Tastes of Karelia. Autumn gastronomic tour

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The tour is perfect for a long weekend with family and friends or team building events.

The Northern Ladoga region unites the traditions of different peoples — Karelians, Veps, Finns and Russians. Each of these ethnic groups has contributed to the Karelian gastronomic culture, and we will reveal its most delicious secrets for you!

And you will also stay in a magical glamping on the shore of the lake, ride a retro train and go on a trip on motor boats along the Ladoga skerries.

The tour program is attended by the stars of gastronomy — Olga Belonogova and Ivan Balin.

Location

Russia, Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

from

US$ 635

Contact the tour coordinator

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

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Tour highlights

Atmospheric glamping

Stay in cozy domed tents and enjoy the surrounding nature

Tastes of Karelia

The tour includes three meals a day — you will learn the secrets of the national cuisine and enjoy its dishes

The splendor of Ruskeala Park

Take an excursion to the mountain park and admire the marble canyon

Ladoga Skerries route

Explore the picturesque archipelago in the north of Lake Ladoga, consisting of small rocky islands

A trip on a retro train

Take a ride on the Ruskeala Express, a steam—powered tourist train

Cooking classes

Learn how to cook delicious Karelian dishes with your own hands

Itinerary

Day 1 - The route on Havus Island. Master classes: mushroom soup, mousse
After meeting at the Sortavala train station, you will go to the pier on the shore of Lake Ladoga, from where you will be transferred by motor boats (10-15 minutes) to the island located in the very center of the Ladoga skerries.
Arrival at glamping.
You will enjoy a welcome breakfast and then an active program awaits you: acquaintance with the nature of the island and the forest riches of Karelia.
You will go on an author's guided walking tour of Havus Island (duration 3 hours, length about 3 km).
You will walk through the Karelian taiga, see the oldest geological rocks and climb the 40-meter Haukkariutta rock, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Ladoga skerries.
After the walk, you will have a delicious picnic lunch and a master class by the campfire from the chef of the gourmet restaurant "Vkareliiest" with elements of Karelian cuisine: mushroom soup with moose meat and other delicacies of the Karelian forest.
After lunch, you will have free time to walk, relax, sit with a book on the veranda or by the fireplace.
Master class — semolina mousse.
In the afternoon, you will have a master class on traditional Karelian dessert and a guide's story about Karelian traditions, including gastronomic ones.
After an active day, you will have dinner and relax.
If desired, and for an additional fee, you can order a Russian bath or a furako bath right on the shore of Lake Ladoga.

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Day 2 - On motor boats along the Ladoga skerries. Master classes: "fish on a log", gravlax
In the morning, a Karelian-style breakfast will be served for you.
Next, you will embark on a motorboat route along the Ladoga skerries (about 4 hours) with an ascent to the panoramic points of the Ladoga skerries.
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.
A hot picnic lunch will be organized on the route.
You will have a master class by the campfire: "fish on a log", as well as a lohikeitto — ear with red fish, sbiten and more.
After the walk, you will have the opportunity to relax, chat, play board games or walk around the glamping area.
Next, you will have a master class in gravlax and trout cutting by trims.
You will learn the ancient features of cooking fish that have survived to the present day, and participate in the process of salting rainbow trout.
By marking TRIM with a letter designation on the package, you can determine how many bones, fins, bellies, etc. have been removed, and you can choose one or another cutting of fish.
In the evening, the program includes a gala dinner in a restaurant overlooking Ladoga and a tasting of fish dishes of northern and Karelian cuisine: Finnish egg salad with red caviar, trout cutlets, Karelian traditional rye pie with white fish (immersive serving from the chef of the gourmet restaurant "Vkareliiest"), Karelian pie with berries.

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park. Master class on wickets
Breakfast.
A master class on wickets.
The gate is the main symbol and brand of the Republic of Karelia. At the master class, you will learn about the oldest ways of baking gates, get acquainted with the customs of ritual baking and create your own unique gate.
In the final, a surprise awaits you — a tasting of gravlax on the gates with vodka.
Lunch at glamping.
After the master class, you will have free time to get ready, have lunch and then you will go by motor boats to the pier, where a transfer to the Ruskeala Mountain Park will be waiting for you (1 hour on the way).
A guided land tour awaits you here. Ruskeala marble quarry. The quarry is a huge system of underground tunnels and tunnels connected by vertical shafts.
Ruskeala marble quarry is a monument of cultural heritage of Russia. Development began here in 1765. The walls of the famous St. Isaac's Cathedral, Ladozhskaya and Primorskaya metro stations in St. Petersburg are decorated with Ruskeal marble.
Return to Sortavala.
After the tour of the mountain park, you will go back to Sortavala on the unique Ruskeala Express.
This is a steam-powered tourist retro train running along the route of the overland road, which used to deliver Ruskeala marble to Lake Ladoga.
After arriving in the city, you will have an evening walk with a guide, a story about the city of Sortavala.
Visit the souvenir shop and go home.
Return tickets must be purchased for train No. 160A departing from Sortavala at 20:37 on the final day of the tour.

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Difficulty

Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers

Accommodation

Camp Site

2 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.

For the third person in the tent, when placed in an additional sleeping place upstairs, we provide a 10% discount.

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.
A coffee table and two armchairs.
Bedside table-tray.
Box spring beds + extra the place is 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, a tea area, designer lamps, a fireplace area with armchairs, a showcase with souvenirs, a projector, board games, an 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.
The campfire area.
The barbecue area.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 24 tourists

Minimum age

14 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Russia, Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Included in price

double accommodation in glamping (2 nights);
three meals a day according to the program (except dinner on the last day);
transfers according to the program;
5 cooking classes;
author's guided tour of Havus Island;
Ladoga Skerries route;
tickets for the Ruskeala Express;
the work of chefs, waiters and other glamping staff.

Paid extra

railway tickets to Sortavala and back;
dinner on the last day of the tour;
a visit to the furako bathhouse (session up to 2 hours) - 6,000 rubles.;
visit to the Russian bath (2 hour session, up to 4 people) — 8,000 rubles.;
single accommodation in the dome — 15,000 rubles/person;
souvenirs and extras. glamping services.

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);
change of underwear.

Clothing and shoes:

comfortable sportswear for outdoor walks (according to the weather);
2 pairs of shoes: trekking boots / rubber boots + sneakers / lightweight replacement boots;
waterproof and windproof clothes for traveling on the lake;
headdress (cap, panama hat, sports hat).

Dates and Prices

Individual dates available on request

1 Sep – 31 Oct

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No need to pay now
US$ 635

6 – 8 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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US$ 635

18 – 20 Oct 3 days 2 nights

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