Saint Petersburg – Valaam – Petrozavodsk – Kizhi – Saint Petersburg on the ship Symphony of the North

• "Water and walking tour between Nikonovskaya and Monastyrskaya bays of Valaam Island with a visit to the Central estate of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery"
  Boat tour of the most beautiful places of the Valaam archipelago: along its western coast, from Monastyrskaya Bay, on the high shore of which the central estate of the Valaam Monastery with its majestic Transfiguration Cathedral is located, to Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay. The route of the ship passes by small islands, picturesque straits and secluded island hermitages – Nikolsky and Predtechensky. The recently restored church of St. Nicholas Skete, whose amazing harmony and harmony opens precisely from the water, is truly one of the masterpieces of Russian architecture of the second half of the nineteenth century and the main decoration of the reviving Valaam monastery. The Predtechensky Monastery, which has the strictest regulations, is traditionally closed to the public, and only from the water can you see the main tower of its bell tower and the light gray granite cross of worship, which stands out vividly against the background of reddish rocks and dark green pine needles.
  
  The sightseeing tour of the central estate of the Valaam Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery traditionally begins from the pier of the Monastery Bay, where ships of the Valaam fleet arrived in the 19th century. The monastery, located on a high cliff, looks especially beautiful from the twentieth century. From the pier, the road leads to the foot of Mount Tabor, to the top of which rises a wide staircase of 62 steps, built in the middle of the last century. To the left of the staircase there is a view of the famous monastery garden, charming with its delicate beauty most of all during the time of flowering and quiet golden autumn. Above the garden, along a patterned cast-iron lattice running along the edge of the cliff, a path was laid, from where the monks of old Valaam admired the gloomy, reflecting reddish rocks of the waters of the Monastery Bay, meeting or escorting boats with pilgrims. Next, the path goes past the marble Znamenskaya chapel to the Holy Gates of the monastery, decorated with the Peter and Paul Church, which in former times was the house temple of royalty arriving in Valaam. After passing through the Holy Gates, the guests enter the monastery. A special place is given to visiting the monastery's main functioning church, the majestic Transfiguration Cathedral, where the relics of the monastery's holy founders, St. Sergius and Herman the Wonderworkers of Valaam, rest.
  
  During the tour, guests will see the Assumption Refectory Church, the oldest surviving church in Valaam, and the church of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God, consecrated in 2002. They will walk along the cell buildings and outbuildings, as well as admire the recently restored Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life–Giving Spring" where church chants are held. At the souvenir shop, you can buy some of the products of monastic crafts to take away the "piece of Valaam" as a souvenir.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• Valaam Hermitage Walking Tour
  A walking tour based on the desire to show and reveal the rare harmony of wild, harsh northern nature and strict ascetic monastic life. The tour route passes through three Valaam hermitages: Voskresenskiy, Gethsemane and Konevsky.
  
  The Voskresensky and Gethsemane hermitages with their peculiar architectural and landscape design form the famous "Valaam Palestine", located in the western part of the island. Valaam, near the pier of cruise ships in Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay. In the area of the remote inner Igumen lakes and Konevsky skete, guests will encounter a completely different corner of Valaam – unusually quiet and hidden. It was here that the hermitage of the hermit Damaskin, the future famous Valaam abbot, was once located. The always smooth water surface reflecting the dense coniferous forest, the oak alley forming a transparent rustling arch, the wooden bridges connecting the low shores, the dense, healing, juniper–scented air - all this creates a special soothing atmosphere.
  
  The excursion "The Hermitages of Valaam" ends at the monastery farm, which has been supplying the monastery with excellent dairy products since the end of the 19th century to the present day. The guide's story will touch upon the economic and economic life of the monastery. A special place in the tour is given to getting acquainted with the unique natural complex of the Valaam archipelago, its flora and fauna.
  
  The route length is 6 km.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Walking tour to the rocky shore of Valaam Island"
  The tour route runs from the berth of Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay to the southwest of the Valaam Archipelago in the area of the picturesque Rocky Coast Bay, where Finnish military fortifications were located in the 30s of our century. The story of the tour introduces the history of the Valaam Monastery during the Soviet-Finnish and World War II, as well as the unique nature of Valaam and the surrounding Lake Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe.
  
  The route length is 4 km.
  The tour is included in the price.
  

• "Bus tour to the Holy Trinity Alexander Svirsky Monastery"
  Travel information along the route. Walking tour of the monastery territory. The main objects of the exhibition are the Transfiguration Cathedral (1641-1644), Trinity Cathedral (1695-1697).
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Bus tour to the Vvedeno-Ostrovsky Oyatsky convent"
  Travel information along the route. Walking tour of the monastery territory. The main objects of the exhibition: The Vvedensky Cathedral of the XV century. (before 1764), the bell tower. The holy spring of the Icon of the Mother of God "The Life-giving Spring" with miraculous iodide-radon water.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Walking tour of Svirstroy village "Live tour from the first person""
  This tour will allow you to take a leisurely walk along the Svir River and along the cozy streets, learning about the complex history of the village of gidrostroiteley. You will hear a story about the monument to the victorious soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, get acquainted with the life of the post-war period and learn about the activities and recreation of the local population today.
  
  After completing the tour, you will return to the pier on your own, leaving in your hearts unforgettable impressions of an exciting journey through the history and modern life of the village of Svirstroy.
  
  The tour is included in the price.
  

• "Bus and walking tour to the Kivach Nature Reserve"
  The excursion program includes a trip to the oldest nature reserve "Kivach" with a tour of the second largest plain waterfall in Europe. The tour includes a walk through the arboretum of the reserve, a visit to the grove of the famous Karelian birch, and the Nature Museum. The distance to the waterfall is 80 km (approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes on the way). You can take beautiful photos of the waterfall from 3 viewing platforms and buy souvenirs on the territory of the reserve. On the way – travel information about the main attractions of the city of Petrozavodsk and the Republic of Karelia.
  The tour is paid separately
  
• "Bus tour to the city of Kondopoga"
  Departure from the port of Petrozavodsk to the city of Kondopoga (45 km).
  
  There is a guided tour on the way. Arrival in Kondopoga.
  
  Arrival at the Palace of Arts, where the mysterious king of musical instruments, the organ, awaits us, because that's what Mozart called it! There are two organs in the palace. Both were brought from Hamburg and assembled by German organ makers Rudolf von Bakkerath. One is large, with about 4,500,000 pipes and 67 registers.
  
  A short tour of the palace with marble statues, painted ceilings and luminous staircases.
  
  Organ music concert. You will hear classical works, as well as modern music, which takes on a completely different sound when performed by an organ.
  
  After the concert, we will have some time to visit the "organ backstage" to see how this keyboard and wind instrument works and ask questions to the organist.
  
  Next, we will have a short lesson on playing the unique musical instrument kantele. We will hear the gentle sounds of the kantele and try to perform simple melodies ourselves. The guests will also take part in the production of traditional Karelian pastries - "kalitok" pies."On the way" – delicious tea from a hospitable hostess and it's time to return.
  
  Transfer to Petrozavodsk River Port.
  The tour is paid separately
  
• "Petrozavodsk walking tour with a visit to the National Museum"
  The city sightseeing tour will take you through the main streets and squares of our city. You will visit the mouth of the Lososinka River, where in 1703, by decree of Peter the Great, the iron foundry cannon factory was founded – the largest weapons factory in the country. Cannons were cast for the army and the nascent navy, and hand-held small arms and bladed weapons were manufactured. Petrovskaya Sloboda appeared around the factory. You will also take a walk along the famous Onega Embankment and the Governor's Park. Petrozavodsk is closely associated with the name of Peter the Great (on the shores of Lake Onega you will see one of the best monuments to the emperor). The first governor of the region since 1784 was the poet and nobleman Gavrila Derzhavin. You will see the monument to Derzhavin in the Governor's Park! We have preserved the architectural ensembles of Kruglaya (Lenin) and Sobornaya (Kirov) squares, the buildings of the Alexander Factory and the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky! The modern appearance of the city is formed by complexes of new residential and administrative buildings along the coastline of Lake Onega.
  
  The collections of the National Museum of the Republic of Karelia number more than 225 thousand museum items. A wide range of museum collections (nature, archeology, ethnography, culture, history of Karelia) makes it possible to present the uniqueness of the region in the context of Russian and world history.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Walking tour of Petrozavodsk with a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts"
  The city sightseeing tour will take you through the main streets and squares of our city. You will visit the mouth of the Lososinka River, where in 1703, by decree of Peter the Great, the iron foundry cannon factory was founded – the largest weapons factory in the country. Cannons were cast for the army and the nascent navy, and hand-held small arms and bladed weapons were manufactured. Petrovskaya Sloboda appeared around the factory. You will also take a walk along the famous Onega Embankment and the Governor's Park. Petrozavodsk is closely associated with the name of Peter the Great (on the shores of Lake Onega you will see one of the best monuments to the emperor). The first governor of the region since 1784 was the poet and nobleman Gavrila Derzhavin. You will see the monument to Derzhavin in the Governor's Park! The modern appearance of the city is formed by complexes of new residential and administrative buildings along the coastline of Lake Onega.
  
  The Museum of Fine Arts of the Republic of Karelia is located a five-minute walk from the Petrozavodsk Water Station.
  
  Discover the wonderful world of "Northern Letters", unique Karelian icons (XV-XIX centuries) dedicated to the images of especially revered Orthodox saints. The collection reveals the spiritual world and religious beliefs of the peasantry of Northern Russia.
  
  Learn the secrets of Karelian ornament at the Karelian folk art exhibition. The collection of decorative and applied folk art includes costumes, embroidery, woven products, wood carvings and paintings, utensils made of birch bark, copper and ceramics of the XIX-XX centuries.
  
  Discover the world of Russian art of the XVIII-early XX century. After visiting the solemn hall of the Museum with the masterpieces of I. Aivazovsky, I. Shishkin, I. Repin, V. Polenov, I. Levitan and other painters!
  The tour is included in the price.
  

• "Walking tour of Kizhi Island with an inspection of the architectural ensemble of the Kizhi cemetery"
  The Kizhi Museum-Reserve is one of the largest open–air museums in Russia. It is a unique historical, cultural and natural complex, which is a particularly valuable object of cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia. During the tour you will see the pearl of the museum collection – the ensemble of the Kizhi Pogost, which is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Excursion to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site"
  Find yourself under the arches of the largest wooden temple in the world! The main event of 2020 is the opening of the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord after 40 years of restoration! A unique temple with a centuries-old history reopens its doors for you. It's definitely worth seeing with your own eyes!
  The tour is paid separately
  

Picnic on the shore.

• "Northern Wedding Tradition Tour"
  You will learn about the traditions of the northern wedding and immerse yourself in a multimedia performance about the family of a village artist based on house paintings.
  The tour is paid separately
  

The last meal service is breakfast.

The end point of all excursions is the Moscow Railway Station in St. Petersburg.

• Peterhof Lower Park Bus and Walking Tour
  The suburbs of St. Petersburg are famous for their majestic palaces, which were built for themselves by noble Russian nobles. Peterhof is one of the most beautiful country residences built in the style of the French Versailles.
  
  The Peterhof State Museum-Reserve is the most visited museum in Russia. Every tourist coming to St. Petersburg is simply obliged to see the fountain capital! And it is during this tour that you will be able to visit and have a quiet time in the Lower Park of Peterhof.
  The tour is paid separately
  
• "Gatchina bus tour with a visit to Gatchina Palace and Park"
  Our tour will begin on the bus on the way from St. Petersburg to Gatchina, where the guide will tell you about the history of the region and the construction of the Gatchina Palace, about its English style and chivalrous spirit.
  
  An acquaintance with the palace itself will take place in Gatchina. Gatchina Palace is the owner of priceless treasures. For a long time it was called the suburban Hermitage. In the palace, you will take a tour of the state halls and private rooms of Nicholas I. You will find out what role Pavel Petrovich played in the history of the Gatchina Palace, how reverently Nikolai Pavlovich treated his parent's legacy, and what transformations he brought to the appearance of the palace facades and interiors.
  
  The desire for order and discipline, a penchant for romanticism and theatricality, a love of art and a passion for collecting, attention to detail, and a passion for military and engineering – all this not only united the two emperors, father and son, but was also reflected in the design of the Gatchina Palace.
  The tour is paid separately