Things to do in Republic of Karelia, Northwestern District: The Best Day Trips from

We offer a boat tour (by hydrofoil) to the heart of Lake Onego (the second-largest lake in Europe) – Kizhi island. The whole island is an open-air museum of wooden architecture and cultural history of the Russian North. The tiny island of Kizhi is located at the northern end of Lake Onega. The island is renowned for its open-air Museum of Architecture, which is assembled from over 80 monuments of wooden architecture from various areas of the country and restored to form a glimpse of the past. A one-day trip to Kizhi island is a wonderful opportunity to see all major sights of the famous open-air museum of wooden architecture and cultural history. The core of the museum collection forms the world-known Kizhi Church Ensemble, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. • Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Inclusions: Hotel pick up and drop-off (without a guide), English speaking guide services on the island (other languages upon request), Tickets to the hydrofoil boat (roundtrip), Entrance tickets to museums, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities to guide/driver (optional), Soft and alcoholic drinks

One of the most striking and surprising places of the Northern Ladoga area is the Ruskeala Mountain Park, a unique and multidimensional monument to nature and the history of mining. We offer you to enjoy the real Karelian nature in natural parks and reserves. You can see volcanoes, waterfalls, mountains, quarries, etc We offer a tour to the Ruskeala marble quarries, which are located not far from Petrozavodsk. The heart of the park lies in the Marble Canyon. An old abandoned quarry, which delivered stone for almost three centuries, now caters for tourists. A huge bowl, carved by people in marble, stretches 456 meters from north to south, and is 109 meters wide. Filled with the purest emerald-green water, it is framed by slightly sloping and steep rocks, reaching a height of 25 meters above the water mirror. A series of small cascade waterfalls on the river Tohmajoki is another sight you will visit during the tour. • Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Inclusions: Hotel pick up and drop-off, Driver’s services as per the program (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C), Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request, Entrance fee to Ruskeala natural reserve, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Exclusions: Meals / Drinks, Personal expenses, Gratuities to guide/driver (optional)

This is truly unique off-beaten track experience. Enjoy real Russia, visit the (in)famous Ruskeala marble canyon and experience historic steam train between Sortavala and Ruskeala park and back. We will take early morning high-spead train towards rustic Sortavala. Upon arrival, we will change to Ruskeala Express, scheduled steam train with historic carriages, which will take us to Ruskeala park. Upon arrival we will admire beautiful Ruskeala canyon before getting back to Ruskeala and later St. Petersburg.

Inclusions: Steam-train experience, All Fees and Taxes, Private transportation

Exclusions: No food included

We offer you to enjoy the real Karelian nature in natural parks and reserves. You can see volcanoes, waterfalls, mountains, quarries, etc. Karelia, having a favourable geographical location, unique natural and recreational resources, centuries-old cultural and historical heritage, is attractive for Russian and foreign tourists. During this tour, you will visit natural parks and reserves. You will see volcanoes, waterfalls, mountains, quarries, etc. We offer you to make a guided tour to the natural reserve in suburbs of Petrozavodsk, where you can climb up the mountain Sampo, an ancient volcano Girvas, visit health resort "Martsialnie Vody" where you'll be able to try mineral water from underground sources. Also, you will see the famous waterfall Kivach - the second biggest waterfall in Europe. You will have time to make unique photos and buy Karelian souvenirs. After the tour, the guide will accompany you to the place of your accommodation. • Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Inclusions: Hotel pick up and drop-off, Entrance fee to the natural reserves, Driver’s services as per the program (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C), Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request, All taxes, fees and handling charges, Guaranteed skip-the-line entrance

Exclusions: Meals / Drinks, Personal expenses, Gratuities to guide/driver (optional)

Saint Petersburg is a very young city in comparison with old European capitals and probably the only city in the world that has acquired so much historic significance in such a short time. After the huge megapolis' visit it's nice to compare densely forested and gloriously remote Karelia, the region is a paradise for nature lovers. If you’re looking for wilderness, powerful history and even the Finnish soul, your search should start here.

Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Admission fees and excursions, European speaking licensed guides, Accommodation in 3* hotel in 1/2 TWN BB x 4 nights, Registration fee, Visa/E-visa support, Private transportation, Train tickets

Exclusions: Porterage, Photo and video shooting fees, Tips, Visa fees, Airport transfers

We offer ethnographic tour to see the places in republic of Karelia, where the old traditions, customs and mode of life of Karelian villages are still kept. Kinerma is an ancient Karelian village situated 100 km from Petrozavodsk. You’ll be taken to the village by car/bus, have a look around the village. Kinerma village represents a unique complex of national wooden architecture peculiar to the Karelian-livviki which includes a rural chapel of the Smolensk God’s Mother dated of the second half of XVIII century, surrounded by an ancient cult fur-tree grove, country houses and sauna houses. You will have a hiking excursion in the village, visit an exhibition telling about the history of the village and have a traditional tea ceremony in the Karelian wooden house, where you will be able to try traditional Karelian bakery.

Inclusions: Hotel pick-up and drop-off, Driver’s services as per the program (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C), Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request, Traditional Karelian tea ceremony + bakery, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities to guide/driver (optional), Soft and alcoholic drinks

You will start this exciting 6-day tour from the beautiful “Venice of the North”, St. Petersburg. In a very short time you can take in the history and culture of this truly unique and memorable city and explore its major attractions. From there you will visit Karelia, in the Russian Northwest, with a vast areas covered in forests, thousands of rivers and lakes, two National Parks and several Nature Reserves. Among the numerous cultural sights of Karelia, Kizhi Island is the most famous, with a unique complex of wooden buildings, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: a beautiful example of authentic Russian culture. You will feel like a real arctic pioneer riding a snowmobile on the frozen lake of Onega, the second largest in Europe, through the surreal beauty of frozen desert covered with fluffy Russian snow – and there will be plenty of it, for sure, as well as unforgettable memories of your amazing holidays in the heart of the Russian North!

Inclusions: Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Russian visa service, Russian sauna (as per itinerary)

Exclusions: Personal travel insurance, Excursions not mentioned in the itinerary. Can be provided on spot, fees apply

We offer ethnographic tour to see the places in republic of Karelia, where the old traditions, customs and mode of life of Karelian villages are still kept. During the tour you will visit traditional Karelian village Sheltozero (a real village of Veps, situated 84 km from Petrozavodsk) you will get acquainted with the culture of Veps – a small nation in the Republic of Karelia. The village famous both for ancient wooden houses erected according to the traditions of Russian wooden architecture and for hospitality and friendliness of locals. You will see their traditional wooden houses, visit the Ethnography museum, enjoy the traditional folk show and taste local pastries with tea.

Inclusions: Hotel pick up and drop-off, Driver’s services as per the program (Comfortable car/minivan with A/C), Professional English-speaking guide assistance. Other languages upon request, Tea and pastries, Folk show, All taxes, fees and handling charges

Exclusions: Personal expenses, Gratuities to guide/driver (optional), Soft and alcoholic drinks (available to purchase on the spot)

We invite you to visit the beautiful Mountain Park, located in Karelia, near the town of Sortavala. Karelia is well-known as one of the most beautiful places in the country. Here you can enjoy the wonderful nature with its lakes, waterfalls and giant cliffs with trees growing on them. The mountain park “Ruskeala” is one of the most beautiful places in the region. Marble used for constructing lots of buildings in St. Petersburg has been quarried here since the 18th century. Nowadays, it’s a tourist centre whose main attraction is a former marble quarry which is now a lake with crystal clear water. Itinerary: 6.30 a.m Departure to Sortavala (250 km from St. Petersburg) Retro train to the Mountain park “Ruskeala” (designed in the style of the 19th century) Lunch at the local cafe Visit the picturesque Ruskeala waterfalls Excursion in the Ruskeala mining Park and the Marble canyon. City tour in Sortavala 11 p.m. Arrival to the hotel or to the ship in St. Petersburg

Inclusions: Bottled water, All Fees and Taxes, Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions: