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

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Enjoy unforgettable May holidays in the heart of Karelia!

We invite you to take a tour of the most picturesque corners of this amazing region.

You will enjoy a walk around Petrozavodsk, Kivach Waterfall – one of the most famous waterfalls in Karelia, the first Russian resort "Marcial Waters", as well as a creative master class.

Don't miss the chance to spend a weekend surrounded by beautiful nature and learn more about the culture and traditions of Karelia!

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

Tour highlights

The history of Petrozavodsk

Explore the historical center, the Governor's Park and the monument to Peter the Great.

Kivach Nature Reserve

Admire the most famous waterfall in Karelia, which is praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero"

Gingerbread master class

You will master the painting and decoration of gingerbread. You can eat hand-decorated masterpieces on the spot or take them with you along with a cheerful festive mood.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Petrozavodsk city tour. A master class on painting and decorating gingerbread. Sled dog kennel (for an additional fee)
We meet our dear guests at the Petrozavodsk railway station upon arrival of train No. 18 (~07:50).
The guide greets you with a sign saying "May holidays".
Tourists arriving on earlier trains or on their own transport approach the meeting place.
For tourists arriving by train No. 92 (~ at 10:00), a meeting will be arranged at the railway station and a free transfer to meet the group on the route. In this case, tourists have breakfast on their own.
Tourists arriving from St. Petersburg at 11:57 on the Swallow (train number 804H) skip breakfast, a sightseeing tour and a master class on national pastries. The cost of unproven services is deducted from the tour.
Meeting of tourists at the railway station upon arrival of the Lastochka train.
Breakfast in a cozy cafe.
Guided tour of the capital of the Republic of Karelia (duration 1.5–2 hours).
Petrozavodsk is the younger brother of St. Petersburg, born in the same year.
It was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great.
You will get acquainted with the historical center, the monument to Peter the Great, the Governor's Park.
A promenade along the beautiful city embankment along Lake Onega, where there is a collection of original sculptures located in the open air.
The guide will also show you cozy restaurants and cafes where you can taste national cuisine.
Gingerbread workshop from the Karelian Gingerbread Workshop. You will master the painting and decoration of gingerbread.
You can eat hand-decorated masterpieces on the spot or take them with you along with a cheerful festive mood.
A delicious lunch.
Accommodation at the selected hotel after the end of the excursion program.
Optional, for an additional fee, an excursion to the kennel of sled dogs and reindeer (duration 2.5–3 hours).
Booking an excursion when ordering a tour.
You will touch the beautiful world of the Far North and the distinctive culture of the ancient Sami, learn how tundra deer live.
In the largest sled dog kennel, you will make friends with the best athletes in Russia — energetic Alaskan huskies, good-natured malamutes and sociable Siberian huskies.
In the Sami village, you can visit the indigenous people of Karelia and try on the traditional costumes of the northern peoples.
Cost (for a group of 4 people or more):
adult — 2,500 rubles/person.;
children under 12 years old — 2,300 rubles/person.
Transportation service along the route is included, as well as a guided tour of the nursery.

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Day 2 - The resort "Marcial waters". Girvas volcano. Kivach Waterfall
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for a country tour of the first Russian resort "Marcial waters" — volcano Girvas — Kivach waterfall (duration about 8 hours).
An introduction to the interesting history of the Marcial Waters resort, founded by Peter the Great in the 18th century.
Tasting of water from three healing springs.
Inspection of the Church of St. St. Peter the Apostle, built in 1721 according to the drawings of the emperor himself.
Next, the route lies to the area of the village of Girvas, where the remains of Karelia's oldest volcano, which is about 3 billion years old, are located.
Petrified lava flows can be observed in the drained riverbed of the Suna River.
And if we're lucky, we'll see an amazing sight – the spring spillway at the Girvassky hydroelectric power station.
The height of the falling water is about 32 meters.
A truly fascinating event that usually takes place only once a year, during the May holidays.
Lunch.
The final stop of the excursion day is the Kivach Nature Reserve.
In the reserve you will admire the Kivach waterfall, the most famous in Karelia.
He is praised in Russian poetry as the "northern hero".
Here you will also see the Karelian birch, the famous "Cinderella" of the northern forests, get acquainted with the arboretum collection and the nature museum.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Transfer to the railway station.
Departure by evening trains after 18:00.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

1 night

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes accommodation in a hotel in Petrozavodsk.

The cost of the tour for 1 person, depending on the accommodation, RUB.:

Placement

Cost

Karelia 4* Spa Hotel

breakfast buffet

16,900 rubles/person. – in a 2-bed dbl room (no extra space required)

17,800 rubles/person. – in a 2-bed Junior Suite
(1 extra bed is possible in the room)

19,700 rubles/person. – in a 1-bed room

14,500 rubles/person - in an additional place

Peter Inn 4* Hotel

breakfast buffet

16,900 rubles/person – in a 2-bed standard double room

21,200 rubles/person – 1-bed accommodation in a standard room

14,500 rubles/person – in an additional place

Hotel "Severnaya" 4*

breakfast buffet

17,600 rubles/person – in a 2-bed suite room

19,200 rubles/person – in a 1-bed room

14,500 rubles/person – in an additional place

Discounts:

child under 7 years old — 1000 rubles/person.;
a child of 8-16 years — 700 rubles / person.;
for tourists arriving by Lastochka train at 11:57 a.m. — 1,000 rubles/person.

Hotel Severnaya 4*

The Severnaya Hotel is located in the very center of Petrozavodsk, surrounded by major attractions and infrastructure facilities.

The hotel offers comfortable and modern rooms, which are fully equipped with everything you need. Each room has everything you need: ergonomic furniture, modern appliances and an individual bathroom. Regular cleaning is carried out everywhere.

Delicious and hearty breakfasts are served every morning, which are fully equipped with everything you need. There is also a restaurant consisting of several halls.

There is a bus stop near the hotel, as well as a museum of local lore and picturesque parks for long walks.

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Another option

Peter Inn Hotel 4*

The Piter Inn is located in the center of Petrozavodsk, just a 2-minute walk from the central train station. It offers a 24-hour gym, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour front desk.

Each room has a telephone, air conditioning, a TV with digital channels and a safe. The private bathroom comes with a hairdryer.

The Paulaner Restaurant, which has its own brewery, serves Bavarian, local and international cuisine. The cafe serves European cuisine, desserts and coffee.

The hotel has conference facilities. Guests can make use of the laundry service.

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Another option

Karelia Spa Hotel 4*

Karelia 4* Spa Hotel is one of the best representatives of hotel service in Petrozavodsk. It is located in the city center at Gulling Embankment, 2.

The hotel has cozy and bright rooms, which have everything you need for a comfortable stay: comfortable furniture, TV, desk. The bathroom has a shower and toiletries.

It features a chic restaurant, a spa, a swimming pool and a sauna. Free parking and Wi-Fi are available on site. The restaurant serves breakfast and a variety of local dishes.

The hotel can host a business event of any format, with a variety of modern equipment available in the hotel's conference room.

The train station is 2.1 km from Karelia Hotel, while Petrozavodsk Airport is 21 km away.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 30 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

2 days 1 night

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

accommodation in the selected hotel (1 night in Petrozavodsk);
meals according to the program (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches);
Petrozavodsk sightseeing Tour;
delicious master class on painting Karelian gingerbread;
Kivach Nature Reserve tour;
Marcial waters;
Girvas Volcano Tour;
transportation services according to the program;
the guide and accompanying person work for 2 days.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
meals not included in the price of the tour;
excursion to the kennel of sled dogs and reindeer (reservation when ordering the tour, payment in cash to the tour guide):
- adult — 2,500 rubles/person.;
- children under 12 years old — 2,300 rubles/person.

It's important to know

Insurance is not included in the tour program. You can purchase additional travel insurance on the website of a Large Country without commission directly from insurance companies.

It is also important to remember that the period from early May to mid-June is particularly dangerous due to the activity of encephalitic ticks. Prepare in advance for a trip to Karelia during this period – get a preventive vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis, take with you a special ointment, as well as clothes and hats that cover all parts of the body as much as possible.

The best protection against ticks is compliance with safety regulations.:

It is not recommended to climb into impenetrable thickets of low-growing shrubs unnecessarily.
When moving along the forest road, do not tear off branches.
The legs should be completely covered (shorts are not recommended).
Sweatpants, tights (preferably with a smooth surface) should be tucked into socks.
It is mandatory to have a headdress (cap, headscarf).
It is advisable to hide long hair under a headdress.
After hiking in the forest, it is necessary to check (shake off) both outerwear and underwear.
Examine the whole body.
Be sure to comb your hair with a fine comb. If you find a crawling tick, it must be burned. Ticks are very tenacious, it is impossible to crush it.

If you find a tick that has already bitten into your skin:

In any case, do not pull it yourself, because you can detach the body from the head (the head can exist without a body).
To remove the tick, it is necessary to fill it with camphor or vegetable oil, after 10-15 minutes carefully pull out the tick with tweezers.
Lubricate the bite site with greenery or iodine.

Vaccination provides the most effective protection. If the immunization schedule is followed, human diseases are extremely rare and, as a rule, occur in a mild form. The difficulty of vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis lies in the duration of the vaccination course, and you can learn more at the vaccination center in your region.

It should be remembered that all vaccinations must be completed 2 weeks before the start of the tick season, i.e. by the end of March.

Tick bite insurance is not included in the price of the tour. We recommend that you insure your health.

Reviews

N
Nina

about provider

15 Jun, 2025

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Thank you so much for organizing such a wonderful experience. The excursions were heartfelt and meaningful, and the guides were fantastic. We visited some truly remarkable places and were very pleased.:) I’d especially like to mention our guide Lyudmila — a warm, kind-hearted woman who shared incredibly engaging and insightful information.
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Anna

about provider

6 Jun, 2025

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I discovered the tour provider "Big Country" online while searching for vacation options on the White Sea. Out of many offers, theirs stood out and immediately caught my attention. I submitted a request and received a callback very quickly. From that point on, nearly all communication — including booking and registration — was handled through Telegram, with the occasional phone call when clarification was needed. The managers were consistently polite and friendly. It was my first time working with them, and I sincerely hope it won’t be the last. There are several things I especially appreciated about the organization of the Solovetsky Islands tour: 1). The option to book a private room (without roommates) for an additional fee — a big plus for solo travelers. 2). The ability to pay for the trip in installments by a set deadline. "Big Country" offers a convenient payment system where you can always check the total cost, the amount already paid, and the remaining balance. Multiple payment methods are accepted — card, bank transfer, and more. After each payment, I received Big Country receipts and confirmations via email and Telegram. 3). The managers responded promptly to any questions I had during the trip. 4). A transfer was provided from the train station to the hotel, with early check-in arranged at the hotel in Rabocheostrovsk. 5). Meals were thoughtfully included: breakfast before departing to the island, a set lunch after the island and monastery tour, and buffet breakfasts at the hotel. 6). We were accompanied by a lead guide who explained everything clearly, met us at the tourist base, and made sure the group knew where to go — from breakfast locations to the pier for the boat to Solovki. After the tour, she also ensured a smooth return to Kem. On the islands themselves, she handed us over to local guides for excursions and met us again afterwards. 7). The tour was very well organized. Aside from the scheduled excursions, there was plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. Some rented bikes to ride through the village or forest, others went on boat rides, and some simply wandered around enjoying the scenery. 8). A return transfer to the train station and a follow-up message after the trip — small touches, but much appreciated. All in all, the experience was outstanding — great service + excellent organization+ a high level of comfort. The providers really left a lasting impression.
S
Svetlana

about provider

17 May, 2025

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Thank you. Everything was excellent. From the warm welcome at the train station to the hotel check-out before heading home, everything was well organized. I also appreciated that we had some free time to explore the beautiful sights of Karelia on our own (although we were told we'd have two hours at each stop, they were often combined, which made the schedule feel a bit rushed).

To Karelia for the May holidays

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Reviews

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