Autumn has painted the forest in bright colours, and the sunrays are gliding across the red, yellow, brownish, purple, orange leaves and light up the transparent drops of the morning dew. The only sounds around are the chirruping of birds and the whisper of the dry leaves under your feet…
Karelia… the world where ancient wooden houses line up along the abandoned forest track, where women are baking pies and embroidering, men are unhurriedly preparing the firewood stock for the winter, and the peace and harmony embrace the whole village.
We invite you away from the autumn depression! In only 3 days in Karelia you will find out what an amazing lot of interesting things you can do in only 72 hours: feel yourself an inhabitant of an old Karelian village, learn how to heat the Black Russian Banya and cook some of the national dishes, wander through the autumn forest to Mermaid’s lake, travel by bike and motor-boat – and all this together with your family or in a small company of your good friends!
Day 1
Arrive by a comfortable night train from Moscow in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. After making an acquaintance with your guide, enjoy a hearty Karelian breakfast in one of the best city restaurants and visit a very special place – the gallery of the artist Tatiana Kalinina. There you will find out the Karelian pagan beliefs and legends about the house spirits revived at the traditional dolls exhibition. We are leaving by car (2-3 hrs) away from civilization, in the depth of Karelian land – to a 400-years old village Kinerma, where our local host Nadezhda will accommodate us in an old wooden house warmed by the fire of the Russian stove, invite us for a homemade meal and walk around the village with stories about the life of locals hundreds years ago and nowadays.
In the end of the day, we will enjoy the Black Russian banya with a birch tree whisk. It is the secret of the local inhabitants how to heat Black Banya properly, but our hosts will share it with us and teach us this art. After banya, a boiling samovar, laid table and unhurried discussions at the cosy fire await us.
Night in the old village house in basic conditions.
Day 2
This morning will start with a pleasant walk to the picturesque Vedlozero lake not far away from Kinerma. Upon return from the autumn woods, we will learn how to bake the specialty of Karels and Vepps – kalitki (small pies with grains or potatoes). After lunch and tea with fresh self-made kalitki, we will say good-bye to our host.Now the powerful Russian off-road cars will take us through the Karelian forest, past lakes and tiny villages to Kukshegory settlement located on the shore of Vekkolojarvi lake. Here we will check in at the cottages with fireplaces and enjoy the unexpected comfort in such a remote place.
After tasty dinner, Russian white sauna is ready for those wishing.
Night in the guesthouse Umostu, in cottages equipped with all utilities, in rooms for 2.
Day 3
After breakfast, we are leaving for a walk along the small trail towards the mysterious Mermaid’s lake. The Hostess Autumn has already decorated the trees in their golden festive wear, and the forest has become a true fairytale for a photographer or nature-lover. The birds chirruping is loud but suddenly the silence falls over … it is our steps that scared away the birds, but in a short while the sounds of woods will come back to the usual life. Our guide will tell us about the nature of Karelia and local legends. We are back for lunch to Umostu cottage, and we are off again, now for a small biking tour in the picturesque surroundings of the village. Having reached by bike the quiet surface of one of the lakes, we will continue the way by water in a motor-boat.
The evening has unnoticeably came in, and it is already time for the Karelian autumn fairy tale to end… We will have a dinner and will leave by car to the railway station, from which the train will bring you back to the city.
