On a journey from the Solovetsky Islands to the Valaam archipelago, you will visit ancient monasteries and remote hermitages, and on Kizhi Island you will see masterpieces of wooden architecture. You will observe belugas or seals in the White Sea and take a walk through Kinerma village.
On this trip, you will explore the Arkhangelsk region and Karelia in a private format. We will organize an intensive sightseeing itinerary, comfortable accommodation, and transport for you — all you have to do is choose your preferred dates.
In a single trip, you will see the main attractions of the Russian North on private tours.
Your days will be filled with easy walking routes, transfers by car, and boat trips, while your evenings will be for relaxing in comfortable hotels.
In Kizhi, you will visit the Transfiguration Church and climb the bell tower to capture a view of Lake Onega
You will see the monastery founded in the 15th century and the secluded hermitages of the Solovetsky Archipelago
If the weather permits, you will take a boat trip to Cape Beluzhy — here, beluga whales can be observed directly from the shore
After arriving in Kem, you will be transferred to a tourist complex for breakfast. Following that, you will take a motor ship to the Solovetsky Islands (a 2-hour journey). There, you will check into the hotel and have lunch, after which an individual guided tour of the Solovetsky Monastery awaits you.
The monastery was founded in 1436 and has witnessed one of the most significant events in Russian religious history — the separation between the supporters of Patriarch Nikon and the Old Believers. You will see unique architectural monuments: cathedrals and churches from the 16th to 19th centuries, an ancient water mill, and stone chambers dating back to the early 17th century.
After the tour, you will return to the hotel, and dinner will be available at the restaurant (for an additional charge).
After breakfast, you will embark on a private combined driving and walking tour of the Solovetsky hermitages. Your first stop will be the Voznesensky Skete, where you will learn why the hill it sits on is called Sekirnaya. Next, you will visit the secluded Savvatievsky Skete, founded in the 15th century. You will also see the Alley of the Young Seamen (Yunga), the dam of Krasnoye Lake, and the foundations of the channel system of the Solovetsky Lakes, designed by Hegumen Filipp Kolychev.
In the afternoon, as part of a small group, you will approach Cape Beluzhy by motorboat – a known resting spot for beluga whales.
In the evening, you will return to the hotel, and dinner will be at your own arrangement.
Following breakfast and check-out, you will embark on a private boat excursion to Zayatsky Island, accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Upon returning to the hotel to collect your luggage and having lunch, you will be transferred to the pier.
At 16:00, the motor ship will depart from the Solovetsky Islands to Kem, with the journey taking approximately 2 hours. Upon arrival in Kem at 18:00, a private car will transfer you to Petrozavodsk (420 km, about 6 hours).
Check-in at the 4* Frigat Hotel on the shores of Lake Onega is scheduled for around midnight. You will be accommodated in a standard twin room.
This morning after breakfast, you will depart by a high-speed motor ship to Kizhi Island (1 hour 15 minutes journey). During a private guided tour, you will learn about its history and visit one of its main landmarks — the Church of the Transfiguration.
This unique monument of 17th-century northern wooden architecture is crowned with 22 domes. Inside the church, you will see an ancient iconostasis consisting of 102 icons. Afterwards, you will ascend the bell tower, which offers a magnificent view of Kizhi and Lake Onega. Lunch will be served at a restaurant on the island.
Following this, you will return by motor ship to Petrozavodsk. In the evening, you will take a guided walking tour of the city and have dinner at your hotel or a local restaurant (for an additional charge).
After breakfast and check-out, you will depart by car with your guide to the historic village of Kinerma. Here, you will enjoy a guided tour, exploring its open-air museum atmosphere with well-preserved ancient houses and a chapel featuring a unique carved iconostasis. The experience includes a traditional homemade lunch in the village.
Afterwards, you will continue your journey towards the shores of Lake Ladoga. Your day concludes with arrival at the Lamberti Hotel, a countryside retreat located on the picturesque shore of a Lake Ladoga bay, where you will check in for the night.
For an additional charge and with prior booking, the hotel offers a traditional Russian wood-fired banya (sauna) complete with a birch besom (venik) for the authentic experience, followed by the option for a refreshing plunge into the invigorating waters of Lake Ladoga.
After breakfast and check-out (your luggage will remain in the vehicle until the evening), you will be transferred to the pier. At 11:00, depart by speedboat to Valaam Island. Upon arrival, you will take a walk to the archipelago's most picturesque hermitage, St. Nicholas Skete, followed by lunch. Your exploration continues with a guided tour of the Central Monastery Estate.
At 17:00, you will return by boat to Sortavala. Here, you will enjoy a guided walking tour of the city, known for its fascinating history and architecture. The day concludes as you board the train to Moscow, departing at 20:52.
Accommodation can be changed.
Located on the Solovetsky Islands in the settlement of Solovetsky, just 200 meters from a picturesque shoreline. The rooms are decorated in the style of log cabins.
You will be accommodated in rooms with either a double bed or two single beds, and a private bathroom.
The hotel features a restaurant, and mobile connection and Wi-Fi are available on site.
Located on the embankment of Lake Onega in Petrozavodsk. You will be accommodated in rooms with either a double bed or two single beds and a private bathroom.
The hotel features a restaurant and Wi-Fi is available.
Located in the surroundings of Sortavala, at the northern tip of Lake Ladoga, surrounded by a coniferous forest.
You will be accommodated in cottages, in rooms with either a double bed or two single beds and a private bathroom.
The complex features a restaurant, sauna, and Russian banya, and mobile connection and Wi-Fi are available.
Passive relaxation and sightseeing — cruises for example. No physical activities. Good for older people.
In summer, temperatures in Karelia range from +15°C to +30°C during the day and from +5°C to +20°C at night. Rain is possible.
Important notes for women: a head covering is required for visiting churches. It is more convenient to wear trousers for exploring Valaam; for visiting the monastery, you can bring a shawl (pashmina) or use skirts provided at the entrance. Please also note that shorts and any revealing clothing are not suitable for visiting churches.
The tour price includes breakfasts, as well as lunches at restaurants or cafes along the route. Dinners are not included and will be at your own expense.
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Solovki – Kizhi – Petrozavodsk 6 days
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