We have collected reviews of tourists about holidays in Karelia in summer and winter in 2020-2021. Learn about seasons and weather, excursions and prices, savage holidays, by car and at the bases.
The territory of the Republic of Karelia lies in the north-west of our country - from the Ladoga and Onega lakes to the White Sea. According to the reviews of tourists, rest in Karelia is not suitable for those who love a vacation by the warm sea. Despite the fact that there are beaches in Karelia, the water temperature in most reservoirs, even at the height of summer, does not rise above +18 ... + 20 ° С.
Connoisseurs of mighty pine forests, lovers of picking mushrooms and berries, fans of rafting and rafting go to Karelia. People come here to fish and go skiing and snowmobiling. Trips to the Kivach and Girvas waterfalls, to the Marble Canyon, to the wooden temples of Kizhi and to the island of Valaam are popular among tourists.
Reviews about weather and seasons
Summer. According to the reviews of vacationers, rest in Karelia in June, July and August is the best choice. In the summer months, here you can enjoy the white nights, travel through national parks, look at waterfalls and ancient monuments of wooden architecture. Northern summer is the best time for kitesurfing, wakeboarding, rafting and kayaking.
However, summer weather in Karelia is unpredictable. Sultry days are often followed by rain and thunderstorms. When going on the road, take a set of light clothes and an autumn jacket with you. Wherever you spend your vacation - in a tent or in the city, in summer there are a lot of mosquitoes and midges in Karelia, so do not forget about repellents and a fumigator.
Fall. The nature of Karelia is especially beautiful at the end of September and the first half of October. In early autumn, the weather is usually sunny, dry. It's already cold to swim, so few tourists come. In autumn, as well as in summer, tourists travel by kayak, make horseback riding tours and engage in "quiet hunting", as there are many berries and mushrooms in the forests. Experienced tourists are advised to take more warm clothes, raincoats and rubber boots for an autumn trip.
Winter. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, winter in the republic lasts from mid-October to April. It is snowy, but without severe frosts. The Karelian winter is perfect for downhill and cross-country skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding. Fishermen appreciate the winter months for good ice fishing.
Spring. After the snow melts, lovers of water tourism come to Karelia. Those who want to get medical treatment try to use the time before the onset of summer heat. According to tourists, it is good to have a rest in sanatoriums in Karelia in spring. Mineral water, sulphide-silt mud and shungite help to improve health. Weekly wellness courses are especially popular with holidaymakers, which relieve chronic fatigue syndrome and stress.
Reviews about the rest in Karelia by savages and by car
Savages. Holidays in Karelia are liked by those who like to spend their holidays in nature. On the banks of the Karelian rivers and lakes, you can set up tent camps. According to tourists, the use of running water is absolutely safe, with the exception of the riverbeds and streams located below the villages and villages. There is enough firewood everywhere. True, in the summer, local authorities ask all tourists to strictly observe fire safety rules.
You can fly to Petrozavodsk by plane from Moscow and Arkhangelsk. It is also easy to get there by rail - direct trains run from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Petrozavodsk. In addition, all trains that follow to Murmansk make a stop in the capital of the republic.
By car. Residents of the Central, North-Western and Volga districts can easily get to Karelia by car. An independent autotrip is inexpensive and is available for vehicles of any passability in the summer. It is convenient to travel by car - you can take a tent and camping equipment, kayaks and bicycles. The main disadvantage of such a trip is the low quality of most of the Karelian roads.
Vacationers leave positive reviews about Karelian campings. There are places for motorists to spend the night in Petrozavodsk, Ruskeala and the village of Sopokha, Kondopozhsky district of the republic.
How to get to the sights of Karelia by car
Reviews about the rest in Karelia by tour
Tours to Karelia are sold all year round. Tours for beach vacations are popular in the Russian south, and excursion tours for 2-8 days, plus the road to the place, are popular in Karelia. Such trips are organized from Moscow, St. Petersburg and some other cities of Russia. Tour participants get to Karelia by plane, by rail, by bus or by boat.
A wide selection of tours in Karelia can be found at the tour operator "Big Country". They have both inexpensive tours with a classic program and real adventures for the most discerning tourists.
According to vacationers, the most popular tours are to Valaam, cruises around Ladoga, visits to Petrozavodsk, Kizhi and rest on the White Sea. Tourists love the tours that include boat trips, sightseeing of ancient monasteries, jeeps and dog sledding trips. Snowmobiling is very popular in winter.
Prices for sightseeing tours in Karelia in 2021 start from 6400 rubles per person for a two-day trip and 11700 rubles for a tour designed for a week. The cost of the tours rises markedly on the May holidays and the New Year.
Tour features to Karelia:
- quite budget prices;
- the program includes only the most popular attractions;
- food is included in the price of the voucher, but some excursions are not.
Reviews about excursions in Karelia
In Petrozavodsk, Sortavala and other Karelian cities, many one-day excursions are sold all year round. According to the reviews of vacationers, on vacation in Karelia in 2021, it makes no sense to buy all the tours in a row. It is worth taking excursions to places where it is difficult to get by yourself, and tours that provide for an exciting outdoor activity.
Here are the prices in 2021 for the most popular excursions among tourists:
- trip to husky and reindeer, 3 hours - 2500 rubles;
- dog sledding, 3 hours - 3700 rubles;
- Kizhi island from Petrozavodsk, 7 hours - 4400 rubles;
- trip to Valaam from Sortavala, 7 hours - 3300 rubles;
- rafting on the Shuya river, 5 hours - 1300 rubles;
- horse ride along forest trails, 4 hours - 4000 rubles;
- jeep tour, 10-11 hours - 5000 rubles;
- riding quad bikes, 2 hours - 2000 rubles.
Reviews of recreation centers in Karelia
In Karelia, you can stay in country houses, cottages, recreation centers and tourist centers. All of them are built in picturesque places - on the banks of rivers and lakes and are surrounded by forests. According to the reviews of tourists, in Karelia the most popular recreation centers, which organize the leisure of the guests. In some places, vacationers are offered barbecue grills, ready meals in a cafe, tennis and volleyball courts. Bicycle tours, horseback riding and bus excursions to attractions are carried out from Karelian recreation centers.
Recreation centers for fishermen are in demand all year round. Unlike usual hostels, here you can rent a boat, motor boat, fishing tackle, as well as get advice on fishing on the nearest river or lake. According to vacationers, many fishermen come to the Karelian recreation centers in the fall - in September and October, when the fish that have gained weight is most active.
Prices. The cost of rest at recreation centers in Karelia depends on the degree of comfort and remoteness from large cities and main highways. Accommodation in summer double rooms with shared facilities costs from 1500-2000 rubles per day. Prices for a spacious cottage with a sauna, which is designed for a large company, start at 8,000 rubles.
It should be borne in mind that Karelia is not the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. There are much fewer budget housing offers here. Experienced tourists are advised to book their favorite rooms or houses at recreation centers in advance. Before the trip, be sure to discuss whether children are coming with you, whether you need a transfer to the airport or railway station, whether there is hot water at the recreation center and how the meals are organized.
Despite the disadvantages noted by tourists, rest in Karelia is very popular. Many of those who came here once strive to return to the Karelian forests and lakes again and again.
