Solovki: a glimpse into eternity. Sightseeing tour

06:45 Breakfast.

07:30 Boarding the ship.

08:00 Departure to Solovki. Travel time is 2 hours.

We stared at the beauty and did not notice how we arrived on Bolshoy Solovetsky Island.

The group is met by a local resident and your guide for the next two days, Yuri. He is the only baptized Old Believer guide on the island. The unique and multifaceted Solovki should be revealed by a local resident, who has been absorbing the Spirit and Power of this place for years. 

Especially for us, a sightseeing tour of the Solovetsky Kremlin, acquaintance with its history and architecture, a visit to the territory of the central complex of the monastery, operating temples, monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

The view of the Solovetsky Kremlin reflected in the waters of the Bay of Prosperity or Holy Lake is one of the most replicated and loved by tourists. It has been decorating the reverse of the Russian 500-ruble banknote since 1998.

We check into the hotel and have lunch.

After lunch, we will have a big tour of the most famous places of the archipelago: Sekirnaya Gora — Savvatievo skete — Jung Alley — Red Lake Dam (with swimming) — Isakovo skete. 

Sekirnaya Mountain is the highest place on Solovki. 

Savvatievsky Hermitage is waiting for us ahead – one of the brightest places on the island, where peace and holiness reign. The place was chosen not by chance: just a kilometer away there is an outlet to the sea — Pine Bay, next to a lake and not far away a beautiful landmark — a mountain.

Of course, we should not forget about the Solovetsky Jung. We are waiting for a short tour and a walk along the Jung Alley in Savvatievo.

And then we will go to study the topic of fresh water on Solovki, in the very "heart" of the lake-canal system – Red Lake. 

If you are lucky with the weather, and you will also be in the mood – we will definitely swim, according to all Solovetsky traditions!

At the end of our surprisingly eventful day, we will visit the Isakov Hermitage. 

Isakovo is located two kilometers from Sekirnaya Mountain, on the shore of Lake Isakievskoye. In ancient times, Solovetsky hermits, ascetics of the faith, settled here. 

Return to the village of Solovetsky.

It's time to relax – rooms with all amenities in the hotels of the village are provided for guests.

08:00 Breakfast in hotels.

09:30 Departure for the excursion "Big Hare Island".

Bolshoy Zayatsky Island is one of the most mysterious islands of the Solovetsky Archipelago.

You will see the oldest surviving stone sea harbors in Russia, enter the wooden church in honor of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, whose history is connected with Peter the Great's visit to the Solovetsky Islands. 

Inhale the aromas of cranberries and heather and delight the eye with a carpet of tundra vegetation covering the entire surface of the island, grown on magical and absolutely amazing labyrinths of stones.

13:00 On arrival – lunch.

13:30-15:30 And then – the history of the village of Solovetsky: life, people, life through time. 

A tale about the famous White Sea algae, methods of their extraction and production. And, of course, the story about the "Solovetsky Uprising" or "Solovetsky sitting" — the 8-year uprising of the Solovetsky monks against church reform. 

We left this little walking tour from Yuri, who undoubtedly fell in love with you over the past 2 days, finally for a reason. This final chord only tells everyone in the depths of their Soul – Solovki, we will definitely return! 

18:00 Arrival in Kem. 

Transfer to the railway station. 

Departure by the nearest trains to your cities.