Karelian Weekend

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Feel Karelia for 3 days of exclusive winter holidays. Take your snowmobile trip among architectural and natural masterpieces and admire the beauty of the marble grandeur of the Ruskeala Mountain Park. Learn the art of cooking dishes of national Karelian cuisine.

Location

Russia, Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

New skills

You will learn how to snowmobile, cook Karelian gate pies and dance Karelian folk dances

Karelian cuisine

You will taste dishes of national cuisine, jam made from local berries and fragrant Karelian pastries, farm cheese

Traditions and history

You will learn about the traditions and legends of the ancient village of Rubchoila, how national Karelian music sounds and hear true Karelian folklore singing

Amazing places

You will see a "sleeping" village in winter landscapes, the icy expanses of Shamozer, the fortress museum of the early Middle Ages and the pearl of Karelia - Ruskeala Mountain Park

An unforgettable experience

You will feel the silence and grace of the coniferous forest from the window of your room, the delight of riding on frozen reservoirs, the happiness of lying in soft snowdrifts

Itinerary

Day 1 - Snowmobiling to the ancient village of Rubchoila
We will meet at the Petrozavodsk railway station under the clock on the main building from the platform (according to the arrival time of train No. 18 Moscow – Petrozavodsk).
We go to a restaurant for breakfast to immediately set ourselves up for a great adventure.
The buffet is at your service – here everyone will find food to their liking.
Let's get on the buses and go on an adventure!
We reach the recreation center "Cloudberry", go to get acquainted with the instructors and pick up equipment, because today we are going on a snowmobile safari.
We carefully listen to the instruction on driving a snowmobile, get into the cars and go to the training ground.
We get used to the equipment a little and go along the planned route.
We overcome a section of the highway along the paths of the winter forest and begin a real safari in the expanses of the frozen lake Syamozero.
We gradually increase our speed, feel confident and incredibly free!
We are heading to the ancient village of Rubchoila.
The village of Rubchoila was founded by the Karelians more than 300 years ago.
Today it is a unique complex monument of folk wooden architecture of Karelia of the XIX century, which includes 18 peasant houses, including black baths.
The keeper of the traditions of the village tells about the history, way of life, traditions of the indigenous people.
Among all the buildings, the Ermolaev house stands out, which now houses the ethnographic museum.
Here we not only inspect the exposition, but also get acquainted with the folklore tradition of the Syamozero region, during gatherings in a real Karelian house – a folklore group performs for us, which sings folk songs in Karelian and Russian.
No one lets the guests go hungry – local housewives treat us to a rustic lunch consisting of dishes of national Karelian cuisine.
We stop at the family artisan cheese factory Alasalmi.
A table with locally produced cheeses has already been set for us here: Lumi, Halloumi with mint, Jarvi, Alasalmi, Caciotta with walnuts, herbs and Provencal herbs.
We taste cheeses, drink tea made from boiling water.
Behind the glass wall we can see all the subtleties of cheese production, learn about the cooking technology and how farm cheese differs from factory cheese.
And the most curious can get acquainted with the inhabitants of the farm – Mike, Gertrude, Buckle, Milka, Horn and other well-groomed cows and goats
A bright and full of impressions day of immersion in the life of a typical villager is slowly coming to an end, we return to the recreation center on snowmobiles.
The recreation center is located among the centuries-old ship pines on the picturesque shore of the Syamozer, one of the largest and most beautiful lakes in Karelia.
Here you can forget about the intense rhythm of urban life, enjoy the clean northern air, relax your soul and feel inner peace.
A late dinner is waiting for us at the base.
70 km on snowmobiles.

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Day 2 - Recreation in Karelian
We wake up and go to breakfast.
Today is a free day before lunch, so we are not in a hurry, we rest, we breathe the frosty air.
We dedicate this time to ourselves: you can go back to your room and sleep a little more, or just lie in bed, or you can walk around the base, play active games with the children or make a snowman together!
After lunch, we participate in a master class on cooking Karelian kalitos. We not only sculpt, but also taste.
Kalitka is perhaps the most "national" and very favorite dish of Karelian and Vepsian cuisine.
This is an open patty stuffed with potatoes, porridge or red fish, made from rye (or a mixture of rye and wheat) flour.
We have dinner in the cozy cafe of the base.
Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park and Bastion Historical Complex
We wake up and go to breakfast.
Today is the last day of our Karelian adventures. After breakfast, we pack our things and vacate the rooms.
We get on the buses and go to Sortavala!
The first stop is the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Ruskeala marble quarry is a monument of cultural heritage of Russia.
Development began here in 1765.
The walls of the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral, Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg are decorated with Ruskeal marble.
The quarry is a huge system of underground tunnels and tunnels connected by vertical shafts.
Most of them were flooded after the Great Patriotic War, and the quarry turned into an amazingly beautiful lake with a turquoise shade of water, the transparency of which reaches 15-18 meters.
We have lunch at the restaurant and go further – to the historical park "Bastion".
Bastion Park is a modern playground with themed excursions with full immersion in various historical epochs.
We have 3 hours for a tour of the park, so we look at all the expositions!
We will not just walk through the locations, but also try on the role of a local resident, ask questions to other actors in order to get to know all aspects of different historical eras to the maximum.
At the end of the trip, we will definitely take pictures in historical costumes and participate in master classes.
Remembering the bright moments of these days, we go to dinner.
We leave by evening trains from the railway station of Sortavala.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Camp Site

2 nights

Comfort

Basic+

The tour provides accommodation at the recreation center "Cloudberry".

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

Age	Price per person	Accommodation:
Adult	48,000 rubles/person.	Accommodation in a double room with an extra bed.

The discount for accommodation in an additional place is 6,000 rubles.

The discount for children from 10 to 16 years old is 10%.

The recreation center is located 85 km from Petrozavodsk, on the shore of Lake Syamozero:

Placement

Description of the room

Double Room

(two single beds)

A separate entrance from the street, its own porch, a vestibule for outerwear and outdoor shoes, an entrance hall, a bathroom equipped with a shower cabin and underfloor heating.

Each room has 2 single beds, a mirror, a desk, a wardrobe, a TV, bedside tables, chairs according to the number of seats, a bathroom, a shower cabin. Solid wood furniture (pine). Heating, electricity.

Double Room

(double bed) + extra bed (sofa)

A separate entrance from the street, its own porch, a vestibule for outerwear and outdoor shoes, an entrance hall, a bathroom equipped with a shower cabin and underfloor heating.

Each room has one double bed, a mirror, a desk, a TV, bedside tables, chairs according to the number of seats, a bathroom, a shower cabin. Solid wood furniture (pine). Heating, electricity.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 16 tourists

Minimum age

10 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Republic of Karelia, Petrozavodsk

Included in price

transportation services according to the program;
meals according to the program;
accommodation according to the program: 2 people in a double room (2 nights);
the work of instructors and an accompanying/guide translator;
snowmobile and equipment rental, fuel;
tour of Karelian villages, with a visit to ancient chapels, cheese farms;
a master class on making wickets;
visit to the Ruskeala Mountain Park.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
additional day of accommodation;
insurance of medical and other unforeseen expenses (from 100 rubles/person/day);
excursion to Kizhi Island – cost 5,900 rubles/person.;
passenger car to Petrozavodsk – 6,000 rubles.

It's important to know

Personal belongings and equipment:

documents in sealed packaging: passport, medical policy;
backpack or travel bag;
an individual first aid kit;
personal hygiene products.

Clothes and shoes:

a warm winter jacket and trousers;
a down jacket or a vest;
2 pairs of comfortable warm shoes;
a warm hat;
gloves or mittens;
wool socks;
thermal underwear;
comfortable clothes for sleeping and recreation: slippers, shorts/pants, T-shirts.

Dates and Prices

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

$528

11 – 13 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

18 – 20 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

25 – 27 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

1 – 3 Feb, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

8 – 10 Feb, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

15 – 17 Feb, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

21 – 23 Feb, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

2 – 4 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

9 – 11 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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$528

16 – 18 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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