Tours in Russia, Karelia and St. Petersburg

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Cultural sights of the Northern Capital of Russia and magnificent natural landmarks of Karelia at Kizhi and Valaam Islands

We have a pleasure to invite you to the unique tour of Russian Northwest. You will visit two cities which were founded by Peter the Great almost at the same time. Founded by Tsar Peter the Great at the beginning of the 18th century as Russia’s “window on the west”, St.Petersburg has seen the titans of Russian history come and go. You will enjoy this beautiful city of Baroque palaces, picturesque canals, splendid avenues, elaborate cathedrals and excellent museums and art galleries.

This unique tour also introduces you to the major sights of mysterious Karelia – the district of picturesque lakes, rivers and untamed nature. Karelia is one of the most well-known Russian territories in the international tourism due to its two islands – two “pearls” - Kizhi and Valaam. Petrozavodsk - the capital of Karelia can be called a younger brother of St. Petersburg. It is situated on a coast of Onega Lake - the second lake in Europe by size. Enjoy picturesque nature of Russian North and the splendors of great architectural treasures!

07:00-08:00 Breakfast at hotel
09:00-13:00 City sightseeing tour incl. visit to Peter & Paul’s Fortress and Cathedral– the city’s birthplace

Almost all the emperors starting with Peter himself are buried in St. Peter and Paul's Cathedral that is situated on the territory of Peter and Paul's Fortress which is the birthplace of the city. The gilded spire of the cathedral with a three meter high angel on top is one of the symbols of our city.

07:00-08:00 Breakfast at hotel
10:30-13:30 Tour to the State Hermitage Museum – one of the world largest art museums.

Housed primarily in the Imperial Winter Palace, the exposition of the Hermitage fills more than 350 halls. The enormous collection represents the entirety of Western European art, with rare works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Picasso, Matisse, and others. The museum also contains vast Egyptian, Prehistoric, Russian, and Oriental sections, as well ass contemporary-minded temporary exhibitions.

07:00-08:00 Breakfast at hotel
09:30-14:30 Peterhof tour including. visit to Grand Palace & park with fountains.

Everybody knows a lot about Versailles in France, but have you ever heard of the Russian Versailles? It is no less famous and even more fantastic.
The place is known as Peterhof (modern name is Petrodvorets) and it was founded as early as 1714 by Peter the Great. The main attraction in Peterhof is its beautiful Lower Park with 150 fountains and four cascades. The main and the most amazing cascade called the Great Cascade is situated in front of the Great Imperial Palace which was the gala summer imperial residence for 200 years - from 1714 up until the October Revolution.

21:20-22:00 Transfer to Ladozhsky Railway Station
22:20 Departure to Petrozavodsk

Day 5 Karelia Part: Petrozavodsk, Kizhi
07:00-08:00 Transfer to “Karelia”**** Hotel

08:00-10:30 breakfast at the hotel (buffet)
10:30-20:30 Tour to Kizhi Island by hydrofoil according to new unique route: visit to Pokrovskaya Church and “Kizhi Necklace” (picturesque small islands with beautiful wooden architecture famous all over the world). The architectural complex Kizhi includes 70 monuments of folk wooden architecture of XV-XX centuries. The gem of the complex is Kizhsky pogost ensemble. It consists of Transfiguration church (1714), Pokrovskaya Church(1764) and the bell-tower (1874).

In 1990 the monuments of Kizhsky Pogost and the surrounding buildings were included into the List of the All-World Significant Cultural and Natural Heritage by UNESCO general session decision.

20:30-01:00 Dinner at the hotel (tasting of Karelian drinks, live music, folklore show)

07:00-08:00 Breakfast at hotel.
08:00-12:00 Drive to Sortavala town by private coach.
12:00-18:00 Hydrofoil to Valaam along Ladoga Lake. Sightseeing tour including. visit to Spaso-Preobazhensky Monastery.
A picturesque archipelago consists of 50 islands and is located in the northern part of the Ladoga lake. There is an ancient monastery there. Valaam is also famous for various cultural natural objects: gardens, parks, avenues.
In 1989 the male monastery of Transfiguration of the Saviour located on the island of Valaam began functioning again and now it is under the personal patronage of His Holiness Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and All Russia. Lunch at the monastery.
18:00-22:00 Drive back to Petrozavodsk, stop at Ruskealsky Waterfalls.
22:00-01:00 Late dinner at the hotel

08:00-09:30 Breakfast at hotel.
09:30-14:00 Excursion to Kivatch Waterfalls and Spa "Marcial waters". Sights to visit: Kivatch Waterfall - ancient waterfall of the plains, The Museum of Nature, Reserve of Karelian birch, tasting of healing natural springs.

Kivatch Waterfalls is situated in the center of the reserve "Kivatch" in 60 kms from Petrozavodsk. The falls is the second large in Europe (the first one is Rhein Waterfalls). The height of the waterfalls is 10.7 meters. It is located on the river Suna in central part of Karelia.
The first Russian Spa "Marcial waters" and the sanatorium bearing the same name are located in the ferriferous mineral waters' valley 50 kms from Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. It's the oldest health resort in Russia founded by the first Emperor of Russia Peter the Great. There the group can try curative water from the springs.

15:00-17:00 Sightseeing tour of Petrozavodsk, visit to Alexander-Nevsky Cathedral, Onega Lake Embankment, Monument to Peter the Great, historical Round Square, Governor’s Park.

Petrozavodsk embankment is a very nice place to visit. There are many installations given to Petrozavodsk by its sister cities (Duluth - USA, Umea - Sweden, Varkaus - Finland, Mo I Rana - Norway Tubingen and Neubrandenburg - Germany, La Rochelle - France). The view on the Onega lake from the place is picturesque and relaxing.

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