Saint Petersburg – Valaam – 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"
  A 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 islets, picturesque straits and secluded island hermitages – Nikolsky and Predtechensky. The recently restored church of the Nikolsky Skete, whose amazing harmony and harmony opens 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 charter, is traditionally closed to the public, and only from the water can you see the head 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.
  
  A 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 XIX – early XX 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 stairs there is a view of the famous monastery garden, charming with its delicate beauty most of all during the flowering season and the 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 waters of the Monastery Bay reflecting reddish rocks, 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 gate Church, which in former times was the house temple of royalty arriving at Valaam. After passing through the Holy Gates, the guests enter the monastery. A special place is given to visiting the main functioning temple of the monastery – the majestic Transfiguration Cathedral, where the relics of the holy founders of the monastery, St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam Wonderworkers, rest.
  
  During the tour, guests will see the Assumption Refectory Church, the oldest surviving in Valaam, and the church of the Valaam Icon of the Mother of God, consecrated in 2002, walk along the cell buildings and outbuildings, as well as admire the recently restored temple of the Icon of the Mother of God "Life–giving Spring" where concerts of church hymns are held. In the souvenir shop, you can buy something from the products of monastic crafts to take away the "particle of Valaam" as a souvenir.
  The tour is included in the price.
  
• "Walking tour of the hermitage of Valaam"
  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 monasteries: Voskresensky, Gethsemane and Konevsky.
  
  The Resurrection and Gethsemane skeets with their peculiar architectural and landscape design form the famous "Valaam Palestine", located in the western part of the island. Valaam, near the berth of cruise ships in Bolshaya Nikonovskaya Bay. In the area of remote inner Igumen lakes and Konevsky skete, guests will meet with a completely different corner of Valaam in its nature – unusually quiet and sheltered. It was here that the hermitage of the hermit of Damascus, the future famous Valaam abbot, was once located. Always a smooth water surface reflecting a dense coniferous forest, an oak alley forming a transparent rustling arch, wooden bridges connecting low banks, thick, 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 XIX century to the present day. The guide's story will touch upon the issues of 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 duration of the route 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 pier 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 features of the unique nature of Valaam and the surrounding Ladoga – the largest lake in Europe.
  
  The duration of the route is 4 km.
  The tour is included in the price.
  

The last meal service is breakfast.