3 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 3 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Trekking, Excursion tours
The beauty of northern nature in winter reveals itself in a completely special way. We invite you to spend three days in a fairy tale: you will see ancient fortresses and cities, visit a mountain park, and visit fantastically beautiful bays and waterfalls. You can choose the program of the second day yourself - continue your acquaintance with the eclectic architecture of Sortavala or go to the pomegranate deposit and the zoo.
On this trip you will visit the natural and historical attractions of Karelia - both the most famous and hidden from the eyes of most tourists.
You will see the picturesque Ladoga skerries with numerous rocky islands, walk along the bridges over Akhvenkoski, along the quiet Karelian taiga and the paths of the mountain park, and look into the calm waters of the Marble Canyon. You will get acquainted with the beautiful city of Sortavala, whose appearance combines the national styles of Russia and Finland, classicism and constructivism, Western European motifs and the originality of the Russian North. See many examples of religious architecture from different eras on the rocky cape, enjoy the stunning panoramic view from Mount Paaso and the Kirjavalahti Bay, which resembles the majestic and mysterious Norwegian fjord. You will also visit the center of shungite, a stone that has amazing healing properties, relax in the shungite room and take part in tasting aromatic herbal teas. Depending on what mode of relaxation you prefer and what experiences are more interesting to you, you can choose the program for the second day.
Stay in Sortavala for a close acquaintance with the city or arrange a day full of bright and varied entertainment - we will go to a pomegranate deposit and mine this precious stone ourselves, visit waterfalls and hydroelectric power stations, as well as the Karelian Zoo, where we will admire the mighty tigers, funny alpacas and dozens of others animals and birds. “Ruskeala Tale” is a very rich and exciting tour, which in just three days will introduce you to amazing Karelia, energize you and give you a feeling of harmony and inner peace.
*You can choose a hotel that suits your comfort level
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. There is free Wi-Fi on site, each room has tea, coffee, bottled water, TV, hairdryer, cosmetics and bath accessories.
Hotel on the shore of 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. The rooms have everything you need and there is free Wi-Fi on site. Guests separately celebrate the national cuisine in the restaurant of the hotel complex.
The journey begins at 6:30 in St. Petersburg. On the way to Sortavala we will stop at the Korela fortress, which has long been the most important outpost between Ladoga and the Baltic. By 12:00 we arrive in Sortavala. During the bus tour, the guide will introduce you to the main milestones in the history of this amazing city on Ladoga. Here we will have lunch at a local cafe. Then the beautiful Ahvenkoski waterfalls await us - cascades of cascading water, over which there are hanging bridges, surrounded by mysterious forests. Afterwards we go to the Ruskeala mountain park - on its vast territory everyone will find entertainment to their liking: the Marble Canyon, secluded paths in the forest, an underground lake with majestic columns, a trolley track at an altitude of 400 meters. You can return to Sortavala by retro train (paid separately) or by bus.
Choose a holiday to suit your taste. You can stay in Sortavala and continue immersing yourself in the Russian-Finnish history of this incredibly beautiful city - our guide will tell you which places are worth visiting.
If you want to get to know the fantastic nature of Karelia better, we invite you on a tour. You will visit a garnet deposit on the northern shore of Lake Ladoga, where mining has been going on for more than half a century, and you can even get a garnet bead from the mine yourself! Then you will have a quiet walk through the Karelian taiga, during which you will see waterfalls: Upper and Lower Koirinoya, Prokinkoski, as well as operating hydroelectric power stations. After lunch, we will visit the Karelian Zoo, where 90 species of animals and 20 species of birds live: ferrets, bison, tigers, camels, alpacas, peacocks... And the youngest guests, of course, will appreciate the local petting zoo. Return to Sortavala by 18:30.
After breakfast at the hotel, we will climb Paasonvuori, from where we will enjoy panoramic views of ancient forests and the Karmalanjärvi River. Then you will find incredible views of the famous Ladoga skerries - small rocky islands scattered across the lake surface, as well as Kiryavalahti Bay. The next stop is the Northern Thebaid Cape, where there is a unique architectural ensemble consisting of Karelian chapels and copies of wooden temples. You will see how religious architecture fits into the stunning northern landscape, and learn more about the history of the spread of Orthodoxy in Karelia. We will also visit a trout farm store, where you can buy fish delicacies, take a tour of Sortavala and visit the center of shungite, an amazing mineral with healing properties. Arrival in St. Petersburg - approximately at 23.30.
There are no age restrictions. We provide discounts for children, students and pensioners.
The program includes breakfast at the hotel. Lunches and dinners are paid additionally, the average check per person is 500-700 rubles.
If you wish, you can go along the ecological trail near Akhvenkoski (adult ticket without benefits - 400 rubles), and also choose any entertainment in the Ruskeala park (according to the park’s price list).
On the famous Karelian retro train you can go from Ruskeala to Sortavala (optional, paid separately).
The average winter temperature is -10, -15, with cold snaps down to -25 and below. We recommend checking the weather forecast for your tour dates shortly before departure.
Ask questions to the tour coordinator
Tour from an official tour operator from the Rostourism register
