Northern Beauty — Pistajoki River

On a tour along the Pistajoki river, you need a fairly high physical training, because passing lakes, driving a catamaran requires the work of each participant, the thresholds are difficult and everyone takes a lot of physical strength.

Children from the age of 10 are allowed on the route, accompanied by their parents.

The route has been announced to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

Depending on the water level, the danger of thresholds varies. The instructor has the right to make a decision on the removal of dangerous areas and not to let unprepared or drunk participants into the threshold.

On the water, participants always wear life jackets, and when passing dangerous thresholds, they wear helmets.

There is a steady signal only at the finish of the route. Megafon and MTS operators have a better signal. Please warn your family.

A satellite phone is provided for the route, which can be used if necessary. A minute of conversation — 150 rubles.

Meals are served three times a day. 

Sometimes, based on the conditions of the route, lunch can be replaced with a snack. 

The instructor cooks the food, the help of tourists is not prohibited. 

The menu includes fresh vegetables and soups.

Socks should be on your feet (not thin cotton, tighter). Shoes that you don't mind getting wet (sneakers are perfect). If you have neoprene socks or neoprene boots, this is welcome.

Rubber boots are prohibited, because when they get into the water, they pull the participant down.

As outerwear: comfortable sportswear for the weather or a neoprene suit (if available). It is desirable that the clothes be quick-drying. We recommend not to take jeans, any sweatpants will do instead.

Recommended: put on a light Bolognese suit (protection from wind and moisture). Raincoats made of dense materials can be used.

You can take thin cotton gloves or neoprene gloves (optional) on your hands.

There will be a helmet on your head, you can put a bandana under it.

If you wear glasses, try to come up with a chain for them (so as not to lose them) or put on lenses during the alloy.

Catamarans are special, deckless inflatable vessels for rafting on rough water. The landing is knee-deep.

Paddles, life jackets, safety helmets, helmets are proven, easy—to-use equipment.

The tents are triple. Check-in for 3 people. Each participant is provided with an individual thermal insulation mat.

Dishes — everyone needs to have personal dishes. Boilers, trays and other cooking utensils are provided.

There are no electricity sources on tent tours, so if you need to use your phone all the time, we recommend taking a spare battery or a portable charger.

Similarly with cameras, flashlights and any other equipment.

Please inform us about the availability of your equipment that you plan to take on the tour, as well as the need for a 2-seater tent when booking the tour.

Failure to comply with safety regulations (personal safety) while on the water causes increased risks to life and health. Therefore, follow these instructions.

Before going out on the water:

• listen to the safety instruction from the instructor, sign in to receive it;
• match the size of the life jacket and helmet, adjust all fasteners;
• take a seat on the ship so that it is comfortable and safe.

General rules on the water:

• do not smoke on the ship;
• do not drink alcoholic beverages on the water;
• Always collect loose ropes;
• keep an eye on the tightness of the packaging of things, and their secure fastening on the ship;
• carefully pack the piercing and cutting objects;
• do not move around the ship without warning the instructor;
• always moor (tie up) the vessel when going ashore;
• secure oars, helmets, life jackets when going ashore;
• go ashore carefully, avoiding falling into the water, as well as on the shore on wet rocks, if necessary, ask for help from an instructor or other group members;
• it is forbidden to swim and dive from the ship;
• observe the interval and the order of movement of vessels set by the instructor;
• you can unbutton and take off your life jacket and helmet only with the permission of the instructor;
• follow the instructions and instructions of the instructor;
• do not exceed the standard number of people on the ship;
• when on the water in sunny weather, use sunglasses, sunscreen and cover exposed areas of the body and head;
• do not stay on the water during a thunderstorm.

When passing the thresholds:

• everyone can refuse to pass the threshold;
• before the threshold, check the reliability of securing things, the assembly of ropes, the degree of pumping of the vessel, if something is wrong, inform the instructor;
• be sure to fasten your life jacket and helmet;
• check that your clothes comply with the recommendations (neoprene, closed elbows and knees, shoes attached to the leg);
• secure your legs so that you hold on securely, but you can easily free yourself when the ship turns over;
• do not tie yourself to the ship, do not tie an oar to yourself, etc.;
• follow the instructor's commands without committing unauthorized actions.;
• Do not move around the ship;
• do not push off the rocks with an oar without the instructor's command;
• do not jump out on the rocks or into the water without the instructor's command.

In case of contact with water:

Before difficult thresholds, ask the instructor again in detail about your actions. If possible, practice getting on the ship from the water yourself in advance, swim in a life jacket, etc.

• assess the situation, do not panic (remember that you are in a life jacket);
• if your or a safety vessel is nearby, swim up to it so that you are upstream, grab the harness (rail);
• if the ship is far away, but you have been thrown a spanker, take the spanker and hold it firmly, without attaching it to yourself or winding it on your hand;
• if you are swimming along the stream, and the threshold does not end, turn on your back, with your feet downstream, bending them slightly at the knees, and swim, controlling the paddle;
• if the "barrel" does not let you go, hold your breath and try to dive down where there is a jet;
• do not let go of the paddle, it will be useful for controlling the jet, for going ashore;
• do not try to get to the bottom on a strong jet, avoid jamming your feet in the rocks;
• if you catch a spascon, avoid wrapping it around your body, neck, etc.

Active recreation tours are associated with physical activity and exposure to adverse climatic factors. Therefore, for safe passage of the route, we recommend:

• evaluate your physical abilities when choosing a tour;
• undergo a medical examination, follow the recommendations of doctors;
• take personal equipment with you in accordance with the recommendations of the travel agency;
• take a personal first aid kit with you;
• to undergo the prevention of tick-borne encephalitis.

The peak of tick activity is in spring and early summer, the distribution area is Southern and Middle Karelia.

To prevent tick-borne encephalitis, it is necessary to be on the shore in clothes that tightly wrap around the wrists, lower back, ankles, and put on a hood.

Avoid walking on deciduous areas of the forest, dry grass.

It is necessary to inspect the clothes every two hours.

The route passes through the territory of the border zone, a pass is issued for each participant of the tour.

When visiting the route included in the border zone, the tourist must have a passport with him.

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

Additional medical insurance is not included in the price of the tour. If desired, you can apply for insurance on the website of a Large Country without commission directly from insurance companies.

Participation in the tour is prohibited for foreign citizens.

Fishing is prohibited on the river until July 15, and fishing for float gear is allowed from July 15 (spinning fishing is prohibited).

The essence of a camping bath: a kind of furnace is formed from stones, the furnace is heated, the stones are heated, when the stones are heated, an awning (tent) is placed on top. 

Inside the tent, the heat from the heated stones is preserved. 

Tourists go to the sauna, warm up and then wash in the river. 

If it's cool outside, then after bathing you can warm up in the sauna again. 

Solovki Island is located in the bay of the White Sea. You can take an extra day after rafting and visit another interesting place.

The cost of tickets for the ship will be known in early May, you can book a hotel yourself. You can choose hotels in the city of Kem or the village of Rabochiostrovsk.

If necessary, we can help with booking.

The ship arrives in the village of Rabochiostrovsky at about 21:00, it may be delayed a little if a wave rises at sea. 

From the village of Rabochiostrovsky, where the pier is located, to the city of Kem is 15 km away.

It is better to take tickets home by train after 22 hours.

You can find out more about the tour when booking a tour. 

The route route can be changed while preserving the main elements that make up the program