Travel to Karelia

Silver Ring of Karelia:

Lodeynoe Pole - Valaam - Petrozavodsk - Kizhi - Kivach Waterfall - Solovetsky Islands
6 days/5 nights

2008 Tour Dates:
Anytime. Contact us and let us know when you'd like to go.

Northwest Russia is often called the land of lakes stretching from the Gulf of Finland to the Arctic Barents Sea and from Finland to the Urals. It is one of the least populated regions of Russia but its rivers and lakes are rich with fish like salmon. It combines abundant pristine pine and birch forest with marsh and thousands of lakes, which make it a paradise for hikers, boaters, and all outdoorsmen in the summer and winter. The Northwest of Russia is rich in history as well, with towns like Pskov and Novgorod and the isolated monasteries like Valaam and Solovetsky. Petrozavodsk is the capital of the Republic of Karelia of this region and the base for seeing the extraordinary wooden buildings of Kizhi Island. For centuries the early inhabitants came from Novgorod, Finland and Sweden. Come and experience the little known Silver Ring of Karelia with us in 2008.

Day 1:
Depart from St. Petersburg via Lodeinoye Pole for Sortavala on Lake Ladoga, which is the embarkation point for our forty-five minute hydrofoil ride to Valaam Island and Monastery known as the "Athens of the North." Founded in the 14th century the monastery became a self sufficient little world of its own. The monks dried out the swamps and built a drainage system. They brought black fertile soil in their carts from lands in the south. The island was transformed into a garden where even fruit trees grew despite the climate. Visit at the Central stone monastery complex with the Cathedral of Savoir and Transfiguration, the church of Assumption, and the large numbers of chapels, monastery cells, domestic quarters and ancient cemeteries. Lunch will be served in Monastery's refectory. Transfer to Nikon bay for an excursion around Valaam's monk cells, the Resurrection cells, the Mount of Olives, the Ascension Chapel, the Hegumenos Lakes and the Monastery Farm. Before we leave we will hear a concert of holy canticles in one of the churches of Valaam. Return to for Sortavala for dinner (not included) and overnight.

Day 2:
After breakfast, transfer to Petrozavodsk, the capital of the Republic of Karelia. It was once the location of an iron foundry for Peter The Great and later a place of exile for St. Petersburg's undesirables. Its name means "Peter's Factory." Upon arrival in Petrozavodsk check in at the Hotel Severnaya for dinner (not included) and overnight.

Day 3:
After breakfast in the café of the hotel there will be a walking city tour of "Petrozavodsk-300" an architectural collection of a Round square with the 18th century Governor's garden, the Theatre square with its four theatres, the Onego lake embankment with the unique open air museum of the modern sculpture, the Peter the Great monument, and the port. We depart by hydrofoil for our one and a half hour trip on Onego Lake to Kizhi Island. This special island is a treasure of the Russian North with its museum of wooden architecture. The most beautiful of which is the five-story Church of the Transfiguration with its twenty-two cupolas dating back to 1714. It was built of pine logs without a single nail with axes and chisels. It is said that Peter the Great was the architect. Today wooden architecture from all over Karalia has been gathered on Kizhi Island. After our visit we return to Petrozavodsk for dinner (not included) in a city restaurant with authentic Karelian cuisine.

Day 4:
After breakfast in the café of the hotel departure from Petrozavodsk for Kem (440km). Not far from Petrozavodsk we will visit Kivach, the tallest waterfall in Europe. In earlier days the noise of the waterfall cascading from a height of 11 meters could be heard four to five kilometers away. These days, the power of the waterfall has somewhat lessened due to the dam on the Suna River but it is still a spectacular sight. , Kivach nature reserve is the home of the well-known Karel birch. Lunch in Medvezhegorsk a mainly industrial port today on Lake Onega associated with WWII memorial sites. Afternoon arrival in Kem. The town ranks among the historical towns of the Russian Federation with its historical and art monuments. It is one of the oldest towns of Karelia and noted for its wooden Cathedral of the Assumption built in 1717 and White Sea petroglyphs giving evidence to early human settlement. Dinner (not included) and overnight at your hotel.

Day 5:
After breakfast departure by ship for the Solovetsky Islands in the White Sea, duration of about 3 hours. The Solovetsky Monastery located on small islands of the White Sea almost at the Arctic Circle, was one of the most venerated monastic sites in Russia. Pilgrims would brave the harsh waters in rickety little boats to reach the cherished hermitage. Sadly, in the 1920's and 1930's thousands of Stalin's political prisoners were tormented within the monastery walls. On a walking excursion around the Central Architectural complex of the Solovki Monastery you will see the Holy Gates, the Dormition Church, Refectory and Procurator Chambers, the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Annunciation Church, cell buildings of the XVII-XIX centuries and buildings of the Southern yard of the monastery. You will visit powerful fortress walls and battle towers. Special exhibitions and expositions of the museum are of great interest for those who love antiquity. Lunch in the café. Walking tour to Voznesensky skit on Mount Sekirnaya. In recent years the Solovetskiy archipelago began attracting tourists and there are now many new hotels. Dinner (not included) and overnight.

Day 6:
After breakfast transfer to the railway station and departure for St. Petersburg.

TOUR PRICE:

Land Cost Per Person:
(double occupancy)

2 travelers: from $2633
1 traveler: from $3865

Kutrubes Travel has SPECIAL AIRFARES - Contact us for details.

Price Includes:

3 - 4* accommodation (DBL) on the program
Meals according the program
Service charges and sales taxes at hotels and restaurants
All transfers on the program
Transportation in comfortable vehicles and vessels
Excursions and entertainment programs
Guide services throughout

Price Does Not Include:

Visa fees
Russian departure taxes where applicable
Airfare (unless otherwise arranged)
Departure and custom fees
Gratuities and individual daily expenses
Additional beverages
Travel insurance
Trip cancellation
Medical and luggage insurance are recommended for coverage against all unforeseen circumstances

Payment and Refund Policies

If you have any questions or you'd like to book this trip, please contact us.

Custom itineraries available to this or any of the destinations we travel to.

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