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Holidays in Karelia - a great choice for active travelers

There are no beauties in Russia, and the Republic of Karelia is a vivid confirmation of this. This region rich in cultural heritage and natural beauties is located next to Finland and has pristine purity. Karelia is suitable for a relaxing holiday, as well as for people with an active lifestyle. The region offers its guests river rafting, hunting for animals and birds, excursions and fishing. Despite its moody climate, this region is gaining popularity among travelers.

How to get there

Depending on the purpose, preferences and budget, guests of Karelia can get:

By car.

Car holidays are suitable for companies and for large families. This method gives complete freedom of movement and independence from public transport. The Republic of Karelia is a hospitable region, but many roads here are unpaved. This should be considered before planning a trip.

By bus.

For those who do not want to drive a car, but prefer to go and relax, looking out the window is suitable bus ride. From St. Petersburg, for example, there are daily flights to Petrozavodsk.

By train.

This is the most economical option, but you may have to travel with transfers, as there are direct trains from Petrozavodsk only from large cities.

By plane.

The fastest and most comfortable way to get to the place is by plane. The main airport of Karelia is located 12 kilometers from Petrozavodsk - the village of Besovets.

Travel around Karelia

There are few such primitive places on the planet. Therefore, the primary task of modern man is to preserve the pristine nature for himself and his descendants. In the republic, the movement of goods and passengers occurs mainly by rail. To preserve nature, new branches of the railway are not laid. The October Railway is the most relevant in Karelia.

But sitting in a train car cannot be considered all the beauty of this nature. Therefore, the traveler is better to rent a vehicle on the spot or you need to travel by car. If you turn off the M-18 Kola federal highway onto any of the secondary roads, you will be able to get to one of the most beautiful lakes in this region.

Another advantage of travel for tourists around these parts is the presence of river and sea shipping. This direction of water transport is well developed here, so guests of the Republic of Karelia will be able to freely move along the Svir and Neva rivers, along Onega and Ladoga lakes, along the White Sea-Baltic Canal.

What to see in Karelia

In this beautiful region there are many cultural monuments worth seeing.

Valaam, Solovki

Famous islands to which prisoners were exiled in ancient times. Until today, ancient churches and monasteries have been preserved here. These architectural monuments are a UNESCO heritage. The beauty here is indescribable - the water in the rivers is clear, stone banks, and around there are dense spruce forests.

Kizhi Architectural Museum

In this museum, located in the open air, visitors will be able to examine the everyday life of the settlements living in these parts several centuries ago. Having visited this museum, tourists learn the customs of local residents and learn many legends of this fabulous land.

Belomorsk Petroglyphs

It is recommended to go on excursions. Accompanied by a guide, one can see on the rocks the compositions and images that were painted here by an ancient man in the 3rd millennium BC. In these places, archaeologists have discovered about 30 ancient sites.

Ruskeala Marble Canyon

Many palaces of St. Petersburg are built of marble, which was delivered there from this canyon. This whole area is surrounded by majestic ancient trees, which makes this place even more beautiful and mysterious.

Girvas and Kivach waterfalls

Both waterfalls are located on the Suna River. Girvas is located on the crater of the volcano once located here. The height of Kivach waterfall is 11 meters. It is the highest flat waterfall in Europe.

Body Archipelago

There are 16 uninhabited islands in the White Sea. This is a very interesting and mysterious place. Naturalists will have a place to work, as there are many rare animals and birds on the archipelago.

Rest in Karelia 2018: housing prices (hotels, guest houses, recreation centers

As practice of rest shows, tourists begin acquaintance with the Republic of Karelia from Petrozavodsk. There is accommodation for tourists with any wallet - from respectable hotels to hostels. Triple hostel will cost vacationers within 1,800 rubles per day per room. Triple hotel room in Petrozavodsk on average will cost 3,500 rubles per day.

As mentioned earlier, you can rent a car here. Renting a car will cost from 1,500 rubles per day.

The budget option of living in a guest house or tourist base in a triple room is 3,000 rubles per day. Living on the shore of Lake Ladoga in a comfortable triple room will cost about 14,000 rubles per day.

The average cost of lunch at a cafe in Petrozavodsk is about 700 rubles.

The average vacation budget in Karelia in the summer of 2018 for a family of three will be about 70,000 - 89,000 rubles.

The best time to relax on the lake

In Karelia, you can relax at any time of the year, because this region is always beautiful. In the spring, when there is a lot of water in the rivers, for rafting lovers this is a great time. For hunters in spring there is also expanse. Thousands of hazel grouse, ducks, woodcocks, black grouse and other birds live in the whole district, in swamps and forests.

Summer is the time of anglers. There are a lot of different fish in local lakes and rivers. This is a great time for walking in nature, excursions, visiting attractions and monuments of architecture.

Mushroom pickers and hunters Karelia awaits in the fall. Forests become silent, covered with colorful paints. It is better to see this beauty at least once with your own eyes.

In winter, fishing is also popular. But everyone can ride a snowmobile, ski and snowboard, not just fishermen. And how many positive emotions dog sledding will provide. Active rest in the winter will be provided to everyone.

Pros and cons of relaxation in Karelia

What attracts tourists to Karelia? First of all, this:

Possibility of a great holiday all year round.
The opportunity to choose housing for every taste and budget: from a secluded house in the woods to a room in a comfortable hotel.
Local tour operators offer excellent conditions for a comfortable trip. If you want a secluded holiday in the forest, they will take you to the chosen place and provide all the necessary amenities.
Clean air of the region has a healing effect on the body.
This trip will be remembered by hunters and fishing enthusiasts.
A large number of historical and archaeological sites.

But there are certain disadvantages that must be taken into account before the trip:

In the summer, the region has a lot of mosquitoes and other insects that can ruin your vacation. Therefore, stock up on repellents or other means.
If you are planning a vacation in a forest hut, think in advance about those things that you may need here. Otherwise, you will have to spend a lot of time to get to the nearest village.