature. In the afternoon, both groups return to Sortavala, where they can walk and have dinner. In the evening - transfer to Petrozavodsk.
This is the last day of the tour, but many more exciting experiences await you! On the high-speed "Meteor" along the water surface of Lake Onega we go to the island of Kizhi. Samples of Russian wooden architecture are collected here, as well as many cultural and everyday objects of the northern peoples - the Karelians and Vepsians. Majestic temples and ancient houses, mills and barns, traditional costumes and masterpieces of icon painting: here you will be transported many centuries ago and plunge headlong into the life of our ancestors. The guided tour will take about 2 hours, you will learn a lot about the history of the region, hear dozens of legends and traditions, and also visit the most important buildings of Kizhi, including the Church of the Transfiguration, crowned with 22 domes, and one of the oldest wooden churches in Russia. After the excursion, you have free time, which you can devote to a quiet walk or any entertainment: for example, take part in exciting master classes or take a breeze on a horse-drawn carriage. After lunch we return to Petrozavodsk. From here the return transfer to St. Petersburg starts. We will make a stop at a village restaurant, where you will have a delicious dinner and, if desired, purchase farm products.
The program is suitable for both children and active pensioners. We provide discounts to children and teenagers under 16 years of age, as well as students and people over 60 years of age.
Breakfast is included in the tour price. Set lunches and dinners are paid for independently. Lunch costs on average 500-700 rubles. per person.
You must pay a service fee for visiting Valaam Island - 100 rubles per person. If you wish, you can also pay for a walk along the eco-trail at the Akhvenkoski waterfalls and any entertainment in Ruskeala Park during the tour.
Karelia is a northern region, so it is quite cool here. The average temperature at the end of spring is +10, in summer large fluctuations are possible - from +19 to +30 during the day, while the nights are quite cool. Also keep in mind that the islands are always cooler than the cities. Therefore, take warm clothes with you: a sweater, a windbreaker.
Pay a fee of 100 rubles and choose suitable clothes. Men should not wear hats; women must wear scarves and skirts. Clothes of both sexes should not be revealing (T-shirts or shorts are not acceptable).
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
