Marble fairy tale and ancient Kizhi

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An excursion tour to Karelia, characterized by a wide variety.

In a few days on your trip to Karelia, you will spend time in its capital, Petrozavodsk, stroll through the historical center of the city founded by Peter the Great, visit one of the main attractions – Onega Embankment.

Head to Valaam Island to explore this open-air museum of Russian wooden architecture.

For the rest of the day, visit one of the largest plain waterfalls Kivach.

Location

the city of Sortavala

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

Ruskeala

We will visit the unique marble canyon, which has no analogues anywhere in Europe and Russia

Kizhi

Let's admire the unique ensemble of the Churchyard, which is known all over the world

Petrozavodsk

Let's plunge into the friendly atmosphere of the northern city

Kivach Waterfall

We will see one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe

Itinerary

Day 1 - Excursion to Ruskeala Mountain Park
08:28 Meeting in Sortavala train No. 160 at the entrance to the railway station from the city. A guide with a sign greets you.
Breakfast in a cafe in the city.
Departure by comfortable bus to Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Excursion to the Ruskeala Mountain Park — "Marble Canyon" (duration — 1 hour 15 minutes).
The park was created in 2005 on the basis of a unique monument of the industrial heritage of Russia, the Ruskeala marble quarry.
Marble mining was started here in 1769 by decree of Catherine II to decorate the famous buildings of St. Petersburg: the Marble Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Mariinsky Palace, etc.
The combination of Karelian nature and human activity has given these quarries a surprisingly picturesque appearance, which attracts travel enthusiasts not only from Karelia.
The next stop is at the Ruskeala Akhvenkoski waterfall.
The bathing scene of one of the heroines of the film "And the dawns are quiet here" was filmed at this waterfall.
Amazingly picturesque nature invariably attracts the creators of modern films with its mysterious beauty and some mysterious power.
In 2010, a fantasy film "The Dark World" was shot here (entrance to the waterfall is paid on site).
Arrival in Sortavala.
Dinner at the cafe.
Accommodation at the Piipun Piha Hotel.

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Day 2 - Excursion to Valaam Island (additional fee)
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Room release.
Boarding the bus with your belongings.
Transfer to the pier.
For an additional fee, an excursion to Valaam Island (booked together with the tour, paid on site).
Departure by meteor to Valaam Island (45 minutes along Lake Ladoga).
Arrival at the monastery bay.
Sightseeing tour of the central estate of the monastery with a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, chapels, cell buildings, household and hotel buildings.
Lunch in the monastery refectory.
Transfer to Nikonovskaya Bay.
Visiting the Resurrection and Gethsemane skeets.
Return to Sortavala.
Attention: the water excursion to Valaam Island will take place under favorable weather conditions!
Departure to Petrozavodsk (260 km).
19:00 Accommodation at the Petrozavodsk hotel.
Time to rest.

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Day 3 - Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk. Excursion to Kizhi Island
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Meeting with the guide in the lobby of the hotel.
Sightseeing tour of the capital of Karelia and a walk along the Onega embankment.
And now we offer you to plunge into the friendly atmosphere of the northern city – the capital of Karelia – the city of Petrozavodsk.
On the sightseeing tour, you will see the beautiful embankment of Lake Onega, where you will find the "Tree of Desires" and other avant-garde sculptures donated to the city by the twin cities.
Be sure to take a look at the Governor's Park!
Excursion to Kizhi Island.
Ride on the "comet" (1 hour 20 min. along Lake Onega).
Kizhi Island is a "calling card" not only of Karelia, but also of Russia.
The unique ensemble of the Churchyard is known all over the world, and every year the flow of tourists wishing to visit the island is only growing!
An excursion program through the museum-reserve with a visit to the Intercession Church and ethnographic expositions.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Free time.

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Day 4 - Kivach Waterfall
Buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
Room release.
Visit to the Shungite Center.
A visit to the souvenir center, where you can buy figurines, cosmetics, jewelry made of shungite at wholesale prices.
As well as a visit to the relaxation room filled with the vitality of shungite.
Natural black stone is a real miracle.
A cure for many diseases, saving lives.
It is suitable for an old man and a baby, a man and his home, it can make any place bright, clean and blessed.
Visit Kivach Waterfall, one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe.
You will also visit the arboretum, the decoration and pride of which are the famous Karelian birches.
Karelian birch is a tree to which nature has given the amazing beauty of wood, reminiscent of marble in its pattern.
Even in the 21st century, there is debate among scientists about the origin of this amazing tree.
Lunch at the cafe.
Return to Petrozavodsk to the railway station approximately at 16:00.
Farewell to the guide.
Departure to Moscow by train No. 017A Petrozavodsk — Moscow at 21:50, to St. Petersburg by train No. 805H ("Swallow") Petrozavodsk — St. Petersburg at 18:00.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels.

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

Placement	Piipun Piha + Peter Inn	Piipun Piha + North
Double room, adult	36 800	32 500
Double room, child under 16 years old	35 300	—
Single room	46 800	39 000
Extra seat, adult	31 800	27 500
Extra place, child under 16 years old	30 300	—

Located in Sortavala, it offers a restaurant and free Wi-Fi.

The rooms feature a terrace, a TV, a private bathroom with a shower, a bidet and a hairdryer, as well as cable TV.

Piipun Piha Hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, a terrace, a bar, conference facilities and a tour desk. Ticket office services are provided.

Sortavala Train Station is 2.5 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

4 days 3 nights

Group meets at

the city of Sortavala

Included in price

hotel accommodation;
meals according to the program (4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner);
transportation services along the route;
the work of a guide;
entrance tickets;
tour service:
- city tour of Petrozavodsk;
- Kizhi Island tour;
- excursion to the Ruskeala mountain Park "Marble Canyon";
- excursion to the Kivach waterfall;
- visit to the Kivach Nature Reserve Museum;
- visit to the arboretum of Karelian Birch on the territory of the Kivach Nature Reserve.

Paid extra

tickets to Sortavala and back from Petrozavodsk;
meals not specified in the tour program;
entrance to the Akhvenkoski waterfall — 450 rubles/person.;
excursion to Valaam Island (booked upon purchase of the tour, paid on the spot):
- adults — 5,500 rubles/person.;
- children under 12 years old inclusive — 3,000 rubles/person.;
the fee for visiting the protected area "Valaam Archipelago" (payment independently on the website of the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Territories of regional significance of the Republic of Karelia) is 100 rubles/person.

It's important to know

1. Medical preparations for individual needs.

2. Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical), when traveling with children — children's birth certificate.

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. Headdress: 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.

9. For photo and video equipment, take care of an airtight package in case of rain.

To visit monasteries and temples, women will need a headscarf and a skirt below the knee, and men will need long trousers.

Please note that in summer, especially in early June, temperature differences from +30°C to +10°C are possible. Therefore, take care in advance of warm clothes, windbreakers, hats and comfortable, familiar, worn shoes, because you will have to spend a lot of time on your feet.

Dates and Prices

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1 – 4 Jun, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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22 – 25 Jun, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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6 – 9 Jul, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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13 – 16 Jul, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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17 – 20 Aug, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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24 – 27 Aug, 2025 4 days 3 nights

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