New Year in St. Petersburg and a trip to Karelia

Breakfast at the hotel.

12:00 Petrovsky Petersburg bus tour. The tour is dedicated to the first decades of St. Petersburg's existence and allows you to experience the idea of Tsar Peter I - to found a new European city in a swamp.

Guided tour of the Peter and Paul Fortress. The Peter and Paul Fortress is the "heart" of the city, the place where the history of St. Petersburg began.

You will see a "city within a city" – typical buildings of Peter the Great's time, the operating Mint enterprise, where commemorative coins, orders and medals are still being minted.

You will visit the Peter and Paul Cathedral, where the tombs of Russian emperors and empresses, as well as grand dukes and princesses, have been preserved.

Peter and Paul Cathedral tour. For a long time, Peter and Paul Cathedral was a monument to the glory of Russian weapons. Captured banners and keys to cities and fortresses captured by Russian troops have been kept here for two centuries.

At the beginning of the 20th century, these relics were transferred to the Hermitage. Copies of Swedish and Turkish banners are now on display in the cathedral.

Visit to the Trubetskoy Bastion prison. During the tour, you will also visit the famous "Russian Bastille" — the Trubetskoy Bastion prison, where many famous Russian political figures were held.

Free time for lunch (on your own, for an additional fee).

For your lunch, we have chosen one of the best locations in the city — Vasileostrovsky Market, the first gastronomic market in St. Petersburg!

There are more than 35 gastronomy projects with cuisines from all over the world, as well as a large food area with farm products. We are sure that among all the variety of corner restaurants you will be able to find a dish to your liking!

Excursion to the Yusupov Palace (audio guide is possible). The Yusupov family served the Russian tsars faithfully for several centuries. And their palaces were as beautiful and magnificent as imperial residences.

You can see this by visiting not only the state halls, the luxurious home theater, but also the living quarters of the family of the Moika Palace.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~6 hours.

You can order your own breakfast (lunch box) at the hotel on the eve of departure. Room release. Departure to Karelia with your belongings.

07:30 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Transfer to Priozersk– an ancient Karelian settlement mentioned in the chronicles as the city of Korela.
External inspection of the Korela Fortress.

You will hear an interesting story about the difficult relationship between Veliky Novgorod and Sweden, about the prisoners of the fortress: John IV Antonovich, the "emperor under the ban", about the two wives of E. Pugachev and their children, about the Decembrist Wilhelm Kuchelbecker and much more.

Departure to Sortavala. Getting to know the city. Sortavala is the center of the Northern Ladoga region, one of the oldest cities in Karelia. This city can rightfully be considered both Swedish, Finnish, and Russian.

You will learn about the history of the border town, get acquainted with the variety of its architecture, provincial streets and monuments of "Finnish romanticism".

Lunch at a cafe in the city.

Stop at the Akhinkoski waterfalls. These waterfalls have become especially popular since the early 1970s, after the release of the film "And the dawns are Quiet here", which was filmed in this amazing place.

Guided tour in the Ruskeala Mountain Park. The pearl of this park is the famous Marble Canyon, which attracts with its beauty at any time of the year. Marble mining was carried out here in the XVIII and XIX centuries, it was from here that marble was delivered for the Marble and Mariinsky Palaces, St. Isaac's Cathedral.

In winter, when it is early dusk in the Ruskeala Mountain Park, you can admire the fantastic illumination, reminiscent of the northern lights and giving the park a special charm.

Free time for souvenirs and snacks.

Departure to Petrozavodsk (250 km). Later arrival in the capital of the Republic of Karelia (~22:30-23:00).

A late dinner. Check-in at the hotel.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~15 hours.

Continental breakfast at the hotel.

Room release.

08:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk. You will get acquainted with the architectural and historical sights of the city – the ancient Kruglaya and Sobornaya squares, stroll along the famous Onega Embankment, a favorite place of recreation for residents.

This is an amazing "open-air museum", where all the gifts from the twin cities of Petrozavodsk are collected. You will see the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and the cannon, a monument to the foundry of the Alexander Factory.

Admire the Governor's Garden with a monument to the first governor G.R. Derzhavin.

Visit to the Kivach Nature Reserve. The main decoration of the reserve is the famous Kivach waterfall, one of the largest plain waterfalls in Europe, which is celebrated in Russian poetry as the "northern hero".

Husky kennel with dog sledding. In the kennel of sled dogs and reindeer, the most important winter entertainment of the peoples of the north awaits you – dog sledding!

You will receive a management and safety briefing and, accompanied by an experienced guide, will take a ride along 2.5 km of prepared snow-covered highway! (2 people in 1 team).

On a guided tour of the kennel, you will get acquainted with its main inhabitants – Siberian and Alaskan huskies. The dogs represented in the kennel are champions and participants of the most famous long races in Russia and abroad.

But that's not all! You will meet a family of tame Reindeer! You will not only be able to take memorable photos with these noble Arctic animals, but also feed them your favorite delicacy yourself — white moss yagel!

At the end of the eventful program, you will have a tea party in the barbecue gazebo by a live fire.

Lunch at a cafe.

Alexander Svirsky Monastery. A walk through the territory of the Holy Trinity Alexander Svirsky Monastery.

Founded by St. Alexander Svirsky at the end of the XV century in the remote Olonets region in the virgin dense forests, among the pagan indigenous population of Korels, Veps, and Chudis, it quickly gained fame.

Departure to St. Petersburg. Along the way, we will have another stop at the cozy Farmer Tourist Complex. Here you can have a snack in the local refectory (for an additional fee), where you can taste dishes prepared according to ancient Vepsian recipes.

Always fresh pastries are prepared in our own bakery, and the unique branded tinctures will not leave anyone indifferent.

23:30 is the approximate time of arrival in St. Petersburg. Check-in at the hotel.

End of the program: hotel.

Program duration: ~15 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Free time. Independent participation in New Year's celebrations.

Breakfast at the hotel. Room release. You can leave your belongings in the luggage room of the hotel or take them with you on the bus.

09:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Bus tour to Tsarskoye Selo "Suburban imperial residences". Tsarskoye Selo is the ceremonial summer residence of the Russian emperors, one of the most beautiful palace and park ensembles in Europe.

Russian sovereigns lived in this picturesque place during the warmer months, and then official receptions, lavish balls and entertainment court events were held here.

Excursion to the Catherine Palace with the Amber Room. The Catherine Palace was originally created by architect F.B. Rastrelli as a place of official receptions for Russian nobility and foreign diplomats.

Stretching for almost 300 meters, the suite of rooms and state halls, richly decorated with intricate carvings and gilding, will certainly not leave you indifferent. And the "highlight" of the palace is the famous Amber Room.

A walk through the Catherine Park. After the tour of the palace, you will have an hour of free time to walk around the magnificent park surrounding the palace on your own.

Russian Russian Museum is decorated with exquisite pavilions and numerous monuments in honor of the victories of Russian weapons during the Russo-Turkish wars.

The program ends at Moskovsky train Station (the nearest metro station is Ploshchad Vosstaniya).

Program duration: ~5.5 hours (ending at ~15:00).