3 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 3 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours
A great journey through a fabulous region. You will visit the ancient extinct volcano Girvas, see the powerful and majestic Kivach waterfall, walk along wooden bridges in Olonets and Akhvenkoski waterfalls, visit the legendary Ruskeala mountain park, explore cozy Petrozavodsk and meet friendly reindeer and huskies. The program of the second day can be replaced, if desired, with a trip to the island of Kizhi.
The Grand Tour is an exciting adventure during which you will visit 15 of the most beautiful and memorable locations in Karelia.
This tour was awarded the 2019 Route of the Year award and has already become a true classic! If you want to enjoy the magical nature of Karelia and at the same time learn more about the history and culture of the region, its peoples and myths, we invite you to join us on the “All Karelia” Grand Tour! In three days we will visit the famous stormy Kivach waterfall, the mysterious Akhvenkoski cascades, a volcano that is 2.5 billion years old, and the canyon from where marble was mined for the most beautiful buildings in St. Petersburg.
You will learn how one of the indigenous peoples of the region, the Livvik Karelians, lived, how their life was structured and what they believed. You will also walk through the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery, which became the first stronghold of Orthodoxy in Karelia almost five centuries ago. You will also enjoy a fun interactive program in the village of Kindasovo, an introduction to Karelian musical culture and the most aromatic tea from a real samovar! After visiting the residence of the Karelian Father Frost, you will be able to pet the majestic reindeer and frolic with funny husky sled dogs. And if you are interested in traditional architecture and want to immerse yourself more in history, then on the second day of the tour, instead of the main program, you can go to Kizhi Island to see the masterpieces of wooden architecture.
* The hotel may be replaced by an equivalent hotel depending on availability on the dates of your tour.
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.
We will devote the first day of the trip to getting to know the traditions and history of the region. We start early in the morning from St. Petersburg, along the way the guide will tell you about the peoples who have inhabited Karelia since ancient times, and how Russian culture spread to these lands, creating a unique mixture of beliefs and cultures. After making a short stop at the Farm, where you can refresh yourself with homemade pastries, by 12:00 we will reach the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery. This architectural complex is almost 500 years old; this is where the history of Orthodoxy in Karelia began. After lunch we move on to the first city of Karelia. Olonets is an amazing and cozy place where you can walk along wooden bridges and learn more about the peoples of the region and their way of life in the Museum of Livvik Karelians, which we will visit. Next stop is at the “most cheerful village” of Kindasovo, where you will take part in an interactive program full of music and laughter, and you will be able to discover your talents in playing national instruments. In the evening, check into a hotel in Petrozavodsk.
Choose exactly how you want to spend this day!
The main program includes a tour of Petrozavodsk, a trip to the ancient Girvas volcano and the majestic Kivach waterfall, and in conclusion, a visit to a sled dog nursery and a deer farm. If you choose this option, after breakfast at the hotel you will have a walk around the capital of Karelia and its most beautiful location - Onega Embankment - accompanied by a guide. Then we will go to the extinct volcano Girvas, one of the most ancient on our planet. Today, only solidified lava and bizarre piles of stones remind us of how flames raged here and the earth shook several billion years ago. Continuing our acquaintance with the amazing Karelian nature, we will head to the Kivach waterfall - not very high (8 meters), but very powerful and noisy. After a walk around the reserve, we will end the day at the nursery of Siberian and Alaskan huskies and the residence of Talviukko, the Karelian Father Frost, located right there. Of course, graceful reindeer live here, and you can also visit a real Sami village, where you will experience their unusual way of life and try on national costumes. The second option of the program is a trip on the Meteor to the museum-reserve on the island of Kizhi. You will see examples of wooden architecture of incredible beauty and grace: churches, chapels, mills, and you will also be able to take part in the interactive entertainment of the reserve.
On the last day of the tour we will visit two beautiful locations that will completely make you fall in love with the fabulous Karelian nature. First we will visit Akhvenkoski: this is a cascade of flat waterfalls, very small in height, but surprisingly picturesque and atmospheric. The water flows over the stones covered with moss and takes on a slightly reddish, “rusty” color due to the high iron content, and a dense and mysterious forest rises around. There are suspension bridges over the water, where you can take unforgettable photos! Afterwards we will head to the Ruskeala mountain park. The central attraction of the park is the abandoned Marble Quarry, now flooded with water. Colorful rocks, secluded quiet paths and plenty of entertainment for every taste await you: visit the Italian rock garden, go down into the underground adits from which marble was mined for St. Isaac's and Kazan Cathedrals in St. Petersburg, arrange a photo session on the observation deck or ride a zip line above canyon! You can leave Ruskeala on an authentic retro train (paid separately, tickets must be purchased in advance). Towards evening we set off on the return journey. On the way we will make a stop at the Trout Farm shop. Arrival in St. Petersburg - at 23.30.
Yes, the program is suitable for the whole family. There are discounts for younger travelers.
The price of the program includes breakfast at the hotel. Lunches and dinners are paid for independently, the average check for lunch per person is 500-700 rubles.
All excursions and entrance tickets are included in the tour price, with the exception of visiting Kizhi Island (optional). You can also pay additionally for a walk along the eco-trail near Akhvenkoski (400 rubles) and any activities in Ruskeala Park.
You can travel along the Ruskeala-Sortavala route on the famous retro train; tickets are paid separately; you need to purchase them before the start of the tour on the Russian Railways website. If you choose to leave by bus, you can stay longer in the mountain park. The group reunites in Sortavala and continues the return journey by bus.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
