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 1Meeting with Talvi UkkoPetrozavodsk — Kudama
- Day 2Ice fishing and New Year celebrationKudama
- Day 3Town festivals and local cuisineKudama
- Day 4Farewall and end of the programmeKudama — Petrozavodsk
- 09:00Meeting in Petrozavodsk at the train stationTransfer to the patrimony of Karelian Ded Moroz - Talvi Ukko
- 09:30BreakfastTraditional pies and tea
- 10:00Meeting with Talvi UkkoMeeting 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!
- 11:30Dog sledding rideYou can feel like a real musher - 500 m through the snowy taiga on a sled pulled by sled dogs!
- 13:30Transfer to the resort and accommodation in wooden houses
- 14:00Lunch
- 15:00Time at leisure
- 16:30Outdoor activitiesYou will master the skill of sledding and take part in the competition of Kudama snowmen.
- 18:00DinnerDinner 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)
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Ice fishingIce fishing and competition for the biggest prize! The winner will get the title "Best Fisherman"!
- 14:00Lunch
- 16:00Free timeOptionally a few activities are possible: skiing, skating, toboggan, snowmobiles. Only from 100 rubles / hour. To ask on place.
- 18:00New Year's quest "Secrets of Northern Kudama"
- 21:00Festive dinnerFestive dinner at the restaurant in a warm ambiance. Beginning of animation. Award "Best Fisherman". Festive goodbyes to year.
- 23:55Speach of the president and Kremlin striking clocksChampagne. 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)
- 10:00Late breakfast
- 12:00Town festivalsTraditional games, competitions for children and adults with Karelian Ded Moroz - Talvi Ukko.
- 14:00Lunch
- 17:00Degustation of the local cuisineTasting 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.
- 19:00Dinner
- Overnight in the resort
Photo of the day
Route
Kudama
Accommodation
Accommodation at the touristic complex "Kudama"
Accommodation in the main building (2 persons)
- 09:00Breakfast
- 11:00Check-out
- 11:30Transfer to the railroad of Petrozavodsk. End of the programme.
Photo of the day
Route
Kudama — Petrozavodsk
Note
2 h transfer (92km)
Discount system
| > 6 months | > 8 months | > 10 months |
| Amount of discount (total payment) | ||
| 5% | 10% | 20% |
| Amount of discount (deposit payment) | ||
| 0 | 5% | 10% |
Travel smart with our discount system!
| New departures available soon |
Price includes
- Dog sled rental
- Russian-speaking guide services
- Excursions and visits as per itinerary
- Bathing in springs
- Airplane/ train tickets
- Celebratory dinner with alcoholic beverages
- Letter of invitation
- Russian-spaking guide
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Meals according to the program
Price does not include
- Personal expenses and tips
- Visa fees and travel insurance
- Accident insurance
- Railway tickets
- English-speaking guide
- Meals as per itinerary
- 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
Total score
Work of BaikalNature office before and during travel / customer support
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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
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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).
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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:
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Christian
From 13 June 2021 to 18 June 2021
Destination: Karelia
Tour: Kizhi + Valaam + Solovki
Custom tour: Kiji, 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 !
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Alban
From 8 August 2020 to 10 August 2020
Destination: Karelia
Tour: Rafting on Shuya River
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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