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Russian North: from St Petersburg to the White Sea

Price
from 940 USD

Duration
7 days

Activity Level
MODERATE

Tour Category
Join-in Tours

Russian North: from St Petersburg to the White Sea

An amazing trip to Russian North: Karelia and White Sea.

Highlights
(Click on the name to see Photo)

Detailed Program

What to expect:	~~12.06.2017 – 18.06.2017~~ 07.08.2017 –13.08.2017
Day 1: Saint-Petersburg – Priozersk – Sortavala
	08:00 Meeting at Saint-Petersburg. Transfer to Priozersk (156 km.) On arrival visit to the Korela Fortress. The Fortress was founded in 1143 by the Novgorodians to protect Russian North from Sweden. Lunch in a café. After lunch drive to Sortavala, 122 km. Upon arrival check -in Recreational Center «Dacha Wintera». Walking in arboretum (garden) and visiting *Summer House-Museum of Dr. Gustav Winter*. Dinner & rest.
Day 2: Sortavala – Valaam Island – Sortavala
	08:00 Breakfast at hotel. Then short transfer to Sortavala pier (5 km.) 09:00 Departure to Valaam island by motor boat «Meteor» (50 min). Excursion around the central *Valaam’s monastery complex*. Visit to the Valaam Hermitage. The Cathedral of our Lord's Transformation. Concert of the Valaam Choir. Lunch in the monastery's refectory. Visit to the *«New Jerusalem»* (Voskresensky and Gefsimansky sketes). Late afternoon departure by motor boat «Meteor» back to Sortavala. Upon arrival short transfer to Recreational Center «Dacha Wintera». Dinner & rest.
Day 3: Sortavala – Mountain park «Ruskeala» – Kinerma village
	Breakfast at hotel, then check -out. Transfer to the Mountain Park «Ruskeala» (50 km.) Visit to the Mountain park «Ruskeala». Walking around marble kanyon. Bus stop near Ruskeala’s waterfalls, where the film «The dawns are quite here» was made. Visit to the Memorial *«The Cross of Sorrow»* which was built in memory of the victims of Winter War between the USSR and Finland which took place in 1939-1940. For surcharge: Rowing boat walking on the Marble lake. Transfer to village Kinerma (210 km.) Accommodation in Karelian countryside house(s). Lunch: karelian traditional cuisine. After lunch walking around the village. Dinner & rest. For surcharge: Russian «black» banya (sauna).
Day 4: Kinerma village – Petrozavodsk – Kizhi island – Petrozavodsk
	Breakfast at hotel, then check -out. Drive to Petrozavodsk (110 km.). Departure to the Island of Kizhi which is located on the Onego lake – the second largest lake in Europe (1.5 hours). Guided walking around the Island of Kizhi. Kizhi island – is one of the Russia’s oldest historical, architectural and ethnographical open-air museums and the most frequently visited international tourism spot in Karelia. The museum’s major exhibition is outstanding folk architecture monument – the Kizhi Architectural Ensemble, which was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1990. Lunch (lunch-box) Late afternoon return back to Petrozavodsk by motor boat (1,5 hr). Upon arrival check -in hotel. Dinner & rest.
Day 5: In Petrozavodsk. Transfer to Belomorsk.
	Breakfast at hotel, then check -out. After breakfast start sightseeing tour in Petrozavodsk. We will walk along the embankment of the Onego lake (the second largest lake in Europe), open air museum with sculptures from sister-towns of Petrozavodsk, a monument to Peter the Great (the founder of the city), the canon of Alexandrovsky plant. Lunch in a café. After lunch drive to Belomorsk, city near White Sea (269 km.) En-route visit to Belomorsk petroglyphs. Upon arrival in town check -in hotel «Gandvik». Dinner & rest.
Day 6: Belomorsk – Solovetsky Islands
	Breakfast at hotel, then check -out. Transfer to seaport. 08:00 Departure to Solovetsky Islands by motor boat in the White Sea (4 hrs.) Upon arrival check -in hotel «Priut» on the island. Lunch. After lunch visit to the Solovetsky Kremlin (3 hrs). Solovetsky Monastery is a World Heritage Site, museum, and home to a handful of monks. Excursion acquaints visitors with history of the Monastery, GULAG exposition, exposition telling story of a team of Northern Navy and Sea Cadet School. Tourists visit territory of the central complex of the monastery, operating temples, the monuments entered into the list a worldwide heritages of UNESCO, objects of economic activities of a monastery. Late afternoon free time to explore the island by own. Dinner & rest.
Day 7: Solovetsky Islands. End of tour
	Breakfast at hotel, then check -out. Free time before departure transfer to sea port. Possible day-tours for surcharge: Option 1: Bicycle journey on the route «Fortress – Sekirnaya Hill -Fortress» (22 km). Sekirnaya Hill is the highest point of the island from where the wonderful view to the Island and White Sea is open. On the top of this high hill, in the 19th century, monks built the Church of Ascension. Option 2: Journey on rowing boats on Solovetsky Canals. Solovetsky Island does not have rivers, but it has hundreds of lakes. In the 16th century, monks started to connect lakes with canals.This system of lakes and canals was used as a fresh water resource, for transport and cargo transfers purposes. Nowadays, a good active tour by rowing boats with opportunities to enjoy the nature of the Island is available. Lunch. 16:00 Return back by motor boat to the sea port in Rabocheostrovsk (2 hrs). Upon arrival transfer to railway station of Kem (30 km.) Departure by night train (after 20:00) to St Petersburg or Moscow

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Adult (from 18)

Students 7-17 y.o.

Children

Total Price Per Group: $ 0

accommodation on twin-share basis at the hotels as per the program (or similar),
meals: 6 b/fasts, 6 lunches + 1 lunch-box, 6 dinners,
transfers according to the program by tourist class vehicles,
English-speaking guide during the route;
sightseeing according to program & entrance fees to main tourist sites,
tickets for motor boats to Valaam island, Kizhi island, Solovetsky Island;

visa support letter
sgl. suppl. - $ 310 USD per pax
optional day-tours on Solovetsky island:
rowing boats – from $ 20 USD per pax
biking – from $ 10 USD per pax
rail tkt Kem / St Petersburg – from $ 85 USD per pax / *Subject to change.

NOT suitable for people with limited walking ability and wheelchair users.