The silver necklace of Russia. St. Petersburg and Karelia. 6-day Summer tour

Breakfast (self-order a dry ration at the reception the night before).

Room release.

07:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby.

Departure to the Republic of Karelia, Sortavala.

Korela Fortress (external inspection) in Priozersk. You will hear intriguing facts about famous prisoners of the fortress, including John IV Antonovich, the "emperor under the ban," about the fate of Yemelyan Pugachev's wives and children, and about the life of the tragic Decembrist poet Wilhelm Kuchelbecker.

Attention! Due to the recorded changes in the preservation of the architectural ensemble, access to the outer perimeter of the fortress is partially limited.

Getting to know the city of Sortavala. 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".

13:00 Lunch.

14:30 Excursion to Ruskeala Mountain Park (Marble Canyon). Ruskeala Mountain Park is another gem of Karelian nature. The main attraction is the man–made Marble Canyon, famous for its beauty.

A huge bowl of white stone, carved by the hand of a man in the rock, is half filled with emerald-colored water. It was from here that marble was delivered for the Marble and Mariinsky Palaces, St. Isaac's Cathedral.

Free time on the territory of the mountain park. At the end of the tour, you will have about 1 hour of free time. At this time, you can stroll through the park to fully enjoy the beauty of Karelian nature.

Or choose any of the many different activities on the territory of the park: a walk along the water surface of the lake on a boat or platform, a rope park, a high-speed descent on a trolley, bungee jumping or extreme swings.

Please note: active entertainment is not included in the price of the tour ticket and is paid on site at the prices of the park, independently and on request.

18:30 Departure from Ruskeala Mountain Park, departure to Sortavala.

Photo stop of the Akhvenkoski waterfalls*. You will find a charming place on the banks of the Tohmajoki River. Waterfalls, which do not freeze even in the winter cold, became famous thanks to the film "And the dawns are quiet here", which was released back in 1972.

Now tourists are rushing here, trying to capture the magical beauty of nature, which has become the hallmark of the region.

*A walk along the eco-trail is optional (for an additional fee of 500 rubles/adult, 400 rubles/school, payment on site).

Check-in at the hotel. Placement. Free time.

End of the program: hotel.

Optional, for an additional fee of 3,000 rubles/person (order and payment in advance, when booking the tour). We suggest you take a trip to the Ladoga skerries aboard a speedboat at sunset, enjoying the unique atmosphere of the evening sun over the water.

A walk along the Karelian fjords at sunset will allow you to feel the special magic of nature, and will delight you with the bright colors of the passing day reflected in the mirrored surface of the lake.

The boat will take you to a picturesque island, where you can climb to the top of the nearest hill and enjoy the fabulous picture of the sunset sky and the lake expanses spread around.

The duration of the walk is 2 hours, including disembarkation on the island – 45 minutes.

Breakfast at the hotel.

08:00 Room release. Check out of the hotel with your belongings.

Transfer to Petrozavodsk– the capital of the Republic of Karelia

Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk and a walk along the Onega embankment. You will walk along the famous Onega Embankment, a favorite place of recreation for citizens and guests of the city. Paved with red granite and illuminated by lanterns, it gives the impression of an ancient street.

This is an amazing "open–air museum", which contains extraordinary sculptures - gifts from the twin cities of Petrozavodsk, forming a unique alley of fantastic images.

The main program of the tour*:

13:00 Lunch

Transfer to the Mountain Sampo Ethnic Park. One of the most famous and mystical places in Karelia! The mountain got its name thanks to the Karelo-Finnish epic "Kalevala", which everyone in Karelia has heard about. From the top of the mountain there is a picturesque view of the Karelian forest and Lake Konchozero.

The resort "Marcial waters". This is the first Russian resort founded by Peter the Great himself, who visited these regions four times and advised everyone to drink iron-rich water found in local springs for health.

The church of the XVIII century, built according to the sketches of Peter himself, has been preserved here. You will be able to see everything with your own eyes, drink healing water and take it with you.

The Kivach State National 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".

19:00 Return to Petrozavodsk.

19:30 Departure to St. Petersburg.

Late arrival in St. Petersburg. Accommodation at the hotel.

*If desired, for an additional fee, you can change the main program for visiting Kizhi Island (booking and payment in advance when booking the tour) — 6800 rubles/adult and 4450 rubles/school up to and including 14 years.

12:30 Departure of the Meteor train station to Kizhi Island (tourists are provided with lunch in the lunch box format).

Kizhi Island tour. The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is one of the largest and most famous open–air museums in Russia. The basis of the museum collection is the ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.

Exploring the island will begin with a walking tour. You will be able to get acquainted with the monuments of wooden architecture.: ancient houses, barns, mills and, of course, the world-famous northern temples.

The center of the famous Kizhi Pogost ensemble is the 22nd Transfiguration Church, which is fanned by many legends. In the neighboring Pokrovskaya Church you will see preserved masterpieces of Karelian icon painting.

You can take a walk and enjoy the amazing bells ringing over the island.

18:00 Landing on the Meteor t/x. Return to Petrozavodsk.

19:30 Arrival at the Petrozavodsk pier.

19:30 Departure to St. Petersburg.

Late arrival in St. Petersburg. Accommodation at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel.

10:00 Meeting with the guide in the hotel lobby. Departure to the program by bus.

Bus tour to Peterhof "There are fountains shining with silver...". The tour will give you an unforgettable encounter with one of the most famous suburban imperial residences.

The road that will lead us to Peterhof still cherishes the traces of bygone centuries. The preserved monuments and manors recreate the atmosphere of rural life in Russia at the end of the XIX – beginning of the XX century.

Peterhof Fountain Park tour. The Lower park has an area of 102 hectares and stretches for more than 2 kilometers along the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It took incredible efforts to turn the deserted swampy shore of the Gulf of Finland into a luxurious park with fountains and cascades.

Moreover, all the work was done manually – tons of fertile land were imported, ornamental trees and shrubs were planted, which were able to take root in the cold northern climate.

Peterhof is the capital of fountains, a magical garden with a palace topped by a golden vase standing on the roof. Its base is the Grand Cascade, an incredible aquatic extravaganza with fountains and sculptures.

The jet of the most famous fountain "Samson" rises to the height of a seven-story building. In terms of splendor and richness of decoration, Peterhof surpassed its prototype, the French Versailles, and became the most striking palace ensemble in Europe.

The place of the end of the program: the hotel.

Program duration: ~ 7 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Room release before 12:00. Check out of the hotel on your own.

Free day.