3 days
Fixed dates
10 people
from 7 years
Basic
Hotel
Russian
Gastronomy, Excursion tours
We invite you on a trip to Karelia, where you will get to know the most interesting and photogenic locations and, of course, unusual northern cuisine. You will be able to cook and taste lohikeito and red fish on a log yourself, and also visit the famous mountain park, waterfalls, the most cheerful village and the city of Olonets.
What is the most important thing to get to know any region?
Some prefer walks in nature, some prefer history and architecture, and some prefer the culture of local peoples. But on any trip, traditional cuisine helps you fully experience the uniqueness of a country or region. Food can tell a lot about a people and the land on which they live. Karelian dishes use the gifts of northern nature: lake fish, mushrooms and berries, as well as game - venison and elk. The whole day of our tour will be devoted to a culinary master class, during which you will prepare the most delicate fish soup with cream (lohikeito) and aromatic red fish cooked in the old way - on a log. You will also learn about the traditions and life of the indigenous peoples of Karelia, how they were intertwined with Russian culture.
We will visit an Orthodox monastery, which is more than 500 years old, one of the most impressive architectural and religious complexes in our country. We will stop by Olonets, the first Karelian city, and take a tour of the museum of Livvik Karelians. We will stop in the most cheerful village - here you will learn what “jouhikko”, “piirileiki” and “yoigi” are, try tea with spring water and homemade cakes. You will also visit the flat Akhvenkoski waterfalls with amazing “red” waters and suspension bridges, and also visit the Ruskeala mountain park, where the water in a flooded marble quarry reflects the sky and dense green forests on colorful rocks.
From November to March, the huge park is decorated with incredible holiday lighting, which makes a walk through it even more fabulous. On the first and second evenings of the trip you will have free time to explore the capital of Karelia - Petrozavodsk.
* 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.
The tour starts in St. Petersburg at 7:30. Along the way, the guide will begin to introduce you to the fascinating history of Karelia: from the ancient Karelians and Vepsians who inhabited it - to the arrival of the Slavs, from traditional beliefs - to their intertwining with Russian culture. We will make a stop on the shore of Lake Ladoga, where the Alexander-Svirsky Monastery is located on the very border with Karelia, and take a short excursion. Then, along the way, we will visit the city of Olonets, where in the museum of the Karelian-Livviks you will get acquainted with the life and crafts of the indigenous peoples. Let's take a photo on the famous suspension bridges of the city. The next stop is “the most fun village of Karelia”, Kindasovo. An interactive tour of Kindasovo is full of music and laughter, telling about local traditions in a fascinating way. By 19:30 - arrival in Petrozavodsk, check-in at the hotel. You can walk around the city on your own.
Today you will taste the original Karelian cuisine and learn how the nature and climate of the region influenced its formation. After breakfast we will go to Karjala Park (transfer 40 minutes), where a master class on preparing festive lohikeito soup will be held. This is a hearty dish of salmon with cream: the chef will reveal all the secrets and subtleties and guide you through all stages of preparation. Having dined on the soup that has just been removed from the heat, we will begin to get acquainted with another unusual local dish - red fish on a log. The fascinating process of fixing the fish, finding its correct location in the fireplace, waiting for it to be ready surrounded by mouth-watering aromas - it’s incredibly exciting and fun! After the tasting, free time can be devoted to a walk around Karjala Park, or, if desired, a dog sled ride.
On the last day of the trip you will see two of the most famous locations in Karelia - the cascade of picturesque Akhvenkoski waterfalls with hanging bridges and an ecological trail in the silence of the forest, as well as the Ruskeala mountain park. In the huge park, located around an impressive canyon, you can visit a rock garden or an abandoned marble factory, go down into caves, or imagine yourself as a hero of a Karelian epic. Hundreds of secluded paths, clean air, tiny lakes and observation decks - feel the magical atmosphere of this amazing reserve! From Ruskeala we take a retro train (tickets must be paid separately before the start of the tour) or by bus to Sortavala, and then with a short stop at a trout farm shop we return by bus to St. Petersburg. Arrival at 23.30. See you again!
There are no age restrictions for the tour. Discounts are provided for children under 7 years old, schoolchildren and pensioners.
Breakfast, meals on the second day (cooking master class). Set meals along the route are paid for independently, the average bill is 500-700 rubles. per person.
You can pay for this option BEFORE the tour starts. If you decide not to buy train tickets, a bus will take you from the park to Sortavala.
In addition to paying for set meals (500-700 rubles per person), there are optional expenses - a walk along the ecological trail near Akhvenkoski and active entertainment in Ruskeala.
In October-November, daytime temperatures can drop to +2. In winter, the average temperature is -10, -15, but can drop to -25 and below. Weather conditions are unpredictable, so check 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
