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

12 more

Discover the stunning nature of Karelia during these May holidays! We invite you to an unforgettable journey full of emotions and impressions!

You will get acquainted with the capital of Karelia, visit the Marcial Waters resort, Kivach Waterfall and visit the Ruskeala Mountain Park. And also get the opportunity to ride the Ruskeala Express retro train.

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.

Marcial waters

Visit the first Russian resort and taste the waters from three springs, as well as visit the Church of St. Peter the Apostle.

Ruskeala Mountain Park

You will see the Marble Canyon, which was formed on the site of an abandoned quarry for the extraction of stone

Itinerary

Day 1 - The first Russian resort "Marcial waters" – Girvas volcano – Kivach Waterfall"
We meet our dear guests at the Petrozavodsk railway station.
Arrival by 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.
Breakfast in a cozy cafe.
Tourists arriving by train No. 92A (~at 10:00) will be met at the railway station.
In this case, tourists have breakfast on their own.
10:30 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.
Accommodation at the selected hotel after the end of the excursion program.

2 more photos
Day 2 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
Breakfast at the hotel.
Room release.
Departure for a country trip to the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Moving 260 km in one direction.
Along the way, there are picturesque Karelian landscapes, the surface of forest lakes and a magnificent panorama of Lake Ladoga framed by rocks. Travel information.
On the way, stop at a picturesque place near Ruskeala waterfalls.
The filming of the cult Soviet film "And the dawns here are quiet" took place here.
Now it is a great place for walks and photo shoots in nature.
Lunch at a cafe along the route.
Guided tour of the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
The pearl of the park is the Marble Canyon, which was formed on the site of an abandoned quarry for the extraction of stone.
For more than 200 years, decorative light gray marble has been quarried here to decorate the temples and palaces of St. Petersburg, the fountains of Petrodvorets and the columns of Tsarskoye Selo.
Today, the quarry is filled with crystal clear water filtered by sedimentary rocks.
The rock grotto and tunnels carved in marble will make an indelible impression on you.
In your free time (for an additional fee) you can:
visit the Underground Ruskeala tour;
Take a ride on a trolley and admire the bird's-eye view of Lake Marmara (zip-line);
have a meal at the cafe of the mountain park;
to buy souvenirs.
Departure by bus from Ruskeala.
We recommend purchasing a ticket for the Ruskeala Express retro train No. 922A on the Ruskeala-Sortavala route (departure at 17:00, arrival in Sortavala at 18:10).
It will be an atmospheric journey in interiors stylized for the beginning of the twentieth century. There is a dining car on the train.
Purchase train tickets in advance on the Russian Railways website (not included in the price of the tour).
The bus will meet you at the railway station in Sortavala.
Departure home (one of two options):
By train from Sortavala (transfer from Ruskeala Mountain Park to Sortavala is included in the price of the tour).
Convenient trains:
18:25 Departure to St. Petersburg No. 824B "SWALLOW" (arrival at 22:39).
Departure to Moscow No. 160A at 20:52 (arrival at 09:08 the next day).
Return to Petrozavodsk by tour bus (approximately 3.5 hours on the way).
Transfer to the railway station.
Departure by evening trains (departure time after 21:30).
If you want to extend your vacation in Karelia, we will book additional accommodation in a hotel or a country club.

4 more photos

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

19,200 rubles/person. – in a 2-bed dbl room (no extra space required)

20,200 rubles/person. – in a 2-bed Junior Suite
(1 extra bed is possible in the room)

22,000 rubles/person. – in a 1-bed room

16,500 rubles/person - in an additional place

Peter Inn 4* Hotel

breakfast buffet

19,200 rubles/person – in a 2-bed standard double room

23,300 rubles/person – 1-bed accommodation in a standard room

16,500 rubles/person – in an additional place

Hotel "Severnaya" 4*

breakfast buffet

21,300 rubles/person – in a 2-bed suite room

22,700 rubles/person – in a 1-bed room

17,900 rubles/person – in an additional place

Discounts:

child under 7 years old — 1000 rubles/person.;
a child of 8-16 years — 700 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 scenic parks for long walks.

2 more photos

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 use the laundry service.

2 more photos

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 comes with a shower and toiletries.

It offers 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.

1 more photo

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);
Kivach Nature Reserve tour;
Marcial waters;
Girvas Volcano Tour;
Ruskeala Mountain Park 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 from Sortavala / Petrozavodsk;
meals not included in the price of the tour;
The Ruskeala Express retro train.

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 the 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 find out more about it 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

2 more photos

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.
A
Anna

about provider

6 Jun, 2025

6 more photos

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

6 more photos

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 weekend

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Reviews

Similar tours