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Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi
Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi

Individual tour to Karelia

Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi
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.
Group size
from 1 to 6 person
Duration
7 days

Accommodation during the trip

6 nights

Languages

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

In a trip with a route from the Solovetsky Islands to Valaam you will explore the northern region filled by history and mysteries. You will visit the ancient monasteries and the amazing natural places of the Kizhi island, hidden from the tourists, watch the beluga whales in the White sea and visit the marble quarries of the Ruskeala Mountain Park.

Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi
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.
Group size
from 1 to 6 person
Duration
7 days

Accommodation during the trip

6 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 sightseeing tour in Karelia

You will explore Karelia moving from the north to the south of the region. You will enjoy the individual excursions, a variety of hiking routes and boat trips to the White sea's islands.

 

The program will get acquaintance with the history, culture and nature of the Russian North:

  • walking on the Big Solovetsky island, you will learn about the ancient history of the archipelago, which was inhabited by severe Orthodox ascetics, tribes of Karelians and Saami for thousands
  • you will take a boat trip to Cape Beluzhiy — the only place in the world where beluga whales can be watched directly from the shore
  • on the Big Zayacky island you will find mazes and ancient Saami religious stone monuments
  • during an individual tour of the Kizhi island you will discover the most remote and picturesque corners 
  • in the ethnic Kinerma village you will get acquainted with the culture and customs of the southern Karelians and taste the local cuisine
  • you will discover the picturesque abandoned marble tunnels and quarries of the Ruskeala Mountain Park
  • you will visit the secluded sketes on the Valaam island and will see, how the monks live in harmony with the wild Northern nature

We accept bookings for groups of 6 or more

 

You will have individual excursions with an expanded program, comfortable accommodation and transfers.  We can organize this tour in any dates you choose.

Itinerary

The journey starts in Kem, where you should travel to by your own (see more details in "Common questions"). Please, note that the route ends in St. Petersburg.

 

We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets, if necessary, leave a comment in the application.

 

Note: the schedule of the tour can be changed due to weather conditions. In case of bad weather boat excursions will be replaced by a walking or a car tour.

Day 1 Arrival to Kem

Upon arrival in Kem you will be transferred to a touristic complex, located on the White Sea coast (15 minutes). Here, you will stay overnight.

Day 2 History of Solovetsky archipelago and Cape Beluzhiy

After breakfast in the hotel, you will go to the Solovetsky islands by a ferry boat and check in the hotel. Then an individual walking tour "History of Solovetsky archipelago" (1,5 hours) is waiting for you here. The itinerary starts in Solovetsky village and goes along the White Sea coast. You will see the Cape of Labyrinths, Solovetsky stone, cemetery of the monastery, dry dock and a hydropower plant.

 

You will get acquainted with the great history of the Solovetsky archipelago. Also you will also learn a lot about the geology, ancient and modern flora and fauna of the Islands, as well as anomalous and rare phenomena observed here.

 

After lunch you will have a boat trip to Cape Beluzhiy (1,5 hours). It is located on the western part of the Bolshoy Solovetsky island. Here you can watch the beluga whales directly from the shore. This boat trip can be organized only at low tide, so it can be rescheduled for another time or day.

 

In the evening you will go back to the hotel. There will be enough time for a walk around. You can visit a Maritime Museum for instance (a free entrance). Dinner will be in the restaurant of the hotel.

Day 3 The White Sea's islands

After breakfast you will move to the pier and board the speed boat to the Kuzov's archipelago. You will have an individual guided tour here (10 hours).


The northern natural beauty of these Islands is amazing. Moreover Kuzov's archipelago is well-known for its ancient saami monuments. There are a lot of them: mazes and different religious complexes, such as the mysterious "seidy" — the great sculptures, made of stones.

 

On route you will have lunch (lunch boxes) and then return to the hotel, relax and have dinner.

Day 4 Bolshoy Zayatsky Island

Today you will take a boat trip to the Bolshoy (Russian for Big) Zayatsky Island (3 hours).

 

Its territory is covered with the different ancient boulder structures. It seems that the whole island is the one huge ancient sanctuary, where someone had to pass the labyrinth in order to finish some misterious ritual. 

 

Then you will have lunch, pick up your luggage from the hotel and take the ferry boat to Kem (2 hours). After having dinner you will be taken to the railway station to the night train to Petrozavodsk. You will have arrived to the town by midnight and spend a night in the hotel.

Day 5 Kizhi Pogost

After breakfast you will meet with the guide and will go with the a speed ferry to Kizhi Island (1 hour 45 mins). Here, you will have an individual sightseeing tour (2 hours).

 

After lunch you will come back with a ferry to Petrozavodsk. You can go for a walk to the embankment. In the evening you will have dinner in the restaurant of a hotel.  

Day 6 Kinerma village and Ruskeala

Today you will move with a guide to Sortavala. On the way you will visit an ethnic Kinerma village (110 km away from Petrozavodsk). Here you will get acquainted with the traditions and customs of the southern Karelians and will taste a traditional local dishes cooked in a Russian stove.

 

Next you will go the Ruskeala Mountain Park. With an individual excursion you will explore this unique place. Marble quarrying had been developed here since the XVIII century. As a result a great canyons with sheer marble walls were formed here. After the quarrying had been stopped the pits were flooded and turned to the amazing turquoise and green lakes. 

 

Optionally after a sightseeing tour you can pass an exclusive route through the underground labyrinths of Ruskeala Park (extra charge). In the evening you will come to the hotel located near Lake Ladoga. Here you will have dinner and stay for a night.

Day 7 The Valaam island

After breakfast you will move to Sortavala by a speedboat "Meteor". Here you will have an individual sightseeing tour to the Central monastery manor and then have lunch in the refectory.

 

Later you will walk along the secluded part of the Valaam island. Having moved to Nikon Bay, you will visit Konevsky, Voskresensky and Gethsimansky sketes. The Hegumen lakes will open for you a completely different nature of Valaam with oak alleys and quiet lakes surrounded by coniferous forests.

 

Further you will get to Priozersk by high-speed boat and have dinner. After that a transfer to St. Petersburg will be organized (160 km). You will have arrived to St. Petersburg by the evening. If necessary, we can help you to book the hotel in the city.

Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi
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.
Group size
from 1 to 6 person
Duration
7 days

Accommodation during the trip

6 nights

Languages

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

Accommodation during the trip

On the first day you will stay at the tourist complex "Prichal" (superior double rooms). It is located in the Kem city, on the White sea's shore. There is a restaurant, a bar, a sauna and a souvenir shop on site. 

 

From the second to the fourth days of the tour you will live in double rooms in the hotel "Solovki" Hotel. It is located in the Solovetskyvillage, 200 metres from the picturesque coast. Rooms are decorated in the log houses style. The rooms have a private bathroom with a hairdryer and all necessary toiletries.

 

From the fourth to the sixth days you will stay at the"Fregat" Hotel , located in the center of Petrozavodsk, a 5-minute walk from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, on a quiet picturesque shore of lake Onega. You will be accommodated in comfortable double rooms (with one double or two single beds). Each room includes a flat-screen TV and a modern private bathroom with all necessary toiletries. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

 

The final night of the trip you will spend in the "Piipun Piha" Hotel. It is located in Sortavala on the bank of Lake Ladoga. Standard double rooms are equipped with modern appliances and amenities: a TV, a hairdryer, a telephone, a bathroom with shower and free Wi-Fi. You can also visit the restaurant with an outdoor veranda and relax in the Finnish sauna.

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Common questions

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Meals +

The cost of the program includes three meals a day, except breakfast and lunch at the first day. You will have breakfast and dinner at the hotels, as well as have lunches in the restaurants or have a snack on route (lunch boxes at day 3).

How to get to Kem +

We recommend you to get to Kem by train № 022Ч "Saint Petersburg — Murmansk" (departure on the day before the first day of the program at 9:24 pm, arrival time to Kem is at 10:45 am). We are ready to help with the purchase of tickets, if necessary.

 

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.

What to bring with me +
  • documents (the passport and the medical insurance)
  • comfortable clothes, suitable for different weather conditions (waterproof jacket or raincoat, fleece jacket or sweater in case of cool weather, as well as things for hot weather)
  • small backpack (it will be convenient to carry a raincoat, camera, water and other personal belongings)
  • comfortable shoes (for trekking)
  • repellent
  • sunglasses
  • sunscreen
  • individual first aid kit


In addition: women will need a headdress and skirts to visit the temples.

Booking

Solovetsky Islands — Valaam — Kizhi

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.
Group size
from 1 to 6 person
Duration
7 days

Accommodation during the trip

6 nights

Languages

EN
guide
1 420 EUR
What's included in the price:
  • double accommodation in hotels

  • three meals a day

  • individual transfers

  • trips with ferries

  • individual excursions as per program

  • entrance tickets

Extra charge:
In the price:
Included Extra charge
  • double accommodation in hotels

  • three meals a day

  • individual transfers

  • trips with ferries

  • individual excursions as per program

  • entrance tickets

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