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

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The North has always been famous for its rich history, cultural heritage and magnificent northern nature.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, want to immerse yourself in a unique culture, enjoy the colors of diverse nature and experience the unique atmosphere of the northern summer, then welcome to Karelia!

Location

Petrozavodsk

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

The power of shungite

Visit the unique facility where shungite products are made and taste fragrant willow tea.

The famous mountain park

Get to know the unique natural landscapes

Valaam Island

Take a guided tour of the central estate of the monastery with a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Assumption Church, chapels and cell buildings.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Excursion "Legends of the Salmi Strait". Marcial Waters. Kivach Waterfall
Arrival in Petrozavodsk by train No. 018A. The guide meets the group on the platform at the building with a spire.
Breakfast in the restaurant.
Ecological tour "Legends of the Salmi Strait".
Visit the Church of the Presentation of the Lord, the Botanical Garden of Petrozavodsk University, which is located among rocks and coniferous forests on the slope of a relict volcano.
A visit to the unique natural monument of the legendary rock-throne "Devil's Chair", which offers a stunning panorama of Petrozavodsk and the Petrozavodsk Bay of Lake Onega.
A visit to the unique KARSTONE facility, which manufactures products from the most useful mineral on earth — shungite from the Zazhoginsky deposit.
You can make up your mind by visiting the "shungite cave", where you can have a relaxation session. You will enjoy a tasting of delicious and fragrant Ivan tea made from Karelian herbs. The walls of the room are lined with shungite tiles.
Products made of "black stone" will be offered to your attention, which you can buy as souvenirs.
Lunch at a cafe on the route.
Visit Kivach Waterfall, one of the largest lowland waterfalls in Europe. Inspection of the Museum of Nature and the grove of Karelian birch.
Departure for a country trip with a visit to the first Russian resort of Marcial Waters.
Visit to the Church of the Apostle Peter, built in 1721 for vacationers of the resort.
It contains chiseled candlesticks made by the hands of Peter the Great, an original iconostasis celebrating the victory of Russian weapons in the Northern War (painting of the first quarter of the XVIII century), carved wooden sculpture and other elements of the temple that have been preserved since Peter the Great.
Transfer to the hotel.
Placement.

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Day 2 - Valaam Island. Ruskeala Mountain Park
Early departure for the tour from the hotel.
Breakfast – lunch box.
Transfer to the town of Sortavala (250 km).
Arrival in Sortavala.
Departure along Lake Ladoga to Valaam Island (50 minutes on the way).
Sightseeing tour of the central estate of the monastery with a visit to the Transfiguration Cathedral, the Assumption Church, chapels, cell buildings, outbuildings and hotel buildings.
Lunch in the monastery refectory.
New Jerusalem tour.
The center of the "New Jerusalem" is the Resurrection Skete, located on the high Ladoga coast, which was completely restored and consecrated for its 100th anniversary in 2006.
The lower church of this hermitage, which resembles early Christian temples in its decoration, has a semblance of the cave of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
From the Resurrection Skete, the forest road goes towards the man-made Garden of Gethsemane, where, among the southern broad-leaved trees and picturesque lilac bushes, there is a small, cozy Gethsemane skete with the wooden Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The tour ends on Mount of Olives, where one of the most poetic views of Ladoga opens from the Chapel of the Ascension of the Lord.
The "New Jerusalem" tour can be replaced by the "Nikolsky Hermitage" tour.
Return to Sortavala.
Transfer to Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Marble Canyon tour.
During this tour you will get acquainted with the unique natural landscapes.
For more than 70 years (until the middle of the nineteenth century), decorative light gray marble was broken out in local quarries to decorate the temples and palaces of St. Petersburg, the fountains of Petrodvorets, the columns of Tsarskoye Selo and Gatchina.
Magical lakes with clear water in a beautiful Ruskeal marble bowl will make an indelible impression.
Later return to Petrozavodsk.

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Day 3 - The historical center of Petrozavodsk. Kizhi Island (optional)
Breakfast.
Room release (things are checked into the luggage room).
Walking tour of the historical center "From the history of Petrozavodsk".
The architectural ensemble of the Round Square, the Governor's Garden, the Theater Square, the embankment of Lake Onega with the world's only open-air museum of modern avant-garde sculpture.
For an additional fee, we offer you an excursion to Kizhi Island (to be booked upon purchase of the tour, to be paid on the spot). The price will be known after 04/01/2025.
In the program:
Transfer by high-speed vessel "Comet" to Kizhi Island (travel time 1 hour and 15 minutes)
Sightseeing tour of the Kizhi Museum-Reserve.
An inspection of the masterpieces of wooden architecture, which are included in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
The program ends at 12:00, if you do not go on an excursion to Kizhi. For those traveling to Kizhi, the program ends at 18:00-19:00.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale
Premium

The tour includes hotel accommodation.

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

Hotel	Double Room	Single room	Additional place
«Piter-Inn»	34 500	39 400	30 900
«Karelia&SPA»	37 000	40 700	—
"The Frigate"	38 200	44 900	31 700

Discounts:

a child under 12 years of age — 3,900 rubles/person.;
a child from 13 to 17 years old — 1,000 rubles/person.

Hotel "Piter Inn" 4*

The Piter-Inn is located in the center of Petrozavodsk, just a 2-minute walk from the central railway 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.

Standard room single room, size 19-24 sq. m., maximum capacity for 2 adults, additional location — on request.

Equipment:

working area;
carpeting;
satellite TV;
telephone;
safe deposit;
fan;
central air conditioning system with individual control;
Wi-Fi;
There is a shower cabin in the bathroom.;
Underfloor heating;
bathroom accessories;
a shoe sponge.

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Another option

Karelia SPA Hotel 4*

Karelia&SPA Hotel is located in the very center of Petrozavodsk.

It offers a well-equipped spa and rooms with panoramic views of Lake Onega and the surrounding park.

The bright rooms feature wooden floors and wooden furniture.

The rooms are equipped with a TV.

A work desk and a private bathroom are provided.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.

The elegant restaurant has large windows overlooking Lake Onega.

A buffet breakfast and a variety of traditional local dishes are served daily.

Guests of the hotel can book spa treatments and visit the sauna.

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Another option

The Fregat Hotel

The Fregat Hotel is located in a green corner of Petrozavodsk, in the city center on the picturesque embankment of Lake Onega — one of the most beautiful and romantic places in Russia. The hotel complex combines the comfort and tranquility of a country hotel with transport accessibility.

The Fregat Hotel offers its guests 80 rooms of five different categories.

60 Standard rooms, including 1 family room and 1 room for people with disabilities.

Each room features:

central ventilation/air conditioning system;
fire safety system, electronic locks;
plasma panel and interactive television;
bathroom amenities and underfloor heating in the bathroom;
desk, telephone, safe, hairdryer, mini-bar;
free Wi-Fi Internet.

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Tour conditions

Group

From 2 to 40 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

sightseeing and transportation services on the route;
entrance tickets to the display objects;
hotel accommodation in rooms of the selected category;
meals included in the program (1 breakfast, 2 lunches);
the work of a tour guide.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
transfers outside the program;
meals not included in the tour program;
excursion to Kizhi Island (to be booked upon purchase of the tour, to be paid on the spot). The price will be known after 04/01/25.

It's important to know

1. Medical preparations for individual needs.

2. Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical).

3. Comfortable sports shoes:

sneakers or moccasins, but not new, but familiar and comfortable;
replacement shoes (light sneakers or sneakers).

4. Sportswear for hot and cool weather:

The jacket is windproof, waterproof;
raincoat;
warm tracksuit (sweatshirt, pants);
T-shirts with long (from sunburn) and short sleeves;
sports trousers;
shorts;
socks.

5. Headdress: cap, panama hat (with visor).

6. Bathing suit.

7. Personal hygiene products.

8. Useful equipment:

small backpack (20-30 l);
flashlight with spare batteries;
sunscreen (required);
sunglasses.

9. For photo and video equipment, take care of an airtight package in case of rain.

To visit country excursions, you must have comfortable shoes and clothes.

Dates and Prices

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31 May – 2 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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7 – 9 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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12 – 14 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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21 – 23 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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28 – 30 Jun 3 days 2 nights

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5 – 7 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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12 – 14 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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19 – 21 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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26 – 28 Jul 3 days 2 nights

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9 – 11 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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23 – 25 Aug 3 days 2 nights

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30 Aug – 1 Sep 3 days 2 nights

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Treasures of the Karelian land