Day 1: arrive in Helsinki
Arrive in Helsinki. City tour of Helsinki. Overnight in Helsinki.
Day 2: Helsinki - Kuusamo
Flight by FinnAir to Kuusamo. Transfer to the wilderness hotel in the area near Oulanka National park. Overnight in a hotel in Ruka.
Day 3: Riisitunturi National Park
Short drive to Riisituntuuri National Park. Full day hiking in the Park. Lunch en-route. Late in the afternoon drive back to the hotel. Overnight in Ruka.
Day 4: Oulanka National Park
Transfer to Oulanka. Hiking in Oulanka National Park along the Small Bear's Trail. Overnight in the hotel in Ruka
Day 5: Kuusamo - Pyaozerski village (Russia)
Transfer to Kuusamo, then to cross the Russian border and continue driving to the small settlement of Pyaozerski. Accommodation there (hotel, but rather basic).
Day 6: Paanoyarvi National Park
Transfer to Paanoyarvi National Park (ca. 50 km, not very good road). Boat trip along Paanoyarvi lake, and some hiking in the Park. In the evening return to Pyaozerski for an overnight.
Day 7: Pyaozerski - Louhi - Kem
Transfer to Louhi (ca. 100 km). Take evening train to Kem, the train ride takes about 3 hours. Overnight in Kem.
Day 8: Kem - Solovki
Drive to Rabocheostrovsk, and depart to Solovki in the morning. Sightseeing in Solovki. Overnight there.
Day 9: Solovki
Full day to enjoy the beauty of Solovki Archipelago. Overnight in Solovki.
Day 10: Solovki - Petrozavodsk
Some more time at Solovski. In the afternoon take a boat back to Rabocheostrovsk. Short transfer to Kem (ca. 20-25 minutes). Take train to Petrozavodsk.
Day 11: Petrozavodsk and Kizhi Island
The train arrives very early in the morning, so we will have some rest at the hotel first. Around 11-00 take hydrofoil to the Island of Kizhi. Return to Petrozavodsk late in the afternoon. Short tour of the town. After dinner depart by an overnight train to St. Petersburg. Overnight on train.
Day 12: St. Petersburg
Arrive in St. Petersburg in the morning. Time to enjoy this wonderful city. City tour and visit to Peter-and-Paul Fortress and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Overnight in St. Petersburg.
Day 13: St. Petersburg
Another day in St. Petersburg when we will see the Hermitage and enjoy a boat ride along rivers and channels of the city. It is possible to add a master-class or some other visit.
Day 14: Velikiy Novgorod
A day trip to Velikiy Novgorod and back. There are comfortable daily trains, and train ride takes ca 2.5 hours one way. We will depart early in the morning and return back to St. Petersburg in the evening.
Day 15: St. Petersburg
Visit to one of the summer residences of Russian tzars: Peterhof ot Tsarskoe Selo (or both).
Day 16: St.Petersburg - Helsinki
Early morning high-speed Allegro train to Helsinki, departing St. Petersburg at 06-40 a.m. This is a very fast and comfortable train, all border formalities are on the train. It stops near the airport in Tikkurila and the last stop is in the centre of Helsinki. Probably it is the best way for a return flight from Helsinki.