Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Petrozavodsk.
Breakfast.
City tour of Petrozavodsk. You will get acquainted with the history of the capital of Karelia and visit its major places of interest. Photo stop near the monument to Peter the Great.
Departure for Kizhi Island by hydrofoil.
Excursion in the Kizhi Open-Air Museum of Wooden Architecture. Kizhi is one of the first open-air museums and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Russia. The pearl of the museum is its world-known wooden church ensemble which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
Lunch.
Return to Petrozavodsk by hydrofoil
Dinner and overnight

Day 2
Departure for Sortavala (250 km).
Transfer to the Valaam Monastery by hydrofoil
12:00 Excursion program around the Central Monastery Complex. Today you will get acquainted with one of the main orthodox sacred places in Russia and visit its cathedral of the Transfiguration. After a walk around the monastery complex you will also visit one of the sketes and try simple monastic food during the lunch in the monastery's refectory.
Return to Sortavala by hydrofoil
Dinner and overnight

Day 3
Departure to the mining park of Ruskeala.
Ruskeala mining park - the basis of the complex is an object of cultural heritage, a historical monument - a former marble quarry filled with groundwater.
A short stop in an ancient Karelian village Kinerma, which in 2016 became the most beautiful village in Russia. Nadezhda, a local resident of Kinerma Village, will meet us and show the main sights of the village, which are houses of the end of the 19th century and the wooden chapel of Virgin Mary of Smolensk erected in the 17th century. After the excursion - lunch in a Karelian house.
Transfer to Petrozavodsk.
Dinner and overnight.

Day 4
Excursion in the husky farm. You will be introduced to the dogs so that you become familiar with them. Your musher will tell you a lot of interesting facts and information about the work which is involved in their maintenance and about their nature. Instructions and safety measures. Once you are equipped with a special belt, you will go on an exciting trekking route. During the route you will learn the character of your dog, and the dog will get to know you better.
Visit to the centre of Karelian culture, called Elämä.
You will lunch and get acquainted with local traditions, crafts and symbols, which people in Karelia used to wish love, well-being and to get luck and good health. Also you will try to cook traditional Karelian food and after taste tea with herbs and Karelian pies.
Return to Petrozavodsk.
Dinner and overnight

Day 5
Departure to Kem.
A short stop in the Kivach Nature Reserve. You will get acquainted with the second highest plain waterfall in Europe and typical and rare Karelian plants. The eco system of the Kivach Nature Reserve is unique. Apart from the picturesque landscapes you will enjoy its crystal clear air.
Lunch.
Excursion to the White Sea petroglyphs. The White Sea petroglyphs – rock paintings, monuments of the monumental fine art of the primitive epoch, are located in the White Sea region of Karelia.
Arrival in Kem.

Day 6
Breakfast.
Departure for the Solovetsky Islands by slow boat.
Excursion around the Monastery complex. You will listen to the history of the legendary Solovetsky Monastery that once was one of the richest monasteries of Russia, visit its functioning church, and go along its thick fortress walls that no enemy could overcome.
Lunch.
Boat excursion to Island Zayatsky. Stone labyrinths of Big Zayatsky Island are rare and valuable archaeological monuments. You will have a chance to observe the impressive monuments of the past and admire a special beauty of this small island. Climate here is so severe that the island is covered mostly with a variety of moss species and berries.
Dinner and overnight

Day 7
Breakfast. Check-out.
10:00 Today you will visit the highest point of Big Solovetsky Island, Hill Sekirnaya. On the top of the hill is situated one of the strictest sketes of the island with a unique lighthouse church. During the GULAG time the skete was one of the cruelest of all the detention places for the inmates of the camp. Today it is a living skete again and a very tranquil place that offers a fantastic panorama view over the island. Excursion to the Botanical Garden when you can visit one of the most northerly botanical gardens Russia and see unique planting of various periods in the history of the Solovetsky Islands.
Lunch.
Transfer to Kem by slow boat.
Dinner. Transfer to the railway station.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Accommodation in the hotel
• Full board
• English speaking guide according program
• Transportation according program
• Entrance tickets
• Hydrofoil Petrozavodsk - Kizhi - Petrozavodsk
• ​Slow boat Kem - Solovki - Kem