Ruskeala and Valaam

1 day:

06:30 - Bus service Moscow (only on Saturdays and Sundays)

Landing place: St. Petersburg, Moscow, Demonstration passage, near the fountain complex

06:45 - Departure of the bus from m. Moscow

07:00 – Submission of the bus to the metro station in Uprising Square

Place of landing: St. Petersburg, m. sq. Uprising, Ligovsky Prosp., 10

Landmark: Hotel Oktyabrskaya, parking along the sidewalk from the bookstore "Bukvoed" to the end of the building

07:30 – Departure of the bus from the square. Rebellions

08:00 – Submission of the bus to the metro station Ozerki

Landing place: St. Petersburg, M. Ozerki, Vyborg highway, public transport stop

Landmark: Okay supermarket

08:05 - Departure of the bus from the metro station Ozerka

10:30 – Arrival in Priozersk. Korel Fortress (external inspection)

On the way you will find a trail tour from a professional guide. You will learn interesting facts about these places, the history of the city, which at different times was part of several states and therefore has an amazing past.

Fortress Korela constantly tried to win and for protection erected new structures. Now, in a modified form, you can see the towers that were built for additional strengthening.

12:00 - Lahdenpohja. Yakkiman church. City of Angels

The church was completely reconstructed after the fire of the 70s of the last century. Now the unusual interior of the Lutheran church of the parish of Yakkim houses an exposition of wooden sculptures. The images of winged creatures are bright, mysterious, tender, they will certainly make you smile.

The creator of the exhibition collects donations for the restoration of the church in the amount of 100 rubles.

13:30 – Arrival in the city of Sortavala. Lunch (optional)

The city is located on the shores of Lake Ladoga, the largest freshwater lake in Europe. Here are preserved the most beautiful ancient wooden and stone buildings built by famous Finnish architects in the early 20th century.

You will be offered a hot complex lunch in one of the cafes of the city, paid on the spot, if desired.

15:00 – Visit to the popular Ruskeal waterfalls of Ahvenkoski

The "Edge of 1000 Lakes and Rivers" is also known for its low but rapid waterfalls. Among them, the cascades of the stormy forest river Tohmayoki, also called Ruskeal waterfalls, deserve special attention. The landscape idyll of this area attracted filmmakers and was captured in the scenes of the military drama “And the Dawns Are Quiet Here” and fantasy “The Dark World”.

The most dizzying photos and unforgettable impressions are waiting for you on the route along the suspended rope bridges stretched directly above the waterfalls. Also in the shadow of the forest here and there, hide wooden statues of mythical creatures - these are all the inhabitants of the eco-path "Alley of Tales". Entrance to the trail with bridges is paid on the spot at will.

16:00 – Marble Canyon and Ruskeala Park

The emerald lake and steep marble cliffs in the frame of the Karelian forests are the first things you will see when you enter the lands of the mountain park. This area preserves a rich history of the stages of development of mining in Russia and Finland, which you can learn during a cognitive walk accompanied by a local guide.

Increased time after the tour will allow you to use additional services of the park. You can:

• Walk through the park - there are kilometers of paths, equipped observation platforms, as well as many interesting places: an abandoned marble factory, an Italian quarry and stone garden, Montferranovo Lake, Bright Lake with "wild" paths
• Walk the route "Underground Space" to the lake hidden in the bowels of the rock
• Visit the unique exposition of wooden sculptures “Abode of Angels”

• Participate in the interactive “Secret trails of the land of Kaleval”, dedicated to the Karelian epic

• Fly a troll over a canyon, jump off a bungee, rent a boat or practice agility in a rope town
• Have a snack in one of the establishments in the mountain park and buy a souvenir in one of the many shops

18:30 – Departure to the Karelian Zoo

On the territory of the recreation center "Black Stones" on an area of 30 hectares is the largest zoo of cloven-hoofed animals in Europe. After the fall of the meteorite in ancient times, Lake Janisjärvi was formed here, and the surrounding landscapes acquired a special picturesqueness. Therefore, a distinctive feature of the park is huge enclosures, where the conditions of detention are as close as possible to the natural environment.

The inhabitants of the zoo are not only various species of deer and bulls, ponies, deer, deer, but also birds (even ostriches), predators, including those listed in the Red Book. To join the diversity of the fauna of the region will be interesting for both children and adults. Pay additionally at will (cost of service: 500 rubles).

20:00 – Departure from the Karelian Zoo

20:30 – Departure from the Ruskeala Mountain Park

21:00 - Return to Sortavala. Hotel check-in

We offer cozy hotels of the city of Sortavala or suburbs. In the evening you can walk around the city or have dinner in one of the cafes.

Day 2:

07:30 – 08:30 Breakfast at the hotel

All the hotels we offer you to stay in Sortavala are located in the city center, and from any of them you can easily walk to the place of departure of Meteora, but depending on the fullness of the group, a transfer can be arranged.

09:00 – Departure to Valaam Island by Meteor

Attention! It is possible to change the time of departure to Valaam from 09:00 to 11:00 and arrival to Sortavala from 16:00 to 18:00. The exact departure time will be indicated in the voucher, which will be issued by the guide on the bus.

In case of adverse weather conditions (storm, etc.), the flight can be canceled. If the Pilgrimage Service has notified the cancellation in advance, we will offer you other tour dates. If the weather conditions worsen on the day of your trip, we will offer you alternative excursion options.

10:00 – Arrival in Valaam and sightseeing tour

The main part of the tour of the island is 2 hours. Your acquaintance with this place begins with the pier of the Monastery Bay. This part offers an extraordinary view of the Transfiguration Cathedral, located on the highest point of the island. Through Mount Tabor, the hill at the bay, we climb to the centuries-old monastery garden. And at the Holy Gate we will find ourselves passing the Chapel of the icon of the Mother of God “The Sign”. So we get to the monastery caravan, to the residential cell buildings.

To the impressions of the first part of the walk will be added the admiration of the oldest on the island of the Assumption Church and monastery, the founders of which are considered the Wonderworkers - St. Sergius and Herman of Valaam, their relics are still in the monastery.

You will have the opportunity to attend the concert of the singers of the Valaam Monastery and feel the spiritualized beauty of the ancient tradition of the famous church singing. Concerts are held on weekends, holidays and not only. And in the summer months festivals are held, when singers come from different parts of the country and even the world. You can check the dates on the official website of the monastery.

12:30 – Lunch time in the refectory (lunch is included in the price of the tour)

Try real monastic food prepared by local monks.

13:30 – Final part of the 2-hour Valaam tour

During the walk we will see the panorama opening from Nikonovskaya Bay to Lake Ladoga. We will follow the area that stores the names of the Holy places of Jerusalem - the Jordan River, Mount Zion, Gethsemane, Mount of Olives. Finally, before our eyes will appear the Resurrection Skete, because of the red brick it is called Red. The interior of the temple is a prototype of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. During the excursion, which is conducted by the pilgrimage service, you will learn about the life of the monastery, the history and creation of the hermitages, and also see the Church of the Assumption of the Most Holy Theotokos.

A bright and serene feeling will give a trip to the holy island, everyone who visited Valaam.

16:00 – Arrival in Sortavala

16:30 – Author’s excursion “Vakkosalmi Park”. Magnificent view from Mount Kuhavuori

Park "Vakkosalmi" is located right in the center of the city, but once inside it, you feel measured detachment and tranquility as if untouched corner of nature. Even the old amusement park organically fits into this atmosphere, and the highest point of the park - Mount Kuhavuori opens for you an unforgettable panorama of the surroundings and Lake Ladoga.

19:00 – Visit to the trout store in Lahdenpohja

Karelia is famous for its fish farms, where they grow excellent red fish right in Lake Ladoga. In the end, delicacies from the gifts of Karelian nature are also a landmark with which it is so nice to get acquainted. So you can treat your relatives and friends with delicious souvenirs from Karelia.

Estimated time of return to St. Petersburg:

First stop: 22:30 - m. Lakes.

Final stop: 23:00 - m. Rebellion Square