Tastes of Karelia. Winter gastronomic tour

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The Northern Ladoga region, where we are conducting the program, 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!

This program is ideal for long weekends with family and friends or team building events.

The program is attended by the stars of gastronomy Olga Belonogova and Ivan Balin from the museum-restaurant "Vkareliiest", specialists in Karelian traditional and Karelian author's cuisine.

Location

Russia, Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Delicious master classes

Let's learn how to cook rainbow trout, Karelian dessert and famous wickets

Dome glamping on the island

A secluded and relaxing vacation on the shore of a frozen lake

Gala dinner with a view of Ladoga

In the panoramic lounge area, we will taste dishes of northern and Karelian cuisine

Time alone with yourself

In your free time, you can go skiing, try snowshoes, Finnish sledges or sit quietly by the fireplace

Ruskeala Express

After a walk through the Ruskeala Mountain Park, we will take a retro train through snow-covered Karelia

Climbing the Haukkariutta Rock

From a height of more than 40 meters you will have a wonderful view of the Ladoga skerries

Itinerary

Day 1 - Havus Island itinerary, master classes: mushroom soup, lingonberry mousse
The journey starts in Sortavala, where you need to get to on your own on the first day of the program.
We recommend purchasing tickets for train No. 160B upon arrival from Moscow.
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 airboat (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.
The route on Havus Island.
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.
Lunch is a picnic.
After the walk, you will have a delicious picnic lunch and a master class by the campfire 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 go skiing, try snowshoes, Finnish sledges or sit quietly with a book by the fireplace.
Master class — lingonberry mousse.
In the afternoon, you will have a master class on lingonberry 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 airboats on 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 an airboat 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.
Picnic and "fish on a log".
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 lohikato ear with red fish, sbiten, our signature glegg 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.
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.
You will learn the ancient features of cooking fish that have survived to the present day, participate in the process of preparing and salting rainbow trout.
In the evening, you will find a story about the history of Karelian baking, 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 pies with white fish. It will be delicious!

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park, a master class on gates
Breakfast.
After breakfast, a master class on gates will be organized for you.
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 airboat to the pier, where a transfer to the Ruskeala Mountain Park will be waiting for you (1 hour on the way).
A guided ground tour awaits you at Ruskeala.
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.
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 plying 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.
We recommend buying return tickets for train No. 160A departing from Sortavala 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

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 a tent is 15,000 rubles.

Discount for the third person in the tent, when placed in an additional sleeping place upstairs — 10%.

On the territory of glamping:

a panoramic lounge area where breakfast and dinner will be served for you, a dining and tea room (always available to guests) areas are organized inside the tent, as well as a relaxation area with a fireplace and board games;
There are 13 domed tents, each designed for 2-3 people. Inside there are two comfortable lower beds or one large one for couples and an extra bed upstairs, a bedside table, two armchairs and a coffee table by the panoramic window overlooking the forest and lake. There is also a wardrobe, sockets, a toilet and a washbasin. Each guest is provided with two towels. You will be warm, each dome has electric shutters and a fireplace with automatic fuel supply, you will not have to get up at night and throw firewood;
stylish and comfortable showers and toilets (on site);
2 baths-furako — heated outdoor fonts right on the shore of the lake, here you can relax with a wonderful view;
a campfire area with seating where you can arrange atmospheric evening gatherings.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 26 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;
the airboat route along the Ladoga skerries;
tickets for the Ruskeala Express;
the work of chefs, waiters and other glamping staff.

Paid extra

train tickets to Sortavala and back;
a visit to the furako bathhouse (optional, a session up to 2 hours) - 6,000 rubles.;
visit to the Russian bath (optional, 2—hour session, up to 4 people) - 8,000 rubles.;
single accommodation in a tent — 15,000 rubles.;
dinner on the last day of the tour;
souvenirs and additional services in glamping (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;
change of underwear;
bathing accessories (for visiting the bathhouse or furako).

Clothing and shoes:

a warm winter jacket and trousers (preferably windproof, a ski suit will do);
2 pairs of comfortable and warm shoes, one of the pairs of shoes is better with water protection
a warm and light hat;
gloves or mittens (2 pairs);
wool socks (2 pairs);
thermal underwear;
comfortable clothes for glamping.

Dates and Prices

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

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13 – 15 Dec 3 days 2 nights

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24 – 26 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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21 – 23 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights

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