Tour condition: Grade B. The tour is suitable for everyone who have mastered the basics of cross-country skiing
Activity: cross-country skiing (approx. 16 km per day)
ITINERARY
Day 1. Arrival in St. Petersburg. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the airport and accompany you to St. Petersburg. Dinner in a good traditional Russian restaurant in St. Petersburg (at your own expense). After dinner you will be transferred to the railway station to catch your train to Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. Departure at 22.15 to Petrozavodsk. Overnight train (comfortable 2 or 4 berth sleep compartments).
Day 2. Arrival at Petrozavodsk in the early morning. Accompanied by our guide, you will go by coach to the ski base which is situated in a forest 68 km outside of Petrozavodsk. During the journey, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Northern Russia. Breakfast in hotel.
Preparation for cross-country skiing. If you have not brought your skis with you, you can choose suitable skis and boots from the hotel equipment rent house. When everybody is ready, we start our first ski training tour. We will be skiing over the beautiful frozen Lake Sjamozero to the “Swedish” island (16 km roundtrip), so called because in times gone by this island had been conquered many times by the Swedish. During your journey you will be enchanted by the magnificent beauty of the Northern Russian wilderness. White forests, gigantic trees baring heavy loads of snow, the sun rays from a sunset breaking through the crowns of trees - the atmosphere of a winter fairytale. Picnic lunch on the island. Skiing back to the hotel. Check-in at the hotel accommodation in the comfortable rooms of the winter cottage. Dinner. Overnight in hotel.
Day 3. Breakfast in hotel. The destination of our skiing route today is a small Russian village Rubcheila which is 11 km away from the hotel. The route travels through the magnificent Karelian forests. Short break for lunch. When we arrive in the village we will have a unique opportunity to explore the authentic traditional Russian culture. You will be invited to an authentic house and told about the customs and life of the local people. Lunch in the village with specialties of the Karelian cuisine. Short folklore concert after lunch. Ski back to hotel. Dinner in hotel.
Day 4. After breakfast, ski through forests. Lunch in a wooden teepee in forest park along the route (18-20 km away from the hotel). After lunch, ski back to hotel or by coach if you are tired. Dinner at hotel. A Russian banya (sauna) will help us to relax after this long and challenging day (on request). Overnight in hotel.
Day 5. Today we have an exciting opportunity to see a unique ensemble of traditional Russian wooden architecture – Kizhi Museum, enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage List. You will be impressed by what you see in this open-air museum situated on Kizhi island in Lake Onego. It includes more then 80 magnificent wooden constructions. Most impressive are the 22-dome Church of Transfiguration (1714) and the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus, which is the oldest wooden church in Russia. In order to get to Kizhi island we will take the hovercraft (1.5-2 hours ride one way via the Onego Lake, which is the 2nd largest European Lake). Lunch - picnic outside. Transfer to Petrozavodsk (capital of Karelia) by hovercraft in the late afternoon. City tour of Petrozavodsk, free time for souvenir shopping. Return to hotel in evening. Dinner in hotel.
Day 6. Today we will be skiing across the Sjamozero Lake towards the north-western shore (20 km one way). Lunch on the way near the old village of Kudoma. If you are tired, you can either return to the hotel from this village by coach or if the weather is good and you feel strong, enjoy skiing back with our group instructor. Dinner in hotel. Relaxing sauna (on request).
Day 7. After breakfast we will continue skiing along the fields and across the hills (total distance 16-20 km depending on the route). Lunch en route. Dinner in hotel. After dinner we will be transferred to the railway station to catch your train back to St. Petersburg.
Day 8. Arrival in St.Petersburg in the morning. Our English-speaking guide will meet you at the carriage of the train and bring you to a café (breakfast at your own expense). After breakfast you will enjoy a sightseeing tour around beautiful and famous St. Petersburg - the city of great Russian history and culture. Time for lunch. Transfer to the international airport to catch your flight back home.
Major Highlights of this Tour:
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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