Big Country Travel: Trips to Russia, Adventure Tours & Vacation Packages

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During the trip, you will go on an airboat trip along the Ladoga skerries, climb to an observation point with panoramic views of the vast expanses of the skerries, walk along a nature trail through the Karelian taiga, take part in a master class on cooking traditional Karelian pastries and visit many impressive places.

On this tour you will live in a domed glamping, which is located in the most picturesque place of the Ladoga skerries and is surrounded by a pine forest.

Thanks to such a variety of natural attractions, autumn is the most suitable and colorful time to go on a tour that will remain a warm and vivid memory for everyone!

Location

Saint Petersburg, Moskovsky railway station

from

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

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Tour highlights

Relaxing surrounded by a pine forest

Stay in cozy hemispherical tents surrounded by a pine forest

Tasting of local cuisine

You will taste delicious dishes of traditional Karelian cuisine

Quizzes and master classes

You will participate in interesting and diverse interactive activities

Exciting routes

Walk along the trails of the Karelian taiga and climb to the observation points with views of the vast expanses of Ladoga

A retro train ride

You will be able to become a passenger of the unique Ruskeala Express

Itinerary

Day 1 - Fortress "Korela" and "Kiryazh", the road to Ladoga
The journey begins with a meeting at the Moscow railway station in St. Petersburg at 09:00, where you need to get to on your own.
After the meeting in St. Petersburg, you will take a bus to the Northern Ladoga region, visiting iconic natural and historical sites of the Leningrad Region and Karelia along the way.
*Breakfast is not provided, we recommend that you have a snack on the plane or on the train.
The first stop on the route will be the Korela Fortress Museum in Priozersk. The fortress "Korela" of the XIV-XVIII centuries (Kexholm fortress) is an object of cultural heritage of federal significance.
The ancient Russian wooden-earth fortress of the XIV-XVI centuries was built by the Novgorodians in 1310 on Castle Island.
In the XVI-XVII centuries, the Swedes rebuilt the fortifications according to the bastion system, erected stone structures of a Round Tower, an Old arsenal, and a Powder magazine on the territory of the fortress.
In the 18th century, during the Suvorov period, the building of the New Arsenal was built, where the museum has been located since 1962.
The museum and fortress complex includes a building with a permanent exhibition of local lore, a large exhibition hall for temporary exhibitions and a souvenir shop in the building of the Old Arsenal, as well as fortress facilities.
Lunch at the Kexholm restaurant.
The next stop will be the Kiryazh Museum in the village. Kurkieki.
Here you will learn about the medieval history of the Northwestern Ladoga region. They will tell you who the Kiryals are, how they are connected with the chronicle tribe of Korela.
The Kiryazh Museum is interactive, you can listen to how Karelian speech sounds, try to play musical instruments, and search for hidden runes in the troll's head.
In the evening, you will arrive at the pier, from where you will go to the island, located in the very center of the Ladoga skerries (10-20 minutes on the way).
Here you will find accommodation in a glamping and a welcome dinner with dishes of Karelian cuisine.
In the evening, at dinner, you will enjoy a tasting of Karelian tinctures made from local berries, balsam, bitter, and gin. You will learn what drinks are made of and how they are useful, as well as recharge with a good mood.
You will spend the night in cozy hemispherical tents surrounded by a pine forest.
Day 2 - Nature trail of the island and the storm of Ladoga
After breakfast, you will have a guided walking tour deep into the island of Havus. You will take a nature trail through the Karelian taiga.
You will see geological rocks that can be called the "backbone of the earth": a glacier passing through the territory of Ladoga exposed very ancient stone outcrops, which are up to 2.5 billion years old.
The culmination of the route will be the exit to the Haukkariutta rock ("falcon reef"). From a height of more than 40 meters you will have a wonderful view of the Ladoga skerries.
Lunch at glamping.
After lunch, you will embark on a circular waterway along the Ladoga skerries during the storms.
Ladoga Skerries is a picturesque archipelago in the north of Lake Ladoga, consisting of many small rocky islands separated by straits.
One of the striking features of the Ladoga skerries is the so—called "reef mountains". Reef mountains are called mountains that break off into the lake with sheer cliffs, the height of which can reach 80 meters.
You will climb to the observation point of the Ladoga Skerries with panoramic views of the vast expanses of Ladoga and the Valaam Archipelago (in good weather).
Next, we suggest taking collective steam sessions in our Russian sauna (1.5-2 hours, groups of up to 8 people, included in the price of the tour).
Dinner will be served for you in the evening. After that, if you wish, you will be able to complete the Karelian quiz and test your knowledge of the region!
Day 3 - A master class on gates, a retro train and the Ruskeala Mountain Park
After breakfast, a master class on cooking Karelian wickets will be organized for you.
You will learn the cooking features of this national pastry and a professional chef will show you the secrets of making dough, proper molding and other features.
You will work with authentic grandmother's rolling pins, try out various pinches and shapes. Next, our chefs will bake wickets in the oven, and our guide will give a presentation about Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.
You will learn interesting facts about the lake and see how it happens at different times of the year.
After the lecture, you will have time to pack your things and get ready to leave.
Next, you will go to the pier, where minibuses will be waiting for you, which will take you to the Ruskeala Mountain Park (1 hour on the way). We'll have lunch at one of the cafes on the way.
Our guide will conduct a ground tour in Ruskeala Park. Ruskeala marble quarry is a monument of cultural heritage of Russia. Development here began in 1765.
The walls of the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral, Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg are decorated with Ruskeal marble.
The quarry is a huge system of underground tunnels and tunnels connected by vertical shafts.
Most of them were flooded after the Great Patriotic War, and the quarry turned into an amazingly beautiful lake with turquoise-tinged water, the transparency of which reaches 15-18 meters.
After the tour of the Ruskeala Mountain Park, you will board the Ruskeala Express, a retro steam—powered tourist train that runs along the route of the overland road that transported Ruskeala marble to Lake Ladoga.
The interior of the train is decorated in the style of the interior of the carriage on which Auguste Montferrand, the chief architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, came to Ruskeala.
Evening arrival at Sortavala railway station.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Accommodation

Hotel

3 nights

Comfort

Premium

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The tour includes accommodation in the Lago Ladoga dome glamping. It is located in the most picturesque place of the Ladoga skerries — on the island of Havus, surrounded by a pine forest.

The surcharge for single accommodation in the dome is 15,000 rubles.

Year-round glamping in the Republic of Karelia on Havus Island. Accommodation in comfortable geo-domes in Ladoga skerries.

Geocupola — 13 modules with a view of the forest or Ladoga.

pellet fireplace;
electric sheets;
panoramic window;
Three lighting options;
sockets for charging phones;
a carafe of water and glasses;
coffee table and two armchairs;
bedside table-tray;
box spring beds + extra place on top;
a wardrobe for outerwear and a rack for things;
a large mirror;
slippers, face and body towels for each guest;
toilet room (bio toilet, washbasin with room temperature water).

Capacity: 1-3 adults or 1-4 people with children.
The age of children is over 7 years old.
Pets are allowed.

Extra bed: located above the toilet, steep stairs (90 degrees), the size of the bed is 1.4 x 2 m, the maximum permissible weight is 120 kg.

Toilet: a modern toilet, convenient and easy to use, refilled with a special liquid to prevent the spread of odor.

On the territory of:

large lounge area — restaurant, capacity — 39 people. Large tables, designer chairs, tea area, designer lamps, fireplace area with armchairs, souvenir showcase, projector, board games, outdoor veranda;
small lounge area, capacity — 25 people. Large tables, designer chairs, pouf cushions, frameless pouf sofas, shelving, designer lamps, plasma TV, projector and screen, flip chart;
13 insulated residential geo—domes, capacity - 3 people;
public toilet, 2 cabins;
on-site showers, 3 cabins;
furako bathhouse on the shore of Ladoga, 2 fonts, capacity for 4 people;
Russian sauna, capacity — 6 people;
wooden paths;
campfire area;
the barbecue area.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 5 to 20 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Saint Petersburg, Moskovsky railway station

Included in price

2-bed accommodation on the island in glamping (2 nights);
3 meals a day according to the program (except breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last);
services of experienced guides, instructors, captains and chefs;
transportation services along the route (minibuses, aero/motorboats);
excursion to the Kiryazh Museum;
excursion to the Korela fortress;
tasting of Karelian drinks;
author's guided walking tour of Havus Island;
Ladoga Skerries tour;
a master class on making wickets;
ground tour to the Ruskeala Mountain Park;
a ride on the Ruskeal retro train.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to St. Petersburg and railway tickets from Sortavala;
dinner on the last day of the program (optional);
single accommodation in the dome + 15,000 rubles (optional);
furako sauna + 6,000 rubles / session up to 2 hours, up to 4 people (optional);
souvenirs (optional).

It's important to know

Personal belongings and equipment:

documents in sealed packaging: passport, medical policy;
backpack or travel bag;
an individual first aid kit;
personal hygiene products;
bathing accessories and slates (for visiting the bathhouse or furako).

Clothing and shoes:

a warm winter jacket and trousers;
a down jacket or a vest;
2 pairs of comfortable and warm shoes;
a warm hat, buff gloves or mittens;
wool socks;
thermal underwear;
comfortable clothes for glamping.

Dates and Prices

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

Individual dates available on request

12 Oct – 6 Nov

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$706

10 – 12 Oct 3 days 2 nights

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$706

1 – 3 Nov 3 days 2 nights

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Storms of Ladoga