7 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 3 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Cruises, Trekking, Excursion tours
On this tour you will see more than 20 attractions of the region! Among them there will be fascinating natural locations (waterfalls and lakes, islands and a mountain park, the White Sea), and majestic Orthodox shrines, and famous museum and architectural complexes. There will also be a lot of interactive entertainment - for example, a visit to the husky nursery or boat trips.
This is the most ambitious and complete journey through Karelia, during which you will visit its most important attractions - including those that are not included in classic tours! You will visit the White Sea and the Solovetsky Islands, where there is a beautiful monastery and once the site of a notorious special purpose camp. Here you can choose your own program - immerse yourself in history or take a walk through the sea, see pagan temples and taste White Sea mussels. You will also enjoy panoramic views of the sea and archipelago from Mount Sekirnaya and stroll through the northernmost Botanical Garden in the country.
In addition to the White Sea, you will find the most beautiful lakes in Karelia - Onega, where the legendary museum of wooden architecture is located, Kizhi (we will visit here too!), and Ladoga, with a visit to the majestic Valaam and a boat trip among the mesmerizing Ladoga skerries. Those who do not want to visit Valaam or have already been there will be offered an alternative option with a trip to the Janisjoki River valley, to the White Bridges waterfall and to the pomegranate deposit.
And, of course, on this trip we will visit the pearls of Karelia: one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe, Kivach, the ancient extinct volcano Girvas, Ruskeala Park and Akhvenkoski waterfalls with their elegant wooden bridges. You will also learn what a real Sami village looks like, meet friendly huskies and graceful reindeer, and optionally take a ride on an atmospheric retro train. A whole kaleidoscope of impressions and a whole week in incredible Karelia!
*You can choose other hotels from those available for your travel dates. Please note: changing your accommodation location will affect the final cost of the tour.
A modern, atmospheric hotel in close proximity to the Solovetsky Monastery. The rooms and common areas are decorated in an unobtrusive classic style. Guests are provided with all European standard amenities, appliances and cosmetics. The hotel has a bar and a cafe where breakfast is served.
European level hotel in the city center. Stylish and light-filled rooms in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail. Guests note the friendliness and attentiveness of the staff, as well as the calm atmosphere, silence and magnificent comfortable beds. The hotel's restaurant serves local and Bavarian cuisine.
A cozy hotel consisting of 31 rooms. 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 program begins in the city of Kem on the shores of the White Sea, where you will arrive by train. Then a short transfer starts to the village of Rabocheostrovsk (only 12 km), from where we will go by boat to Solovki. Ahead is a 2-hour journey through the beautiful and harsh White Sea. On the Solovetsky Archipelago, after checking into the hotel and lunch, a three-hour tour of the Kremlin awaits you. The guide's stories will immerse you in the history of this place, which seems to have become a reflection of the history of our entire country. The Solovetsky Monastery is a unique architectural ensemble, noted on the World Heritage List. Afterwards you will have free time, which you can use at your discretion - for example, take a walk to the seashore, to the Cape of Labyrinths with mysterious pagan temples, where the stones are laid out in the shape of tapering circles.
Today you can choose exactly how to spend your day. We offer three interesting options. The first is a walking tour, during which you will learn about the history of the Solovetsky special purpose camp. Duration: two and a half hours. The second option is to go on a boat trip along the bay, which is called the “inland sea” of the Solovetsky archipelago. During this walk you will see noisy birds and heavy seals, and through the amazingly clear water you can see starfish and jellyfish. The price of this excursion also includes a tasting of freshly caught mussels. The duration of this program is from 4 to 5 hours. And finally, the third option is a trip to Zayatsky Island, where stone labyrinths, ancient pagan sanctuaries and an ancient harbor await you. The duration of the walk and excursion is 3 hours.
A bus excursion awaits you to a picturesque natural attraction - Mount Sekirnaya, from where you can enjoy an incredible view of White Lake and the islands. You will also see the Holy Ascension Monastery and learn about its complex history, take a walk through the beautiful Botanical Garden, which is the northernmost in Russia. At the end of the excursion program, we will go to the pier and say goodbye to Solovki. On the mainland you will take a train that will take you to the capital of Karelia - Petrozavodsk.
In the morning you will go to the pier, where you will board the high-speed ship “Meteor”. Along the surface of Lake Onega, “Meteor” will take us to the legendary Lake Kizhi, a unique museum of wooden architecture. A local guide will conduct a tour of the most interesting sites on the island, thanks to whose stories you will immerse yourself in the culture of the Russian North. You will see not only incredibly beautiful wooden buildings, including the famous 22-domed Church of the Transfiguration, but also many objects of art and everyday life - from icons to kitchen utensils. After the program with a guide, free time on the island. Here you can find entertainment for every taste: from walking, horseback riding and boat trips to master classes. In the evening - return to the hotel.
On the fifth day of your trip, a whole kaleidoscope of impressions awaits you! The day will begin with a tour of Petrozavodsk, the main location will be Onega embankment with a huge number of unusual sculptures from different parts of the world. Afterwards we will go by bus to the ancient destroyed volcano Girvas. More than 2 billion years ago it spewed fire, but today in this place you will only see frozen lava flows and unusual piles of stones. The next destination is the Kivach nature reserve and the waterfall of the same name. An amazingly peaceful place where you can feel all the discreet and bewitching beauty of Karelian nature. After lunch, we go to the residence of Karelian Father Frost, where we will visit a sled dog nursery and a deer farm. You will find many friendly animals, the dwellings of the indigenous people - the Sami, and the Wonderful Forest.
We continue to explore the unique Karelian nature. Having said goodbye to Petrozavodsk, we go to the famous Ruskeala mountain park. On the way, we will make a stop at Akhvenkoski (they are also called Ruskeala waterfalls), where hanging wooden bridges are spread over the sonorous cascades of water. If you wish, you can walk along the eco-trail (paid separately). Then we will arrive at the Ruskeala mountain park, the pearl of which is the beautiful Marble Canyon. After a short excursion, you can do what you like: just walk along the hidden paths, go for a walk along the water of the quarry, go down into the flooded adits, stroll along the souvenir rows. Those who wish can leave the park on a retro train (tickets should be purchased in advance), the rest of the group will leave Ruskeala by bus. In the evening - arrival in Sortavala and free time after checking into the hotel.
Decide how to spend the last day of the tour! You can stay in Sortavala to explore this eclectic town on your own, or choose one of three programs. The first option is a big excursion around the island of Valaam. We will get here on the Meteor along Lake Ladoga. You will have a walking tour of all the sights of Valaam: the monastery complex, Mount Tabor, the main cathedral, St. Nicholas Monastery. A guide will accompany you throughout your stay on Valaam. The second option is an independent walk around the island, and after lunch - a refreshing boat trip with a visit to the beautiful Ladoga skerries, which are called the Scandinavian fjords in miniature. And finally, during the third excursion program we will visit the Upper Koirinoya and White Bridges waterfalls, one of the oldest hydroelectric power stations in the country, the pomegranate deposit and the valley of the Janisjoki River. If you choose this option, after lunch you will have time for a boat trip along the Ladoga skerries, visiting their main attractions - for example, the uninhabited island of Havus and the Falling Rock. At 18.45 the group leaves Sortavala by bus. We will arrive in St. Petersburg at 23-23.30.
The tour price includes breakfast at the hotels. Lunches and dinners are paid for independently.
Those activities that you choose yourself (second and seventh day) are paid additionally.
You can also pay separately for a visit to the eco-trail at Akhvenkoski waterfalls and any entertainment in Ruskeala Park.
As there are many boat excursions on this tour, there is a small chance of them being rescheduled or canceled in the event of adverse weather or storm warnings. In this case, we will offer you alternative options for spending your time.
Karelia is a northern region, so even in summer it is not too hot here. The average daily temperature in June is +16, in July +20, in August +18. In the evening and at night the temperature can drop by 3-5 degrees. Be sure to take clothes with you that will protect you from wind and bad weather - this is especially important for all boat trips.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
