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

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Immerse yourself with us in the historical heritage of the Solovetsky Monastery!

Discover ancient temples, monuments and the most beautiful northern nature. You will climb to the top of Mount Sekirnaya, where you will have a breathtaking view of the island and the White Sea, visit the botanical garden of the Makaryevskaya desert and enjoy the amazing nature and architecture of this magical place.

Location

By whom

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

The Botanical Garden

Let's take a look at one of the northernmost botanical gardens in Russia, which is located on the territory of the former Makaryevskaya desert

Solovetsky Monastery

We will visit the territory of the Central Complex of the monastery, active temples, monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List

Sekirnaya Mountain

We will visit one of the highest points of the Bolshoy Solovetsky Island – Mount Sekirnaya and admire the views

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival, sightseeing tour of the Central manor of the monastery
Arrival in the city of Kem by train No. 012H "Saint Petersburg - Murmansk" (until 18.07 the train arrives at 10:39, from 19.07 — at 12:46).
Meeting at the railway station at the entrance to the station from the platform (sign "Pier"). Organized transfer to the port.
Departure of the ship to Solovki (2 hours on the way). Arrival on the island. Transfer to the hotel. We leave our belongings in the hotel's storage room (accommodation from 15:00).
Lunch at the island cafe.
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.
Free time. Accommodation at the hotel.
For tours in September, it is possible to adjust the departure time to Solovki Island. It is necessary to clarify the information with the manager.

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Day 2 - Sekirnaya Mountain, Botanical Garden – Makaryevskaya desert
Breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Bus tour to Sekirnaya mountain and to the "Botanical Garden – Makaryevskaya desert".
We invite you to 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 northern part of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island and the White Sea.
To get acquainted with the history and monuments of the current Holy Ascension Monastery, where at the time of the Solovetsky camp there was a penal isolation ward - a place of detention and punishment of prisoners, we will see a unique lighthouse church.
We will also take a look at one of the northernmost botanical gardens in Russia, which is located on the territory of the former Makaryevskaya desert. We will see monuments, unique plantings of various periods of the history of the Solovetsky islands, enjoy an amazing view of the ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery, opening from Alexandrovskaya Hill.
Return to the village. Lunch at the island cafe.
Free time.
Dinner for an additional fee at one of the island's cafes.

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Day 3 - A day to explore the island on your own and departure
Breakfast and lunch at the hotel cafe.
Rooms are cleared by check-out time. Things can be left in the hotel's luggage room.
You can take an additional tour:
Boat trip + excursion Bolshoy Zayatsky Island (booked with the tour, paid on site).
Today you can enjoy a boat trip to Bolshoy Zayatsky Island. On the island you will visit the largest pagan sanctuary of the II-I millennia BC, see stone labyrinths, a complex of religious and burial structures, Russia's first stone harbor, monuments of the St. Andrew's Monastery.
Please come to the hotel for transfer to the port by the appointed time.
16:00 Boarding the ship. Return to Rabochyostrovsk.
Transfer to Kem railway station.
Departure by train to St. Petersburg.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Midscale

The tour provides double accommodation at the Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel.

It is possible to book an additional one. overnight at the Prichal hotel from 3 to 4 days. Cost:

2-seater – 3,400 rubles.;
1-bed – 3,000 rubles.;
extra place – 1,800 rubles. (breakfast is not included).

Please note the check-out time in hotels on Solovki: check-in after 15:00, check-out before 12:00.

The Solovetskaya Sloboda Hotel is located in the center of the village, a 3-minute walk from the world-famous Solovetsky Monastery and 187 m from the Gulag Museum.

All rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi, a sleeping place, a flat-screen TV. There is a billiard room and a library on site. A shuttle service is available on request.

Breakfast is included in the room rate. For an additional cost, guests can purchase delicious local dishes, as well as lunches and dinners at the hotel's restaurant. There is a restaurant with a bar on site.

The guest house provides its guests with a spacious conference room for business events and banquets. The hall is equipped with necessary furniture and appliances.

Solovetsky Port is a 20-minute walk away. Within walking distance there is the Church of the Annunciation, the Solovetsky Monastery and the Assumption Church.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

By whom

Included in price

hotel accommodation;
meals specified in the program;
entrance tickets;
transportation services;
the work of a guide;
sightseeing tour of the Solovetsky Monastery;
excursion to the Axe Mountain;
excursion "Botanical garden – Makaryevskaya desert".

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Kem and back;
meals not specified in the tour program;
boat trip + excursion Bolshoy Zayatsky Island — 1,300 rubles/person.

It's important to know

identification document;
children's birth certificate (required for tourists traveling with children);
Compulsory medical insurance POLICY;
comfortable shoes;
to visit monasteries and temples, women will need a headscarf and a skirt below the knee, and men will need long trousers;
medications (which you take all the time, and those that you may need).

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification

$348

5 – 7 Jun, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$348

28 – 30 Aug, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$348

4 – 6 Sep, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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Solovki – secrets of the North