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

Breakfast at the hotel.

We recommend that you order a dry ration at the reception yourself the night before (if this service is available at the hotel).

Room release.

07:30 Departure to Karelia (290 km).

Stop at the fortress of Korela. The acquaintance with the northern region will begin with the fortress in the city of Priozersk on the site of an ancient settlement mentioned in the chronicles as Korela. Then you will go to the Northern Ladoga region, to the city of Sortavala.

Highway tour about Karelia. During the guided tour, you will learn about one of the most beautiful trails in the Leningrad region and the Republic of Karelia, hear a story about the ancient history of the Karelian Isthmus and its amazing nature.

13:00 Lunch at a cafe in Sortavala.

Stop at the Akhvenkoski waterfalls. An entrance ticket to the ecotrope is purchased on request on the spot for an additional fee (adult – 500 rubles, school student – 400 rubles).

After lunch at a cafe, we will make a stop at a picturesque place – the Akhvenkoski waterfalls. The system of cascades on the Tohmajoki River, which do not freeze even in winter, became famous after the release of the film "And the dawns here are quiet." Waterfalls are one of the most popular photo zones in Karelia today.

15:30 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 in the park.

18:30 Departure from Ruskeala Mountain Park by bus.

Transfer to Petrozavodsk (260 km).

Late arrival at the Petrozavodsk hotel. Placement.

Breakfast at the hotel.

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

08:30 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*:

09:30 Transfer to the ethnopark "Mount Sampo" (37 km). One of the most famous and mystical places in Karelia! From the top of the mountain there is a picturesque view of the Karelian forest and Lake Konchezero.

Departure to the Kivach State National Reserve (50 km). 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".

Transfer to the ancient extinct volcano Girvas (36 km). Girvas is a unique geological object, the oldest (about 2 billion years old) volcano crater in Karelia! You will have a view of the section of more than 20 lava flows with a capacity of up to 32 m. and petrified volcanic "bombs", including gas voids.

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

09:30 Departure of t/x "Meteor" to Kizhi island.

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.

14:45 Departure of the Meteor train to Petrozavodsk.

16:00 Estimated time of arrival in Petrozavodsk.

16:30 Late lunch at a cafe in Petrozavodsk.

17:30 Departure from Petrozavodsk to St. Petersburg (427 km).

The final stop of our trip to Karelia will be the Farmstead complex. Here you can have a snack and buy fresh farm produce.

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

Breakfast at the hotel (if the "no breakfast" tariff is not selected).

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

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.

Where to have lunch? After the tour, you will have 1.5-2 hours of free time to walk around the park and have a snack on your own.

There are fast food outlets on the territory of the park, as well as the Standart cafe, where the cost of a set lunch is 850-950 rubles per person. If you want to save money, we recommend taking drinks and snacks with you and having a picnic on the shore of the Gulf of Finland.

The place of the end of the program: Ploshchad Vosstaniya metro station.

Program duration: ~ 7 hours.

Breakfast at the hotel (if the "no breakfast" tariff is not selected).

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

Free day.