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

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We invite you to travel around Karelia! Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the northern nature and get acquainted with the cultural heritage of this amazing region.

You will visit Kizhi Island with its famous wooden architecture, the unique Ruskeala Marble Park, an excursion to the first Russian resort "Marcial Waters", as well as the opportunity to visit Valaam Island with its monastery complex and a unique atmosphere of peace and seclusion.

Location

Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Sightseeing tours

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

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Tour highlights

Dive into the history of Sortavala

Learn about the history of the city's development in different eras, cultural peculiarities and traditions, take a walk through the historical center and admire the Finnish houses.

A trip on a retro train

Take a ride on a retro train to Sortavala and enjoy the views of Karelia from the window

On the "comet" to Kizhi Island

Visit the pearl of Zaonezhye, where you will see the main attraction of the island – the museum of wooden architecture.

Cooking class

Take part in a culinary master class on cooking national dishes with tasting

Adventures to choose from

Get the opportunity to go on an additional excursion to the island of Valaam and make rafting

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival. Sortavala. Valaam Island Tour (extra charge)
08:20 Upon arrival of train No. 160 in Sortavala, meet your guide at the railway station in Sortavala (sign "Two wonderful shores").
Breakfast in a cafe in the city.
Sightseeing tour of Sortavala.
Together with an experienced guide, you will plunge into the history of Sortavala: you will learn about the development of the city in different eras, cultural features and traditions. Take a walk through the historical center and admire the Finnish houses, immersing yourself in the features of wooden architecture of the 19th century.

On request, for an additional fee, an excursion to the island of Valaam is 6000 rubles/person (payment and reservation at the time of booking).
Departure along Lake Ladoga to Valaam Island (45 min. on the way on the Meteor).
Valaam has a full program.
Guided tour of the Central manor of the monastery and an excursion to one of the monastery's hermitages.
Lunch in the monastery refectory (lenten).
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.
Free time.
Check-in at the hotel in Sortavala (tourist class hotels, rooms with amenities).
Meals: breakfast.

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Day 2 - Ruskeala Mountain Park
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
Room release, things can be left in the hotel's luggage room.
Transfer to Ruskeala Mountain Park.
Meeting with a guide in a mountain park.
Group land tour in the Ruskeala Mountain Park.
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.
In your free time, you can use additional park services (purchase at the ticket office of the park on the day of the event):
The Underground Ruskeala route;
The Abode of Angels Museum;
The Troll Museum;
The secret trails of the KALEVALA land.
Return by retro train to Sortavala.
To purchase a ticket, please send the full details.
Dinner at a cafe in the city.
Transfer to Petrozavodsk (approximately 4 hours on the way).
Later check-in at the hotel (double rooms with amenities).
Meals: breakfast and dinner.

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Day 3 - Kizhi Island
Breakfast in the hotel cafe.
Room release, things can be left in the hotel's luggage room.
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.
Transfer to Verkhovye.
Supper.
Meals: breakfast and dinner.

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Day 4 - Free day. Rafting (for an additional fee)
Breakfast at the cafe.
Free day – rest at the base.
Rafting is optional (the duration of the rafting is 5-6 hours).
Cost: 2,700 rubles/person, 2,500 rubles/student.
Meals: breakfast.

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Day 5 - Relaxing by the pool. Cooking class
Breakfast at the cafe.
Relaxing by the pool (in gazebos) with tasting of Karelian drinks and ice cream with Karelian berries.
Culinary master class on cooking national dishes with tasting - lunch.
Supper.
Meals: breakfast, cooking class and dinner.
Day 6 - The Shungite Center. Mount Sampo. Marcial Waters. Girvas volcano. Kivach Nature Reserve. Completion of the tour
Breakfast at the cafe.
Room release before 12:00, 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 the Great.
Visit the ancient volcano Girvas.
Fortunately, the volcano is no longer active, but we can see frozen lava, volcanic rocks and amazing landscapes.
Departure for a country trip 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, and the nature museum.
Lunch is on the way.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
~19:00 Transfer to the railway station.
The end of the program.
Meals: breakfast and lunch.

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Difficulty

Suitable for everyone

Accommodation

Hotel

5 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels in Petrozavodsk and Sortavala.

Tourclass hotels in Sortavala (Seurohuone, Ladoga) + in Petrozavodsk (Petra 3*, Petrozavodsk 3*, Loft 3*) + 3 nights at the Verkhovye country hotel (25 km from Petrozavodsk).

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

Double Room

(main location)

Single room

(main location)

Adult

for an additional location

(euro clamshell)

62 500

71 700

55 700

Discount for a child under 16 years of age — 3000 rubles.

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

The Seurahuone Hotel

The Seurahuone Hotel is located in Sortavala. The building has a fairly convenient location. Guests can receive the following services: 24-hour front desk, Wi-Fi, daily room cleaning.

Comfortable, cozy rooms with a view of a beautiful street, equipped with necessary furniture, a flat-screen TV. There is also a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and all accessories.

There is a cafe on site. A continental breakfast is provided every morning. There are various shops and restaurants in the immediate vicinity, where you can also eat delicious food.

The nearest airport is 96 km away.

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Another option

The Ladoga Hotel

The three-star Ladoga Hotel is located in Petrozavodsk. She offers her guests not only high-quality service by highly qualified staff, but also a wide range of services. So, you can steam in the hammam or sauna, as well as swim in the pool. There is a wellness center on site.

The room stock is represented by a large number of categories, which are equipped with everything necessary to make even a long stay as comfortable as possible. All rooms are equipped in a homely way. They have high-quality furniture and appliances, as well as a private bathroom.

Breakfast is included in the room rate, and lunches and dinners can be ordered for an additional fee, and skilled chefs will be happy to prepare the best dishes for you.

Many attractions and famous places, shops and souvenir shops, restaurants and canteens are located nearby. It is possible to get to any point of the city by public transport.

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Sortavala Hotel

The Sortavala Hotel is located in the city of the same name.

The hotel offers 67 comfortable and cozy rooms of various categories. Each room has comfortable furniture and appliances, namely a TV with cable TV, a refrigerator, a hairdryer and a bathroom. There is an elevator for easier movement around the hotel.

A delicious and hearty breakfast is served every morning at the Boulevard Restaurant. Lunch and dinner can be ordered on request.

You can also use the beauty salon, sauna or medical room on the ground floor of the hotel.

The airport serving the village is 183 km away, and it is in Petrozavodsk. The train station is 1.5 km away.

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Another option

The Petra Hotel

The Petra Hotel is located in the center of Petrozavodsk, in a historic building.

A small number of rooms will allow you to enjoy your stay in a homely and cozy atmosphere. They are equipped with air conditioning, a TV, a refrigerator and a private bathroom. A work area is installed, bottled water, a hairdryer are offered, and Wi-Fi is available on site.

The BOTTEGA gastro bar is located on the ground floor, serving dishes from Europe, Italy, Asia and the Middle East. Complex breakfasts can be ordered.

There are various parks and squares, pharmacies and shops nearby. The distance to Besovets airport is 14.4 km, and the railway station is 0.4 km away.

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Another option

Peter Inn Hotel

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.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 20 tourists

Minimum age

5 years old

Duration

6 days 5 nights

Group meets at

Republic of Karelia, Sortavala

Included in price

accommodation in the selected hotel;
sightseeing and transportation services;
meals included in the tour program (6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 cooking class, 3 dinners);
entrance fees;
the work of a guide.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Sortavala and back from Petrozavodsk;
meals not included in the tour program;
personal expenses;
guided tours on request (booking at the time of booking the tour):
- excursion to Valaam island (booking and payment upon booking) – 6000 RUB/person.;
- rafting (cost 2024):
  - adult – 2,700 rubles/person.;
  - schoolboy – 2500 rubles /person.

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 boots;
waterproof, windproof jacket;
raincoat;
a warm sweater or a warm tracksuit (sweatshirt, pants);
sports trousers;
headdress;
personal hygiene items: soap, towel, toothbrush and toothpaste;
personal first aid kit;
photo and video equipment + sealed packaging for them in case of rain;
a small backpack (20-30 l).

Dates and Prices

$638

29 May – 3 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$638

5 – 10 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$638

17 – 22 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$638

24 – 29 Jun 6 days 5 nights

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$638

1 – 6 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$638

8 – 13 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$638

15 – 20 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$638

22 – 27 Jul 6 days 5 nights

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$638

29 Jul – 3 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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No need to pay now
$638

5 – 10 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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No need to pay now
$638

12 – 17 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$638

19 – 24 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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$638

26 – 31 Aug 6 days 5 nights

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Reviews

K
Konstantin

26 Jul, 2024

about provider

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.

26 Jul, 2024

Two wonderful shores of Karelia

Location

Tour highlights

Itinerary

Accommodation

Tour conditions

Included in price

Paid extra

It's important to know

Dates and Prices

Reviews

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