Winter expedition to Mount Vottovaara. Karelia Tour to places of power

In this tour you will go on a winter adventure in Karelia. You will see gnarled trees and stone slides on the mystical mountain of Vottovaara. You will learn how to drive a snowmobile, walk through deep snow on snowshoes and set up a camp in winter conditions. You will taste dishes of national Karelian cuisine: traditional pastries, red fish dishes, cranberries in sugar, jams from northern berries and Karelian balsam. 

With a group request of 6 people or more, it is possible to organize a tour in individual terms.

Location

Petrozavodsk
from
$616
+ tickets to the starting point of the tour
No need to pay now
Duration
3 Days
2 Nights
Departures
  • Group departures
    • 11 – 13 Jan, 2025
    • 14 – 16 Mar, 2025
    • 21 – 23 Mar, 2025
    • 28 – 30 Mar, 2025
    • 4 – 6 Apr, 2025
or
Accommodation
  • Tent
    1 night
  • Guest House
    1 night
Comfort
  • Basic
  • Basic+
Difficulty
Moderate
Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers
Group
Up to 16 people
Minimum age
15 years old
Group meet at
Petrozavodsk
Contact the tour coordinator
Weekdays: 8am - 8pm
Weekends: 8am - 7pm (GMT +3)
Or text us in messengers

Tour highlights

National Karelian cuisine
Let's try traditional wickets with potatoes, fish soup with cream and tinctures from northern berries
Snow drive
We will go to a meeting with the top of Vottovaara mountain on snowmobiles
Overnight in a winter tent
We will set up a tent camp in the heart of the wild Karelian forest at the foot of the mystical mountain

Itinerary

  • Day 1 - Snowmobiling to the foot of the mountain

    We will meet at the Petrozavodsk railway station under the clock on the main building from the platform (according to the arrival time of train No. 18 Moscow — Petrozavodsk).

    We go to a restaurant for breakfast to immediately set ourselves up for a great adventure. 

    The buffet is at your service — here everyone will find a treat to their liking. 

    During breakfast, we get to know the guide and other tour participants better.

    Let's get on the buses and go on an adventure! 

    We get to the Gimolskaya station (about 6 hours on the way with a stop for a hearty snack). 

    Instructors meet us here.

    We select equipment: overalls, waterproof shoes, balaclava, helmet, gloves.

    Instructors attach sleds with our belongings and equipment to all snowmobiles — a real expedition!

    We go through a snowmobile management briefing and go to a meeting with the top of Vottovaara Mountain

    We are driving, enjoying the winter forest. 

    The daylight hours in the north are short — we get special emotions from driving through a snowy forest illuminated by the headlights of snowmobiles!

    We set up a camp: we put up bright winter tents, heated by a wood-burning stove, we lay out the kitchen. 

    At dinner, we try Karelian dumplings, drink hot tea, sing songs around the campfire, look at the stars.

    We are located in the heart of the wild Karelian forest at the foot of a mystical mountain

    We climb into warm winter sleeping bags, chat a little and fall asleep.

  • Day 2 - Climbing Mount Vottovaara, forest expanses
  • Day 3 - Farewell to the mountain and return to the city
Difficulty
Low physical intensity for amateurs and non-experienced travelers

Accommodation

Accommodation
  • Tent
    1 night
  • Guest House
    1 night
Comfort
  • Basic
  • Basic+

The cost of the program for a group of 6 people or more:

Landing on a snowmobilePlacementPrice per person
2 people on a snowmobilein 4-bed tents and a guest house52,700 rubles/person.
1 person on a snowmobile66,200 rubles/person.
Campground with winter tents 1 night

The Ex-PRO Winter 2 winter expedition tent is heated by a wood-burning stove.

The tent is made in the form of an elongated cube: with a width of 360 cm, a length of 180 cm and a height of 200 cm in the center. The walls of the tent are insulated with sintepon 150 g/m.

The tent is designed for comfortable accommodation of 4 people.

Each participant will be provided with warm winter sleeping bags (comfort temperature -17).

1 more photo
Guest house in Gimoly village 1 night

Tour conditions

Group
up to 16 tourists
Minimum age
15 years old
Duration
3 days 2 nights
Group meets at
Petrozavodsk

Included in price

  • transportation services according to the program;
  • meals specified in the tour program;
  • accommodation according to the program: 1 night — winter tents, 1 night — guest house;
  • the work of instructors and an accompanying translator/guide;
  • snowmobile and equipment rental, fuel;
  • participation in master classes on cooking fish;
  • a snowshoe walk through the winter forest.

Paid extra

  • air and railway tickets to Petrozavodsk and back;
  • accommodation before and after the tour;
  • meals not included in the tour program;
  • insurance of medical and other unforeseen expenses — from 100 rubles/person/day.

It's important to know

Personal equipment you need for the tour
  1. Backpack or travel bag. It is highly undesirable to bring things in a suitcase, because it does not fit into the trunk of a snowmobile and is inconvenient to transport.
  2. Clothing for an active snowmobile day:
    • thermal underwear (pants and jacket);
    • comfortable warm sportswear is an optimal suit for snowboarding or downhill skiing. We recommend not to come in jeans, because they restrict movement and do not warm;
    • fleece jacket or sweater;
    • socks should be on your feet (thin cotton + necessarily warm wool);
    • gloves and a hat.
  3. We recommend having a protective mask (for snowboarding), it will protect your face from wind and small splashes while riding a husky. If there is no such mask, you can use a balaclava or an ordinary scarf for this purpose.
  4. A set of clothes for the night:
    • a set of spare underwear;
    • comfortable shorts/sweatpants and T-shirt;
    • slippers or warm socks.
  5. Shoes: comfortable warm shoes WITHOUT heels.
  6. Personal items:
    • personal hygiene products (individual shower sets (shampoo, soap) are available in the rooms at the recreation center;
    • individual first aid kit;
    • hair dryer (if you need it);
  7. Documents:
    • passport;
    • medical insurance policy (photocopy is available).
  8. Money.We recommend that you always have a small amount of cash with you so that, if desired, you can quickly buy the necessary things at stops along the route.

If you wear glasses, then you should remember that under the helmet the shackles can press and cause discomfort. Also, your breathing under the helmet makes the glasses fog up, and they freeze quickly in the cold. Also, the glasses fog up when you want to go into a warm room from the cold. If possible, lenses should be provided.

Clothing should be suitable for outdoor activities (extreme types of tourism), that is, not to interfere with movement, protect from adverse environmental factors, and meet special safety requirements for the type of extreme tourism.

What kind of equipment is provided on the route?
What are the rules of conduct on the route?
What are the rules to follow when driving a snowmobile?
What are the rules for the operation and storage of equipment and equipment?
How can I prepare for the tour?
Are plane tickets included in the price of the tour?
Is insurance included in the price of the tour?
Are there any possible changes in the program?

Dates and Prices

The tour dates are not confirmed yet. Please, for clarification
  • Individual dates available on request
    28 Dec, 2024 – 15 Apr, 2025
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $616
    11 – 13 Jan, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $616
    14 – 16 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $616
    21 – 23 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $616
    28 – 30 Mar, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now
  • $616
    4 – 6 Apr, 2025 3 days 2 nights
    Submit request
    No need to pay now