Saint-Petersburg and Karelia, 8 days in the summer
Saint-Petersburg is visited by thousands of travellers every year. They are attracted by its rich cultural heritage, numerous museums, palaces and imperial residents of yester year. Its proximity to Karelia, 85% of which is covered with wood is also considered to be a main draw. This tour gives you a chance to discover the best Russian museums and enjoy the nature of North. The advantages of this summer trip include walking tours, boat trips and an opportunity to visit the magnificent blooming gardens and parks.
Transfer. Accommodation: homestay with a local, in a hotel or in an apartment.
City tour including the visiting of the local market.
Unusual walking tour, during this walk your guide will teach you to read Russian. You’ll get to know the basics of the Russian language whilst also having a chance to explore the most important sights of the city such as Nevsky Prospect.
Our guide will introduce you to the Hermitage, one of the largest museums in the world. You will see major masterpieces strolling around the warren of the Winter Palace passages.
Evening boat tour, you will sail the Neva River and canals (St. Petersburg is known as the so-called Northern Venice).
St. Petersburg Metro tour, one of the most attractive and deepest metros in the world.
You will take a stroll to the most charming places of the city: alongside the granite embankments, through the Millionnaya Street past old palaces and the house of the Great Russian poet, Pushkin.
Transfer to the railway station. Saint-Petersburg – Petrozavodsk. Night train. (Compartment for 4, second class )
Arrival in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. After breakfast, you will have an opportunity to walk along the coasts of Lake Onega, and then you will go to the Kizhi Island by hydrofoil. This island is famous for its amazing ensemble, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The logs were cut and shaped with axes and assembled without nails. After the picnic, you will have a transfer to the village by boat, where you will settle at a local family.
The goal of this day is to give you an opportunity to feel special energy of this place amongst nature. We can organize you different activities: boat trip to the nearest islands, swimming and hiking to the forest. You can learn fishing and then to eat your catch, cooked it in traditional soup or on the grill. We suggest visiting Russian bath: traditional Russian sauna, which is still the only way of washing in some villages.
Free time. After lunch, you will have a tour by boat to the neighboring islands of Kizhi. You will have a walk during of which you will be able to admire the chapels, hidden in pine and fir-tree groves. These ancient frame churches are the part of famous “Kizhsky necklace”.
Return to the city by hydrofoil. Lunch is included.
Night train Petrozavodsk - Saint-Petersburg. (compartment for 4, second class).
Arrival in Saint-Petersburg. Free time. Transfer to the airport.
Price per person from:
*All our tours are individual and are formed according to your wishes: you will be accompanied by your personal guide and you can change the program according to your
budget and preferences.
*The specified prices are valid during summer season from the middle of May to the middle on September, excepting the days of SPIEF (St.-Petersburg International Economic
forum).
The price includes:
- The invitation for Russian visa
- Transfers (round, airport, railway station)
- Train tickets from St.-Petersburg to Petrozavodsk and back
- Accommodation in St.-Petersburg
- Accommodation in Karelia
- All tickets for excursions and museums
- All private transfers, included in tour (see the list of excursions)
- Qualified French-speaking guide service
- Breakfast (if you choose a hotel or a room at local)
- Food in Karelia (noticed in program)
- Help and council from our team on sight
The price does not include:
- International flights
- Visa fee
- Food
- Personal charge
In addition:
Private Russian bath in Saint-Petersburg
Transfer by car, duration: 3 hours.
Discover the tradition, which is deeply in northern inhabitants’ roots.
The bath is a typical Russian sauna, where people often have a rest and keep their health or recover after holidays or events. You will be accompanied by the guide who will explain you all traditions and show the process of relaxing.
- 1 person: price on request
- 2 people: 286 €
- 4 people: 350 €
- 6 people: 396 €
Dinner in the Russian house with a guide
Would you like to feel like Russian? The best way is to be invited to the friendly dinner. Take part in a small ritual of Russian art of hospitality and take the opportunity to taste local delicacies. You will be invited together with you guide, and you will have a chance to get interesting experience and meet local Russians.
- 1 person: 130 €
- 2 people: 170 €
- 4 people: 254 €
- 6 people: 301€
Culinary workshop
If you want to know the secrets of cooking of the most famous Russian soup-borsch or salad “herring under fur coat”, just ask the owner of the house/apartment to cook dishes of Russian cuisine together with you.
- 1 person: 196 €
- 2 people: 228 €
- 4 people: 304 €
- 6 people: 379 €
Additional private boat trip
If you prefer private boat trip, it is also possible. It is possible to organize this trip at any time and even in the evening for a charge.
- Boat price for the trip in French lasting 1 hour: 245 € .
