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Week End Nature Retreat in Kayak

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
3 Days
Highlights
  • Active trip in full immersion in nature
  • Discovery of the most picturesque part of the lake
  • All equipment is provided
  • An unspoiled nature 100% away from crowds a stone's throw from both capitals
Tour Overview

Lake Ladoga is the largest in Europe. With many islands, its area is approximately 18,000 km2. Ladoga's skerries are rightly considered the most scenic spots on the lake. The "skerries" is a word of Scandinavian origin and literally means "rock in the sea". Indeed, most of the islands that make up the archipelago are small and mostly covered with rocks.

In order for such formations to appear, special geological conditions are required. For example, in the lakes of the central zone of Russia, skerries are almost impossible to find. It is mainly the prerogative of the north-western regions of the country, where in ancient times the territory was plowed by a giant glacier. When the ice melted, many fragments of rocks and narrow depressions remained on the ground, which were immediately filled with water. This is how the skerries were formed.

Ladoga Skerries is a unique natural complex made up of over 650 islands of varying sizes. Each of these islands is called a skerry. Scattered across the northern and northwestern parts of the lake, they form countless straits and fjords. They represent a great danger to the captains of any ship, as some of them are barely visible above the water. 

However, for tourists they are a real paradise, ideal for kayaking trips!It is in this absolutely breathtaking setting, in unspoiled nature and away from the crowds, that we will get lost for three days!

NB:

All equipment is included at the price of the trip (kayaks, tents, sleeping bags, groundsheets, camp equipment. This trip does not require significant physical effort, you just need to be in good health and have good mindset to give up the amenities for two nights at the bivouac The itinerary can be adapted to the wishes of the group on site.

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Tour programme
  • Day 1
    Boarding, start of kayaking
    Saint-Petersburg — Ladoga Skerries
  • Day 2
    Continuation of exploration of the Skerries of Ladoga
    Ladoga Skerries
  • Day 3
    Last day of exploration
    Ladoga Skerries — Saint-Petersburg
  • 09:00
    Transfer to Vatikka
    Meet your guide, Pavel, at 9:00 a.m. near the main train station in Saint Petersburg (Moscow Station). Transfer by van or minibus to the starting point of our hike, the village of Vatikka located at the northern edge of the lake.
  • 10:30
    Optional lunch on the road
    As desired by the group - quick lunch break at a roadside cafe.
  • 12:00
    Arrival at the lake
    Boarding the kayaks, stowing your belongings in waterproof bags, quickly learning how to handle kayaks, basics of safety on the water. Start of kayaking! We go between the islets, discover the skerries. The first day we make very little trip and after 2-3 hours we stop to camp.
  • 20:00
    Dinner by the fire
    Dinner prepared on the fire by your guide.
  • Night in the tent.
Photo of the day
Route
Saint-Petersburg — Ladoga Skerries
Accommodation
Camping
Note

2 h transfer  (200km)

  • 09:00
    Breakfast
    Breakfast around the fire.
  • 10:00
    Kayaking between the Skerries
    After breakfast, tidying up the camp, tidying up things and leaving for kayaking. Today we will cover more distance. We will evolve between the islands Kotatsaari, Ikhamielensaari, Savicalonsaari, discover many fjords, cliffs and straits. In the Helmalanselkya gulf with a little luck we will see the Nerpas! - the freshwater seal of Ladoga.
  • 14:00
    Lunch
    Lunch break in a place of our choice: together we spot an islet that we like and we land there.
  • 15:00
    Continuation of the kayak excursion through the skerries
    In the afternoon we will continue our kayak excursion exploring the hiding places of the lake skerries. The advantage of kayaking in the skerries is the protection from the winds of the large lake, we can paddle quietly in the calm waters sheltered between the islands. According to the wishes of the group we decide together the place and time of the setting of the camp for the night.
  • 19:00
    Dinner by the fire
    Installation of the camp in a picturesque location of our choice. Dinner by the fire.
  • Night in the tent
Photo of the day
Route
Ladoga Skerries
Accommodation
Camping
  • 09:00
    Breakfast around the fire
  • 10:00
    Continuation of the kayak excursion
    After breakfast, dismantling of the camp, storage of belongings and departure by kayak. This last day of our adventure we will focus more on the open game of the lake, if the weather is favorable, to feel the grandeur of the largest lake in Europe!
  • 14:00
    Lunch
    Lunch on the longest sandy beach on the lake - Koyonsaari.
  • 15:00
    Last kayaking step
    Last stop of our kayaking adventure. Quietly we will paddle to our starting point, the village of Vyatikka. Disembarkation, storage of equipment.
  • 17:00
    Transfer to St. Petersburg
    Transfer to St. Petersburg by private van or minibus. Arrival at the central station (Moscow station) around 8:00 p.m.
Photo of the day
Route
Ladoga Skerries — Saint-Petersburg
Note

2 h transfer  (200km)

Detailed description
New departures available soon
Price includes
  • English-speaking guide
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • Transport as per itinerary
  • Meals
  • Tent rental
  • Sleeping bag rental
  • Camping outfit rental
  • Dry bag rental
Price does not include
  • Personal expenses and tips
For more info, please download the detailed description of the trip.
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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