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Karelia 555 is a beautiful five–day tour starting in the town of Sortavala, located on the shores of the majestic Lake Ladoga.

Since the summer of 2019, the Karelia 555 route has been winning the hearts of tourists. And in December of the same year, the Expert Council of the All-Russian Routes of Russia Award awarded our Grand Prix tour in the Cultural and Educational Route of Russia nomination.

Would you like to see the Ruskeala Mountain Park, get acquainted with the iconic places of Petrozavodsk and Sortavala, admire the most beautiful waterfalls, take a boat trip along the Ladoga skerries with access to the open lake Ladoga and a trip on the meteor to Valaam Island? Then you need to go on this incredible route!

If there is a group of 10 people or more, the tour can be arranged on any convenient dates upon request.

Location

Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

An unforgettable boat trip

You will sail by boat along the Ladoga skerries, admire the beauty and walk around the islands

The Mysterious Valaam

Visit the iconic churches and hermitages, climb Mount Olivet, from where you can enjoy views of Lake Ladoga.

Masterpieces of Kizhi Island

Go on an excursion to the museum-reserve and see the pearl of Karelian wooden architecture

Picturesque Ahinkoski

You will see the famous Ruskeala waterfall, framed by rocks and fir trees

Atmospheric Sortavala

Take a walk through the ancient town, whose architecture is called the "encyclopedia of northern Art Nouveau"

Rafting

Take an exciting and safe two-hour rafting trip along the Shuya River with a picnic dinner

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Sortavala. Mount Paaso and a trip to the Ladoga skerries
08:19 Arrival in Sortavala by train No. 160B from Moscow or St. Petersburg.
Meeting with the guide at the railway station.
Breakfast in the cafe.
Sortavale city tour.
The architecture of Sortavala can be called the "encyclopedia of northern Art Nouveau".
If the weather is good, you will walk to Vaccosalmi Park, climb the observation decks of Mount Kuhavuori, from where you can enjoy views of the city, bay and islands.
A trip to Mount Paaso is not just a journey, but an immersion deep into the centuries, into a world where nature and history are intertwined into a single whole.
With sunrise, the top of the mountain dresses in soft golden rays, and Lake Karmalanyarvi sparkles, reflecting the celestial shades. The aromas of centuries-old forests hover around, guarding the ancient secrets of Karelian ancestors like sentinels.
An ancient settlement, spread over a dry area of about 1,000 square meters. From the height of the cliffs, peaceful views open up, as if preserving the spirit of antiquity that permeates every stone of this mysterious place.
Lunch at a cafe.
An unforgettable boat trip along the unique Ladoga skerries with access to the open Lake Ladoga.
You will admire the picturesque landscapes, take a walk on uninhabited islands, take selfies in locations on beautiful cliffs inaccessible to most tourists on bus tours.
Check-in at the hotel, rooms of the "standard" category.
For those arriving from St. Petersburg by Lastochka at 10:20, please contact the manager for a recalculation.

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Day 2 - Valaam Island
Breakfast in the restaurant.
A trip by meteor to Valaam Island (50 minutes along Lake Ladoga).
During the sightseeing tour, we will get acquainted with the central estate of the monastery and visit the Transfiguration Cathedral, where the relics of the founders of the monastery, Herman and Sergius of Valaam, rest.
Lunch in the refectory.
Then we will cross by meteor to the part of the island called "New Jerusalem".
Walking tour "Through the hermitages of Valaam": a visit to the Resurrection hermitage.
Then we will see the Gethsemane Hermitage and the Garden of Gethsemane, the favorite place of solitude of the Blessed Virgin.
At the end of the tour we will climb Mount Olivet, from here you can enjoy beautiful views of Lake Ladoga.
The Valaam Monastery Pilgrimage Service reserves the right to replace the "New Jerusalem" tour with the "Nikolsky Hermitage" tour due to technical reasons/weather conditions.
Return to Sortavala in the evening.
Transfer to the hotel.

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Visit to the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Huge white-gray rocks rising vertically from the turquoise surface of the water do not leave anyone indifferent.
The stone for the architectural masterpieces of St. Petersburg has been mined here for centuries.
A visit to the park will begin with a sightseeing tour, during which you will be shown all the viewing platforms with the best views of the Marble Canyon.
They will tell you about how marble was mined and where it was used.
Picnic at the quarry with a picturesque view.
Then transfer to the Ahinkoski Waterfall on the Tohmajoki River.
This is one of the four famous Ruskeala waterfalls located in South Karelia.
This boulder falls into a rather extensive basin, more like a lake – the water in it is very clean.
Padun is framed by rocks, pines and fir trees.
All this creates an amazing atmosphere of harmony, completeness and unreality.
Return to the hotel in the evening.

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Day 4 - Belye Mosty Waterfall, Kitelskoye almandin deposit, Shuya rafting
Breakfast in the restaurant.
Room release.
Optional visit to the trout farm to buy fish, caviar and souvenirs.
We are going to Petrozavodsk.
We drive along the shore of Lake Ladoga to one of the most rarely visited waterfalls in Karelia – White Bridges.
It is located in the Pitkyarantsky district on the river with the difficult-to-pronounce name Kulismajoki.
The height of the waterfall is about 17 meters. This is the highest waterfall in South Karelia!
It is possible to move to the waterfall by special transport.
Excursion to the Tunic deposit of almandines, in simple terms, Karelian garnets. These are crystals of dark crimson and cherry-red color, known since the 16th century.
You will become a participant in the fascinating process of mining these beautiful minerals, and under the guidance of an experienced guide you will find your cherished pebble, which will become a valuable souvenir embodying your adventure in Karelia.
Lunch at the restaurant.
We are going on an exciting and safe two-hour rafting trip along the Shuya River with a picnic dinner.
What to take on a rafting trip: comfortable sportswear and shoes that you don't mind getting wet, and a second set of dry clothes and shoes.
Arrival in Petrozavodsk, accommodation in a hotel in standard rooms.

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Day 5 - Kizhi Island and the capital of Karelia — Petrozavodsk
Breakfast at the hotel restaurant.
Room release.
Guided walk to the pier.
Meteor ride on Lake Onega to Kizhi Island.
You will see the endless expanses of Onega and numerous picturesque islands called the Kizhi skerries.
The excursion "Masterpieces of Kizhi Island", which will bring a lot of positive emotions and a charge of healthy energy from staying in the clean air.
The Kizhi Museum-Reserve can be called Karelia in miniature: 68 monuments of traditional wooden architecture are collected here in the open air.
Kizhi is greatness and simplicity! Strength and grace!
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Sightseeing tour "From the history of Petrozavodsk".
The city of Petrozavodsk stretches along the shores of Lake Onega Bay.
And the embankment is one of the most beautiful places in the capital of Karelia.
Here, history and modernity come to life in a unique collection of avant-garde sculptural monuments.
Final dinner at the restaurant with national cuisine dishes.
~ 19:00 The end of the program.
Transfer to the railway station. If you have a train to St. Petersburg at 18:00, then you will only miss dinner (deducted from the tour price).

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Tour organizer's comments

If there are serious illnesses and any activities are prohibited, it is better to abandon the rafting in advance.

Accommodation

Camp Site

3 nights
Hotel

1 night

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels (4 nights).

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

for double occupancy in standard rooms – 85,900 rubles.;
for single occupancy in standard rooms – 112,200 rubles.;
when placed on an additional accommodation in standard rooms – 66,200 rubles.

Discounts:

for children under 12 years of age — 4,500 rubles.;
for children under 16 years of age — 2,500 rubles.;
pensioners – 1,000 rubles.

The Rantala Hotel, located in the Ladoga Skerries National Park in Karelia, offers its guests not only comfortable accommodation, but also the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature.

For the convenience of guests, there is a parking lot on site where you can park your car.

The hotel has 25 rooms. Each room has everything you need for a comfortable stay: a plasma TV, comfortable furniture and a bathroom with a hairdryer, personal hygiene products and individual slippers.

There are also 4 cottages on the territory of the hotel, which are located on the first line of the bay. Each cottage has two rooms: a walk-through living room and a bedroom, as well as a bathroom and underfloor heating.

Free high-speed Wi-Fi is available in the hotel's rooms, cottages and restaurant.

The cottages have an equipped kitchen with all necessary appliances. There is also an outdoor barbecue on site.

The hotel is 9.9 km from the center of Sortavala. Ruskeli Waterfalls can be reached in about 30 minutes by car. Sortavala Train Station is 11.1 km away, and Petrozavodsk Airport is 227 km away.

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Kaunis Hotel

The Kaunis Hotel is located in the very center of Sortavala.

All conditions for a comfortable stay are presented here. Free high-speed internet is available throughout the property. Staff at the 24-hour front desk will help you stay and answer your questions.

Comfortable rooms of various capacities are available for accommodation. Each of them has functional furniture, a flat-screen TV, a telephone, and cable TV.

The private bathroom is equipped with a shower, toilet, sink, hairdryer and toiletries. Each guest is provided with a set of towels.

You can visit cafes, canteens and restaurants that are within walking distance.

Kirov Square, St. Nicholas Church, the Rotunda landmark, and the Museum of the Northern Ladoga Region are located within two kilometers.

The journey to the train station by car will take no more than ten minutes.

The distance to Petrozavodsk Airport will be about 240 kilometers.

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Another option

The Fregat Hotel 4*

The Fregat Hotel is located in the historical center of Petrozavodsk, on the shore of Lake Onega. The facade of the building attracts attention with its walls decorated with images of ancient ships of the Russian fleet.

There are 80 rooms of various categories available for guests' accommodation. All rooms are equipped with comfortable beds, high-quality furniture and modern appliances.

The hotel's restaurant offers a wide range of dishes, including steaks and fish delicacies. For business meetings and events, the hotel has several conference rooms that are suitable for both small and large-scale events.

The city embankment, the National Theater, the Musical Theater and the Museum of Fine Arts are located near the hotel. Petrozavodsk Bus and Train stations can be reached in about 10 minutes by public transport.

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Another option

Peter Inn Hotel

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.

Meals are served in the restaurant, which serves local, Bavarian and international cuisine. There is also a sushi bar and a lounge cafe on site.

Business meetings, conferences and trainings are held in the equipped conference hall. The staff will organize a business meeting of any format and will take into account all the details and nuances.

Besovets International Airport is 17 kilometers away from the hotel.

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Another option

The Sakvoyazh Hotel

The Sakvoyazh Hotel is located in the northeastern part of Petrozavodsk, near the city's embankment.

The hotel has different types of rooms, both standard and superior comfort. The facilities include comfortable beds, necessary furniture, a private bathroom with hygiene products, a TV, and Wi-Fi.

Some rooms have a sauna and a kitchenette. You can book rooms with a view of the courtyard or the city.

A buffet breakfast is served every morning, featuring various dishes made from organic products.

The train station is 2 kilometers away, and Petrozavodsk Airport is 18 kilometers away. Petrovsky Square and the Onega Tractor Plant Park are located nearby.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 6 to 20 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

5 days 4 nights

Group meets at

Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Included in price

hotel accommodation (4 nights);
meals included in the program (5 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 picnic, 1 dinner);
sightseeing tour of Sortavala with a visit to Mount Paaso;
full program on Valaam Island;
Ladoga Skerries boat tour;
entrance fee and ground tour in Ruskeala Mountain Park with picnic (gate and morse);
entrance fee to the Ahinkoski Waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River;
White Bridges Waterfalls and Pomegranate Quarry tour;
Shuya River rafting;
Petrozavodsk City Tour;
transfer by Meteor to Kizhi Island and back, entrance fee to the museum-reserve and sightseeing tour "Masterpieces of Kizhi Island";
tour and guide services along the route;
transportation service according to the program (minibus tour. class);
participant's health and life insurance.

Paid extra

railway tickets to Sortavala and air or railway tickets back from Petrozavodsk;
meals not specified in the program;
personal expenses.

It's important to know

Yes, a discount is provided:

for children under 12 years of age – 4,500 rubles.;
for children under 16 years of age – 2,500 rubles.
pensioners – 1,000 rubles.

Children receive a discount if they have a copy of their birth certificate.

Dates and Prices

$1,103

13 – 17 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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No need to pay now
$1,103

27 – 31 Jul 5 days 4 nights

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$1,103

10 – 14 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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$1,103

24 – 28 Aug 5 days 4 nights

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$1,103

7 – 11 Sep 5 days 4 nights

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Reviews

N
Natalia

about provider

23 May, 2025

Everything was perfectly organized. The weather let us down on the last day, but it didn’t stop us from going on the excursion to Mount Sekirnaya. A special thanks for the Nemetski Kuzov island — its beauty is truly breathtaking.
VE
Viktor Egorkin

about provider

7 Apr, 2025

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The tour was well organized. We received all the necessary information in a timely manner — including the contract, payment details, voucher, and contact information for the tour coordinators and guides. All of our inquiries were answered promptly, and everything ran smoothly without any issues.

Karelia 555

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews

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