Holy Triangle: Kizhi, Valaam, Solovki in 5 days

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Balaam and Solovki is the center of the spiritual and cultural life of the north—west of Russia, which preserves a centuries-old history. Kizhi Island is a unique monument of wooden folk architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a picturesque open–air museum surrounded by the majestic Onega Lake.

We invite you to take a short but meaningful and emotionally deep trip to Karelia — to Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki.

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Kizhi Island

We will visit the pearl of Karelian wooden architecture

With a breeze on the waves of the lake

Let's take a ride on the Meteor on Lake Onega

The magical nature of Karelia

Enjoy the picturesque Karelian landscapes

Ruskeala Mountain Park

Admire the emerald waters of the lake in a huge man-made bowl

Kivach Waterfall

We will see the most famous waterfall in Karelia, praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero"

Solovetsky Kremlin

We will see the unique architectural ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery, active temples and monuments

Itinerary

Day 1 - A tour of Petrozavodsk. Trip to Kizhi Island
Meeting at the Petrozavodsk railway station from the platform upon arrival of train No. 18 (~ 07:50).
The guide greets you with a sign "Holy Triangle".
If you arrive on earlier trains or on your own transport, approach the meeting place.
If you arrive later (train number 92 at ~ 09:58), a pick-up at the railway station and a free transfer will be arranged for you to meet the group on the route. In this case, you have breakfast on your own.
Breakfast.
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.

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Day 2 - Ruskeala Mountain Park and Valaam Island (optional)
Full-day guided 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 currently the most visited tourist destination in Karelia. 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!
Guests who do not go to Valaam Island can stay in Ruskeala Mountain Park after the end of the tour and come to Sortavala by taxi on their own (the taxi cost is approximately 1,500 rubles) or come to Sortavala with a group and walk around the city in their free time, visit museums and cafes.
Transfer to the city of Sortavala (30 km).
For an additional fee, the Wonderful Island of Valaam tour (duration — 7 hours). Booking in advance, paying for the tour guide.
The preliminary cost for 2025 is: an adult – 6,200 rubles, a child under 12 years old – 3,100 rubles, children under 6 years old – free of charge (upon presentation of a birth certificate). The exact cost will be approved in April 2025.
The tour takes place in favorable weather conditions and there is no storm warning!
Transfer by Meteor along Lake Ladoga "Sortavala city – Valaam Island" (1 hour on the way).
Sightseeing tour of the Central estate of the Valaam Monastery.
Visit the majestic Transfiguration Cathedral, where the relics of the monastery's holy founders, 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 Hermitage is one of the most beautiful monasteries of Valaam;
"New Jerusalem" — a visit to the Resurrection Skete, Gethsemane Skete, Mount of Olives and the Chapel of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Return to Sortavala.
Departure of the whole group from Sortavala to Petrozavodsk.
Later return to Petrozavodsk.

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Day 3 - Kivach Waterfall
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Departure to the north of Karelia to the White Sea (a distance of about 400 km).
On the way, an excursion to the Kivach Nature Reserve, where 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 - Tour of the Solovetsky Kremlin
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).
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.
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.
Optional, for an additional fee, guided tour "Sights of Bolshoy Zayatsky Island" (duration — 3 hours, payment is made on site to the guide).
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.
The preliminary cost is 1,500 rubles/person.
19:30 Departure from Solovki back.
21:30 Arrival at the port in the village of Rabochiostrovsk. Accommodation in the tourist complex "Pier".
You can have dinner on your own at the Kemska Volost restaurant at the tourist complex.
Please note:
For tourists from St. Petersburg, departure from Solovki at 16:00 to train No. 011A is possible (seats for the flight at 16:00 are agreed with the manager in advance of the tour).
You can leave for Moscow by night train on the day of your return from Solovki (when calculating the cost for 1 night of stay at the Pier shopping center).
A transfer to the railway station will be arranged free of charge immediately after the arrival of the ship at the pier.

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Day 5 - Departure
Breakfast.
Transfer to Kem railway station.
Departure by the Murmansk – Moscow morning train (train No. 015 ~ at 06:30 or train No. 091 ~ at 09:30).

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights
Camp Site

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

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

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

	Double room placement	Single room placement	Additional pesto
Greenfeel 3* Hotel (July-August) + Tourist complex "Pier"	53 400	66 200	46 500
The *4 Severnaya Hotel + Tourist complex "Pier"**	53 400	63 700	48 400
Peter Inn Petrozavodsk 4* Hotel + Tourist complex "Pier"	53 400	62 700	48 400

Discounts:

a child under 9 years old inclusive — 3,500 rubles/person.;
a child from 10 to 16 years old inclusive — 2,000 rubles /person.;
pensioners over 60 years old – 400 rubles/person.;
without the last overnight stay in Kem (upon departure by night train on the day of return from Solovki):
- in a double room — 1,500 rubles/person.;
- in a single room — 3,000 rubles/person.;
- for an additional place — 1,200 rubles/person.

Additional payment for foreign citizens (including citizens of Belarus), self—payment upon check-in at the Prichal shopping center - 500 rubles/person.

Greenfeel Hotel 3*

The Greenfeel Hotel is located in Pervomaisky district of Petrozavodsk. Lake Onega stretches 1.8 km away.

Double and triple rooms of various furnishings are offered for accommodation. Each has one or two comfortable beds, a TV, a small desk, and blackout curtains.

There are a lot of cafes, canteens, pizzerias and other places where you can have a delicious meal around the hotel.

If you want to visit the sights and get to know the city, you can go to the Nameless Stream Park, which is located nearby, or to the Botanical Garden. The distance to the railway station is 2.5 km, to the airport — 11.8 km.

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Another option

Hotel "Peter Inn Petrozavodsk" 4*

The Piter Inn is located in the center of Petrozavodsk, just a 2-minute walk from the central train station. It offers a 24-hour gym, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.

Each room has a telephone, air conditioning, a TV with digital channels and a safe. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer.

The Paulaner Restaurant, which has its own brewery, serves Bavarian, local and international cuisine. The cafe serves European cuisine, desserts and coffee.

The hotel has conference facilities. Guests can make use of the laundry service.

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Another option

Severnaya Hotel 4*

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

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

10 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation in the selected hotel (2 nights in Petrozavodsk, 2 nights in Kemi);
meals included in the program (5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 1 lunch box);
excursions:
- across Petrozavodsk;
- Kizhi Museum-Reserve;
- Ruskeala Mountain Park;
- Kivach Nature Reserve;
- Solovetsky Kremlin Sightseeing Tour;
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 — 6,200 rubles/person.;
- a child under 12 years of age — 3,100 rubles/person.;
- children under 6 years old — 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" — 1,500 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 preliminary cost of additional excursions is indicated. 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. Headgear: cap, panama hat (with visor).
6. Bathing suit.
7. Personal hygiene products.
8. 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.:

1. It is not recommended to climb into impenetrable thickets of low-growing shrubs unnecessarily.
2. When moving along the forest road, do not tear off branches.
3. The legs should be completely covered (shorts are not recommended).
4. Sweatpants, tights (preferably with a smooth surface) should be tucked into socks.
5. It is mandatory to have a headdress (cap, headscarf).
6. It is advisable to hide long hair under a headdress.
7. After hiking in the forest, it is necessary to check (shake off) both outerwear and underwear.
8. Examine the whole body.
9. 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:

1. Do not pull it yourself, because you can detach the body from the head (the head can exist without a body).
2. 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.
3. 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

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5 – 9 Jun 5 days 4 nights

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12 – 16 Jun 5 days 4 nights

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19 – 23 Jun 5 days 4 nights

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26 – 30 Jun 5 days 4 nights

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3 – 7 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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10 – 14 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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17 – 21 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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24 – 28 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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31 Jul – 4 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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7 – 11 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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14 – 18 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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21 – 25 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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28 Aug – 1 Sep 5 days 4 nights

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Reviews

S
Svetlana

about provider

6 Nov, 2024

A wonderful trip with our fantastic guide, Lyudmila, who was with us every step of the way. Everything was quick, well-organized and professional. Thank you!