May holidays in Karelia for 3 days

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A world of fabulous nature, ponds, dense forests and waterfalls awaits you!

You will get acquainted with the capital of Karelia, visit Kivach Waterfall, visit Ruskeala Mountain Park and take part in a master class where you will master the painting and decoration of Karelian gingerbread.

You will also have the opportunity to go on an exciting ATV safari or ride the Ruskeala Express.

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

from

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

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Tour highlights

The charm of Petrozavodsk

Explore the historical center, the Governor's Park and the monument to Peter the Great, as well as stroll along the beautiful city embankment.

Reserved Kivach

Admire the most famous waterfall in Karelia, which is praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero"

Scenic Mountain Park

Take a tour of the Ruskeala Mountain Park, where marble has been mined for about 300 years to decorate palaces and temples in the Northern Capital

Itinerary

Day 1 - Petrozavodsk city tour. Private gallery "Doll House". Gingerbread master class. ATV safari (extra charge)
We meet our dear guests at the Petrozavodsk railway station upon arrival of train No. 18 (~ 07:50). The guide greets you with a sign saying "May holidays".
The participants of the tour, who arrived on earlier trains or on their own transport, approach the meeting place.
Breakfast in the restaurant.
If you arrive later (train # 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.
Guided tour of the capital of the Republic of Karelia.
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. The guide will also show you cozy restaurants and cafes where you can taste national cuisine.
Excursion to the private gallery "Doll House". The atmosphere of fairy tales and kindness reigns here.
You will get acquainted with the collection of original dolls by Tatiana Kalinina "Spirits of Karelia or Kizhi brownies". You can buy a charming angel or a brownie as a keepsake.
Gingerbread workshop from Karelian Gingerbread Workshop.
You will master the painting and decoration of gingerbread. You can eat hand-decorated masterpieces on the spot or take them with you along with a cheerful festive mood.
Lunch with elements of national cuisine.
Hotel accommodation in the city: The Peter Inn Petrozavodsk 4* Hotel is a comfortable hotel next to the railway station, in the Paulaner restaurant they brew several beers of their own production.
For an additional fee (booking and prepayment before the start of the tour):
ATV safari (duration: 2 hours). Location: 25 km from Petrozavodsk.
Program: meeting at the base. Selection of equipment. ATV management and safety instruction. ATV driving skills training. Departure to the route. Driving through fields, forests, and dirt roads. Stops in nature in picturesque places. The route is laid out both with elements of extreme off-road sections, forest trails, swampy areas, and along high-speed sections of dirt roads. Return to the base.
Cost (depends on the number of people on one ATV): 2 people on an ATV — 6000 rubles/person. 1 person on an ATV — 10000 rubles/person. A 4-hour program can be arranged upon request. Additionally, a transfer to the ski area and back to Petrozavodsk is paid.

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Day 2 - The center for the production of shungite products. Kivach Nature Reserve
Breakfast at the hotel (buffet).
Visit to the center for the production of shungite products. It is a unique mineral that is mined in Karelia. Its healing properties have been known for more than 300 years, and in the time of Peter the Great, a decree was issued according to which every soldier was ordered to carry a piece of shungite in his backpack. They will tell you about its properties and treat you to delicious Karelian tea.
Here you will relax in a shungite cave to recharge your body with living energy, and you will be able to purchase shungite products from the manufacturer.
Then we go to the Kivach Nature Reserve.
In the reserve you will admire the Kivach waterfall, the most famous in Karelia. He is praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero".
Here you will also see the Karelian birch, the famous "Cinderella" of the northern forests, get acquainted with the arboretum collection and the nature museum. In spring, after the snow melts, the waterfall is especially full-flowing and powerful!
Lunch at a cafe.
Return to Petrozavodsk.

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
Breakfast at the hotel (buffet).
Room release.
Guided tour to the Ruskeala Mountain Park (the duration of the tour is about 10 hours). The crossing is 250 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.
Lunch at a cafe along the route.
On the way, stop at the Ruskeala Waterfalls on the Tohmajoki River. The filming of the cult Soviet film "And the dawns here are quiet" took place here. Now it is a great place for walking and taking photos against the background of nature.
If desired, you can walk along the ecotrope with hanging bridges spanning waterfalls and look at them from an unusual angle (for an additional fee of 500 rubles /adult, 400 rubles/children, pensioners, students).
Land tour of the Ruskeala Mountain Park. It is the most visited tourist site in Karelia at the moment. 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!
Free time on the territory of the mountain park.
For an additional fee: boat trip, Underground Ruskeala tour, trolls over Lake Marmara (zip-line), bungee jumping. There are several cafes and souvenir shops on the territory of the mountain park.
You can purchase additional services directly on the spot, at the ticket offices of the mountain park. They cannot be booked in advance, alas!
Return to Petrozavodsk or departure from Ruskeala.
From the mountain park, we recommend taking the Ruskeala Express retro train on the Ruskeala - Sortavala route — this interesting journey will take place in the atmosphere of the early twentieth century. There is a dining car on the train. Purchase train tickets in advance on the Russian Railways website (tickets are not included in the price of the tour).
Departure by train from Sortavala:
18:25 to St. Petersburg No. 824B "Swallow" (arrival at 22:39);
20:52 to Moscow No. 160A (arrival at 09:08 the next day).
It is also possible to return to Petrozavodsk and leave Petrozavodsk.
If you want to extend your vacation in Karelia, we will book additional accommodation in a hotel or a country club.
See you soon in Karelia!

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation at the Peter Inn Petrozavodsk 4* hotel (buffet breakfast) in Petrozavodsk.

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

in a double room – 32,700 rubles.;
single room – 38,800 rubles.;
for an additional place – 28,900 rubles .

Discounts:

children under 6 years old – 2,000 rubles/person;
children aged 8-16 years – 500 rubles/person.

Discounts are provided upon presentation of a birth certificate or passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

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. The bathrooms are individual for each room. Some rooms offer stunning views of Lake Onega.

The Paulaner restaurant, which serves Bavarian cuisine, is located on the ground floor of the hotel. There is also a cafe "Coffee Shop", where there is a wide variety of homemade tea, fragrant coffee, delicious desserts, and European cuisine is served there.

Besovets International Airport is 14.4 km away from the hotel, and the railway station is 0.2 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 30 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation in rooms of the selected category (2 nights in Petrozavodsk);
meals included in the program (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches);
Petrozavodsk sightseeing Tour;
Doll House Gallery tour;
culinary master class on painting Karelian gingerbread;
Kivach Nature Reserve tour;
visit to the center for the production of shungite products;
Ruskeala Mountain Park Tour;
transportation services according to the program;
the work of a guide and an accompanying person (3 days).

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back from Sortavala / Petrozavodsk;
meals not included in the price of the tour;
ATV safari (booking and prepayment before the start of the tour):
- 2 people on an ATV — 6000 rubles/person.;
- 1 person on an ATV — 10000 rubles/person.
- A four-hour program can be arranged upon request. Additionally, a transfer to the ski area and back to Petrozavodsk is paid.
ecotrope walk with suspension bridges at Ruskeala waterfalls:
- adult – 500 rubles/person.;
- children, pensioners, students – 400 rubles/person.
boat trip, Underground Ruskeala tour, trolls over Marmara Lake (zip-line), bungee (to be purchased directly on the spot, at the ticket offices of the mountain park).
tickets for the Ruskeala Express retro train (to be purchased in advance independently on the Russian Railways website).

It's important to know

Discounts:

children under 6 years old – 2,000 rubles/person;
children aged 8-16 years – 500 rubles/person.

Discounts are provided upon presentation of a birth certificate or passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation.

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.:

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

In any case, do not pull it yourself, because you can detach the body from the head (the head can exist without a body).
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.
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

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

$451

30 Apr – 2 May, 2027 3 days 2 nights

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Reviews Leave a review

EI
Elena Ievleva

about provider

1 Apr, 2026

Everything was well organized. We were met and taken care of without any issues. Many thanks to the tour providers for a great experience.
N
Natalia

about provider

18 Feb, 2026

Action-packed and inspiring! :-) The tour program was excellent! There was enough time to explore, take walks, and still relax. It was quite active :-) with plenty of hiking, which was exactly what I was looking for. I breathed in the fresh air and soaked up the beauty of the forests and lakes. I’d love to visit Valaam again, but next time at a slower pace, staying for at least two or three days. Many thanks to our guide, Anna :-) She was attentive and had such a pleasant voice :-) Thank you all for this little travel reset! :-) * The photo was taken by someone else who is currently away, so I’m unable to attach it.
K
Katya

about provider

8 Dec, 2025

I really enjoyed everything...It all felt very genuine ..I travel a lot and I’m generally not picky :)... and the tour absolutely matched its price :) as for the downsides, there are only a couple :) the buses weren’t great in terms of air conditioning :) - it was either extremely stuffy or freezing cold. ..- probably because the bus was quite old :) and there was very little time in Ruskeala...1.5 hour is nowhere near enough...We barely managed to see anything...you need at least 3 hours there ... and definitely an extra hour on Valaam as well ...:)

Big Country Travel

Hello Ekaterina, thank you for your feedback! We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the trip overall. We’ve shared your comments with our local partners, and our colleagues will do their best to take them into account in the future. We look forward to welcoming you again on one of our other tours in Russia!