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New Year's Eve 2024 in Karelia

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
4 Days
Highlights
  • New Year's Eve à la russe with Russians and in a traditional way
  • Dog sledding ride
  • Stay in Russian Karelia on the shore of the frozen lake
  • Ice fishing and competitions of fishing
  • Dishes of national Karelian cuisine
Tour Overview

This tour is organized to make you feel the magic of Christmas holidays in the Karelian region into the heart of Russian winter. Far away from civilization where time goes on in its rhythm, you will be warmly welcomed and surrounded with attention. You will get a good dose of sensations far removed from the daily routine: you will taste typical Karelian dishes and beverages, learn about local traditions, ride a dog sled, participate in ice fishing and art and crafts. You will definitely make new friends with locals during this the most long-awaited event in Russia!

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Meeting with Talvi Ukko
    Petrozavodsk — Kudama
  • Day 2
    Ice fishing and New Year celebration
    Kudama
  • Day 3
    Town festivals and local cuisine
    Kudama
  • Day 4
    Farewall and end of the programme
    Kudama — Petrozavodsk
  • 09:00
    Meeting in Petrozavodsk at the train station
    Transfer to the patrimony of Karelian Ded Moroz - Talvi Ukko
  • 09:30
    Breakfast
    Traditional pies and tea
  • 10:00
    Meeting with Talvi Ukko
    Meeting with Talvi Ukko, and his assistants: real reindeers and famous sled dogs. Excursion to the reindeer farm and to the biggest sled dog kennel in Russia. You will get in touch with the best Siberian and Alaska huskys and learn to ride dogs. Then, you will make a little circle riding dog sled yourself!
  • 11:30
    Dog sledding ride
    You can feel like a real musher - 500 m through the snowy taiga on a sled pulled by sled dogs!
  • 13:30
    Transfer to the resort and accommodation in wooden houses
  • 14:00
    Lunch
  • 15:00
    Time at leisure
  • 16:30
    Outdoor activities
    You will master the skill of sledding and take part in the competition of Kudama snowmen.
  • 18:00
    Dinner
    Dinner at restaurant in a warm ambiance
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Petrozavodsk — Kudama
Accommodation
Accommodation at the touristic complex "Kudama"
Accommodation in the main building (2 persons)
Note

0.5 h dog sledding  (0.5km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Ice fishing
    Ice fishing and competition for the biggest prize! The winner will get the title "Best Fisherman"!
  • 14:00
    Lunch
  • 16:00
    Free time
    Optionally a few activities are possible: skiing, skating, toboggan, snowmobiles. Only from 100 rubles / hour. To ask on place.
  • 18:00
    New Year's quest "Secrets of Northern Kudama"
  • 21:00
    Festive dinner
    Festive dinner at the restaurant in a warm ambiance. Beginning of animation. Award "Best Fisherman". Festive goodbyes to year.
  • 23:55
    Speach of the president and Kremlin striking clocks
    Champagne. Continuation of the program: Ded Moroz (Russian Santa Claus) and his granddaughter Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), animation, gifts and firework!
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Kudama
Accommodation
Accommodation at the touristic complex "Kudama"
Accommodation in the main building (2 persons)
  • 10:00
    Late breakfast
  • 12:00
    Town festivals
    Traditional games, competitions for children and adults with Karelian Ded Moroz - Talvi Ukko.
  • 14:00
    Lunch
  • 17:00
    Degustation of the local cuisine
    Tasting of Karelian smoked fish Bielomorka near by fire in a traditional hut Yarana (wooden 8-boarded yourt with a fireplace in the middle): we will get to the village of ex-nationality Saam. Tasting of Karelian infusion and herbal tea.
  • 19:00
    Dinner
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Kudama
Accommodation
Accommodation at the touristic complex "Kudama"
Accommodation in the main building (2 persons)
  • 09:00
    Breakfast
  • 11:00
    Check-out
  • 11:30
    Transfer to the railroad of Petrozavodsk. End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Kudama — Petrozavodsk
Note

2 h transfer  (92km)

Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • Dog sled rental
  • Russian-speaking guide services
  • Excursions and visits as per itinerary
  • Transfer from airport / railway station on first day
  • Transfer to airport / railway station on last day
  • Celebratory dinner with alcoholic beverages
  • Letter of invitation
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Meals according to the program
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Visa fees and travel insurance
  • Banya
  • Railway tickets
  • English-speaking guide
  • Medical insurance
  • Airline tickets
  • Optional activities
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
Note

Departure guaranteed - joining a group from 1 participant. Special prices for children under 12 - 35 200 RUB. Supplementary services: - Banya on the lake shore – 1500 RUB/an hour - Skiing – 100 RUB/an hour, - Skates – 100 RUB/an hour We will be pleased to book train tickets to / from Petrozavodsk according to your request.

Reviews
4.17
4.17
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
4.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Eric
From 29 December 2018 to 1 January 2019
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Une vrai rencontre avec nos amis Russes. Rien n'est traduit en Anglais et le personnel parle très peu l'anglais d' ou quelques fois des difficultés à connaitre "le programme" mais la gentillesse et la convivialité a eu raison de ce petit inconvénient. Baikal pourrait proposer les differents niveaux d'hebergements possibles et laisser le choix en fonction des tarifs. Un vrai nouvel an Russe avec forêt
  Read more
4.17
4.17
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
3.00
Quality of accommodation
4.00
Quality of transport / transfers
3.00
Quality of meals
5.00
Friendliness and professionalism of guides / management
5.00
Quality and originality of visits / attractions / events
Caroline
From 30 December 2015 to 2 January 2016
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Nous avons passé un très bon séjour, dans un lieu magique et hors du commun. Le personnel sur place est très sympathique. Deux petits bémols: - le canapé lit de notre chalet était vraiment étroit pour 2 personnes, alors que les autres couchages étaient très bien. - il est dommage que personne ne parle réellement anglais sur place (difficile de se faire comprendre pour des demandes précises).
4.33
4.33
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
3.00
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
Vincent
From 30 December 2014 to 2 January 2015
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Sejour parfait dans un paradis blanc pour se déconnecter du monde et entamer l'année sur des bases en lien avec la nature de ce beau pays qu'est la Russie !
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
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