Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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We invite you to an exciting journey through the amazing corners of Karelia and Solovki!

In a few days you will be able to explore the sights of Petrozavodsk, stroll along the Onega Embankment, admire the beauty of Ruskeala Mountain Park, take a comet to Kizhi Island, relax in the shungite room and visit the Solovetsky Islands.

Location

the city of Sortavala

Sightseeing tours

from

Early
booking

Contact the tour coordinator

Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)

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Tour highlights

Kizhi Island

Take part in an exciting tour of the famous museum-reserve with a visit to the Church of the Intercession and ethnographic exhibitions.

Picturesque waterfalls

You will see two Karelian waterfalls, each of which is capable of striking with its beauty.

The beauty of shungite

You can relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle in the shungite room.

The Pearl of Karelia

Visit the Ruskeala Mountain Park and enjoy the views of the Marble Canyon.

Famous Solovki

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Itinerary

Day 1 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
08:22 Meeting in Sortavala, train No. 160 at the entrance to the railway station from the city. You will be greeted by a guide with a sign.
Breakfast in a cafe in the city.
Departure to Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Excursion to Ruskeala Mountain Park – Marble Canyon.
The park was established in 2005 on the basis of the Ruskeala Marble Quarry, a unique monument of Russia's industrial heritage.
Marble mining was started here in 1769 by decree of Catherine II to decorate the famous buildings of St. Petersburg: the Marble Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Mariinsky Palace, etc.
The combination of Karelian nature and human activity has given these quarries a surprisingly picturesque appearance that attracts travel enthusiasts not only from Karelia.
The next stop is at the Ruskeala Akhvenkoski waterfall. Translated from Finnish as "Okunevy threshold". Locals sometimes call it the "waterfall at the three bridges."
The bathing scene of one of the heroines of the film "And the dawns here are quiet" was filmed at this waterfall.
Amazingly picturesque nature invariably attracts the creators of modern films with its mysterious beauty and some kind of mysterious power.
In 2010, a fantasy film "The Dark World" was shot here (entrance to the waterfall is paid on site).
Arrival in Sortavala.
Dinner at a cafe in the city.
Accommodation at Piipun Piha Hotel. Time to rest.

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Day 2 - Valaam Island (for an additional fee)
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Room release.
Boarding the bus with your belongings.
Transfer to the pier.
For an additional fee, an excursion to Valaam Island (booked together with the tour, paid on site).
Departure by meteor to Valaam Island (45 minutes by Lake Ladoga).
Arrival at the monastery bay.
Sightseeing tour of the central estate of the monastery with a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, chapels, cell buildings, household and hotel buildings.
Lunch in the monastery refectory.
Transfer to Nikonovskaya Bay. Visiting the Resurrection and Gethsemane skeets.
Return to Sortavala.

Attention: boat trip to the islandValaam will take place under favorable weather conditions!

Departure to Petrozavodsk (260 km).
Accommodation at the Peter Inn 4* hotel. Time to rest.

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Day 3 - Petrozavodsk, Kizhi Island
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.
Sightseeing tour of the capital of Karelia and a walk along the Onega embankment.
And now we invite you to plunge into the friendly atmosphere of the northern city – the capital of Karelia – the city of Petrozavodsk.
On the sightseeing tour, you will see the beautiful embankment of Lake Onega, where you will find the "Tree of Desires" and other avant-garde sculptures donated to the city by the twin cities.
Be sure to visit the Governor's Park!
Excursion to Kizhi Island.
Ride on the "Comet" (1 hour and 20 minutes on Lake Onega).
Kizhi Island is a "calling card" not only of Karelia, but also of Russia.
The unique ensemble of the Churchyard is known all over the world, and every year the flow of tourists wishing to visit the island is only growing!
Guided tour of the museum-reserve with a visit to the Church of the Intercession and ethnographic exhibitions.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Time to rest.

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Day 4 - Kivach Waterfall
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Room release.
Departure to Kem.
On the way:
Visit to the Shungite Center.
A visit to the souvenir center, where you can buy figurines, cosmetics, jewelry made of shungite at wholesale prices.
As well as a visit to the relaxation room filled with the vitality of shungite. Natural black stone is a real miracle. A cure for many diseases, saving lives. It is suitable for an old man and a baby, a man and his home, it can make any place bright, clean and blessed.
Visit Kivach Waterfall, one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe.
You will also visit the arboretum, the decoration and pride of which are the famous Karelian birches.
Karelian birch is a tree to which nature has given the amazing beauty of wood, reminiscent of marble in its pattern.
Even in the 21st century, there is a debate among scientists about the origin of this amazing tree!
Lunch at the cafe.
Arrival in Kem.
20:00 Accommodation in the tourist complex "Berth" Rabochostrovsk.
Free time.

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Day 5 - Solovetsky Islands
Breakfast at the restaurant of the tourist complex.
Transfer by boat to the Solovetsky Islands (2 hours across the White Sea).
Arrival at the Bay of Well-being.
Sightseeing tour of the Central manor of the monastery.
The tour introduces visitors to the history of the Solovetsky Monastery, the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp, the Training Detachment of the Northern Fleet and the Jung School.
Tourists visit the territory of the central complex of the monastery, active temples, monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, objects of economic activity of the monastery, expositions. 
Lunch at a cafe on the island. 
16:00 Return by ship to the tourist complex "Pier" Rabochiostrovsk.
Participants of the tour from St. Petersburg can leave Kemi by evening train No. 011H Kemi — St. Petersburg at 20:40.
In this case, a discount is provided (accommodation without the last night).

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Day 6 - Departure home
Breakfast at the restaurant of the tourist complex.
Room release.
Transfer to Kemi railway station.
Departure to Moscow by train No. 091A Kem — Moscow at 10:06, to St. Petersburg by train No. 015A Kem — St. Petersburg at 06:19.
See you soon!

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights
Camp Site

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and at the tourist complex.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Placement	Adult	Kid up to 10 years old
Double room	60 500	57 500
Single room	78 500	—
Additional place	53 000	50 000

The hotel is located in the Republic of Karelia. Guests have access to the internet, a terrace, a sauna, a gift shop, a parking space, a laundry service and a shuttle service.

The rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay.

The bar offers a wide selection of refreshing drinks.

The train station is just over two kilometers away. The airport is about three hours away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

the city of Sortavala

Included in price

accommodation in hotels;
meals included in the program (6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner);
transportation services along the route;
The guide's job;
entrance tickets for excursions;
tour service:
- Petrozavodsk City Tour;
- Kizhi Island Tour;
- Ruskeala Mountain Park tour - Marble Canyon;
- Kivach Waterfall tour;
- visit to the Kivach Nature Reserve Museum;
- visit to the Karelian Birch Arboretum on the territory of the Kivach Nature Reserve;
- sightseeing tour of the Solovetsky Monastery.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Sortavala and back from Kem;
meals not included in the tour program;
excursion to Valaam Island (to be booked upon purchase of the tour, to be paid on the spot);
fee for visiting the protected area "Valaam Archipelago" (self-payment on the website of the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Territories of Regional Significance of the Republic of Karelia).

It's important to know

Medical preparations for individual needs.

Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical).

It is recommended to put the identity document in an airtight package. For those traveling with children, a child's birth certificate is required.

Comfortable sports shoes:

sneakers or moccasins, but not new, but familiar and comfortable;
replacement shoes (light running shoes or sneakers).

Sportswear for hot and cool weather:

The jacket is windproof, waterproof;
raincoat;
warm tracksuit (sweatshirt, pants);
T-shirts with long (from sunburn) and short sleeves;
sports trousers;
shorts;
socks.

Headdress: cap, panama hat (with a visor).

A bathing suit.

Personal hygiene products.

Useful equipment:

small backpack (20-30 l);
a flashlight with spare batteries;
sunscreen (required);
sunglasses.

For photo and video equipment, take care of airtight packaging in case of rain.

Dates and Prices

$606

1 – 6 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$606

22 – 27 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$606

6 – 11 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$606

10 – 15 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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No need to pay now

From Ladoga to the White Sea