8 Days / 7 Nights
Russia Sightseeing, Russia Community Tours, Northern Lights Tours
Scenic roads of the Kola Peninsula and Karelia
- Nature: taiga, tundra, Aurora Borealis
- Culture: Russians, Saami, Karelians and Finns
- Architecture: XVIII - XXI сenturies
- History: Tzarist Russia, WWII
Day 1. Arrive in Murmansk
Transfer to hotel for three nights (“Meridian” or similar).
Overnight in Murmansk.
Day 2. Explore Murmansk and chase the Northern Lights
City tour of Murmansk.
Explore the city center. You will get to know about the foundation of Murmansk in 1916, WWI and the Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War.*
Continue to “Alyosha” Memorial (Memorial to the Defenders of the Soviet Arctic). The guide will tell about the WWII and the Arctic Convoys. These convoys, organized by the UK, the USA and Canada, delivered to the USSR essential supplies: military equipment, fuel, medicine and food.
Savior on Waters Church. Stop by the memorial devoted to Kursk submarine accident of 2000.
Murmansk port, “Lenin” icebreaker-museum.
Dinner. Murmansk is a popular Russian foodie destination, known for its fish, seafood and reindeer.
Evening tour out of the city in search of the Northern Lights.**
Overnight in Murmansk.
(B, D)
*We can include a visit to Murmansk New British cemetery for those who are interested.
**If the conditions of seeing Aurora this night are not favorable, we will shift this trip for another day.
Day 3. Teriberka Village*
Breakfast.
A scenic drive to Teriberka village. Along the way, you will see the interface between the taiga boreal forest, the subarctic forest-tundra and the Arctic tundra, three major biomes in the Northern hemisphere.
Explore Teriberka. This old fishing village with numerous abandoned houses has become a popular tourist destination after the Russian Oscar-nominated “Leviathan” movie was partly filmed there.
Lunch.
Weather permitting - hike to the waterfalls, located at the Barents Sea coast not far from the village.
Return to Murmansk.
Overnight in Murmansk.
*Between November and April the road to Teriberka is often closed due to snow drifts. Instead of Teriberka we will arrange a husky kennel visit and sledding tour.
Day 4. Saami, indigenous people of the Kola Peninsula
Tour to the reconstructed Saami (Lapp) village. It is run by Saami people and we can get an insight into their culture. The local guide will tell about Saami traditions, show a typical “kuvaksa” lodge and corral with reindeers, serve herbal tea and pastries.
Transfer to the train station in the evening, board a comfortable overnight train and depart for Karelia Province.
Dinner and overnight at train.
Day 5. Kizhi Island - Petrozavodsk
Cross the narrow strait by boat or hovercraft (10 min) and reach Kizhi Island.
Walking tour of the world-famous Kizhi Museum of Wooden Architecture.
Continue to Petrozavodsk (300 km).
Dinner at hotel in Petrozavodsk.
Overnight in Petrozavodsk (“Fregat” or similar).
Day 6. Petrozavodsk, Karelian people, Sortavala
City tour of Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia Province.
Transfer to the historical Karelian village of Kinerma (110 km).
Tour of the village. Meet the Karelians, indigenous people of northwestern Russia and Finland. Visit the wooden chapel of the 18th Century.
Dinner with traditional local dishes.
Continue to the town of Sortavala (150 km).
Overnight in Sortavala (“Piipun-Piha” or similar).
Day 7. Sortavala, Ruskeala by a steam train, St. Petersburg
Explore the historical centre of Sortavala with a few interesting Northern Art Nouveau and Neoclassical buildings.
Scenic train ride from Sortavala to Ruskeala Mountain Park on board of a vintage steam train decorated in a style of the Russian Empire.
12:00 - Walking tour of the marble quarries of Ruskeala.
Independent lunch.
15:00 - Continue to St. Petersburg.
Arrive in St. Petersburg at about 22:00-23:00 and transfer to hotel for one night.
Overnight in St. Petersburg.
Day 8. St. Petersburg
Breakfast.
Transfer to the airport or train station.*
*You may wish to depart a few days later. We can book a hotel for you or just find your own accommodation.
Dates:
29.01 – 05.02.22 – English
19.02 – 26.02.22 – English
05.03 – 12.03.22 – French
19.03 – 26.03.22 – Italian
26.03 – 04.04.22 – English
Price:
2 participants - 1980 Euro per person.
3/4 participants - 1580 Euro per person.
5/6 participants - 1280 Euro per person.
Supplement for single accommodation in hotels – 230 Euro.
Supplement for private accommodation at the train from Murmansk to Medgora:
- when two persons travel in a private cabin, extra payment is 60 Euro per person.
- when one person travels in a private cabin, extra payment is 180 Euro.
1. Six nights accommodation at hotels in: Murmansk (3), Petrozavodsk (1), Sortavala (1) and St. Petersburg (1).
2. One night at train (2nd class 4-berth cabin).
3. 13 meals - 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 tea break, 4 dinners.
4. All transport as per the itinerary.
5. Visits and experiences as per the itinerary.
6. English-speaking guide’s services.
Discover one of the world’s most fascinating cultural destinations
- Visit best museums
- Explore Royal palaces and gardens
- See Orthodox cathedrals
- Understand Russian history
From 1300 Euro/person
Visit one of Russia’s most famous museums
- See the masterpieces of Italian, French, Dutch and Spanish artists
- Discover prehistoric art and ancient artefacts
- Explore state rooms of the imperial Winter Palace
- Private tour with a guide
Group of 2: from 3800 Rubles/person
Discover historical attractions of Veliky Novgorod
- Private trip from St. Petersburg
- Visit Novgorod Kremlin and the Cathedral of St. Sophia
- Explore Yaroslav’s Court with its medieval churches
- Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel
Group of 2: 11500 Rubles/person