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The Kizhi ornaments
The Kizhi ornaments

A tour with snowmobiles and dog sleds

The Kizhi ornaments
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
10 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 16 person
Duration
3 days

Accommodation during the trip

2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Kizhi island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, an architectural masterpiece that everyone should see at least once in life. During this journey, you will get to this must-visit location, as well as ride snowmobiles in the forest and experience dog sledding. A perfect weekend for those who want new impressions and a full reboot!

The Kizhi ornaments
Difficulty
Difficulty levels
Easy. Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
Normal. Active tours. You don’t have to be a sportsman, but you need to be strong enough to ride a snowmobile or go hiking in the mountains.
Advanced. Get ready for a challenge — long trekking with a heavy backpack on the shoulders, rafting along mountain rivers.
Hard. Professional training and perfect physical fitness are required. The level involves climbing to the tops of the mountains (above 3000 meters), freeriding and North Pole diving.
Age
from 10 y.o.
Group size
from 4 to 16 person
Duration
3 days

Accommodation during the trip

2 nights

Languages

EN
guide
We update the dates and tour price.
Leave your email and we’ll notify you when get this info.

Experiences you'll have

A winter tour to Karelia

In this journey you will explore Karelia and see truly unique places of the region. The main highlight of the tour will be a visit to the famous Kizhi island — the most popular place of international tourism to Karelia, included in the UNESCO World Heritage sites. In winter and early spring there are few tourists here. It will allow you to admire the beauty of the winter landscapes of the ancient Kizhi Pogost in quiet and relaxed ambiance.

UNESCO World Heritage sites, beautiful landscapes, snowmobile adventures and dog sledding, as well as comfortable accommodation near a frozen lake are gathered in one tour.

Just for 3 days of the tour you will:

  • learn how to drive a snowmobile and will ride on snow-covered forest trails and ice of lakes
  • travel through a picturesque Karelian forest while driving a dog sled
  • walk in the taiga with snowshoes
  • reach Kizhi island — a UNESCO World Heritage site — with a hovercraft
  • enjoy the beauty and silence of Karelian nature
  • visit historical places and ancient villages, which preserve the masterpieces of Russian wooden architecture
  • taste dishes of the national Karelian cuisine: kalitki, fish soup with cream, cranberries in sugar, liqueurs and jam made from northern berries

 

Note: the tour program can be slightly changed due to the weather conditions.

Itinerary

The journey begins in Petrozavodsk, where you should get to on your own. Meeting the group on the first day of the tour — at 07:50 am at the railway station of Petrozavodsk (by the time of arrival of the train №018A from Moscow). We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets, if necessary, leave a comment in the application.

Day 1 A journey to Kizhi island

You will be met on the railway station. After that, you will have breakfast in a café. Next you will be transferred to the starting point of the itinerary — Petrozavodsk Bay of Lake Onega. From here, you will start a trip to Kizhi island with a hovercraft. 

 

"Kizhi" is an open-air museum of wooden architecture and one of the main attractions of Karelia. The Kizhi architectural ensemble is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

After a walking tour of the island, you will have lunch at a restaurant and a short workshop — you will learn about tea traditions in the Olonets province.

 

Then, with a hovercraft you will return to Petrozavodsk. From here, you will be transferred to a touristic complex on the shore of the lake. Here, you will be accommodated in double rooms, have dinner and relax.

Day 2 Through ancient villages with snowmobiles

After breakfast you will pick up your equipment and have a safety briefing before driving a snowmobile and practice your skills in a training session. 

 

Your itinerary will start with a ride on snow-covered forest trails. Then, you will pass frozen Sandal Lake and reach the Lychny Island. Here, the wooden church of Peter and Paul is located. This is the oldest church in Karelia — it was built in 1620. During a break, you will drink hot tea and taste cranberries in sugar.

 

Next point of the route will be Mount Belaya ("White" in Russian).  More than a hundred years ago, Tivdia marble was mined here. It was used for the construction of buildings in St. Petersburg. Here, you will also see a marble church of the 19th century — it was designed by the architect of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Konstantin Ton.

 

You will have lunch at a cozy café by the river. Here, you will taste 7 types of vendace (northern fish). Also, the owner of the base will teach you how to fry red fish on a stone.

 

On the way back, you will pass through several ancient villages. They are called "asleep" because life here has almost stopped. In Oyazha village only one residential house remained. Near Ershi village you will see an old chapel.

 

In the evening, you will return to the touristic complex, have dinner and relax in a bathhouse.

Day 3 Dog sledding

Today, with snowmobiles you will ride to the starting point of the dog sledding safari. You will get acquainted with a musher who will give instructions and help you choose equipment. Then, you will have a circular dog sledding route. Most of it will take place in a picturesque forest. The distance is of medium difficulty, there will be descents, ascents and turns (10 km). After completing the route, you will have a walk with snowshoes (2-3 km).


In the forest, you will have a picnic by the fire and learn how to cook red fish on a log. You will also try the traditional fish soup with cream.

 

Then, with snowmobiles you will return to the touristic complex, from where you will be transferred to Petrozavodsk. In the city, you will have dinner at a café, and after you will go to the station for getting on the evening train.

Accommodation during the trip

Both nights of the trip you will spend in the touristic complex "Shishki" located 85 km from Petrozavodsk. You will stay in double rooms. Each room has a separate entrance from the street, a place for outerwear and shoes, a hallway, a bathroom with a shower cabin and warm floors, a spacious living room, a kitchenette and a loft bedroom. The living room is equipped with an LCD TV, DVD-player, coffee table and sofa, which can comfortably be used as additional seat for two more people. A window in the living room is with a panoramic view of Sundozero.

 

There is a fridge-freezer, microwave, electric kettle and a dining table with 4 seats in the kitchenette.

 

There is a restaurant and a Russian bathouse on the territory of the complex.

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Common questions

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Who will be my guide +

An experienced guide will accompany you and ensure your safety. An instructor will teach you how to ride a snowmobile, and a musher will tell you how to drive a dog sled.

Meals +

During the trip you will have three meals per day. Breakfasts and dinners will be served in  a cafe in Petrozavodsk or at a tourist complex.


On the first day, lunch will take place in a cafe on the Kizhi island. On the second day of the program, you will have lunch at a cafe located on the river bank — here you will try 7 types of vendace (northern fish). On the third day you will have a picnic by the fire with red fish and traditional fish soup with cream.
 

Also, during short breaks en route, you will have snacks with hot tea and sandwiches.

What to bring with me +
  • documents: passport and ID
  • backpack or travel bag
  • comfortable warm sports clothing (e.g, ski clothes)
  • a set of thermal underwear
  • fleece jacket or sweater
  • wool socks (2 pairs), textile-socks (2-3 pairs)
  • gloves
  • a woolen cap
  • warm, loose-fitting shoes
  • balaclava helmet (for dog sledding)
  • comfortable clothes for staying in a tourist complex (sport trousers and a t-shirt)
  • slippers
  • bathing suit and flip-flops for a bathhouse
  • personal cleaners
  • hairdryer
  • personal aid kit

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What type of snowmobiles is used +

You will drive a snowmobile STELS Vityaz (new lineup of 2020).

 

Also you will be provided with the following equipment: 

  • warm windproof overalls 
  • snowmobile helmets with visors 
  • balaclavas 
  • snowmobile shoes 
  • snowmobile mittens
How to get to Petrozavodsk +

We recommend the train №018A from Moscow am or train № 012A from St. Petersburg  with arrival at 07:505 am and 06:50 am respectively at the first day of the tour. As for return tickets, we recommend the trains departing from Petrozavodsk in the evening.

 

Also we can advise you to combine this trip with visiting Moscow or St. Petersburg. If you want to add city-tours here, please, leave a comment in the application.

Can children participate in the trip +

Children can participate in this journey. For kids under 12 years old are available, please ask manager for the details.