New Year's Karelia

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We invite you to spend New Year's holidays among the atmospheric Karelian nature. From ancient villages and national dishes to famous waterfalls and exciting snowmobile adventures, every day will be filled with vivid impressions and amazing discoveries!

Location

Petrozavodsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

Snow Adventures

Feel the wind on your face while riding a dog sled and snowmobiling

The Soul of Karelia

Explore the picturesque village of Rubchoila, where Karelian history and traditions have merged

Nature in all its glory

You will be enchanted by winter nature, starting from the powerful Kivach waterfall and up to the snow-covered expanses crossed by sleds and snowmobiles

Ruskeala Mountain Park

Take beautiful photos among the huge rocks that turned into stunning snow-covered cascades in winter

Master classes and creativity

Making national dishes or charms at a master class in Rubchoil will add bright colors to your adventure

Itinerary

Day 1 - Rubchoila village, master class and Kivach waterfall
08:00 Meeting at the railway station.
Welcome to the capital of Karelia – the city of Petrozavodsk. The port of the five seas, located on the shore of the second largest freshwater body in Europe – Lake Onega. A real European city, with a national Karelo-Finnish flavor, the same age as St. Petersburg, cozy, beautiful, with its own unique history. It was founded in 1703 by Peter I, as the city was founded by Catherine II in 1777.
Breakfast (buffet) is served from 8:00 to 9:00.
Transfer to the ethnic village of Rubchoila.
A tour of the village. A master class on cooking the national Karelian dish "kalitka" or on making a talisman.
Rubchoila is located (sometimes it is called Rubchoila) in the Pryazhinsky National district. From time immemorial, Karelians have merged in these places. Their descendants live here to this day. According to legend, the village was founded by three brothers who came here from the north in search of a better life. Three centuries ago, Rubchoila was a small village of 7 houses, but its population was prosperous. According to statistics, cattle were kept 2 times more than in the surrounding villages.
The villagers lived very richly. there was even a leather workshop here, and the chrome boots of the Rubchoyl craftsmen were appreciated far beyond these places.
Lunch is "like at Grandma's."
Transfer to the most famous waterfall "Kivach". A walk through the nature reserve.
The pearl of the North is the Kivach waterfall. This is the most famous waterfall in Karelia, sung by the first governor of our region, the Russian poet Gavrila Derzhavin: "The mountain is pouring diamonds..". Indeed, the falling water and its power are fascinating. Everyone should see this.
Check-in to the selected category at the Sandal recreation center.
Supper.
Free time.
For an additional fee:
visit to the sauna with a samovar for 2 hours;
winter equipment rental.
Day 2 - Dog sledding and snowmobile safari
Breakfast.
Departure to the husky, deer and horse kennel! A tour of the nursery and a sledge ride.
It's time to enjoy the amazing beauty of Karelian nature on a short dog sled trip!
In our kennel you will be greeted by 40 of the best sled dogs in Russia – champions and participants of famous races. Thousands of kilometers of the most difficult snow trails lay under their paws, with them you will make an unforgettable sled ride through the protected pine forest. We offer a 2.5 km dog sledding trip. You will also get acquainted with the beautiful reindeer, our reindeer breeder will tell you about them in as much detail as possible and provide you with the opportunity to feed them with yagel.
The guide's sled will move ahead on the route to ensure your safety. You can drive the sled yourself or enjoy the ride as a passenger.
Upon returning to the base, it's time to share your impressions with friends, relax, warm up around the campfire and drink tea with sweets in a traditional plague!
Transfer to the recreation center.
Lunch.
Preparing for a snowmobile safari: equipment, passing the briefing*
You will enjoy a 2-hour safari, a rugged flattering track, incredible landscapes and a lot of emotions. For children on safari, there is a master class in birch bark weaving in a cafe at the starting point.
With favorable ice conditions on safari, we will visit the ancient church, which turned 400 years old in 2020!
The architecture of the church on Lychny Island is identical to the architecture of the lost Assumption Church. The village on Lychny Island is one of the oldest and largest villages in Karelia, its fame is due to the famous church of Saints Peter and Paul, erected in 1620 and standing on the highest point of the island, the village has long been abandoned by its inhabitants, but their houses with carved porches and black baths on the shore have been preserved.
Speed, a whirlwind of snow and Karelian expanses will energize you for future achievements!
The end of the route. Tea and pastries in the cafe!
Dinner with yourself: You will also be given delicious Karelian goodies for dinner.
Return to the recreation center. Supper.
For an additional fee:
visit to the sauna with a samovar for 2 hours;
winter equipment rental.

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park and Akhvenkoski Waterfall
Breakfast.
Departure for an excursion to the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
The Ruskeala Mountain Park is the only comprehensive monument to the nature and history of mining in Russia and Finland, a tourist attraction located in south Karelia.
The Ruskeala quarries "grew" at the end of the XVIII century.the first floor. XIX centuries. The Chesma Obelisk and the Orel Gates of Tsarskoye Selo, the columns of the Gatchina Palace and the monument to Rumyantsev's victories on the Neva embankment, fence posts and the Roman Fountains of Peterhof. Here, by the efforts of local craftsmen, slabs were broken for the cladding of buildings and halls of the Winter and Marble Palaces, Mikhailovsky Castle, Kazan Cathedral. But the most majestic and famous monument to Ruskeala marble was St. Isaac's Cathedral, erected by Auguste Montferrand in 1818-1850.
On the way back, we will visit the beautiful Akhvenkoski waterfall, translated from Finnish as "Perch threshold". The bathing scene of one of the heroines of the film "And the dawns are quiet here" was filmed at this waterfall.
21:00 Arrival at Petrozavodsk railway station (depends on the situation on the road).
For an additional fee:
travel by retro train.

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Guest House

2 nights

Comfort

Basic+

The tour provides accommodation in a guest house of your choice in double rooms.

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

Placement option	Adult	Child (under 12 years old)
Placement option	In the main place	In the main place	In an additional place (cot)
Sandal Guest House	44 300	39 000	32 700
Glamp house "Sandalwood"	45 300	40 000	33 700

Sandalwood

The guest house has a large area (420 sq. m.), consisting of 6 separate rooms, a kitchen, a large hall with a children's play area and a relaxation room.

Each room has all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay and rest: all rooms are equipped with bathrooms with shower, toilet, sink, hairdryer and heated towel rail; large and comfortable rooms for two with comfortable beds, wardrobes, dressers, TV, the possibility of installing extra beds, with balconies overlooking the lake or forest.

The house is entirely made of wood, very eco-friendly and safe, has an autonomous sewage station of high biological purification, modern heating and lighting, using energy-saving technologies, equipped with video surveillance, fire and burglar alarms, fully complies with the highest modern quality standards.

The location of the house allows you not only to relax on the shore of Sandal Lake and the territory of the base, but also to make exciting trips to many Karelian attractions, since most of them are located near the base.

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Another option

Sandalwood (glamp house)

Cozy, modern glamp houses with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows were built in 2023.

Each house is designed for 1-2 guests. It is possible to install 1 additional child seat.

In each house: amenities (shower, toilet), kitchenette, double bed, panoramic window overlooking the forest and lake, terrace with sun beds.

Also for you - gazebos, barbecues and all additional services of our recreation center!

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 20 tourists

Minimum age

6 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation of the selected category;
transportation services;
meals according to the program (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners);
the program in the ethnic village of Rubchoyla;
visit to Kivach Waterfall;
visit to the husky and deer kennel;
sledding track 2.5 km;
snowmobile safari 2 hours (double boarding);
excursion to the Ruskeala Mountain Park;
entrance fee to the Ruskeala Mountain Park;
entrance fee at the waterfalls.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
meals not specified in the tour program (you can eat, including on the territory of the recreation center);
the deposit at the guest house is 1500 rubles (in cash, refundable upon check–out);
services not included in the program.

It's important to know

Air and railway tickets are not included in the price of the tour. You can purchase them yourself or contact us for help.

Dates and Prices

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

$494

1 – 3 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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