We present to your attention an individual tour with a visit to the most striking sights of Karelia - the Valaam archipelago, the Ruskeala mountain park, the ethnic village of Kinerma, and of course, the island of Kizhi!
Professional guides, during individual excursions, walking and boat trips, will open for you the protected corners of Karelia. A visit to each of the famous islands includes an unusual extended program so that you can learn and see more, feel more subtly and look at them from an unusual angle.
In this program, we paid great attention to your comfort, because travel is, first and foremost, relaxation! We have selected the best hotels for you, we organize all land transfers in individual comfortable minibuses or cars, and the linear route starts in the very south and ends in the north of Karelia, so as to reduce the number of transfers.
This is an individual tour, which involves conducting it at a time convenient for you, and the program itself can be supplemented or modified at your request.
Attention: The tour is possible on dates convenient for you
Arrival by train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg(any train arriving in St. Petersburg before 07.00– “Change”, “Two-story”, “Leo Tolstoy”).
Meeting with the driver at the St. Petersburg station. Individual transfer by car or minibus to the city Priozersk(150 km, ~ 2 hours).
11.00 Departure from Priozersk to Valaam island on the high-speed ship "Meteor".
12.15 Arrival at Balaam. Meeting with a local guide.
Lunch in the monastery refectory.
Individual sightseeing tour of the central estate of the monastery. Transfer to the monastery farm
A walking route through a secluded part of Valaam along the hegumen lakes and the Konevsky monastery.
A walking tour will introduce you to the harmony of wild, harsh northern nature and the strict life of the monks. The route begins in Nikon Bay and leads to the Konevsky monastery. In the area of the remote inland Igumen Lakes, you will encounter a completely different corner of Valaam - unusually quiet and secluded - smooth surface of water, dense coniferous forest, oak alley, wooden bridges between low banks, healing air filled with the aroma of juniper. The tour ends at the monastery farm, which has supplied the monastery with excellent dairy products since the end of the 19th century. A special place in the excursion is given to Valaam as a unique natural complex.
Visit to the Resurrection and Gethsemane monasteries (“New Jerusalem”).
18.00 Departure on the high-speed ship “Kometa” to the city Sortavala.
18.45 15-minute drive to the park hotel, located among the picturesque Ladoga skerries.
19.15 Accommodation in comfortable hotel rooms.
Dinner at the hotel restaurant (order from the menu, pay on the spot).
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
10:00 Departure by car or comfortable minibus along the route: hotel – Sortavala – Ruskeala Mountain Park - ethnic village Kinerma - Petrozavodsk.
The first stop on the route is scheduled at Ruskeala mountain park 45 km after the start.
11:00 Individual tour of Ruskeala Park.
Ruskeala is a unique monument to the development of nature. Since the 18th century, marble mining has been organized here, resulting in the formation of canyons with steep marble walls. After the cessation of mining, water flooded the bowls of the quarries and turned them into amazingly beautiful turquoise-green lakes.
12.30 Exclusive route through the underground Ruskeala as part of a small team.
Continuation of the journey by minibus or car to ethnic village of Kinerma(170 km).
14:30 Upon arrival in Kinerma - lunch with traditional cuisine, cooked in a real Russian stove, in an ancient house-museum.
Excursion-walk through the village, a story about the traditional life and customs of South Karelians. Tea from a samovar with homemade gates.
Continuation to Petrozavodsk(110 km). Accommodation in a hotel room in the historical center on the embankment of Petrozavodsk.
Free time, walk along the Petrozavodsk embankment, famous for its collection of avant-garde sculptures.
Dinner at the hotel restaurant or one of the city restaurants (order from the menu, pay on the spot).
DAY 1 .
07:30-08:00 - departure from St. Petersburg.
07:30 - m. pl. Vosstaniya (Ligovsky Ave. 10, Bukvoed store)
08:00 - Ozerki metro station
10:30 arrival in the city of Priozersk.
Along the way, you will have a route excursion from a professional guide. You will learn interesting facts about these places and the history of the city. A city that at different times was part of several states and therefore has an amazing past.
11:00 Korela Fortress (external inspection).
They constantly tried to recapture the fortress and new structures were erected for defense. Now, in a modified form, you can see the towers that were built for additional strengthening.
13:30 Arrival in the city of Sortavala. Lunch (optional)
The city is located on the shores of Lake Ladoga, the largest and freshest lake in Europe.
Sortavala is an ancient city that has preserved beautiful ancient wooden and stone buildings built by famous Finnish architects at the beginning of the 20th century. During a bus tour of the city, you will learn the history, geography of the region and other noteworthy events associated with this place.
15:00 Visit to the popular Ruskeala waterfalls Akhvenkoski and the site of husky breeders
There are many reservoirs in Karelia. The region is famous for a considerable number of lakes and rivers, including the Tokhmajoki River. In the bed of the water artery there is the well-known Akhvenkoski waterfall in this direction. This small waterfall is located in a picturesque place and it is not for nothing that this particular area was chosen for the filming of famous films, for example, like “And the dawns here are quiet” and “Dark World”
It is also an ideal shooting location for photography enthusiasts and for a small additional fee you can walk across rope bridges.
Those interested will also be able to see real husky dogs, as well as take photos and chat with them.
16:30 Marble Canyon and Ruskeala Park
Briefly about the mountain park: the re-revival of the mountain park began in the nineties. Then the territory of the quarry began to be improved and the park was considered as a tourist place.
Previously, Ruskeala was engaged in the extraction of stone, which was used for finishing metro stations in St. Petersburg and processing St. Isaac's Cathedral.
Nowadays the park is a unique natural site with its trails, examination
platforms, caves and underground passages.
How to start your visit to the park: Upon arrival at the park, you will be given a sightseeing tour with a local guide, who will tell you the history of the origin of this place in an interesting and detailed manner, guide you through observation platforms and caves and adits, and also tell you what to do in the park in your free time. The excursion and entrance tickets to the park are included in the tour price.
What to do in the park in your free time: Extended time after the excursion will provide an opportunity to take advantage of additional park services. There are boat rentals, trolling, the acclaimed Underground Space tour, bungee jumping, craft workshops and much more.
A walk through the park at a later time of day makes it even more favorable, since at these hours there are significantly fewer visitors.
21:00 Return to Sortavala. Check in hotel.
We offer cozy hotels in Sortavala or its suburbs. In the evening you can walk around the city or have dinner in one of the cafes.
DAY 2
7:30 - 8:30 Breakfast at the hotel (included in the price)
Check out from the hotel.
9:00 Meteor to Valaam island
The path along the lake will be absolutely comfortable and along the way you will enjoy the view of the extraordinary Ladoga skerries and expanses of water.
10.00 Arrival in Valaam. The main part of the island tour is 2 hours.
Your acquaintance with this place begins from the pier of Monastyrskaya Bay. This part offers an extraordinary view of the Transfiguration Cathedral, located on the highest point of the island. Through Mount Tabor, a hill near the bay, we rise to the centuries-old monastery garden. And we will get to the holy gates by passing the Chapel of the Icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”.
Adding to the impressions from the first part of the walk is the admiration from those around the cathedral: cells, a refectory, the oldest Assumption Church on the island and a monastery, the founders of which are considered to be the Wonderworkers - the Venerable Sergius and Herman of Valaam, their relics are still in the monastery.
12:30 lunch time in the refectory (included in the tour price)
13:30 The final part of the excursion lasting 2 hours
During the walk we will see a panorama opening from Nikon Bay to Lake Ladoga. Let's go to the Resurrection Skete, for its red brick buildings, it is called the Red Skete. Also, for its similarity with the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Israel, it is called the New Jerusalem.
During the excursion, which is conducted by the pilgrimage service, you will learn about the life of the monastery, the history and creation of the monasteries, we will see the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
A journey through the holy island will leave a bright and serene feeling for everyone who visits Valaam.
18:30 - Museum complex "Mount Owl"
This is a real museum in the mountain. No quotes or ambiguity. The premises of the command bunker of the Finnish army during the Second World War, carved out inside a huge mountain, have been converted into exhibition halls. We guarantee you have been to a place like this before!
The exhibitions are dedicated to the geology of Karelia and the two wars of the 20th century that swept through these regions. If the weather permits, museum guides are ready to conduct a “ground” tour of Karelia. Paths equipped with stairs lead to the very top of the granite rock to observation platforms from which a cool view opens.
19:30 - Visit to the company store of trout farming and the store of Karelian balms and tinctures
It is customary to make a stop in the city of Lakhdenpokhya on the second day of the tour on the way to St. Petersburg. There are shops with delicious souvenirs from Karelia. They are traditionally asked to be visited by all tourists who respect their family and friends enough not to limit gifts from their trip to a refrigerator magnet. Since there were such requests regularly, we simply included a visit to these stores in the tour program. In the end, delicacies from the gifts of Karelian nature are also an attraction that is so nice to get to know better.
23:00-23:30 - Approximate time of return to St. Petersburg
The first stop is Ozerki metro station. The final stop is Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station.
This was the second day of our trip to Karelia. Read the entire route, as well as tips and results, in a separate article.
As I wrote yesterday, getting to Valaam from Sortavalla is easier and faster, but not cheaper - by meteor. The only problem is whether there will be places when you want to visit this Northern Athos in Karelia. There are many people interested, but most tourists go to the island with the help of travel agencies, and the remaining places are already given to independent travelers. To reserve a place for yourself, as I already wrote yesterday, you need to approach the captain the day before and ask him to take you on board. Then the captain will write you down in his notebook, and the next morning you can safely go to the island of Valaam.
Meteor takes 45 minutes, if there is no wave, it costs 900 rubles one way, and there are 2 flights a day: at 9 and 11 am there and at 15 o'clock back.
Those who arrive to Valaam on cruise ships are still first transported by meteor to the pier in Sortavala
The meteors are named after Saint Seraphim and Patriarch Alexy.
Valaam Island
I have long wanted to go here, but as a non-devout person, I always thought that such places could even be desecrated by simple human curiosity. But, apparently, the church itself has recently begun to look not very pious in my eyes, so I decided to visit this, almost the holiest place in Russia.
What did I see when we landed... monastery apples that haunted me for the entire 5 hour walk and which I eventually picked without asking, that is, I probably stole. But they turned out to be so tasty and cool that I don’t regret it. It would be a shame to pick them and then throw them away as sour and unripe.
There are lines about cemetery strawberries that say they can’t be tastier or sweeter. So, I liked the monastery apples back in the Yuriev Monastery near Novgorod, but here they were simply different. And for some reason they were not sold anywhere on the territory. Apparently, they all go to the needs of monks, workers and volunteers.
The main place where everyone who arrives on the island is taken and where everyone goes in general is the Znamensky Cathedral. I don’t have any photographs of him, since there, on the territory of the cathedral, you can’t take photographs at all. And there are many places where you can’t go. But I liked that right in the former cells (but this information needs to be checked) there are 2 hotels. And many people travel there on bicycles, not a holy island, but some kind of cycling city.
There are also a lot of cats on Valaam. All possible colors and color combinations. And everyone has their own square and territory. This is the only way they chase each other, and at the pier you can pick up a kitten.
The island's territory is very large. It seemed unrealistic to me to go around everything on foot, especially since you want to sit and watch. Just breathe, absorb the energy, prayer and just feel the place. For those who are not in a hurry, there is an option to stay in a hotel for a few days and see everything in peace. For others, the only option is to take a taxi on site. I don’t know the prices, but they ride in different parts of the island, and you will find them at the pier too. You can write down your phone number and then just call if you don’t have time to get back to the boat.
But it’s still more useful and correct to move here at a snail’s speed.
We visited only St. Nicholas Monastery. It is located closest, and a road leads to it through three bridges. It's very picturesque there.
The monastery itself struck me even more than nature, because I always imagined monasteries as something completely secluded and distant. And here there is a chapel to the sky.
Besides the fact that inside churches some icons cannot be kissed or venerated (this is the first time I have seen such a prohibition), there are many other things that are not allowed without a blessing.
We weren’t very arrogant and didn’t really go anywhere where we weren’t supposed to. They put on skirts where required and covered their heads. They just entered the garden under the barrier, but even then they weren’t aiming at it.
If on Valaam you climb a little to the side, into the grasses and mosses in search of mushrooms (which apparently also belong to the monks, and they feed on them), then the right autumn shoes will not get wet. My choice is the Dolomites.
I was once again amazed by the smooth shores of Karelia and Ladoga. It seems that Lake Ladoga has been stroking the stones for a long time, and they have become beautiful and not dangerous and rocky, but the kind on which you want to lie down and warm up. In sunny weather this is probably very pleasant. Although, of course, you can’t swim on the island.
We left the island in the rain, but after taking a breath of oxygen, half of the ship slept and did not notice it.
Ruskeala waterfalls
Last time I already visited the Ruskeala waterfalls, where they filmed the film “The Dawns Here Are Quiet.” Just a year ago it wasn’t such a popular place, but now they’ve brought in military equipment, set up a patriotic shooting range, put a beaver in a lake, and built an orange wooden staircase.
And the waterfall flows and flows. Both autumn red and winter white colors suit Karelia.
Marble Canyon
The meteor from Valaam arrived at 3 o'clock, and we had time to visit both the waterfalls and the Marble Canyon mountain park.
There were almost no people in the evening, and many managed to get into the park through the exit through the parking lot. We honestly bought tickets; it costs 150 rubles for an adult. Boat rental 400.
Tour route: Moscow – Sortavala – Valaam Island – Ruskeala – Petrozavodsk – tourist village Mandrogi – Moscow + Rafting/Kizhi (optional)
We invite you to travel to fabulous Karelia on a comfortable bus that will meet you in Moscow and at the end of the trip will take you back to Moscow. And no hassle with purchasing train tickets!!
Benefits of the tour:
+ bus service and guide support “from doorstep to doorstep”;
+ the perfect combination of interesting excursions and communication with nature;
+ accommodation in comfortable hotels (rooms with amenities);
+ route efficiency.
Transport: Comfortable foreign car bus or minibus in case of a group of less than 15 people.
Accommodation
In Sortavala: hotel “Ladoga”: 1-, 2-, 3-bed rooms (max. 1 person/2 people/3 people, 1 double beds, shower, toilet, TV (45 channels), telephone, refrigerator, Wi-Fi). Cozy 4-storey hotel in the city center.
Infrastructure: cafe-bar (opening hours 08.00 - 00.00), sauna, guarded parking lot, hairdresser (opening hours 09.00 - 21.00), at the reception desk for an additional fee. fee (iron, electric kettle, dishes). Credit cards (Visa/Visa Electron, Maestro) are accepted for payment at the hotel. The hotel has an elevator.
Address: Sortavala, st. Karelskaya, 12.
in Petrozavodsk: hotel "Severnaya":
The Severnaya Hotel is rightfully considered one of the objects that determine the appearance of the city; it is located in the historical and cultural center of Petrozavodsk. Its distinctive feature is that the hotel building is included in the list of valuable historical and architectural buildings of Petrozavodsk.
108 rooms
Single room, category 1 (max. 1 person, 11.6 sq. m, TV, shower, toilet, hairdryer, refrigerator, minibar, telephone, desk, chair, bedside table, 1 double bed).
Twin room for 2 people (max. 2 people, 20 sq. m., TV, shower, toilet, hairdryer, refrigerator, minibar, telephone, desk, chair, single beds).
Double room (max. 2 people, 20 sq. m., TV, shower, toilet, hairdryer, refrigerator, minibar, telephone, desk, chair, 2 double bed).
Sports: gym
Beauty: beauty salon, hairdresser, beauty salon
Other services: guarded parking lot, unguarded parking lot, tour desk, laundry (washing and ironing of clothes), dry cleaning, souvenir shop
Food establishments: 1 restaurant, 1 cafe
SPA services: sauna, jacuzzi
Check-out time: On the first day, check-in after 14.00, on the last day, check-out before 10.00
Accepted cards for payment: MasterCard, Visa, Maestro
Address: Petrozavodsk, Lenin Ave., 21.
Tour program
1st daySunday
17.00 Group meeting in Moscow at the Rechnoy Vokzal metro station. The guide meets you with a sign “Karelia”. Departure on a comfortable bus (the journey takes approximately 16 hours). Night transfer.
Cities: Moscow
2nd day
Monday
Arrival in Sortavala. The unusual architectural appearance of the city was formed under the influence of three states: Sweden, Finland and Russia, to which its territory belonged at different times.
10.00 Hearty breakfast after a long journey.
11.00-18.00 Trip on the “meteor” to Valaam Island (1 hour on Lake Ladoga). The majestic Transfiguration Cathedral of the Valaam Monastery will appear before your eyes. Here rest the relics of the holy founders of the monastery - St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam Wonderworkers. Sightseeing tour of the Central Estate. A small concert of singers from the Valaam Monastery. You will hear the fascinating ancient chants of the Valaam monastery. Monastic lunch in the refectory. Walking tour with a guide to one of the most beautiful monasteries of Valaam - St. Nicholas Monastery. Return to Sortavala.
Accommodation at the Ladoga Hotel on the shore of Lake Ladoga, rooms with private amenities.
In the evening, your guide will introduce you to the historical city of Sortavala, founded back in 1632. You will climb the highest peak above the bay - Mount Kuhavuori, and also see the famous singing field in the city park.
- Dinner for an additional fee (~ 350 rub./person).
Cities: Sortavala, Valaam
Attractions: Valaam Island
3rd day
Breakfast. Check out from the hotel.
Visit to ArtGogolev Center. Excursion to the exhibition of works by the famous master of relief wood carving Kronid Gogolev. In sculptural reliefs he created amazingly beautiful images of the nature of the Northern Ladoga region, Valaam and people. In the creative workshop of this center you will make your own handmade postcard with views of the city of Sortavala as a souvenir of your trip. Purchasing souvenirs.
The path to Petrozavodsk will begin with an excursion to a unique natural site: the Ruskeala mountain park. It was here that marble was mined to decorate the churches and palaces of St. Petersburg, and now the grottoes and adits are visited. The pearl of the park is the Marble Canyon, which was formed on the site of an abandoned quarry and filled with water. This man-made Marble Lake with emerald water will make an indelible impression on you. There are no analogues to it either in Russia or in Europe!
Tasty dinner.
On the way for an additional fee: an exciting 2-hour rafting trip on the Shuya River. Passing simple rapids will give you a boost of vivacity, energy and a great mood! Cost: 650 rubles/adult, 600 rubles/student.
After the rafting, all guests will gather around the forest fire for a delicious picnic dinner in the equipped forest camp.
In the evening, accommodation in Petrozavodsk at the Severnaya Hotel in the city center (rooms with private amenities).
The journey this day is about 280 km.
Cities: Sortavala, Petrozavodsk
Attractions: Ruskeala Mountain Park, Exhibition of Kronid Gogolev (Sortavala)
4th day
Breakfast.
Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk - the capital of the Republic of Karelia, founded in 1703 by order of Peter the Great. Acquaintance with the historical center, the monument to Peter I and the Cathedral in the name of Alexander Nevsky. Promenade along the beautiful city embankment along Lake Onega, where gifts from sister cities are presented in the open air.
For an additional fee:
Excursion to the Kizhi Museum-Reserve - a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site (trip duration 6.5 hours). Transfer from Petrozavodsk by “Meteor” along Lake Onega 1 hour 15 minutes. Kizhi is an open-air museum that contains monuments of traditional wooden architecture. The pearl of the collection: the ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost. Included: tickets to Meteor, entrance fees, excursion to the museum-reserve. Cost: RUB 3,150/adult; children under 5 years old – free.
Departure for the return trip to Moscow.
Stop for an excursion in the stylized village of Mandrogi on the banks of the Svir River. This is a tourist village in the Russian style of the century before last, recreated in 1996. On the excursion you will see boyars' mansions, a noble estate, a tavern, visit the Crafts Settlement, watch the work of craftsmen. Possibility of purchasing souvenirs. Visit the Vodka Museum, where there will be a tasting of 3 types of vodkas or liqueurs. Crossing on a fabulous ferry to the clearing of fairy tales “Lukomorye”. A story about wooden sculptures based on A.S. Pushkin’s poem “Ruslan and Lyudmila.” Mini-zoo where you can feed animals and birds. At the end of the excursion, tea in a restaurant with hearty and sweet pies.
Now you can continue on your way.
Cities: Petrozavodsk, Kizhi, Leningrad region
Attractions: Verkhniye Mandrogi village, Onega embankment, Kizhi Island
5th day
Arrival in Moscow approximately at 14.00.
Attention!!! On the way back, there may be a delay on the way depending on the traffic situation.
Tour conditions
Meeting point 17.00 Group meeting in Moscow at the station. metro station "Rechnoy Vokzal" The guide meets you with a sign “Karelia”. Transport Comfortable foreign car bus or minibus in case of a group of less than 15 people. The price includes accommodation in rooms with amenities according to the program (1 night in Sortavala at the Ladoga Hotel, 1 night in Petrozavodsk at the Severnaya Hotel); meals according to the program (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 picnic dinner, 1 tea party with pies); excursions: Valaam Monastery, Kronid Gogolev exhibition with a master class, Ruskeala mountain park, Petrozavodsk, Verkhniye Mandrogi tourist village; transport services from Moscow along the entire route and back to Moscow; work of a guide and accompanying person according to the program. Possible surcharges- Excursion to the island. Kizhi (ordered when booking a tour) - RUB 3,150/adult, children under 5 years old - free.
- Rafting on the Shuya River (ordered when booking a tour) - 650 rubles/adult, 600 rubles/schoolchild.
- Dinner in Sortavala ~ 350 rub./person.
Attention! Discounts for children under 12 years old - only if you provide a copy of your birth certificate when booking the tour!!! Meals According to the program Important It is necessary to arrive at the meeting point at the appointed time, otherwise responsibility for joining the group falls entirely on the tourist.
We recommend that citizens of the Russian Federation take a compulsory health insurance card for each trip participant when traveling. Children Accepted from 6 years of age Attention
- The company reserves the right to change the procedure for providing services without reducing their volume.
- Due to the economic situation in the country, the company reserves the right to change prices. Check the cost of the tour when booking!
- Insurance is not included in the tour price.
- Attention!!! On the way back, there may be a delay on the road depending on the traffic situation.
Helpful information:
Rafting is designed for ordinary city residents: “beginners”. It does not require special physical training, experience of water trips or even the ability to swim! Before the start of the rafting there will be a safety briefing and the instructor will give each tourist equipment: a life jacket and a paddle. Prepare your swimwear, because in hot weather there is nothing more pleasant than swimming in clean river water. And after the rafting, a set of dry, changeable clothes will be useful to change into. Rafting charges everyone with energy and positive emotions.
When visiting existing churches and the territory of the internal square of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Valaam Monastery, men must be without hats, women must have skirts and a headdress. It is not allowed to visit the monastery in sports or revealing clothing. During excursions we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes.
In the icon and souvenir shops of the monastery you can buy icons, candles, and submit notes. Documents for the trip Tourist voucher, passport (regular or foreign; for a child under 14 years old - birth certificate).
