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Kizhi and Valaam Week-end

Destination: Karelia
Easy - nothing more than normal walking while sight-seeing
Moderately Easy - 1-3 hours of physical activity daily
Moderate - 3-5 hours of physical activity daily
Challenging - 5-7 hours of challenging physical activity daily
Extreme - 7+ hours of challenging/extreme physical activity daily
Difficulty
Basic — most of nights in tents or rooms with shared WC, some nights in comfortable rooms.
Standard — most of nights in comfortable rooms, some nights in tents or rooms with shared WC.
Upgraded — all nights in comfortable rooms.
Comfort
Minimum age of the participant of this trip
2 Days
June - September
Highlights
  • Discovery of the two largest lakes of Karelia by Soviet hydrofoil boat
  • Discovery of the two most famous attractions of Karelia: Kizhi and Valaam
  • Half freedom formula: support of an English speaking guide only where it is needed
Tour Overview

This short 2 days getaway is the best way to discover Karelia in one weekend, from a cultural point of view. The focus is on visiting the island of Kizhi (UNESCO heritage) and Valaam (candidate for the UNESCO world heritage list). And you will also discover the landscapes of the two largest Karelian lakes: Onega and Ladoga.

The accompaniment by an English speaking guide is provided only where it is really useful: during the monasteries' visits on both islands. Apart from that you will be greeted by our Russian-speaking drivers with a BaikalNature placard. This formula permits you to manage cleverly your expenses and gives you more freedom.

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Open-air museum Kizhi
    Petrozavodsk — Sortavala
  • Day 2
    Monastery of Valaam
    Sortavala — Petrozavodsk
  • 09:30
    Arrival to Petrozavodsk Railway Station
    *The indicated time is only for the train N18 from Moscow. If you are going to take the train N 658, please, notice that the train from Saint-Petersburg arrives at 6:40 and you will have 3 hours of free time before the tour starts.
  • 09:45
    Transfer to the quay of Onega lake
  • 10:30
    Departure to Kizhi
    During this transfer you can admire the pittoresque view of the Onega lake.
  • 12:00
    Excursion in Kizhi museum
    Guided excursion in the open air museum Kizhi included in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
  • 13:00
    Lunch (picnic)
  • 14:00
    Back to Pétrozavodst by hydrofoil boat
  • 18:00
    Dinner in the cafe Not included
  • 19:00
    Transfer to Sortavala
    You will go by car to the Sortavala town situated at the Ladoga lakeside
  • 21:00
    Arrival and check-in
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Petrozavodsk — Sortavala
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Kaunis, Sortavala
Twin room
Note

transfer  (253km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Departure to the island of Valaam
    Boarding by hydrofoil boat and sail to the island of Valaam
  • 10:50
    Visit of the architectural ensemble of the monastery
    Concert of religious songs. Excursion "New Jerusalem" and discovery of the mountain Eleonskaya: poetic view on Lake Ladoga.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    On the monastery territory the lunch of the russian cuisine dishes
  • 14:00
    Back to Sortavala by boat
  • 16:00
    Transfer to Petrozavodsk
    *Transfer can be done to Lodeynoye Pole (depending on your destination, Moscow or St. Petersburg).
  • 18:30
    Dinner in the cafe Not included
  • 20:00
    Departure by train and end of the programme
Photo of the day
Route
Sortavala — Petrozavodsk
Note

4 h transfer  (249km)

Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Letter of invitation
  • Meals according to the program
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Railway tickets
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

The price is given for the group of 2 persons minimum. we can organise this tour for an individual traveller any convenient dates in summer season. Please, contact us for more information. Optional services: - single accommodation in the hotel of Sortavala town - 1 300 roubles; - train tickets Moscow (Saint-Petersburg) - Petrozavodsk - Moscow (Saint-Petersburg) - on request.

Reviews
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
4.33
4.33
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Christian
From 13 June 2021 to 18 June 2021
Destination: Karelia
Custom tourKiji, Valaam et Solovki
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? 
Bravo pour la réactivité et l'adaptation aux changements d'organisation (lié à la météo). On a pas trop apprécié l'hôtel de Sortavala. Et ... ce serait plus rassurant que le guide soit vacciné contre le Covid !
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Alban
From 8 August 2020 to 10 August 2020
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Très belle découverte de la nature russe, et immersion totale au contact des russes, très convivial et accueil plutôt sympa
5.00
5.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
Quality of transport / transfers
5.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Jack
From 9 January 2020 to 11 January 2020
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Polina was absolutely incredible. She went out of her way to translate everything for me and ensure I was having a good time. Many thanks!
4.20
4.20
Total score
4.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
5.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Michel
From 6 July 2019 to 10 July 2019
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Organisation globalement satisfaisante; les guides sont trop spécialisés sur leur site et ne donnent pas un aperçu général sur la Carélie, ce qui manque.
4.00
4.00
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
4.00
Quality of meals
4.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
3.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Jean
From 28 December 2018 to 1 January 2019
Destination: Karelia
Custom tourNouvel An en Carélie + Cours de la langue russe
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Pas mal
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