Karelia 555 is a beautiful 5-day tour starting in the city of Sortavale, 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 nomination "Cultural and educational route of Russia".

Do you want to know where the "Finnish Crimea" is located? To visit the city where the famous song "Karelia will be dreaming for a long time" was written? See the Ruskeala Mountain Park and the highest waterfall in the North-West of Russia? Then you need to go on this incredible route! 

5 lakes + 5 waterfalls + 5 attractions = 555 km of vivid impressions!

Location

Republic of Karelia, Sortavala
from
$720
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
5 Days
4 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • Dates for next season
    • 8 – 12 June, 2025
    • 22 – 26 June, 2025
    • 6 – 10 July, 2025
    • 20 – 24 July, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Camp Site
    3 nights
  • Hotel
    1 night
Comfort
  • Upscale
Difficulty
Easy
Suitable for everyone
Group
Up to 20 people
Minimum age
2 years old
Group meet at
Republic of Karelia, Sortavala
Contact the tour coordinator
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
You will visit the iconic churches and monasteries, 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
Atmospheric Ahinkoski
You will see the famous Ruskeala waterfall, framed by rocks and fir trees
A walk on the Sampo
Take a walk through the ancient town of Sortavale and be able to conquer the local mountain
Rafting
Go down to the water accompanied by an experienced instructor and conquer the Shuya River

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 Vakkosalmi Park, climb the observation decks of Mount Kuhavuori, from where you can enjoy views of the city, the bay and the islands.

    A trip to Mount Paaso, the ancient settlement of the Karelians, near the town of Sortavala.

    Paaso is located on a high cliff near Lake Karmalanyarvi and the Heljulijoki River.

    The area of the settlement is about 1000 sq. m.

    The main excavations were carried out in the 70s of the twentieth century.

    Several dozen ceramic fragments, arrowheads and spears, as well as a fragment of a sword were found.

    Archaeologists date the settlement to the XII-XIII centuries, but most likely it existed earlier, perhaps even in the Viking age, since this area was inhabited by Finno-Ugric tribes already in the VII-VIII centuries.

    Lunch at the cafe.

    Check-in to the rooms of the selected category.

    In the evening, an unforgettable boat trip on the unique Ladoga skerries with access to the open Ladoga.

    You will admire the picturesque landscapes, take a walk on uninhabited islands, take selfies in locations on beautiful rocks that are inaccessible to most tourists on bus tours.

    Return to the recreation center.

    For arrivals from St. Petersburg by Lastochka at 10:20, please contact the manager for a recalculation.

    3 more photos
  • Day 2 - Valaam Island
  • Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
  • Day 4 - White Bridges Waterfall and Kinerma village
  • Day 5 - Kizhi Island and the capital of Karelia — Petrozavodsk
Difficulty
Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

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, RUB.:

PeriodDouble occupancySingle occupancyAdditional place
from 09.06 to 27.06, 
from 04.08 to 19.09
70 80097 60058 300
from 07.07 to 25.0773 50099 60058 300

Discounts:

  • for children under 12 years old — 4,500 rubles.;
  • for children under 16 years of age — 2,500 rubles.
Rantala Hotel 3* 3 nights

The Rantala Landscape Hotel is located in the Ladoga Skerries National Park in Karelia, on the shore of Kiryavalakhti Bay.

5 more photos
Hotel "Fregat" 4*, Petrozavodsk 1 night

Tour conditions

Group
up to 20 tourists
Minimum age
2 years old
Duration
5 days 4 nights
Group meets at
Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Included in price

  • hotel accommodation (4 nights);
  • meals according to 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;
  • boat trip along the Ladoga skerries;
  • entrance fee and a 1.5-hour ground tour in the Ruskeala Mountain Park;
  • entrance fee to the Ahvenkoski Waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River;
  • a trip to the White Bridges waterfalls;
  • Kinerma Village tour;
  • sightseeing tour of the city of Petrozavodsk;
  • transfer by meteor to Kizhi Island and back, entrance fee to the museum-reserve and sightseeing tour "Masterpieces of Kizhi Island", "Tent Bell Tower";
  • excursion service and services of an accompanying guide along the route;
  • transportation services 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;
  • rafting on the Shuya River — 2,500 rubles/person.;
  • meals not included in the program;
  • personal expenses.

It's important to know

Are there any discounts on the tour?

Yes, the discount is available for children:

  • up to 12 years old – 4,500 rubles.;
  • up to 16 years old – 2,500 rubles.
Are plane/train tickets included in the tour price?
Is it possible to organize an individual tour along such a route?
Are there any possible changes in the program?

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification
  • Individual dates available on request
    1 Jun – 31 Aug, 2025
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    No need to pay now
  • from
    $720
    8 – 12 Jun, 2025 5 days 4 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • from
    $720
    22 – 26 Jun, 2025 5 days 4 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • from
    $748
    6 – 10 Jul, 2025 5 days 4 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • from
    $748
    20 – 24 Jul, 2025 5 days 4 nights
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    No need to pay now
  • from
    $720
    3 – 7 Aug, 2025 5 days 4 nights
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    No need to pay now