Spring in Karelia. A trip to Kizhi Island

Short program of the day: 

• 08:00 Departure for the excursion from Petrozavodsk. 
• 12:30 Arrival in the village of Velikaya Guba/Oyatevschina. 
• 12:30-13:00 Drive to Kizhi Island on a hovercraft. 
• 13:00-14:30 Kizhi Island tour and free time. 
• 16:00 Lunch in Medvezhegorsk (included in the price). 
• 20:30 Return to Petrozavodsk.

Breakfast at the hotel.

07:30-08:30 Departure for an excursion from Petrozavodsk.

You have a unique opportunity to see one of the most picturesque and beautiful places in Karelia — Zaonezhye and visit the pearl of the Russian north — Kizhi Island.

A bus tour from Petrozavodsk to the village of Velikaya Guba (or Oyativshchyna, depending on weather conditions) will introduce you to interesting facts from the history of the region, its traditions, nature and notable places of the Zaonezhye region.

12:30 Arrival in the village of Velikaya Guba.

From the village of Velikaya Guba/Oyativshchyna you will have a trip to Kizhi Island on a hovercraft "Khivus", upon arrival you will get acquainted with one of the main visual symbols of Russia — the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi pogost.

As part of the Kizhi Island excursion program, you will have a sightseeing tour of the main exposition of the island.

The program of the excursion "Journey to Zaonezhye with a visit to Kizhi Island" includes a sightseeing tour of the main exposition of the museum, during which guests will get acquainted with the pearl of Russian wooden architecture — the Kizhi architectural ensemble.

The tour price includes a visit to the main exposition of the Kizhi Museum, namely, an inspection of the appearance of all monuments on the island, as well as a visit to the interiors of the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the house of Oshevnev from D. Oshevnevo or Elizarov's house from D. The middle (by the decision of the guide, in the summer).

During the tour, you will see the unique multi—headed temples and iconographic decoration of the Church of the Intercession of the Kizhi churchyard, enter the house of the Zaonezhsky peasant, find out how and how these people lived, see the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus - the oldest in Russia, which was revered as an Orthodox shrine.

Please note: lunch is included in the price, it will be after Kizhi, in the dining room of the city of Mezhvezhegorsk, at about 16:30.

The cafe on the island is open only in summer, please bring tea and sandwiches/food, snack, as lunch is late.

Return to Petrozavodsk at 19:30/20:30.

Please note: this route is the only option guaranteed to get to Kizhi Island during the period when navigation to Kizhi Island on meteors from Petrozavodsk is closed (that is, from October 15 to May 15). Due to global warming in the last 3 years, the ice on Lake Onega has not risen, and we have been traveling this route all winter. 

During the period from October 15 to May 15, this is the only guaranteed and safe way to get to Kizhi Island. Along the way, there is the most interesting region of Karelia — Zaonezhye and a huge number of stories.

It's time to have breakfast and gain new strength. A journey into a fairy tale awaits us. Ahead is the Northern Ladoga region.

07:00-07:30 Breakfast in the hotel restaurants.

09:00 Departure to the marble canyon of Ruskeala.

The distance from Petrozavodsk to Ruskeala is 260 km, the travel time is 3.5–4 hours.

On the way, the tour guide will tell you about the history of our republic, you will pass by ancient Karelian villages and a huge number of beautiful lakes.

In front of the Ruskeala Mountain Park, we will make a stop at the Ruskeala waterfalls: the historical place where the film "And the dawns are quiet here ..." was filmed.

If desired, for an additional fee, you can visit the "ecotrope": walk along the hinged wooden bridges directly above the waterfalls and feel the power and beauty of this place.

At about 14:00 we arrive at the territory of the Ruskeala Mountain Park, where you will have a walking tour of the marble canyon (1 hour).

The 1.5-kilometer-long ecotrope around Ruskeala has many panoramic platforms from which you can enjoy views of this unique place.

In addition, you will be able to move away from the main trail a little and go into the depth of the through cave (tunnel) and see the geology of the canyon.

There are also deposits of Italian marble near the main canyon, which can be visited on their own.

After a sightseeing tour around the canyon, free time.

You can go boating for an additional fee (available from May 15 to October 15), fly over the canyon by cable car, and bungee jump (available in summer).

In 2018, an "Underground Route" was launched on the territory of the canyon.

All additional services are purchased on site, at the ticket offices of the mountain park: on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to availability.

Unfortunately, the park administration does not provide the possibility of pre-booking.

In addition, on the territory of Ruskeala park there is an opportunity to eat in cafes and buy souvenirs in shops.

Arrival in Petrozavodsk at 21:00.

A walk around the city. You can buy souvenirs or sit in a restaurant of Karelian national cuisine, or relax in hotel rooms.

Breakfast at the hotel, room release, key collection at the reception.

09:00 Departure for the tour.

Suitcases can be left in the hotel's luggage room in the morning or taken with you on the bus — there is a luggage compartment.

You will visit four major attractions near Petrozavodsk: 

• The picturesque Sampo Mountain;
• the first Russian resort "Marcial Waters", founded by Peter the Great;
• ancient Girvas volcano;
• the famous Kivach waterfall.

Mount Sampo is a rocky hill, about 40 meters high. There are hiking trails and stairs with railings on its slopes. Thus, the ascent to the top is quite comfortable.

Magnificent landscapes open up at an altitude. A century-old forest is rustling below and the most beautiful Concesero stretches out.

Ahead lies the first Russian resort, named Marcial Waters. The unusual name of the place was given by the light hand of Peter the Great's assistant. He investigated the composition of local mineral waters, found a high iron content in them, and gave them a name in honor of the god of war Mars.

The resort is famous not only for its waters, but also for its special microclimate. 

It is better to drink medicinal water from the springs immediately, because the local mineral water is not stored for a long time. After a fairly short time, a precipitate appears in it, and it loses its medicinal properties.

Combine the tasting of marcial water with a tour of local attractions — you will see the Caretaker's House, the Church of the Apostle Peter and the pavilions above the former source of medicinal water.

The temple is the only building that has been preserved since Peter the Great. Moreover, it was built according to the project and handwritten drawings of Tsar Peter.

The way lies to the remains of an ancient volcano, or rather to the town of Girvas. This is a dried-up waterfall, which it became after the waters of the Suna were diverted for the needs of the Palaeozersk hydroelectric power station.

The places around Girvas are very picturesque: reddish granite rocks are framed by quiet backwaters, small waterfalls, abandoned trays for rafting forests.

Karelia, the land of thousands of lakes and rivers, is famous for its waterfalls. There are many of them here, but perhaps the most famous is Kivach. It is considered the decoration and pride of the region, because this waterfall is the second largest on the plains of Europe.

This is a must-visit place for all tourists coming to Karelia.

You will visit the waterfall itself, walk along hiking trails with shady gazebos, souvenir shops for everyone, as well as an arboretum with a grove of Karelian birch and a Nature museum.

Kivach is an amazingly beautiful place. The snow-white waterfall, like an expensive canvas, is enclosed in a frame made of the greenery of centuries-old forests.

There is a belief that it takes away anxiety and bad thoughts. You just need to concentrate on the foam streams and let the water take away all the bad things, wash your mind and soul with cool moisture.

During the tour, you will stop at a cafe where you can eat and gain strength, and then return to Petrozavodsk.

Arrival in Petrozavodsk at 17:00.

Departure by train or a walk around the city. There is time to buy souvenirs or eat at the Karelian national cuisine restaurant.