A once-in-a- lifetime chance to reach the farthest corners of the Arctic Circle by four-wheel-drive, either army bus or car! Driving through the mysterious landscapes of the Russian north, you’ll feel like a real pioneer in this deserted untouched, and extraordinarily attractive part of Russia. The Kola Peninsula is one of the most enigmatic places on Earth, with a rich history and breath-taking views of the wild tundra and the stern Arctic Sea coast. The tour route is a mix of different roads, from asphalt to old forest roads and even along sandy beaches and dunes.
We visit places inaccessible by any other type of vehicles, such as the old villages of the Pomor (a local people with a unique culture) on the White Sea Coast, or Stalin’s labour camps from the 1930’s and 1940’s, in the tundra. Deserted after Stalin’s death these camps have remained untouched since then, and the whole area of the Kola peninsula was closed to visitors for many years, to maintain the secrets of Stalin’s era. You’llhave spectacular views from a point 1,100 meters high, in the Lovozero Mountains. There will also be delicious traditional meals cooked over a campfire, the midnight sun, and the culture of the beautiful Kola Peninsula, this unique and mysterious part of the Russian north, waiting to be discovered by you!
Tour condition: Grade B Activity: 4X4 off-road drive ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival in Moscow. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the international airport. Transfer to the hotel. Your first night in Moscow.
Day 2. Check-out from the hotel. We will have time to explore the major highlights of Moscow - a short bus tour around Moscow is waiting for us. Our tour guide takes you to the “Sparrow Hills” with an observation platform which provides a fantastic panoramic view of Moscow and then through the main streets of Moscow - huge, busy and elegant at the same time. Transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Murmansk. Arrival in Murmansk, the capital of the Kola Peninsula. Transfer to Kandalaksa village (250km). Check in at a hotel. Dinner. Overnight in a hotel.
Day 3. After breakfast we will start our off road adventure – in just 5km we will reach the shore of the White Sea with its spectacular and unforgettable views. We will visit a traditional village Pomor Kashkarantsy. Pomory (the name of the original Russian shore dwellers) have lived here since the 13th century, isolated by thousands of kilometres from the “real world”. They have kept their own traditions and beliefs; you will see some old houses which belong to the traditional Pomor fishermen. If the weather is warm enough, we will be able to swim in the sea. Then we will drive by a field road which follows the shore and has stunning scenery. During the drive we will stop to visit the Chapel of the Unknown Monk, built on the sea shore. Overnight in wooden lodges. (Daily distance: paved road – 90km, gravel – 60km, off road – 60km).
Day 4. Today our destination is a ship lying 500 meters offshore. We will be able to drive on the seabed, because of the low tide at this time of the year. We will continue our drive to the mouth of the Varzuga river – the easternmost point on the Kola Peninsula which is accessible by vehicle. Driving on the sandy dunes we will come to the 17th century village of Kuzomen. Then we will drive to Varzuga, which is the earliest settlement on the Tersky coast. Here we will visit the famous and still-functioning Uspenskaya Orthodox Church, constructed in 1674 without a single iron nail. We will cross the Varzuga river by boat and hike through the forest to see springs which well out of the sand. This place is considered by local people to be a holy site, as the water from the springs is believed to have healing properties. Overnight in wooden houses. (Daily distance: gravel – 20km, off road – 70km).
Day 5. After breakfast we will continue our off road adventure. First we head to the old village of Umba from the 15th century. We will be able to walk on the wooden sidewalks lining the old streets and enjoy the beauty of the mighty river Umba. Our next stop – small and remote Inga village where we’ll have dinner and relax at the Russian sauna . Overnight in typical Saami house sleeping on reindeer skin. (Daily distance: paved road – 40km, gravel – 100km, off road – 70km).
Day 6. After breakfast, we will continue our off-road tour along an old stony road, and arrive at a place where one of Stalin’s prisoner camps was located. Nowadays it is a deserted area, but you can still see the remains of the railway, roads and bridges built by prisoners, and the prisoners’ deserted houses. We continue our tour along a challenging forest road. We will have to cross several rivers, driving through the water. Fifty years ago this area was well-populated. The people lived in small villages and occupied themselves with fishing and cutting wood. Nowadays, nobody can earn a living by floating wood down the rivers anymore, and many old dikes have been destroyed. Our destination is an old, but still inhabited, village in the middle of the wilderness. The residents live by hunting and fishing. Overnight in wooden houses. (Daily distance: off road – 130km).
Day 7. We will continue our way along the difficult but amazingly beautiful mountain roads. We drive to a valley of Khibiny mountains – famous landscape of Kola region. We will stop at a valley to admire mountain views. Lunch en route. Then we will continue to Lovozero - an old Saami settlement and the current administrative and cultural centre of the Kola Saami folk. Here, we can visit the Museum of Local Lore and see samples of traditional national crafts. Here you can enjoy once again relaxing Russian sauna. Dinner. Overnight at a hotel. (Daily distance: paved road – 250km, gravel – 5km, off road – 50km).
Day 8. After breakfast, we will drive to the village of Revda and then go on a special off-road drive to one of the summits of the Lovozero mountains (1,106 m). Here we will enjoy a stunning view of the Khibiny Mountains and of Lake Seidozero - a sacred place to the Saami people. In the afternoon we will drive to Murmansk - the capital of the Kola Peninsula. With its population of 375,000 people, it is the biggest city in the world that lies above the Polar circle. It has also a harbour, and carefully maintains its navy traditions. Overnight in a hotel. (Daily distance: paved road – 220km, gravel – 5km, off road – 30km).
Day 9. Transfer to Murmansk airport for the flight to Moscow. In Moscow transfer from the local airport to the international airport for your flight back home.
Optional: If you wish you can extend your stay in Murmansk for one more day and enjoy the biggest city in the world above Polar circle! We will start our sightseeing tour of Murmansk with a visit to the harbour to look at the various ships and icebreakers docked there. On your request we can take an optional tour of a working nuclear-powered icebreaker. We will visit a museum dedicated to natural and cultural history, where we will see exhibitions of flora and fauna from the Kola Peninsula, as well as exhibits of the history and culture of the Russian North. Later in the afternoon, we will visit an Aquarium to watch a performance of seals. After watching the seals, we will visit The Museum of the Polar Research Institute. This museum holds unique samples of the creatures that inhabit the polar oceans, as well as a relief model of the ocean bed. Lunch during sightseeing. Overnight at a hotel.
If you take a flight to the UK in the late evening you can enjoy Moscow for one more day. At your request we can organise for you one of the following activities:
If you are an art-lover, then you will be impressed by the world famous masterpieces displayed in the Tretyakov Gallery and in the Pushkin Museum;
Another option in Moscow would be a visit to the large and interesting Izmailovo Park, where you will find traditional wooden houses and churches as well as authentic Russian souvenirs;
You can also visit the Novodevichy Convent, which is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Convent was used by women of the Tsar’s family and of the aristocracy. Many members of the Tsar’s family and some very famous Russian artists, writers, politicians have been buried in its cemetery. The Convent provides an example of the highest accomplishments of Russian architecture with rich interiors and an important collection of paintings and artefacts.
Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
Some places you visit in this journey are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Please click here to view the UNESCO review page:
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