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Days
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Programme
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1
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* Arrival in St.Petersburg. Meeting the guide at the airport.
* The going to the railway station on its own (with the guide).
* Departure to Petrozavodsk by a night train.
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2
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* Arrival in Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia. Meeting the guide at the railway station.
* Walking to the hotel (or by taxi - extra paid).
* Accommodation in the hotel.
* Breakfast.
* Walking around the city.
* In the afternoon free time in the city.
* Dinner in a restaurant.
* The group comes back to the hotel on its own.
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3
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* Breakfast.
* Walking to the sea-port.
* The trip to the island of Kizhi by hydrofoil. The excursion around the Kizhi Architectual Ensemble and the historic village of the 19th century.
The island of Kizhi is the beauty of the Russian North, the pearl of Karelia in Lake Onega and a living history museum where the wooden structures of early Russia have been preserved. UNESCO has declared the Kizhi Architectural Ensemble a World Heritage Site because its monuments constitute some of the finest examples of wooden architecture in the world. It is famous for the 22-dome Church of Transfiguration (1714) and the oldest wooden church in Russia - the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus dating back to the 14th century and the Church of the Protecting Veil. The Church of the Transfiguration (1714) is a world masterpiece of wooden architecture. It was constructed without the use of nails and, improbably! Five tiers of 22 domes, wonderfully changing color during the day, look magnificent from any point of the island. Tourists are mostly attracted by the iconostasis in the Church of the Protecting Veil which was selected from the richest collections of old icons from churches throughout the Onega region. The church is still functioning and the church ceremonies are held here rather often.
Summer in Kizhi is the season of folk-craft fetes and music festivals. About 50 people permanently live on the island. Having free time one can walk to see the life in the villages.
* Free time on the island.
* Return to Petrozavodsk by hydroil.
* Walking to the hotel.
* Dinner.
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4
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* Breakfast.
* Transfer to a hotel in the suburbs of Petrozavodsk.
* Accommodation.
* Free time. Fishing or canoeing (extra paid).
* Dinner.
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5
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* Breakfast.
* Fishing or canoeing (extra paid).
* Dinner.
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6
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* Breakfast.
* Transfer to the village of Kinerma. On the way to Kinerma visiting the village of Manga with a unique chapel.
* In Kinerma one can still feel much life, talk with local people and enjoy Karelian nature. This small 17 house village is a unique complex monument of folk wooden architecture of the Karelian-Livviks. In the centre of the village there is a worship fir-tree grove with the Smolensk Mother of God chapel, built in the 18 century. For the first time Kinerma was mentioned in 1563. The village experienced a long period of suffering and destruction. In spite of this, you can still meet representatives of the old Karelian families, the founders of this village.
* Accommodation in Karelian houses.
* Lunch (Karelian cuisine).
* The excursion around the village of Kinerma.
* „Black“ sauna.
* Dinner.
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7
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* Breakfast.
* Baking the traditional Karelian cakes, kalitky, with the hostess of the village.
* Lunch.
* The walking tour to the nearest villages.
* Dinner.
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8
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* Breakfast.
* Walking to the lake, making a fish grill on the shore of the lake (lunch).
* Free time.
* Dinner.
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9
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* Breakfast.
* Free time. Lunch.
* Dinner.
* Transfer to Petrozavodsk.
* Departure to Kem by night train.
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10
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* Arrival in Kem.
* Breakfast.
* Transfer to the sea-port.
* Leaving Kem for the islands of Solovky.
* Accommodation in the hotel.
* Lunch (extra paid).
* The excursion around the central architectural complex, the Solovetsky monastery, the Transfiguration cathedral, household buildings, a refectory, turrets, the exhibition “The History of the Solovky camp” (4 hours).
* Dinner (extra paid).
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11
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* Breakfast.
* A boat trip along the system of lakes and canals of Solovky.
* Lunch (extra paid).
* The excursion „The history of Gulag“. 1923-1939.
* Return to the hotel.
* Dinner (extra paid).
* Sauna.
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12
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* Breakfast.
* Walking or bicycling to the stone labyrinths (extra paid).
* Lunch (extra paid).
* By bicycles to the mountain of Sekirnaya (extra paid).
* Return to the hotel.
* Dinner (extra paid).
* Sauna (extra paid).
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13
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* Breakfast.
* Free time on the island.
* Lunch.
* Return to Kem by boat.
* Accommodation in the hotel.
* Dinner.
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14
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* Breakfast.
* The bus transfer to Belomorsk.
* Visiting the ancient rock drawings in Belomorsk. The local guide tells the group about the rock drawings on the bank of the Vyg river.
* Lunch in a cafe in Belomorsk.
* Transfer to the railway station.
* Departure by train.
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15
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* Arrival in St.Petersburg. Leaving the luggage in the luggage room.
* Breakfast in a cafe (extra paid).
* Going to the Nevsky Prospect by subway.
* Walking along the Nevsky Prospect, visiting the Savior-on-Blood Church (without entrance), the Russian Museum (without entrance), the Palace Square with the Hermitage (without entrance), the Isaak Square with its Cathedral.
The boat excursion along the canals of St.Petersburg (extra paid).
* Lunch (extra paid).
* Return to the railway station to take the luggage by subway.
* Going to the airport by a taxi or a local bus (extra paid).
* Departure from St.Petersburg.
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