info@baikalnature.com

Kizhi + Valaam + Solovki

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
5 Days
June - August
Highlights
  • Discovery of the two largest lakes of Karelia by Soviet hydrofoil boat
  • Discovery of the three main tourist attractions of Karelia
  • Half freedom formula: support of an English speaking guide only where it is needed
  • Cruise on the White Sea
  • Discovery of the Kivach waterfall
Tour Overview

Here is a rich program, involving visits of three great names Karelia: the islands of Kizhi and Valaam and the Solovki archipelago. On the way to the north, to the White Sea, we will visit the natural reserve of Kivach and its famous waterfall, one of the largest in Europe!

The advantages of the travel are : the comfortable accommodations in the center of Petrozavodsk and along the White Sea in Rabotcheostrovsk, the practical schedules of arrival and departure of trains (to St. Petersburg or Moscow). The other advantage is the fact ​​that, despite the large number of discoveries , excursions and trips you only change two times of hotel, so you do not have to tidy up your luggages thousand times ...

This trip has a good balance between the exclusive services on the one hand, as private transfers (allowing you to make stops where you want, to enjoy the payages), the English-speaking guides, specialists of their monasteries (in Kizhi, Valaam and Solovki), and shared services on the other hand. It allows you to be closer to the people and to optimize expenditure: two cruises on fast boats on both lakes and a cruise on the White Sea. 

Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Open-air museum Kizhi
    Petrozavodsk — Sortavala
  • Day 2
    Monastery of Valaam
    Sortavala — Petrozavodsk
  • Day 3
    Kivach natural reserve
    Petrozavodsk — Rabocheostrovsk
  • Day 4
    Solovki archipelago
    Rabocheostrovsk
  • Day 5
    End of the programme
    Rabocheostrovsk — 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
  • 20:00
    Arrival and accommodation in the hotel
  • Overnight in the hotel
Photo of the day
Route
Sortavala — Petrozavodsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel of Petrozavodsk
Twin room prestige
Note

4 h transfer  (249km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the hotel
  • 10:00
    Departure to the north of Karelia
  • 12:00
    Visit of the Kivach nature reserve
    On the road, visit of the Kivach natural reserve and its famous waterfall (one of the largest in Europe!).
  • 13:00
    Lunch Not included
  • 14:00
    Transfer to Rabocheostrovsk
  • 15:00
    Arrival in Rabotcheostrovsk and check-in in the resort
    You will live in the resort situated along the White Sea.
  • 19:00
    Dinner in the hotel
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Petrozavodsk — Rabocheostrovsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Prichal
Twin comfort room
Note

transfer  (755km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the resort
  • 10:00
    Departure to the Solovki archipelago by boat
  • 12:00
    Excursion through the Solovki Kremlin
    Excursion includes the history of the monastery, visit of the central complex, cathedrals and community buildings. Discovery of monuments recorded at the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
  • 13:00
    Lunch
    Traditional restaurant "Solovetskaïa Izba"
  • 14:00
    Free time
    Opportunity to explore the coast of the White Sea, its "dancing birches" and labyrinths of stone, remnants of ancient civilizations. Optional excursion by bus to Mount Sekirnaya and to the Hermitage of the Ascension. Discovery of the church that housed the most feared prison on the island and view over the archipelago (extra charges).
  • 16:00
    Cruise to Rabotcheostrovsk and rest
  • 19:00
    Dinner Not included
  • Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Rabocheostrovsk
Accommodation
Accommodation in the hotel Prichal
Twin comfort room
  • 09:00
    Breakfast in the resort
  • 11:00
    Transfer to the Kem train station
    End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Rabocheostrovsk — Petrozavodsk
Note

0.5 h transfer  (9km)

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
  • Meals according to the program
  • Boat trip
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 4 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 hotels - 6 800 roubles; - train tickets Moscow (Saint-Petersburg) - Petrozavodsk and Kem - Moscow (Saint-Petersburg) - on request.

Reviews
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 !
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.
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
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
Vincent
From 2 August 2016 to 8 August 2016
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
Le voyage a été très bien organisée par l'agence. Nous avons bénéficié d'un excellent chauffeur à Petrozavodsk. Les guides parlaient très bien le français, les paysages sont magnifiques et excursions sur les îles étaient très intéressantes.
4.50
4.50
Total score
5.00
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
4.00
Quality of accommodation
5.00
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
Jean-Louis
From 23 July 2014 to 27 July 2014
Destination: Karelia
Would you like to travel with BaikalNature again? Yes!
je suis tres satisfait de mon voyage en carelie c est un sejour original qu on ne peu absolument pas trouver par des agences francaises le monastere de solovki fait vraiment rever le seul petit probleme etant le manque de precision du lieu de rendez vous avec les guides pas aux bateaux mais a l entree des sites mais cest un probleme mineur notre chauffeur était extraordinaire de devouement
No reviews anymore or no reviews at all for this tour. Below reviews for destination:
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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