Russian Karelia: Landscape & Culture

Duration

2 days / 1 night

Tourist activity

Cultural tours

Tourist destination

Kizhi Tours

Visit historic sights and enjoy scenic landscapes of the Russian Karelia region

  • Kizhi Island
  • Ruskeala Park
  • Traditional Karelian village
  • Available from May to October
Itinerary

Day 1. Kizhi wooden churches, one of Russia’s top landmarks

  • Included meals: Breakfast

~08:00 – A guide will meet you as your train from Moscow (St. Petersburg) arrives at Petrozavodsk railway station* and transfer you to the hotel.

After included breakfast, you will proceed to the pier to embark on a hydrofoil ride across Lake Onega to reach Kizhi Island.

Arrive at Kizhi Island and meet a local guide who will conduct a 2-hour walking tour of Kizhi Museum of wooden architecture. You will see the beautiful churches and the belfry of Kizhi Pogost (churchyard), as well as chapels, peasant houses and other monuments of the 18–19th centuries.

Kizhi Island is particularly beautiful in summer. You will have an hour or two to enjoy the landscape with green meadows, fields, windmills and small chapels before leaving back for Petrozavodsk.

Dinner (not included) and overnight in Petrozavodsk.

*Please, contact us for a travel plan from Moscow/St. Petersburg/another city to Petrozavodsk.

*Please, contact us for a travel plan from Moscow/St. Petersburg/another city to Petrozavodsk.

Day 2. Ruskeala scenic landscapes. Village visit & taste traditional food

  • Included meals: Breakfast, Tea break

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up and transfer to Ruskeala Park (260 km). 

Visit the marble quarries and enjoy the scenic landscapes of the mountain park of Ruskeala. Free time for optional activities and lunch.

Continue to the historical Karelian village of Kinerma (170 km). Walking tour around the village, visit the chapel of the 18th century and the authentic wooden house. Enjoy tea/coffee with traditional local pastry.

Transfer to Petrozavodsk (110 km) and drop off at the train station or at the hotel if you decide to stay an extra day or two.

Dates and prices

Price 2024:

2 people – 42.000 Rubles per person.
4 people – 32.000 Rubles per person.
6 people – 28.000 Rubles per person.
Single room supplement – 4000 Rubles.

Departures: daily from 18 May to 30 September.

Included

1. One night in a 4* hotel in Petrozavodsk.
2. Two breakfasts and tea with traditional pastry.
3. All transportation during the tour.
4. Visits and experiences as per the itinerary.
5. English-speaking guide’s services.

Note: Boating and an underground cave excursion in Ruskeala are not included. These activities can be arranged on the spot only.

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Questions & Answers
What kind of vehicles do you use?

We use modern, comfortable 9-seater vans, for example Volkswagen Caravella with plenty of luggage space.
For smaller groups we use suitably sized cars, such as Skoda Octavia.
For bigger groups we use Mercedes Sprinter buses or full-sized coaches.

Reviews

We were in Russia in June 2018. Main itinerary was to visit St Petersburg and Moscow. Enroute we did a slight detour to Kizhi Island - an open-air museum and UNESCO World Heritage site. To experience a different facet of Russia, we signed with Nordic Travel Discover Karelia 3D/2N tour. This tour brought us to the nature reserves, quaint villages and churches of Karelia.

It was a pleasure dealing with Nordic Travel who were prompt and reliable. The transport was comfortable, driver safe and polite (a bonus!) and guide Olessya was warm, cheerful and accommodating.

We were glad we saw and enjoyed thoroughly a Russia beyond the 2 main cities. Big Thanks to Nordic Travel!

Andrew Ong, Singapore