It is believed that the second half of the summer season is the best time for travel to Karelia. But in winter this amazing region is no less interesting. New Year holidays spent in Karelia will make the holidays unforgettable. In this article I will tell you a plan for an independent trip or as an option book a tour to Karelia online.
Trip duration: 3 days / 2 nights.
Before traveling, you should book one night in the hotels of Kondopoga and Petrozavodsk.
Day 1: Kondopoga - Organ concert
A fabulous journey begins with the arrival at the "bear corner". This is how the Karelian city is translated into Russian Kondopoga. We check into a pre-selected hotel or recreation center.
Adventure begins! We go for a walking tour of the ancient city, where, under the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, the development of marble for the palaces of St. Petersburg began.
Despite its advanced age, Kondopoga is interesting for its modern buildings and sculptural compositions. For example, the Dutch carillon bells perform melodies on New Year's days, under which you need to make wishes.
In the evening we will visit the chic Palace of Arts buildingdecorated with marble and granite. The organ hall of the Palace has excellent acoustics. There are two organs that play music from different eras. Ticket price: from 500 rubles.
After enjoying the world of harmony of sound, we go to rest. Tomorrow is waiting for a long journey and the Karelian Santa Claus.
Day 2: Kivach - Petrozavodsk - the patrimony of Talvi Ukko
We will devote the first half of the day to visiting the Kivach nature reserve, located a 30-minute drive from Kondopoga (30 km). Entrance tickets to the park - 200 rubles.
We will learn the secret of the birth of an old giant, visit a museum of nature with stuffed forest animals, a grove of Karelian birch. The pearl of the reserve high Kivach waterfall on the Suna riverdelightful at any time of the year.
Earlier in Kondopoga visited the ancient Church of the Dormition on the banks of the Chupa Bay. Unfortunately, it burned down in 2018. The unique monument of wooden architecture has been lost forever.
We return to Kondopoga. Having refreshed ourselves with lunch, we collect things and check out from the hotel. Moving to the capital of Karelia - Petrozavodsk. The road will take about 1 hour (55 km).
After checking into a hotel in the capital of Karelia, we set off for the village Chalna, on the estate Talvi Ukko (20 km). It takes us half an hour to get to the place along the Suojärvi highway. Here it is - a real New Year's fairy tale!
The owners of the residence live in real Sami plagues. On the territory of the nomadic village there is a deer farm and the largest Russian kennel of sled dogs. Deer, huskies and malamutes ride children on sleds or sleds. And you can also hug them - the helpers of the Karelian Grandfather are very nice and friendly.
Don't forget to charge your equipment - you will have to take a lot of pictures. Where else can you try on the costume of the northern people?
В Residences Talvi Ukko the seasons settled – each corner represents a certain month of the Karelian calendar. In the study, grandfather concludes weather agreements, in the Fairytale Reception Room he receives magical creatures, and in the Miracle Laboratory he grants wishes.
Granddaughter helps grandfather with housework Lumikka (Karelian Snow Maiden). She has her own Palace, separate from her grandfather. Visiting Lumikka, you can touch the treasures of the Karelian region: learn about the life, customs and rituals of the locals.
Visitors are waiting for master classes, game quests, national fun, competitions, round dances. Tired travelers will find a warm hearth in a spacious yaranga, traditional Karelian pies and herbal tea from a samovar.
New this year - Trail "The World of Kalevala". A walk costs 250 rubles on all days, except for the New Year holidays (from December 30 to January 7). These days it is only possible to order a festive interactive program with a tour, tea drinking, dancing and other fun.
Talvi Ukko can be visited at any time of the year. Grandfather works seven days a week from 10:00 to 17:00. There is no need to book in advance, there is enough space for everyone. Entrance to the territory is free, but at the entrance there are many interesting excursion programs for any wallet - you won’t be bored!
By the way, there is more than one Santa Claus in Karelia - there are three of them! There is also a grandfather Halla, whose estate is located in the village of Nizhnyaya Salma. And also the young "frost" pakkaineliving in the city of Olonets.
We return to Petrozavodsk. In the Governor's Garden we will visit Museum of Nature with a fascinating exposition "Bear Corner". And before going to bed, we will walk along the Onega embankment, whisper a cherished dream in the ear of the Tree of Desires, and ask the Purse of Luck for financial assistance.
Day 3: Marcial waters - Ruskeala marble quarry
We have breakfast, collect things and check out from the hotel - the day will be eventful.
We're going to Martial waters - the first resort founded in the Russian Empire by decree of Peter I. The road from Petrozavodsk to the destination will take about 1 hour (58 km). The path lies through Konchezersky mining plant. The old buildings are in a deplorable state, but you can still see fragments of the stone walls of the Petrine era.
Martial waters are named after the god Mars. Mineral springs in this place are highly saturated with iron. Must visit Church of the Apostle Peter, built by a Dutch architect according to the design of the emperor himself. Church candlesticks made of Karelian birch were hand-painted to imitate marble.
Having collected healing water, we set off. We are waiting for the most beautiful place in Karelia - marble quarry of the mountain park "Ruskeala". The road is not close - 3,5 hours along the A124 highway (300 km). But it's worth it!
On the way, you can stop by the observation deck of the Ruskeala waterfalls. The legendary place where the picturesque scenes of the film "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" were filmed.
Entrance to Ruskeala Park is inexpensive - 100 rubles. Excursion prices: marble canyon - 500 rubles, caves 1500 rubles.
It is better to buy tickets to the underworld in advance online, their number is limited. If you can't get on the tour, no big deal. You can just take a walk in the magnificent mountain park. The canyon is especially beautiful in the evening, when everything around is illuminated with colorful lights. It seems that he got into a fantasy world: mysterious grottoes, caves of the mountain king Ruskeainen, underground adits, emerald waters. A real marble kingdom. No wonder local marble was delivered to St. Petersburg to build magnificent palaces.
Before we set off on the way back, let's not forget to buy a marble souvenir that will long remind you of a magnificent journey through the Karelian region.
photo: pixibay, elements.envato
