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This short detour from either Moscow or St Petersburg gives you the chance to explore some of the most remarkable historical and natural landmarks of Karelia, a republic with its own unique culture bordering Finland and the White Sea.Your tour begins in Petrozavodsk, the largest city in Karelia and the gateway to Kizhi Island, the most visually spectacular cultural site in Karelia. We’ll reach Kizhi by fast boat, giving us plenty of time to explore the World Heritage Listed Kizhi Pogost, a collection of 17th and 18th-century churches, elaborately and fantastically crafted purely out of wood.
On the Karelia Kizhi Island 3 day tour you’ll also explore Kivach Nature Reserve, whose 11,000 hectares of primitive forest protect some of the most important plant and animal species in Karelia. On the last day of the tour, you’ll visit the old Karelian village of Kinerma and its 16th-century chapel, before dinner with local hosts who will introduce you to traditional, Scandinavian influenced Karelian food. Resting on the shores of the Onego and Ladoga Lakes, the historic and undeniably scenic region of Karelia boasts a beautiful backdrop of hills, lakes, rivers, forest and steppes. With a variety of outdoor leisure opportunities and active pursuits, Karelia is one of Russia's best-kept hideaways.Not included
Train tickets, travel insurance, visa, optional excursions, tips
Day 1 : Petrozavodsk and Kizhi Island
On the first day, you’ll be meeting your guide at the railway station in Karelia’s capital, Petrozavodsk. After introductions, you’ll head to a local restaurant in the city for a welcome
breakfast.
Next, you’ll enjoy a city tour of Petrozavodsk and an overview of the history and culture of Karelia. A laidback city of around 280,000 people, Petrozavodsk is set on a quiet bay in Lake Onega, with attractive neo-classical architecture and a distinctly European vibe.
We’ll aim for a late morning departure for Kizhi Island on Lake Onega by hydrofoil. The trip takes
around one and half hours. You’ll then spend several hours exploring Kizhi Pogost, aka the Kizhi Open Air Museum of Wooden Architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1990.
Considered one of the greatest cultural attractions in Russia, Kizhi consists of around 80 structures from the 17th to the 19th centuries, all of which have been crafted entirely out of wood. Among Kizhi’s many treasures is the Transfiguration Church, an architectural masterpiece featuring five tiers of 22 intricately decorated wooden domes, built in 1714 without
using a single nail. The building has withstood the elements for over 150 years.
You’ll then be taken to another side of Kizhi Island, where you’ll see some of the Kizhi Museum’s restoration work in action, and learn some of the secrets of traditional Russian wooden architecture. On the way back, we’ll make a stop near the highest point of Kizhi to enjoy a panoramic view of these magnificent structures and their lakeside surrounds.
After a late lunch, we’ll take the hydrofoil back to Petrozavodsk where we’ll spend the evening.
Day 2 : Kondopoga and Kivach Nature Reserve
Day 2:Kondopoga and Kivach Nature Reserve
After breakfast, we transfer to Kondopoga, 54km north of Petrozavodsk. Here we’ll visit the ancient Church of the Assumption on the shores of Lake Onega. Built in the 18th century, the church is considered one of the finest examples of Russian wooden architecture and is the highest timber church in Karelia.
Our next destination is Kivach State Nature Reserve, a short drive north of Kondopoga. The Reserve was established in 1932, making it one of the oldest in Russia. Spanning roughly 11,000 hectares, the reserve is vital for protecting Karelia’s primordial forest, a fragile ecosystem home to 197 species of birds, 48 mammals, 18 species of fish and 569 plants
including the Karelian birch.
In the heart of the reserve is the Kivach waterfall, the second highest plain waterfall in Europe. Flanked on either side by magnificent pine forest and dark basalt rocks, the roaring cascades are an inspiring showcase of nature’s handiwork.
In the afternoon we’ll make our way back to Petrozavodsk for dinner in town.
Day 3 : Ruskeala Park and Kinerma Village
One of the most striking sights in Karelia, Ruskeala was formerly a marble quarry, mined by the Swedes, Finns and Russians for around three centuries.
Dynamite was used for extracting the
marble, eventually creating a vast, steep-sided canyon, which became inundated with groundwater. The 109-metre wide canyon now stretches for 456 metres and its sides are riddled with caves and grottoes. Tall pines sprout from the tops of the canyon walls and the groundwater has become a river of deep emerald green, creating a truly beautiful union of the
natural and the man-made. The canyon can be traversed by boat, and some of the caves and mine shafts can be explored with a professional guide.
We’ll make a short stop in an ancient Karelian village of Kinerma, which in 2016 was named the most beautiful village in Russia. We’ll be met by a local resident for a personalised tour around the village, made up of late 19th century houses and a wooden chapel to the Virgin Mary erected in the 17th century. Afterwards, we’ll be invited to lunch in a traditional Karelian
house.
Late afternoon we’ll transfer to Petrozavodsk for dinner, before transporting you to the train station in time for your onward journey.
| No of pax | Age Limit | Price per pax (Rs) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | Above 12 years | $ 980 / Adult |
* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.
Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.
Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.
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