The colors of the North. Weekends in Karelia

15 more

Spend an exciting weekend in Karelia!

You will visit the famous Ruskeala Mountain Park, walk through the frozen lava of an ancient volcano, get acquainted with Petrozavodsk and take a "comet" to Kizhi Island.

You can also visit Valaam Island or take a walk around the ancient city of Sortavala.

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

from

Contact the tour coordinator

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

Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

Kizhi Island

Visit the museum of wooden architecture, in the center of which there is a magnificent ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost.

The capital of Karelia

Get to know the history of Petrozavodsk, as well as its modern appearance

Ruskeala Mountain Park

Take a walk along the extraordinary lake, framed by cliffs of light gray marble

Marcial Waters Resort

You will see the wooden church of St. Peter the Apostle and taste the healing water from three springs.

The famous waterfall

Admire one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe

The power of shungite

Relax in the shungite relaxation room, which can give you a boost of energy.

Itinerary

Day 1 - A tour of Petrozavodsk. A trip to Kizhi Island
Upon arrival of train No. 18— a meeting with a guide at the Petrozavodsk railway station under the steeple from the platform side, a sign "Colors of the North".
Breakfast in a cafe in the city.
Bus sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk and a walking tour of the unique open-air museum of modern Art (sculpture exhibition on the embankment of Lake Onega).
During the tour, you will get acquainted with the history of the city, as well as its modern appearance.
A trip by "Comet" to Kizhi Island (1 hour 20 min. along Lake Onega. On the island — 4 hours).
Kizhi Island is the pearl of Zaonezhye, located among the Kizhi skerries.
The main attraction of the island is the museum of wooden architecture, in the center of which is the ensemble of the Kizhi cemetery.
During the island tour, you will visit a traditional peasant's house, learn a lot about Karelian crafts and traditions, listen to the bells and see one of the main Orthodox shrines of the Russian North — the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Accommodation in the selected hotel (standard rooms with amenities).

8 more photos
Day 2 - Ruskeala Mountain Park, Sortavala, excursion for an additional fee to Valaam Island (optional)
Early check-out (~04:30), breakfast, lunch box (must be picked up at the hotel reception).
Transfer to the most beautiful corner of Karelia – Northern Ladoga region (260 km, 4 hours on the way), Ruskeala Mountain Park.
On the way, stop at the observation deck at the Akhinkoski waterfalls, where the footage from the movie "And the dawns here are quiet" was shot.
Upon arrival at the Ruskeala Mountain Park, there will be a Marble Canyon land tour.
The old and abandoned quarry of stone mining, which has been developed for almost three centuries, is now equipped for tourists to visit.
You will see a unique creation – a huge bowl, carved by human hands in an array of marble strata, which stretches from north to south for 456 m, and its width is 109 m.
Take a walk along the extraordinary lake, which is framed by gentle and steep cliffs of light gray marble, reaching a height of 25 m above the water mirror.
Free time in the park (until ~16:30).
Advance booking of additional services in the mountain park is not possible. Tickets for the underground route, boat rentals, meals — everything is in the order of the queue and availability of seats.
You can explore all the additional services and their cost on the official website of the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
At the specified time in the programs, the group gathers for a transfer to Sortavala.
Free time in Sortavala (~2 hours).
Optional, for an additional fee, an excursion to Valaam Island (booking in advance, payment on site).
Departure to Sortavala from the mountain park at (~12:00 pm).
Transfer by meteor along Lake Ladoga to the island of Valaam (50 min).
There is a full program on Valaam (5 hours stay on the island, walking programs).
Guided tour of the monastery's Central estate + lunch in the monastery refectory + excursion to one of the hermitages of the Valaam archipelago (the choice of the hermitage is distributed by the pilgrimage service, as technically possible):
Excursion to Nikolsky hermitage — one of the most beautiful monasteries of Valaam or "New Jerusalem". Voskresensky and Gethsemane skete, climb Mount of Olives.
Valaam is the Northern Athos, the holy monastery, the magical land. At one time, N. Roerich, I. Shishkin, A. Kuindzhi, F. Tyutchev, representatives of the Romanov dynasty, and prominent church figures loved to visit Valaam. Valaam will not leave you indifferent!
Return to Sortavala (~ 20:00 hours).
Gathering with the main group.
Optional, for an additional fee, a guided tour of the Ladoga skerries (booking in advance, payment on site).
Boarding a boat at the pier in Sortavala.
A boat trip along the Ladoga Skerries is a great opportunity to forget about the hustle and bustle of the city, be alone with the amazing nature of the North, and enjoy the extraordinary diversity of the natural landscape of the Northern Ladoga region, where sandy and pebble beaches alternate with huge boulders covered with "ram's foreheads" and steep cliffs, forming landscapes of extraordinary beauty.
The route is circular, passing around Kivisari, Laivatsaari, Karnetsaari and Honkasalo with a landing on one of the islands with a visit to the viewpoints of open Ladoga.
Return to Sortavala pier (~ 19:00 hours).
Gathering with the main group.
Transfer to Petrozavodsk (4 hours on the way).
Late arrival in Petrozavodsk (~ 00:00 hours).

2 more photos
Day 3 - The Shungite Center. Mount Sampo. The resort "Marcial Waters". The ancient volcano Girvas. Kivach Nature Reserve
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
Room release, check-out with your belongings.
Visit to the shungite center.
You will get acquainted with the mysterious mineral, here you will learn about the properties of shungite and its application, visit the shungite relaxation room, rest in which will give you an incredible charge of living energy.
After that, we will treat you to Karelian ivan tea.
Visit to the Sampo mountain.
Sampo Mountain in Karelia is considered a place of power and impresses with its beauty.
Sampo Mountain is small in height, easy to climb, and the view from the top is amazing.
Excursion to the first Russian resort "Marcial Waters".
The main object of the exhibition is the Church of St. Peter the Apostle, an architectural monument of the Peter the Great era.
The building was built in 1721 by order of Peter the Great, perhaps even according to his design and drawings.
This church is the only architectural monument preserved from the buildings of the resort of Peter the Great and associated with the stay of the tsar in the region.
A unique opportunity to taste the healing water from 3 springs known since the time of Peter I.
Visit the ancient volcano Girvas.
Fortunately, the volcano is no longer active, but we can see frozen lava, volcanic rocks and amazing landscapes.
Departure to the Kivach Nature Reserve — the oldest in Russia and the first in Karelia.
During the tour of the reserve you will see the most famous waterfall of Karelia — Kivach and the arboretum of the famous Karelian birch.
Lunch is on the way.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Transfer to the railway station.

3 more photos

Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Premium

The tour includes hotel accommodation.

The cost of the tour depends on the accommodation for 1 person until 05/01/2025, rub.:

Hotel	*Peter Inn 4 Hotel**
Double room with amenities	34 000
Single room with amenities	38 750
Additional place	30 250

The cost of the tour depends on the accommodation for 1 person from 05/01/2025, rub.:

Hotel	*Peter Inn 4 Hotel**
Double room with amenities	35 200
Single room with amenities	39 500
Additional place	31 500

Discount for children under 16 years of age — 3000 rubles.

The cost of the tour for arrival on 25-27.07.2025 is 1600 rubles more expensive for adults and 600 rubles more expensive for children under 16 (inclusive), since the Ruskeala Symphony will be held in the Ruskeala Mountain Park on 07/26/2025.

Check-out time at the hotel: check-in after 15:00, check-out before 12:00.

The Peter Inn Hotel is conveniently located in the center of Petrozavodsk and offers its guests high standards of service and a wide range of services. The reception is open 24 hours a day.

The rooms are bright rooms that are decorated in a modern style. Functional furniture and new appliances are installed in each category.

Meals are served in the restaurant, which serves local, Bavarian and international cuisine. There is also a sushi bar and a lounge cafe on site.

Business meetings, conferences and trainings are held in the equipped conference hall. The staff will organize a business meeting of any format and will take into account all the details and nuances.

Besovets International Airport is 17 kilometers away from the hotel.

2 more photos

Tour conditions

Group

From 2 to 50 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation in the selected hotel;
sightseeing and transportation services;
meals included in the tour program (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch box, 1 lunch);
entrance tickets to museums.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
Valaam Island tour (booking in advance, payment on the spot):
- until 05/01/2025:
  - adult — 6,200 rubles/person.;
  - child under 12 years old — 3,500 rubles/person.;
- from 05/01/2025:
  - adult — 6,200 rubles/person.;
  - child under 12 years old — 3,500 rubles/person.;
Ladoga Skerries tour (reservation in advance, payment on the spot):
- from 05/01/2025:
  - adult — 3,000 rubles/person.;
  - child under 12 years old — 2,800 rubles/person.;
meals not included in the tour program.

It's important to know

an identity document in an airtight package (for children — a birth certificate).
compulsory medical insurance policy;
comfortable shoes — sneakers or sneakers;
waterproof, windproof jacket;
raincoat;
a warm sweater or a warm tracksuit (sweatshirt, pants);
sports trousers;
lightweight headdress;
bathing suit;
sunglasses;
personal hygiene items: soap, towel, toothbrush and toothpaste;
repellents and remedies for mosquito and tick bites;
personal first aid kit;
photo and video equipment and sealed packaging for them in case of rain;
a small backpack (20-30 l).

Dates and Prices

$424

30 May – 1 Jun 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

6 – 8 Jun 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

13 – 15 Jun 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

20 – 22 Jun 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

27 – 29 Jun 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

4 – 6 Jul 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

11 – 13 Jul 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

18 – 20 Jul 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$444

25 – 27 Jul 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

1 – 3 Aug 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

8 – 10 Aug 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

15 – 17 Aug 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

22 – 24 Aug 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

29 – 31 Aug 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now
$424

5 – 7 Sep 3 days 2 nights

Submit request
No need to pay now

Reviews

K
Konstantin

about provider

22 Apr, 2025

The local tour operator was excellent. Vera did a fantastic job, she shared lots of interesting information along the way, which made the journey enjoyable and far from tiring. Many thanks to all the staff who accompanied us throughout the trip.

1 more photo
K
Konstantin

about provider

26 Jul, 2024

Grand tour of Karelia and the Solovetsky Islands, a very interesting and exciting tour. Comfortable accommodation and buses. Qualified guides. A competent, positive, responsible guide Vera Ivanovna. Thank you very much.