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Paddling and Touring in Russia
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Click on image to enlarge.
I’m a pathological optimist.
This is why I still hope to find takers for the special trip that
combines almost everything I like: history, art, culture and
Russian natural wilderness. The two-week trip consists of one
week sightseeing in Moscow and St. Petersburg and one week of
paddling down a Russian river.
For the paddling expedition I picked Karelia, a region in the northwest of
Russia, called “blue eyed” for the abundance of lakes and rivers. Convenient location of the region (overnight train from Moscow or St. Petersburg), scenery and moderate complexity of the Karelian rivers (no experience necessary for the route I’ve chosen, only good physical health) make the region very popular among water travelers. Complexity of the route increases gradually giving the participants time to get experience and skills to work together. Despite the fact that it is quite close to Petrozavodsk (capital of Karelia), the travelers find themselves among wild and austere surroundings, in forests abounding in mushrooms and berries. Fishing is usually good, too. With every twist and turn of the river, stunning vistas come into view, and unexpected adventures await travelers who are sure to enjoy them, even if they are quite experienced in this sort of thing. In terms of difficulty the river is suitable both for beginners and for experienced adventure-seekers. We’ll paddle down the river and camp in the wilderness for 6 days enjoying fishing, picking berries and mushrooms, and enjoying campfires at night. Russian sauna
and Kizhi Island in the agenda for this trip as well.
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Click on image to enlarge.
Our trip through the Karelian outback, down the rapid-strewn river among virginal forests, ends up in Petrozavodsk, where my guests will return to civilization to stay with it for a long time to come. However, after the week of adventure in Karelia, they cannot but doubt some of its values.
Those who are interested only in sightseeing tour might consider my annual two-week tour to Russia.
We visit Moscow, St. Petersburg, Uglich (a small provincial town) and more.
For detailed information, go to my web site www.vologda.ru/~nata00 or contact me by e-mail nata00@netzero.net
If you’d like to explore Russia on your own you might enjoy staying in my B&B in St. Petersburg (15% discount for the members of HCC).
Price: under $2900 (airfare from Houston) / land only $1650
Group size: up to 10 people
Everything will be taken care of: all meals but two dinners in St. Petersburg,
lodging, sightseeing (museum fees included), land transportation, visa
arrangements. All white water and camping equipment for expedition will
be provided: tents, PFD-life vests, boats - catarafts or inflatable kayak
(plastic kayak or tandem canoe by request).
Participants need to bring only their personal equipment (recommended list will be provided).
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
Day 01 Depart on your International flight bound to Moscow Day 02 Arrive Moscow. Homestays with Russian families. Light dinner. Day 03 Full day sightseeing tour of Moscow. Day 04 Today we use public transportation to get to the points of our interest. Walking tour of Kremlin. Armory Chamber. After lunch stroll at the Arbat street (Mecca for souvenirs shopping and watching people). BLD Leaving Moscow for Karelia by night train. Day 05 Arrival to Petrozavodsk, capital of Karelia, in the morning. Transfer to the tourist refuge. A bus will take the group from Petrozavodsk railway station first to the lodge (20 miles from Petrozavodsk) where breakfast will be served. Participants leave their belongings that won’t be needed during the trip at the lodge, put on water outfits, load traveling gears and headed to the starting point of the adventure. Then the bus will take you from the lodge to the upper reaches of the river, and from here you will cover 65 miles down the picturesque Shuya River in five days. Days 06-9 Expedition down the Shuya. We’ll paddle down the river and camp in the wilderness for 6 days enjoying fishing, picking berries and mushrooms, and enjoying a campfire at night. Day 10. Return to the tourist refuge. Russian sauna. Day 11. Excursion to the Kizhi Island (to Kivach national reserve if weather won’t permit to go to Kizhi). Transfer to the Petrozavodsk railway station. Departure for St.-Petersburg. Day 12 Arrive in St. Petersburg and go on a sight-seeing program in St. Petersburg. BLD Day 13 Tour Hermitage. BL Day 14 Peterhof – the palace and park ensemble with famous fountains. BL Day 15 The St. Isaac’s Cathedral, Church of the Savior on the Blood and Yusupov palace. BLD Day 16 Return to the U.S. |
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