Protected Karelia. Combined tour

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We invite you to an exciting journey through the protected areas of Karelia! An unforgettable rafting trip along the Keret River awaits you, passing through the rapids and entering the White Sea, which will greet you with its harsh northern beauty.

In the second half of the trip, you will visit Paanajarvi National Park: accompanied by a guide, you will climb Mount Kivakka, discover the greatness of the Kivakkakoski and Myantyukoski waterfalls.

Every day will be filled with adventures, and evenings will be filled with the comfort of a camp under the starry sky, the sounds of nature and the warmth of a hiking sauna.

Location

P. Louhi

Tour highlights

Exploring the White Sea and Oleny Island

You will see incredible landscapes, tides and ebbs. You can not only enjoy swimming and searching for berries, but also see sea creatures.

Keret River rafting

The journey begins with a mesmerizing view of Lake Varatskoye and continues through the rapids, where you can test your skills on the water and enjoy the beauty of the northern nature.

The Stone Guardian

Climbing Mount Kivakkatunturi will give you not only physical satisfaction, but also stunning views of the surrounding landscapes, where you can take unforgettable photos.

Itinerary

Day 1 - The beginning of rafting on the Keret River: Lake. Varatskoye is a port. Oil
After meeting at the railway station at 04:16 (train Arctic 016) in Louhi, you will be transferred to the place where the rafting starts – Lake. Varatskoye (59 km, about 1.5 hours on the road).
Breakfast in the field, preparation of equipment for going out on the river. Before the start, you will receive a safety briefing and pick up your equipment: a life jacket, helmet, paddles. General and personal items will be packed in waterproof bags.
Rafting on the Keret River: Lake. Varatskoye is a port. Kareshka is a pore. Krasnobystry – por. Oil-based. There is a total of 15 km of the way.
There will be a hot lunch or snack on the way.
The name Keret comes from the Sami word "giera", which means "top of the mountain". Keret belongs to the rivers of the mountain taiga type, it is relatively deep and wide. The river is a chain of lakes connected by rapids.
Setting up a camp, dinner and overnight in the field.

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Day 2 - Continuation of the alloy: por. Pavlovsky — O. Deer
After breakfast, rafting on the Keret River along the route: port. Pavlovsky (2nd class) – por. Kolupaevsky (2-3 K.S.) – por. Krivoy-3 (3 k.s.) – port. Morskoy (2nd class) – O. Oleny, 29 km.
On the way, have a snack or a full lunch on the beach.
Access to the White Sea. The northern nature enchants with tides, sea smell, surf, winds and calm, islands, stone foreheads, salt water.
The White Sea is one of the smallest seas. Although it is called the only inland sea of Russia, it is a bay of the Arctic Ocean. The archipelago, spread out in the White Sea, has more than a hundred islands of different sizes.
Transfer to one of the islands in the White Sea – O. Deer park, where you will park.
Dinner and overnight in the field.

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Day 3 - Day trip on the White Sea
Breakfast at the camp. You will have free time: you can explore the island on foot by land or on catamarans by water.
The underwater world of the White Sea is rich and unique. The surface of the rocks is covered with soft corals and anemones, starfish, ophiurians, crabs and shrimps crawl between the rocks.
Of the fish, there are catfish, sea bass, flounder, kerchak, beldyuga, maslyuk and pinog fish. It's not even necessary to have special equipment to spy on life underwater, as the water here is very clear – no one will hide from our inquisitive gaze.
You can also go swimming, sunbathe, go in search of berries to make compote, add to tea, or just have a snack while walking.
The instructors will flood the sauna.
Day 4 - National Park "Paanarvi"
Breakfast, gathering of personal belongings and equipment. You will travel by catamaran to the village of Nizhnyaya Pulonga (6 km, about 2 hours on the way).
Transfer to Pyaozersky village (160 km, about 3 hours on the way).
You will visit the Paanarvi National Park Visitor Center and the local museum.
Wildlife is represented in all its glory in Paanajarvi National Park.: high mountains, clear rivers and deep lakes, as well as rare species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book. It is for these reasons that the park itself is divided into several zones: there is no access to two of them, but the third – recreational – is organized for tourists.
However, there are also strict rules related to everyday life that must be followed. All this is done in order to protect and preserve Red Book plants and animals and natural landscapes.
Accommodation in a tent camp at a specially equipped parking lot in the national park on the shore of Lake Paan.
Dinner and overnight in the field.
Day 5 - Paanajarvi Lake, Myantyukoski Waterfall
You will have breakfast at the camp and go on a boat trip on Lake Paanajarvi.
Lake Paanajarvi is of tectonic origin, it is the deepest among the lakes of Russia, Finland and Sweden. The maximum depth is 128 meters. And its length is about 25 km, and its width is slightly less than 1.5 km. The water in it is crystal clear.
During the walk you will see the places of the former Finnish settlements, as well as enjoy the extraordinary beauty of this place. The most impressive thing on the route is the steep 60–meter Ruskeakallio rock ("Brown Rock").
At the end of the route, you will dock at the mouth of the Myantyujoki River. There is another equipped parking lot where you can relax and have a snack.
Next, you will climb to the Myantyukoski waterfall. The waterfall is almost 9 meters high, and the water falls in five steps, which is very impressive.
Return to the parking lot, collect things, move to the parking lot in the Vartiolampi tract.
Dinner and overnight in the field.
Day 6 - Kivakkakoski Waterfall
After breakfast, you will embark on a light hike to Kivakkakoski Waterfall (Finnish for "stone woman's threshold"). along a prepared path.
*The route is simple, does not require any special physical activity, takes 3 hours (total mileage of 9 km).
The route starts at the place where the village of Vartiolampi used to be. All that remains of the village is an open space and various kinds of meadow grasses brought here by farmers.
In the middle of the Vartiolampi tract, an old Karelian house was restored, where you can see the exposition of Karelian life of the last century.
Three branches of the Olanga River connect in front of the waterfall, and a huge mass of water, trapped by the banks, collapses down from 12 meters. You will hear the voice of Kivakkakoski Waterfall long before you see it.
You will return to the camp by lunchtime. Free time.
Dinner and overnight in the field.
Day 7 - Climbing Mount Kivakkatunturi
Breakfast at the camp.
Next, you will climb Mount Kivakkatunturi, or Kivakka (translated from Sami means "stone guardian").
The way to the mountain is 5 km along a beautiful path. During the ascent, vegetation changes from taiga to birch woodlands and mountain tundra at the top of the mountain. The approximate lifting time is 2 hours.
Return to the parking lot, lunch.
19:00 Transfer to the village. Pyaozersky, where you will have the opportunity to buy groceries for the way back and souvenirs.
Transfer to Louhi village by vocal railway (110 km, about 3 hours on the way).
Departure by night trains from Louhi station.
It is recommended to take the Arctic 015 train from Louhi at 03:39.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Tent

6 nights

Comfort

Basic

The tour provides accommodation in three-person tourist tents, accommodation for 3 people. Each participant is given an individual thermal insulation mat.

The cost of the tour:

Rafting on a 6-seater and/or 2-seater catamaran

5 participants + instructor

58,100 rubles/person.

The surcharge for accommodation in a double tent is 1,500 rubles/tour. Please inform us about the need for a 2-bed tent when booking the tour.

Tour conditions

Group

From 8 to 17 tourists

Minimum age

8 years old

Duration

7 days 6 nights

Group meets at

P. Louhi

Included in price

transportation services according to the program;
meals specified in the tour program;
instructors' work;
rental of rafting equipment: catamarans, oars, helmets, life jackets, sealed packages, motor and fuel;
rental of camp equipment: campfire equipment, tents (3-seater), thermal insulation mats;
tour service in the Paanayarvi National Park.

Paid extra

railway tickets to Louhi station and back;
sleeping bag: comfort temperature +6°, extreme 0° (to be paid when booking the tour) — 700 RUB/tour;
neoprene suit (optional, to be paid upon booking the tour) - 3,300 rubles/tour;
accommodation in a double tent — 1,500 rubles/tour;
insurance of medical and other unforeseen expenses – from 100 rubles/person/day.

It's important to know

1. A backpack without a machine or a travel bag.

2. Sleeping bag (if there is no personal one, you can rent it from the company, payment is made when booking a trip).

3. A set of clothes for changing clothes after rafting:

a set of dry comfortable outerwear;
dry comfortable shoes and socks;
beanie/bandana/buff;
a set of spare underwear.

4. Clothes for sleeping in a tent:

warm loose clothing (if available, thermal underwear);
warm socks (woolen ones are possible) and a thin hat (nights can be cool);
for the evening, a fleece jacket / sweatshirt / jacket.

5. For a trip to the tourist bath:

individual towel;
swimsuit (boys / girls go to the bathhouse all together, groups of 8-10 people);
slates/sandals for sports.

6. Comfortable shoes without heels, 3 pairs:

one for rafting on the river;
the second one is for the camp (you can take rubber boots if it rains according to the forecast);
The third one is "urban".

7. Personal items:

repellents (mosquitoes, midges);
flashlight with a set of spare batteries;
sunglasses and sunscreen and after sunburn, if it is sunny according to the forecast;
personal hygiene products (including toilet paper);
individual first aid kit;
small polyurethane seat mat;
portable charger;
personal tableware (mug, deep bowl, spoon).

8. Documents — passport, medical insurance policy (photocopy is possible) in an airtight package.

9. Money — we recommend that you always have a small amount of cash with you so that, if desired, you can quickly buy the necessary things at stops along the route.

10. You can take a camera, there will be sealed packages on the rafts, in which it can be hidden at the moment of passing the threshold.

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.