Individual tour to Karelia

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.