ADVENTURE / KARELIA Winter Necklace of Kizhi
KARELIA
Winter Necklace of Kizhi
- by snowmobile and skies to the wooden domes of Kizhi island –
3 days / 2 nights
The snowmobile adventure will take us towards the island of Kizhi in the Russian North, through the snow-dusted forests and across the ice of the majestic Onego lake. We will ski in the endless spaces of white to reach the island of Kizhi with its unique multi-domed wooden church - and see usually inaccessible old Karelian villages and beautiful chapels on the islands of Snow Necklace, which embraces Kizhi like a precious necklace.
This is a very special itinerary to discover Winter Wonderland of the Russian North and get a glimpse of the natural beauty of Karelian jewels.
Tour type: snowmobiling, cross-country skiing
Duration: 3 days/2 nights
Length: 205 km snowmobiling, 15 km skiing
Group size: 12 persons (2 pax on snowmobile)
Season: 20 January – 25 March
Itinerary:
Day 1 | 9 am – arrival in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia, by overnight train* from Moscow (6.50 am – from St. Petersburg), meeting at the railway station, transfer to “The Prionezhsky” hotel for breakfast Breakfast in the hotel restaurant, getting equipped, safety briefing and instructions. 11.00 AM – start your snowmobile tour (112 km) from The Petrozavodsk Gulf of the Onego lake (the 2nd largest lake in Europe) across the lake ice and along forest tracks to Ivanovsky islands – Shardonsky islands, picturesque rocky islands towering over snowdrifts – The Bolshoye Onego Gulf – Yuzhniy dvor village with St Nicholas church with an imprssive belfry visible from far away – Kizhi island – Bolshoy Klimenetskiy island. Lunch on the way. 05.00 PM – arrival at the comfortable Potanevschina guest house, accommodation in twin rooms, Russian banya (sauna), dinner. |
Day 2 | Breakfast. Late morning set off on the snow of the Onego Lake for a cross-country skiing tour to the wooden chapels (15 km). Ski to Kizhi island, the Unesco Heritage site, an open-air museum of wooden architecture with an amazing creation of the XVII-XIX centuries’ masters of the Russian North – an ensemble of wooden chapels, mills, barns, and traditional Russian houses (izbas), and further to Podyel’niki village with its lovely chapel of Paraskeva Pyatnitsa and Varlaam Khutinsky (XVII century) or another similar village. Lunch on the way. Return to the guest house, time at leisure, dinner, optional sauna (extra cost) |
Day 3 | Breakfast 11.00 – start your last day of adventures and discoveries by snowmobile (93 km). Travel to Oyatevschina village – Ivanovsky islands – return to Petrozavodsk. Lunch on the way. 16.00 – arrival at Petrozavodsk, sauna, early dinner in Prionezhsky hotel 18.15 PM – transfer to Petrozavodsk railway station and departure by overnight train to Moscow at 19.00 (Free time for acquaintance with Petrozavodsk for those who leave for St Petersburg at 23.00) |
* Time on train one-way: 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 505 (2 persons per snowmobile)
- valid only for own groups of a tour operator / travel agent for standard departure dates (12 pax – 2 pax on snowmobile or 6 pax – 1 person on snowmobile), language-speaking guide included.
The price includes the following: meeting at the railway station, transfer, “Polaris” snowmobile and ski rental, gas, equipment (suit, safety helmet, neck guard, shoe covers, gloves), meals according to the program, accommodation twin-basis, banya in the guest house and sauna in Prionezhsky hotel, guided tour to Kizhi museum, accompanying personnel (English-speaking instructors or an instructor and an English-speaking guide), insurance.
The price does not include: train tickets to/from Karelia (appr EUR 130 return from Moscow or EUR 90 return from St Petersburg in a 4-berth compartment), spirits
Dates of departure in winter 2007-2008:
Attention: only for the below dates on prior request for your own groups of 12 or 6 pax (2 or 1 pax/snowmobile)
JANUARY Jan 25 – Jan 27 Jan 26 – Jan 28 Jan 28 – Jan 30 Jan 29 – Jan 31 | FEBRUARY Feb 1 – Feb 3 Feb 2 – Feb 4 Feb 4 – Feb 6 Feb 5 – Feb 7 Feb 8 – Feb 10 Feb 11 – Feb 13 Feb 15 – Feb 17 Feb 18 – Feb 20 Feb 22 – Feb 24 (2 groups) Feb 29 – March 2 | MARCH March 11 – March 13 March 14 – March 16 March 18 – March 20 |
