ADVENTURE / Europes great lakes
KARELIA
Europe’s great lakes
- By snowmobiles across Russian Karelia from one great lake to another –
3 days/2 nights
The Ladoga and Onego Lakes are the largest lakes in Europe. Our snowmobile adventure will take you to the North of Russia - from one lake to the other, across the whole Karelia, the land of forests, frozen lakes and old villages. We invite you through the vast space of snow for discovery of the area where Epic Russia is still alive.
Tour type: snowmobiling
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Length: 300 km
Group size: 6 persons (1 pax on snowmobile) and 12 persons (2 pax on snowmobile)
Season: 15 January – 25 March
Note on duration: this short tour can be combined with another 3 days snowmobile tour (e.g., Snow Necklace on the ice of Onego Lake to the snow domes of the Kizhi Island right after the current itinerary is completed).
Itinerary (direction Ladoga Lake – Onego Lake):
Day 1 | 5.30 am (7.30 am) – arrival by night train in Lodeynoe Pole from Moscow (at 2 am - arrival by train 658 from St Petersburg), meeting at the railway station. Bus transfer to Kukshegory village located on the shore of Lake Vekkoylayarvi (90 km), accommodation in double rooms in “Umostu” cottage village. 8.00 - Breakfast. 10.00 Safety briefing, outfitting, getting equipped and instructed in snowmobile driving. Set off for the snowmobile adventure (105 km) along forest roads and snowmobile tracks across the snow of the lakes. Route: Kukshegory village - Tuloksa village - Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe lake, visit to Varachniy cape - Vidlitsa village - Syandeba village - Kukshegory. Lunch on the way. Return to Umostu cottage complex by 6 pm. Dinner, Russian Banya (sauna), overnight |
Day 2 | Breakfast. 10.00 Continue your snowmobile safari (110 km in the forest and on the lakes) from Kukshegory village to Ninisel’ga village and further along the route: Varlov les village - Kinerma village – Yurgilitsa village – Lake Shotozero - Lake Syamozero. Enjoy the harmony of nature and settlements, the peacefulness of the land. Kinerma, a small 440 years old village, is a modest monument of traditional wooden architecture of the Karelian livvik ethnic group. The wooden houses and chapel, unhurried lifestyle of the villages make an impression of time standing still here. Lunch on the way. 7 pm – arrive at Lake Syamozero, accommodation in the guesthouse in double rooms. Russian banya, dinner, overnight |
Day 3 | Breakfast. 10.00 Start your last day of snowmobiling (85 km) along the forest roads and snowmobile tracks from Lake Syamozero along the route: Syamozero - Gomsel’ga village – picturesque Lake Ukshezero – The Shuya river – Petrozavodsk gulf of Lake Onega, the 2nd largest lake in Europe. Lunch on the way. Arrive in Petrozavodsk at around 4 pm, tour end at the embankment of Lake Onega. Brief visit to sauna 17.00 Early dinner in a restaurant. 18.00 Transfer to the railway station for departure by overnight train to Moscow at 19.00 (Free time for acquaintance with Petrozavodsk in the company of the guide for those who leave for St Petersburg at 23.00) |
* Time on train one-way: 10-11 hrs from Moscow and 4 hrs from St Petersburg to Lodeynoe Pole; from Petrozavodsk 14.5 hrs to Moscow and 8-9 hrs to St Petersburg; comfortable night trains
The Tour Operator reserves the right to introduce changes in the itinerary due to weather conditions
Itinerary (direction Petrozavodsk – Lodeynoe Pole):
Day 1 | 9 am - Arrival by overnight train* from Moscow (7 am from St Petersburg), meeting at the railway station of Petrozavodsk. Transfer and breakfast in the restaurant Kalevala next to Petrozavodsk. Safety briefing, outfitting. 12.30 – start your snowmobile safari from Petrozavodsk located on the Onego lake, the 2nd largest in Europe. 85 km along forest roads, small lakes and snowmobile tracks to Lake Ukshezero – Gomsel’ga village – picturesque Syamozero lake. Lunch on the way. Arrival at Syamozero lake, accommodation in the guest house in double rooms. Russian banya (sauna), dinner, overnight. |
Day 2 | Breakfast in a café. 10.00 – continue your snowmobile adventure from Lake Syamozero along the route (110 km in the forest and on the lakes): Syamozero - Lake Shotozero – Yurgilitsa village – Kinerma village – Varlov les village – Ninisel’ga village – Kukshegory village. Enjoy the harmony of nature and settlements and peacefulness of the land. Kinerma, a small village, is a natural 440 years old monument of traditional wooden architecture of the Karelian livvik ethnic group. The wooden houses and chapels, unhurried lifestyle of the village make an impression of time standing still. Lunch on the way. Arrival in Kukshegory village, accommodation in Umostu cottage complex situated on the shore of Lake Vekkoylayarvi. Dinner, Russian banya upon request. |
Day 3 | Late breakfast 11.00 – start the last day of snowmobiling (105 km): Kukshegory village - Tuloksa village - Lake Ladoga, the largest in Europe lake, visit to Varachniy cape, the stone marking the historical border of Russia and Sweden during the Northern War - Vidlitsa village – Syandeba village – return to Kukshegory. Lunch on the way. Return to Umostu cottage complex by 5 pm, time at leisure. 18.30 - Dinner 19.40 – Transfer by minibus to the railway station Lodeynoye Pole (90 km) to leave by overnight train to Moscow at 22.05 (later transfer to the railway station for those who leave by the train to St Petersburg at 3 am) |
* Time on train one-way: 10-11 hrs from Moscow and 4 hrs from St Petersburg to Lodeynoe Pole; from Petrozavodsk 14.5 hrs to Moscow and 8-9 hrs to St Petersburg; comfortable night trains
The Tour Operator reserves the right to introduce changes in the itinerary due to weather conditions
TOUR PRICE per person, winter 2007-2008:
EUR 510 (2 persons per snowmobile)
EUR 740 (1 person per snowmobile)
- valid for individuals in groups mixed with Russians for standard departure dates, English-speaking guide included
- valid for own groups of a tour operator / travel agent for standard departure dates (6 pax – 1 pax on snowmobile and 12 pax – 2 pax on snowmobile), English-, French-, or German speaking guide included.
The price includes the following:meeting at the railway station, transfer, “Polaris” snowmobile rental, gas, equipment (thick winter suit, safety helmet, neck guard, winter shoe covers, gloves), meals according to the itinerary, accommodation twin-basis, sauna in the guest house, accompanying personnel (English-speaking instructors or instructor and an English-speaking tour leader), insurance.
The price does not include: train tickets to/from Karelia (appr EUR 110 return from Moscow or EUR 80 return from St Petersburg in a 4-berth compartment), spirits
Dates of departure in winter 2007-2008
for groups mixed with Russians, with English/Russian guiding
JANUARY Jan 14 – Jan 16 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Jan 18 – Jan 20 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Jan 18 – Jan 20 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) Jan 22 – Jan 24 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) Jan 25 – Jan 27 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Jan 29 – Jan 31 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) | FEBRUARY Feb 1 – Feb 3 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Feb 5 – Feb 7 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) Feb 8 – Feb 10 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Feb 12 – Feb 14 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) Feb 15 – Feb 17 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) Feb 27 – Feb 29 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) | MARCH March 1 – March 3 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) March 7 – March 9 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) March 10 – March 12 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) March 14 – March 16 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) March 17 – March 19 (Lodeynoe Pole-Petrozavodsk) March 21 – March 23 (Petrozavodsk-Lodeynoe Pole) |
Booking of complete groups formed by your travel company with guiding in your language is possible upon prior request for the above dates
