Wonders of the Russian North

The trip starts with sightseeing in St.Petersburg: world-known Hermitage, Peterhof – summer residence of Russian tsars, with its splendid palace and wonderful park famous for its fountains. The city itself is like an open-air museum beautifully located on the banks of the Neva river which flows into the Baltic Sea.But we will continue our trip and fly to Arkhangelsk which is situated close to the White Sea coast. Before St.Petersburg was founded, Arkhangelsk used to be the main port for trade between Russia and Europe. Its museums, old city buildings, a beautiful embankment and unforgettable white nights make it a worth-visiting destination. There are many reasons to visit the Solovki (Solovetsky Archipelago). One of them is its charming nature: green wild forests, inner lakes, whales coming close to the islands in summer. The second reason is its rich history: in different times there was a fortress, a monastery, a GULAG – a camp, where prisoners suffered in Stalin’s time. We will see the Monastery with its cathedrals, churches and houses being in harmony with the surrounding nature, travel by boat along channels which were built many centuries ago without machinery usage, we will visit the Botanical garden where peaches, cucumbers and melons were grown (at the Monastery not far from the Polar Circle!).During the trip we will visit two more islands: Kizhi in Onega lake and Valaam in Ladoga lake, which is the largest lake in Europe. Kizhi is famous for the wooden churches built in 14-18 centuries, some were constructed without a single nail.

OUTLINE ITINERARY:

Day 1. Arrival in St.Petersburg. City-tour and a visit to the Peter and Paul Fortress . Hotel.

Day 2. After the visit to the Hermitage take hydrofoil to Peterhof – summer residence of Russian tsars.

Day 3. Morning flight to Arkhangelsk. Sightseeing programme: city-tour, museum of Fine Arts, visit to the open-air museum of wooden architecture in Malye Korely. Hotel in Arkhangelsk.

Day 4. Flight to Solovki Islands. Start exploring the islands from visiting the Monastery and learning more about its history.

Day 5. Boat excursion along the natural straits and artificial channels. After picnic-lunch by the campfire we’ll go to the Sekirnaya Mountain with Assumption Church, the highest light-house of the White Sea.

Day 6. Travel to Kem by boat and board an overnight train to Petrozavodsk.

Day 7. Arrive in Petrozavodsk. City-tour. Take a hydrofoil to Kizhi island for an excursion. Hotel in Petrozavodsk.

Day 8. Drive to Sortavala. Visit Valaam island with its famous monastery by hydrofoil. Hotel in Sortavala.

Day 9. Drive to St.Petersburg. Hotel.

Day 10. Transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

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Wonders of the Russian North

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