White nights in Karelia. Excursion program and rafting on the Shuya River

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Most travelers associate white nights with St. Petersburg.

However, the Karelian Republic is located much further north, so the sun does not go completely below the horizon and emits a certain amount of light. This time of picturesque landscapes is not for nothing considered the most romantic and curious period of the year among the many tourists seeking to visit the region in summer.

Of course, locals appreciate this unique opportunity no less than visitors, and therefore during the white nights in Karelia you can not only admire the surrounding landscapes, but also attend various events specially timed to this time.

Location

Petrozavodsk

from

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

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Tour highlights

Ruskeala

Let's admire the beauty and grandeur of the marble canyon

Solovetsky Islands

Let's immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of this place, because we will have 3 whole days to explore the island

Kizhi

We will visit the island, which is the "calling card" not only of Karelia, but also of Russia

Rafting on the Shuya River

We will arrange an exciting rafting trip along the most famous river of Karelia

Kivach Waterfall

We will see one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe

Karelian cuisine

Let's try the famous local cuisine

Itinerary

Day 1 - Rafting on the Shuya River
Arrival in Petrozavodsk, self-delivery of things to the storage room of the Peter Inn hotel.
09:45 Meeting with the instructor at the Peter Inn hotel.
Departure for rafting.
You must have: spare clothes, shoes (shoes must be of a sporty type – sneakers, sneakers, light summer shoes such as "flip-flops" are allowed, but with a fixed back).
In case of rain, a rain cape.
Departure to the beginning of the rafting. Yumanishki.
Safety instructions.
The issue of equipment (saved. vests, paddles).
Rafting on the Shuya River, 8 km.
Arrival in the village of Polyana, delivery of equipment, changing clothes.
Picnic by the campfire.
Return to the city Petrozavodsk approximately by 16:00.
Independent accommodation in a hotel.
Free time.

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Day 2 - Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk. Kizhi Island
A buffet breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant.
Meeting with the guide in the lobby of the Peter Inn hotel.
Sightseeing tour of the capital of Karelia and a walk along the Onega embankment.
And now we offer you to plunge into the friendly atmosphere of the northern city, the capital of Karelia – the city of Petrozavodsk.
On the sightseeing tour you will see the beautiful embankment of Lake Onega, where you will find the "Tree of Desires" and other avant-garde sculptures donated to the city by the twin cities. Be sure to take a look at the Governor's Park.
Excursion to Kizhi Island.
Ride on the "Comet" (1 hour 20 min. along Lake Onega).
Kizhi Island is a "calling card" not only of Karelia, but also of Russia.
The unique ensemble of the Churchyard is known all over the world, and every year the flow of tourists wishing to visit the island is only growing.
An excursion program through the museum-reserve with a visit to the Intercession Church and ethnographic expositions.
Return to the city Petrozavodsk.

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Day 3 - Ruskeala Mountain Park. Valaam Island (for an additional fee)
Early rise.
Breakfast with a lunch box.
Departure by comfortable bus to West Karelia (280 km).
Excursion to Ruskeala Mountain Park.
The park was created in 2005 on the basis of a unique monument of the industrial heritage of Russia, the Ruskeala marble quarry.
Marble mining was started here in 1769 by decree of Catherine II to decorate the famous buildings of St. Petersburg: the Marble Palace, St. Isaac's Cathedral, the Mariinsky Palace, etc.
The combination of Karelian nature and human activity has given these quarries a surprisingly picturesque appearance, which attracts travel enthusiasts not only from Karelia.
The next stop is at the Ruskeala Akhvenkoski waterfall.
The bathing scene of one of the heroines of the film "And the dawns are quiet here" was filmed at this waterfall.
Amazingly picturesque nature invariably attracts the creators of modern films with its mysterious beauty and some mysterious power.
In 2010, a fantasy film "The Dark World" was shot here (entrance to the waterfall is paid independently on the spot at the box office).
Guests who do not go on an excursion to Valaam Island can stay longer in the Ruskeala Mountain Park and come to Sortavala by taxi on their own (cost approximately 900 rubles) or come to Sortavala with a group and walk around the city.
For an additional fee, an excursion to Valaam Island (booked upon purchase of the tour, paid on site).
Arrival in the city Sortavala.
Departure by Meteor to Valaam Island (45 minutes along Lake Ladoga).
Arrival at the monastery bay.
Sightseeing tour of the central manor of the monastery with a visit The Transfiguration Cathedral, chapels, cell buildings, household and hotel buildings.
Lunch in the monastery refectory.
Return to the city Sortavala.
Return to the hotel.
Attention: water excursion to the island.Valaam will take place under favorable weather conditions!

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Day 4 - Kivach Waterfall
Buffet breakfast.
Room release.
Visit to the Shungite Center.
A visit to the souvenir center, where you can buy figurines, cosmetics, jewelry made of shungite at wholesale prices.
As well as a visit to the relaxation room filled with the vitality of shungite.
Natural black stone is a real miracle.
A cure for many diseases, saving lives.
It is suitable for an old man and a baby, a man and his home, it can make any place bright, clean and blessed.
Departure to the city of Kem.
Excursion to Kivach waterfall – one of the largest flat waterfalls in Europe.
You will also visit the arboretum, the decoration and pride of which are the famous Karelian birches.
Karelian birch is a tree to which nature has given the amazing beauty of wood, reminiscent of marble in its pattern.
Even in the 21st century. There is a debate among scientists about the origin of this amazing tree.
Lunch at the cafe.
Arrival in Kem.
20:00 Accommodation at the Berth tourist complex Rabochyostrovsk.
Free time.

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Day 5 - Solovetsky Islands
Breakfast.
Room release.
Transfer by boat to the Solovetsky Islands (2 hours on the White Sea).
Arrival at the Bay of Well-being.
Things are transported to the hotel.
Sightseeing tour of the Central manor of the monastery.
The tour introduces visitors to the history of the Solovetsky Monastery, the Solovetsky Special Purpose Camp, the Training Detachment of the Northern Fleet and the Jung School.
Tourists visit the territory of the central complex of the monastery, active temples, monuments included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, objects of economic activity of the monastery, expositions.
Lunch at the cafe.
Accommodation at the hotel.

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Day 6 - Boat trip to Bolshoy Zayatsky Island (for an additional fee)
Breakfast and lunch at the cafe.
For an additional fee, you can enjoy a boat trip to Bolshoy Zayatsky Island (booked with the tour, paid on the spot).
On the island you will visit the largest pagan sanctuary of the II-I millennia BC, see stone labyrinths, a complex of religious and burial structures, Russia's first stone harbor, monuments of the St. Andrew's Monastery.
Free time.
Dinner for an additional fee. for a fee in one of the island's cafes.

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Day 7 - Sekirnaya Mountain and Botanical Garden (for an additional fee)
Breakfast and lunch at the cafe.
Room release.
Things in the luggage room.
Excursion for an additional fee "Sekirnaya Mountain and Botanical Garden" (booked together with the tour, paid on site).
We invite you to visit one of the highest points of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island – Mount Sekirnaya, from the top of which you can enjoy an unforgettable view of the northern part of Bolshoy Solovetsky Island and the White Sea.
To get acquainted with the history and monuments of the current Holy Ascension Monastery, where at the time of the Solovetsky camp there was a penal isolation ward - a place of detention and punishment of prisoners.
To see the unique lighthouse church.
And also, take a look at one of the northernmost botanical gardens in Russia, which is located on the territory of the former Makaryevskaya desert, see monuments, unique plantings of various periods of the history of the Solovetsky Islands, enjoy an amazing view of the ensemble of the Solovetsky Monastery, opening from Alexandrovskaya Hill.
Return to the village.
16:00 Boarding the ship.
18:00 Return to Kem.
18:00 Accommodation at the Berth tourist complex.
Tourists from St. Petersburg can leave Kemi by evening train No. 21 Kem — St. Petersburg at 20:39. In this case, a discount is provided:
For double occupancy — 2,000 rubles/person.
For single occupancy — 3,000 rubles/person.
For additional information. place — 1,500 rubles/person.

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Day 8 - Departure home
Breakfast.
Room release.
Transfer to the railway station By whom.
Departure:
to Moscow, train No. 091A Kem — Moscow at 10:10;
to St. Petersburg, train No. 015A Kem — St. Petersburg at 06:48.

Difficulty

Involves moderate physical activity

Tour organizer's comments

The tour has large bus crossings of up to 300 km in one direction

Accommodation

Hotel

5 nights
Camp Site

2 nights

Comfort

Upscale

The tour includes accommodation in hotels and at a campsite.

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

Placement	Cost
Double room	66 400
Single room	85 800
Additional place	55 500

Tourists from St. Petersburg can leave Kemi on the seventh day of the tour by evening train No. 21 Kem - St. Petersburg. In this case, a discount is provided:

For double occupancy — 2,000 rubles/person.
For single occupancy — 3,000 rubles/person.
For additional information. place — 1,500 rubles/person.

Discount for children under 10 years old — 3,000 rubles.

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

The bright rooms are decorated in a modern style and equipped with air conditioning. Each room is equipped with a flat-screen TV, telephone and safe. The private bathroom is equipped with a hairdryer. Some rooms offer scenic views of Lake Onega.

The Paulaner Restaurant with its own brewery serves Bavarian, local and international cuisine. Snacks and cocktails are available at the cafe. The hotel also has a sushi bar and a coffee lounge.

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Tour conditions

Group

up to 50 tourists

Minimum age

7 years old

Duration

8 days 7 nights

Group meets at

Petrozavodsk

Included in price

hotel accommodation;
meals according to the program (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 picnic);
transportation services along the route;
the work of a guide;
entrance tickets;
tour service:
- city tour of Petrozavodsk;
- Kizhi Island tour;
- excursion to the Ruskeala mountain Park "Marble Canyon";
- excursion to the Kivach waterfall;
- visit to the Kivach Nature Reserve Museum;
- visit to the arboretum of Karelian Birch on the territory of the Kivach Nature Reserve;
- sightseeing tour of the Solovetsky Monastery;
- rafting on the Shuya River.

Paid extra

air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back from Kemi;
meals not specified in the tour program;
entrance to the Akhvenkoski waterfall — 450 rubles/person.;
excursion to Valaam Island (booked upon purchase of the tour, paid on the spot):
- adults — 5,500 rubles/person.;
- children under 12 years old inclusive — 3,000 rubles/person.;
the fee for visiting the protected area "Valaam Archipelago" (payment independently on the website of the Directorate of Specially Protected Natural Territories of regional significance of the Republic of Karelia) is 100 rubles/person.;
boat trip to Bolshoy Zayatsky Island with an excursion (booked together with the tour, paid on site) — 1,300 rubles/person.;
excursion to the Sekirnaya Mountain. Holy Ascension skete — 1,500 rubles/person.

It's important to know

1. Medical preparations for individual needs.

2. Documents: passport, insurance policy (medical), when traveling with children — children's birth certificate.

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 monasteries and temples, women will need a headscarf and a skirt below the knee, and men will need long trousers.

Please note that in summer, especially in early June, temperature differences from +30°C to +10°C are possible. Therefore, take care in advance of warm clothes, windbreakers, hats and comfortable, familiar, worn shoes, because you will have to spend a lot of time on your feet.

Dates and Prices

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1 – 8 Jun, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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8 – 15 Jun, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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15 – 22 Jun, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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29 Jun – 6 Jul, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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20 – 27 Jul, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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27 Jul – 3 Aug, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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3 – 10 Aug, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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10 – 17 Aug, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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31 Aug – 7 Sep, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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7 – 14 Sep, 2025 8 days 7 nights

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