Holy Triangle: Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki, 6 days

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All the pearls of Karelia in a six-day tour!

On an educational trip through the Russian North, you will have the opportunity to visit the islands of Kizhi and Valaam, the Ruskeala Mountain Park and stroll around Petrozavodsk, as well as get acquainted with the Solovetsky Islands.

We will get acquainted with the history of the legendary region and the beauty of the northern nature.

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

The Pearls of Karelia

Get acquainted with the history of the hospitable region and its iconic places

Picturesque nature

Admire the beauty of the northern nature

The famous mountain park

Take a guided tour of Ruskeala Mountain Park

Itinerary

Day 1 - Petrozavodsk city tour. Kizhi Island Tour
~ 07:50 We meet the guests at the Petrozavodsk railway station from the side of the platform upon arrival of train No. 18. The guide greets them with a sign "Holy Triangle".
If you arrived by earlier trains or by your own transport, please arrive at the meeting time at the Petrozavodsk railway station.
Breakfast.
If you arrive later (train # 92 ~ 09:58): there will be an individual meeting at the railway station.
Breakfast is not provided and is replaced by a transfer to meet the group on the route (transfer is free).
Guided tour of the capital of Karelia (duration 2 hours).
Petrozavodsk is the younger brother of St. Petersburg, born in the same year. It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great. You will get acquainted with the historical center, the monument to Peter the Great, the Governor's Park.
A promenade along the beautiful city embankment along Lake Onega, where there is a collection of original sculptures located in the open air.
Excursion to Kizhi Island (duration 7 hours).
The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is one of the largest museums of traditional wooden architecture in Russia, a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.
You will travel to Kizhi Island by Meteor on Lake Onega (1 hour and 30 minutes in one direction).
In the famous open-air museum you will get acquainted with the temples of the Kizhi architectural ensemble. Marvel at the beauty of the 22nd Transfiguration Church, visit the interiors of the Church of the Intercession of the Virgin and the ethnographic exposition in a peasant hut. You will observe the work of craftsmen who demonstrate traditional crafts.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Supper.
Accommodation at the selected hotel after the end of the excursion program:
The 4* Severnaya Hotel is located in the very center of Petrozavodsk. Nearby there are museums, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.
The Peter Inn 4* Hotel is a comfortable hotel next to the railway station, the hotel's restaurant has its own brewery, where they brew several beers of their own production.

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Day 2 - Ruskeala Mountain Park and Valaam Island (optional)
Full day tour (duration about 18 hours): Ruskeala Mountain Park + optional (for an additional fee) Valaam.
Early departure from Petrozavodsk.
Lunch box.
The crossing is about 260 km. Along the way, you will see picturesque Karelian landscapes, the smoothness of forest lakes and a magnificent panorama of Lake Ladoga framed by rocks.
On the way, you will learn many interesting stories and legends from the guide.
Stop for breakfast at a cafe.
Guided tour of the Ruskeala Mountain Park (duration 1 hour and 15 minutes). It is the most visited tourist site in Karelia at the moment. For about 300 years, marble has been mined here to decorate palaces and temples in the Northern Capital.
A marble lake was formed in a huge man-made bowl, which is now admired by numerous tourists. The rocky grotto and tunnels cut into the rocks, the Italian quarry, the Marble Square will make an indelible impression on you. There are no analogues to this unique natural object either in Russia or in Europe!
Transfer to the town of Sortavala (30 km).
For an additional fee, the Wonderful Island of Valaam tour (duration 7 hours) (book the tour in advance, when booking the tour. Payment is made on the tour to the guide). Children under 6 years old are free of charge (upon presentation of a birth certificate).
Attention! The tour takes place in favorable weather conditions and there is no storm warning!
Please note! Valaam Island is part of the Valaam Archipelago Nature Park. In accordance with the Federal Law "On the introduction of payment for visits to specially protected natural areas", you need to pay for the visit yourself in the amount of 200 rubles per person. There are preferential categories that are exempt from payment.
The program of the excursion to the Valaam Monastery: transfer by Meteor along Lake Ladoga "city of Sortavala – Valaam Island" (1 hour on the way).
Sightseeing tour of the Central estate of the Valaam Monastery. Visit to the majestic Transfiguration Cathedral, where the relics of the holy founders of the monastery, St. Sergius and Herman the Wonderworkers of Valaam, rest.
Lenten lunch in the monastery refectory.
The second tour (one of two options at the discretion of the Valaam Monastery): Nikolsky Skete is one of the most beautiful sketes of Valaam, or "New Jerusalem" — visit the Resurrection Skete, Gethsemane Skete, Mount of Olives and the Chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Return to the city of Sortavala.
Departure of the whole group from Sortavala to Petrozavodsk.
Later return to Petrozavodsk.
Guests who will not go to Valaam Island can:
Stay in Ruskeala Mountain Park after the end of the tour and arrive in Sortavala by taxi on your own (the taxi cost is approximately 1,500 rubles).
Come with the group to Sortavala and take a walk around the city, visit museums and cafes in your free time.

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Day 3 - The center for the production of shungite products. Kivach Waterfall
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Departure with a guide to the north of Karelia to the White Sea (a distance of about 400 km).
Visit to the center for the production of shungite products. It is a unique mineral that is mined in Karelia. The healing properties of this stone have been known for more than 300 years ago, and in the time of Peter the Great, a decree was issued according to which every soldier was ordered to carry a piece of shungite in his backpack.
They will tell you about its properties and treat you to delicious Karelian tea. Here you will relax in a shungite cave to recharge your body with living energy, and you will be able to purchase shungite products from the manufacturer.
On the way, an excursion to the Kivach Nature Reserve.
You will admire the most famous waterfall in Karelia, praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero". Here you will see a real Karelian birch – the famous "cinderella" of the northern forests, get acquainted with the collection of the arboretum and the museum of nature.
Lunch.
In the evening, arrival at the tourist complex "Pier" (located in the village of Rabochiostrovsk on the shore of the White Sea, 12 km from the city of Kem).
Accommodation in rooms with amenities.

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Day 4 - Solovetsky Kremlin Tour
Breakfast.
Boarding the ship (starts 30 minutes before departure).
08:00-10:00 Transfer by boat across the White Sea to Bolshoy Solovetsky Island (2 hours).
Arrival, transfer of things to the selected hotel: "Solovetskaya Sloboda" / "Solovki-hotel". Tourists and a guide walk from the pier to the tour desk building, from where the tour begins.
Along the way, useful information about attractions that you can visit on your own, shops and cafes.
Accommodation at the selected hotel after the end of the excursion program.
10:30 Sightseeing walking tour of the Solovetsky Kremlin (duration 3 hours).
During the tour, you will see the unique architectural ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery, active temples and monuments, and objects of the monastery's economic activities. You will learn about the history of the Solovetsky Monastery, which mirrors the history of Russia. All temples and monuments are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
13:30 Lunch.
Optional for an additional fee (payment on tour to the guide): Guided tour "Sights of Bolshoy Zayatsky Island" (duration 3 hours). Boat trip to Zayatsky Island (travel time 45 minutes).
You will visit the largest pagan sanctuary of the II-I millennia BC, stone labyrinths, a complex of religious and funerary structures, Russia's first stone harbor, and the monuments of St. Andrew's Skete.
In your free time, we suggest taking a walk to the Cape of Labyrinths. This is a picturesque natural area on the shore of the White Sea. There are reconstructed stone labyrinths and the famous Solovetsky "dancing" birches.

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Day 5 - Free day. Additional excursions (optional)
Breakfast at the hotel.
Optional for an additional fee:
In one day, you can catch 2 of the suggested excursions.
Book excursions in advance, when booking a tour. The number of seats is limited. Payment is made on the tour to the guide.
1. Walking tour "The history of the Solovetsky special purpose camp. 1923-1939." (duration — 2.5 hours).
On this tour, visitors will learn about the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp, the stages of the camp's development and its transformation into the Solovetsky Special Purpose Prison in 1937, as well as learn about the fate of prisoners.
They will visit a new exhibition about the camp and a monument to Solovetsky prisoners.
2. Boat trip along the Long Bay (duration — 4-5 hours).
An exciting ecological boat trip along the Long Bay, the "inner sea" of Solovki, where even in stormy weather there are rarely waves. Driven by a fresh salty wind, a carbine boat with a motor will run past sandy beaches, countless islands and rocky ridges crashing into the water. One of them has a bird family, and the other one seems to have a seal basking in the sun.
Shallow depths allow you to see the underwater world: starfish are buried in the sandy bottom, translucent ultramarine jellyfish hover in the water, algae sway and stretch somewhere along with the sea currents. The price of the tour includes a bus transfer to Long Bay and back, as well as a tasting of White Sea mussels – perhaps you are lucky enough to find a real White Sea pearl in one of them.
Don't forget to bring a light snack and drinks.
3. Boat trip "Cape Beluzhy" (duration 2 hours).
Often, for tourists who find themselves on Solovki, the most desirable thing is to see belugas – northern white whales.
The peaceful inhabitants of the Arctic Ocean come to the White Sea in the summer. They do not swim close, appear on the surface for a short time and then swim quite a long distance.
But there is a special place on Solovki – Cape Beluzhy – a sea trip here will be remembered by every minute. The cape water area is one of the few places on the planet where you can observe whales in the wild.
From the beginning of June to the middle of August, during low tide at sea, mating games of whales, birth and upbringing of cubs take place here.
There is also a station of oceanographers who have the opportunity to observe these beautiful creatures every day.
Bring good weather and intention with you, don't make any noise, and you may be able to see a beluga literally at arm's length, feel the power and beauty of these amazing marine mammals.
Water excursions are conducted under favorable weather conditions and in the absence of a storm warning.

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Day 6 - Bus tour "Mount Sekirnaya. The Holy Ascension Monastery." The Botanical Garden
Breakfast.
After breakfast, room release (according to check–out time before 10.00).
You can take your belongings to the hotel's luggage room (free service).
Sekirnaya Mountain bus tour. Holy Ascension Hermitage" + "Botanical Garden" (duration 3.5 hours).
You will visit one of the highest points of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island, Mount Sekirnaya, from the top of which you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the island and the White Sea.
Get acquainted with the history and monuments of the current Holy Ascension Skete, where during the time of the Solovetsky camp there was a penal isolation unit – a place of detention and punishment of prisoners.
Visit to the northernmost botanical garden in Russia with a tour of the Archimandrite's cottage, the Alexander Chapel and the Cross of worship.
Free time.
Transfer from the hotel to the pier.
Boarding the ship (starts 30 minutes before departure).
15:30 Boarding the ship (starts 30 minutes before departure).
16:00 Departure of the ship from Solovki to Kem (on request, a later departure time from Solovki is at 19:00).
18:00 Arrival at the port in the village of Rabochiostrovsk.
Transfer to the railway station in Kem.
Departure of the tour participants to St. Petersburg by evening train No. 011A.
Departure of the tour participants to Moscow by night trains (for example: No. 225A, No. 293A).
Please note!
For tourists from Moscow: you can book an additional day at the tourist complex "Pier" after returning from Solovki.
A free transfer to the Kem Railway Station will be arranged for you the next morning.
Morning trains to Moscow: No. 015 (~ at 06:19) or No. 091 (~ at 10:06). The application and payment are additional. nights are required in advance when booking the tour!

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

5 nights

Comfort

Midscale
Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel in Petrozavodsk, a tourist complex in Kemi and a hotel in Solovki.

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

Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel in Solovki:

Peter Inn 4* Hotel (Petrozavodsk)

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel (Solovki) – standard attic

78,400 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room

100,900 rubles/person - 1-bed accommodation

61,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

Peter Inn 4* Hotel (Petrozavodsk)

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel (Solovki) - standard

80,200 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room

104,500 rubles/person - 1-bed accommodation

61,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

Hotel "Severnaya" 4*

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel (Solovki) - standard attic

78,900 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room

102,200 rubles/person - 1-bed accommodation

62,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

Hotel "Severnaya" 4*

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel (Solovki) - standard

80,700 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room

105,700 rubles/person - 1-bed accommodation

62,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

on Solovki, the Solovki Hotel (no extrasplaces in Solovki-hotel in standard, standard loft rooms):

Peter Inn 4* Hotel (Petrozavodsk)

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Hotel "Solovki-hotel" (Solovki)

81,500 rubles/person - in a 2-bed standard room;

85,300 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room
(Solovki -Standard Loft Hotel, new building);

93,000 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room
(Solovki-Comfort Loft Hotel, new building);

107,200 rubles/person - 1-bed standard room;

114,800 rubles/person - 1-bed room
(Solovki -Standard Loft Hotel, new building);

61,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

Hotel "Severnaya" 4*

Tourist complex "Pier" (Kem)

Hotel "Solovki-hotel" (Solovki)

82,000 rubles/person - in a 2-bed standard room;

85,800 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room
(Solovki -Standard Loft Hotel, new building);

93,500 rubles/person - in a 2-bed room
(Solovki-Comfort Loft Hotel, new building);

108,300 rubles/person - 1-bed standard room;

116,000 rubles/person - 1-bed room
(Solovki -Standard Loft Hotel, new building);

62,300 rubles/person – for an additional fee.location

Discounts:

Children under 9 years old inclusive	3,500 rubles/person
Children from 10 to 16 years old inclusive	2,000 rubles/person
Pensioners over 60 years old	500 rubles/person.

An additional night at the Pier tourist complex after returning from Solovki (if desired):

Accommodation at the Pier shopping center for 1 night

(breakfast is not included in the room rate)

2,300 rubles/person – in a 2-bed room

4,500 rubles/person – 1-bed accommodation

2,000 rubles/person – for an additional fee. location

Please note! Additional payment for the tour on dates 13.08-18.08.2026 (peak fare):

1,500 rubles/person – in a double room (Solovki Hotel);
3,000 rubles/person – in a single room (Solovki Hotel);
For an additionalThere is no additional payment.

The Piter Inn

The Peter Inn Hotel is conveniently located in the center of Petrozavodsk and offers its guests high standards of service and a wide range of services. The reception is open 24 hours a day.

The rooms are bright rooms that are decorated in a modern style. Functional furniture and new appliances are installed in each category. The bathrooms are individual for each room. Some rooms offer stunning views of Lake Onega.

The Paulaner restaurant, which serves Bavarian cuisine, is located on the ground floor of the hotel. There is also a cafe "Coffee Shop", where there is a wide variety of homemade tea, fragrant coffee, delicious desserts, and European cuisine is served there.

Besovets International Airport is 14.4 km away from the hotel, and the railway station is 0.2 km away.

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Another option

The Severnaya Hotel

The Severnaya Hotel is located in the very center of Petrozavodsk, surrounded by major attractions and infrastructure facilities.

Guests can take advantage of high-quality service: free Wi-Fi, luggage storage and a gym.

The hotel offers comfortable and modern rooms, which are fully equipped with everything you need. Each room has everything you need: ergonomic furniture, modern appliances and an individual bathroom. Regular cleaning is carried out everywhere.

Delicious and hearty breakfasts are served every morning, which are fully equipped with everything you need. There is also a restaurant consisting of several halls.

There is a bus stop near the hotel, as well as a museum of local lore and picturesque parks for long walks.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation in rooms of the selected category (2 nights in Petrozavodsk, 1 night in Kem, 2 nights in Solovki);
meals included in the program (6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 lunch box);
excursions:
- sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk, Kizhi Museum-Reserve;
- Ruskeala Mountain Park;
- Kivach Nature Reserve;
- 3 excursions to Solovki: sightseeing tour of the Solovetsky Kremlin, Sekirnaya Mountain. Holy Ascension Skete, Botanical Garden;
visit to the center for the production of shungite products;
transportation services under the program (bus, water);
the work of the guide and accompanying person all days according to the program.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back from Kemi;
meals not included in the tour program;
Wonderful Island of Valaam tour:
- adult – 7,700 rubles/person.;
- a child under 12 years old inclusive – 3,900 rubles/person.;
- Children under 6 years old are free of charge (upon presentation of a birth certificate).
visit to the specially protected natural area "Valaam Archipelago" — 200 rubles/person (self-paid);
excursion "Sights of Bolshoy Zayatsky Island" – 1,600 rubles/person.;
walking tour "The history of the Solovetsky special purpose camp. 1923-1939." – 800 rubles /person.;
Long Bay boat trip:
- adult – 4,000 rubles/person.;
- children 3-10 years old – 2,300 rubles/person.;
Cape Beluzhy boat trip:
- adult – 4,000 rubles/person.;
- children 3-10 years old – 2,300 rubles/person.;
an additional payment for foreign citizens (including citizens of Belarus) for migration registration at the Prichal shopping center (self—payment upon check-in) is 500 rubles/person.

The cost of excursions is being specified. Book excursions in advance, when booking a tour, payment is made to the tour guide.

It's important to know

1. Medical preparations for individual needs.
2. Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical).
3. Comfortable sports shoes:

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

4. 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.

5. Headdress: cap, panama hat (with visor).
6. Personal hygiene products.
7. Useful equipment:

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

It is also important to remember that the period from early May to mid-June is particularly dangerous due to the activity of encephalitic ticks. Prepare in advance for a trip to Karelia during this period – get a preventive vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, take with you a special ointment, as well as clothes and hats that cover all parts of the body as much as possible.

The best protection against ticks is compliance with safety regulations.:

It is not recommended to climb into the impenetrable thickets of low-growing shrubs unnecessarily.
When moving along the forest road, do not tear off branches.
The legs should be completely covered (shorts are not recommended).
Sweatpants, tights (preferably with a smooth surface) should be tucked into socks.
It is mandatory to have a headdress (cap, headscarf).
It is advisable to hide long hair under a headdress.
After hiking in the forest, it is necessary to check (shake off) both outerwear and underwear.
Examine the whole body.
Be sure to comb your hair with a fine comb. If you find a crawling tick, it must be burned. Ticks are very tenacious, it is impossible to crush it.

If you find a tick that has already bitten into your skin:

In any case, do not pull it yourself, because you can detach the body from the head (the head can exist without a body).
To remove the tick, it is necessary to fill it with camphor or vegetable oil, after 10-15 minutes carefully pull out the tick with tweezers.
Lubricate the bite site with greenery or iodine.

Vaccination provides the most effective protection. If the immunization schedule is followed, human diseases are extremely rare and, as a rule, occur in a mild form. The difficulty of vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis lies in the duration of the vaccination course, and you can find out more about it at the vaccination center in your region.

It should be remembered that all vaccinations must be completed 2 weeks before the start of the tick season, i.e. by the end of March.

Tick bite insurance is not included in the price of the tour. We recommend that you insure your health.

Dates and Prices

$1,069

11 – 16 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

18 – 23 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

25 – 30 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

2 – 7 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

9 – 14 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

16 – 21 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

23 – 28 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

30 Jul – 4 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

6 – 11 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$1,090

13 – 18 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

20 – 25 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$1,069

27 Aug – 1 Sep 6 days 5 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

A
Alexandr

about tour - Holy Triangle: Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki, 6 days

29 Jul, 2025

6 more photos

A sea of impressions and yes, the White Sea :] Right from the start, it's worth mentioning that this trip is perfect for those seeking vivid, contemplative experiences and a true break from city life without needing trekking boots or a heavy hiking backpack. If you're into sun loungers and cocktails, this probably isn't for you. But for me, it was an amazing way to unwind and reset. We were lucky with the weather, in poor conditions, trips to the islands on Lake Onega, Lake Ladoga, and Solovki can be canceled or limited, so it’s good to be prepared for that. As the saying goes, “to each their own”: Ruskeala Park was highly recommended to me as a place of breathtaking beauty, but unlike Kizhi and Valaam, the former quarry didn’t quite deliver the same “wow” factor, though it was still a feast for the eyes :) Some people in our group ended their tour 2–3 days early due to shortened time on Solovki. Personally, I'd recommend staying longer and joining the additional excursions, they truly amplify the experience.
EI
Elena Ievleva

about provider

1 Apr, 2026

Everything was well organized. We were met and taken care of without any issues. Many thanks to the tour providers for a great experience.
N
Natalia

about provider

18 Feb, 2026

Action-packed and inspiring! :-) The tour program was excellent! There was enough time to explore, take walks, and still relax. It was quite active :-) with plenty of hiking, which was exactly what I was looking for. I breathed in the fresh air and soaked up the beauty of the forests and lakes. I’d love to visit Valaam again, but next time at a slower pace, staying for at least two or three days. Many thanks to our guide, Anna :-) She was attentive and had such a pleasant voice :-) Thank you all for this little travel reset! :-) * The photo was taken by someone else who is currently away, so I’m unable to attach it.

Holy Triangle: Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki, 6 days

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews Leave a review

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